Popular Talent Contest Returns to Downtown Owensboro and the Grand Prize is Bigger than Ever
The last two years, we have teamed up with the Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center and Friday After 5 for a fun talent contest called WBKR's Friday Night Fights. In 2021, the popular bluegrass group Kentucky Shine played and sang their way to the crown.
Last year, the Oklahoma Hunnies won a thrilling and packed battle on the Owensboro riverfront to claim the title.
The Friday Night Fight is back for a third consecutive year and our 2023 grand prize is the biggest one in the history of our competition.
The 2023 champion is going to win:
And, new this year, our winner will get a headlining spot at the 2023 Dock Trot on Lake Malone in Muhlenberg County!
That event is set for Saturday, September 16th!
WBKR'S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT
Official Contest Rules
#1- Contestants must be 13 years of age by September 1st, 2023.
#2- To be eligible for WBKR’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT . . . participants MUST audition at one of our two preliminary qualifying events. Those events will be held 6pm to 8pm on the Ruoff Party Stage on the Pier at the Owensboro Convention Center.
- Friday, June 2nd, 2023 (6pm)
- Friday, July 7th, 2023 (6pm)
- FINALE- Friday, August 4th, 2023 (6pm)
- CHAMPION PERFORMANCE- Friday, September 1st, 2023
- DOCK TROT PERFORMANCE- Saturday, September 16th, 2023 (Time TBA)
In the event of rain or other unforeseen events, auditions, the finale and/or championship headline performances will be moved indoors.
#3- To be eligible to audition, participants MUST register, in advance, online at WBKR.com or via the WBKR app. There will be a limit of 12 acts on each audition night and registration will close when each audition's roster is full. Registrations for each date are open NOW. Eligible contestants will be notified when their audition is confirmed.
#4- Participants must also provide their own accompaniment. Friday After 5 is a LIVE music event, so CDs, MP3 devices, etc. are STRICTLY PROHIBITED. All performers must be accompanied by live instrumentation.
#5- A panel of WBKR FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT judges will choose finalists from each FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT audition. The top three from each audition night will advance to the final round. The four remaining finalists will be designated as “Wild Card” entries and may/will be selected from the entire pool of hopefuls. Selections of FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT finalists are FINAL and indisputable.
*WBKR reserves the right to make necessary modifications based on the number of contestants at each audition. For instance, instead of advancing three acts to the finale on a given audition night, the judges may choose to advance just two.
#6- Since judges may vary at each FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT audition, would-be participants can audition at other events if they so choose and are encouraged to do so. Of course, this is based on availability.
#7- WBKR’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT is open to solo acts, duos, small ensembles, and bands. Our contest will be using the "house" sound system up at the Ruoff Party Stage, and, consequently, everything MUST be plug and play. Amps are PROHIBITED at auditions. Drum sets are PROHIBITED during the audition process, though a single snare, bongo, or beatbox is allowed. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THESE RULES in either the audition or finale process. Failure to adhere to this rule could result in immediate disqualification from the contest.
**One note, the overall winning act is allowed amps and a full drum kit at their Sept 1st headlining performance at the Pier and on Saturday, Sept 16th at Dock Trot.
#8- The WBKR FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT finale is 6pm, Friday, Aug 4th at Friday After 5. Eight finalists will be on hand to compete for the grand prize.
#9- At WBKR’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT finale event, finalists will prepare THREE songs. Please note, there will be a limit of EIGHT finalists and those finalists will compete, bracket-style, in a series of head-to-head eliminations. Our judges will provide live performance feedback after each round and then declare a winner to advance. The finale will continue in this manner through semifinal and final rounds. The judges’ decisions are final and indisputable.
#10- The winner of WBKR’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT will win $1000 and headline Friday After 5's finale concert at the Pier (the Ruoff Party Stage) on Friday, September 1st at Friday After 5 in Owensboro. The champion(s) will prepare a full 2-hour-long set. Any sound requirements by the champion and those participating in the performance MUST be cleared by WBKR personnel, who will then get clearance from the organizers of Friday After 5. The sound system will be provided and operated by the Owensboro Convention Center and staff.
The winner will also receive an additional $500 and a headlining spot in the lineup of the 2023 Dock Trot (at Lake Malone), presented by the Muhlenberg County Tourism Commission.
#11- In addition to appearing on stage at Friday After 5, the champion of WBKR’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT is invited to appear live in the WBKR studios in advance of September 1st. While the invitation to appear is optional, it is encouraged as it presents an excellent opportunity for additional media exposure.
#13- The Country Station, 92.5 WBKR, the organizers of Friday After 5 and Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center reserve the right to change any of the above rules or prizes without notice before and/or during the contest. The decisions of the WBKR staff and its partners are final and cannot be disputed.
#14- Owners, employees, servants, or agents of WBKR, Friday After 5 and other sponsors or relatives or family members of such owners, officers, directors, employees, servants, or agents are NOT eligible to participate in WBKR’s FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT. Past champions of WBKR's Friday Night Fight are prohibited from competing.
However, finalists of past WBKR-sponsored talent contests such as “Willie-Oke,” “Goldie’s Survivor,” and “The Battle for the Big O” may participate in our newest talent search. In fact, past champions of the aforementioned contests ARE eligible to compete.
By signing this document, I hereby declare that I have read, understand, and agree to comply with the above rules and regulations for WBKR’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT presented by Friday After 5 and Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center. I hereby release any photos/video/audio of myself to WBKR/Friday After 5 during this process to use for promotional purposes. I also declare I own the rights to any original music I perform during the audition process and during Friday After 5, if I am the winner of this contest.
In consideration of the foregoing and for valuable consideration, I hereby forever release and discharge Townsquare Media, Friday After 5 and their officers, directors, and any employees from any claim, loss, or damage caused by or arising out of my participation in the aforementioned contest, or related to the prize itself, or its use and/or operation by myself and/or my guests. Townsquare Media, Friday After 5 and have completely fulfilled their obligation to me as a potential prize winner I acknowledge that I am not, nor is anyone in my immediate family eligible to win any prize(s) on this radio station for 30 days. I further acknowledge that I am responsible for all local, state, and federal taxes and license fees arising out of my participation in this contest and I will receive IRS Form 1099 within 31 days from the end of the calendar year should the value of the total prize consideration exceed $600.00 (Six Hundred Dollars and no cents).