The coveted Grand Prize at OurStage is as illusive as it is dangerous. We were curious about what happened to previous Grand Prize winners, so We put on our “Where are they now?” caps and found an astonishing truth. The OurStage Grand Prize may be just as cursed as opening an umbrella indoors. Sure, there’s glamour, exposure, and of course that $5,000, but something the artists didn’t plan on was an end to their band. That’s right, we’ve found a few cases where an artist will rise to the top only to find that their days as a band are over. Don’t believe in black cats and broken mirrors? Check out these groups and their stories. Draw your own conclusions about the curse of the Grand Prize.
Inspired by Coldplay and U2 (among others), Northern Room has been a familiar face on OurStage. Building synth melodies, energetic drumming, and soaring vocals are just a few of the characteristics that afforded this band a grand prize win in July of 2008 with their song “Last Embrace“. They were even featured on our blog during the July competitions, showcasing an interview between OurStage’s Alyssa Jayne Hale and lead vocalist, AJ. Despite their large scale aspirations, just months after winning the grand prize, the band played a farewell show and called it quits. Thankfully, the band’s inspirational and uplifting music can still be heard on their OurStage profile. Check them out and pay your respects to a timeless grand prize winner from deep within the OurStage archives.
Dig even deeper into those archives and you’ll find Oddway, a female-fronted rock band from Boston. Their sound can be compared to artists ranging from Sublime to Alanis Morisette. The bluesy, soulful melodies of singer Petrina Foley pair so well with the skillful guitar playing of Ryan Ordway that they seemed destined for greatness. After winning the first ever grand prize at OurStage in March 2007, the band enjoyed a month or two more of success in the charts. Then they met their fatal end, the well-meshed sound was just not enough to prevent artistic conflicts of interest that lead to the breakup.
Two well-accomplished OurStage artists have since risen from the ashes of Oddway. Singer/songwriter Ryan Ordway has recently enjoyed success in the charts; fronting his own solo act has given him the artistic control he needed to thrive 
as a musician. Additionally, lead singer Petrina Foley has also posted her own badges of honor in the singer/songwriter (female) channel. Her style brings back memories of Oddway with a slightly more indie sound, suggesting hints of Ingrid Michaelson or even Regina Spektor.
Of course, a curse is only what you make it. The truth is, these bands achieved the highest honor that OurStage has to offer, and their music supports the award. So maybe the Grand Prize isn’t cursed after all. Oddway produced some phenomenal solo artists and Northern Room’s lead singer is optimistic about future musical goals for the band members.
So go ahead, keep listening, because in the music industry, you make your own luck. Our artists will keep submitting their songs even if a few of them will be throwing salt over their shoulder or knocking on wood.
Since those bands didn’t have what it takes to stay together maybe their music should be kept from further competitions here on ourstage. By no means should their profile be eliminated but why would their music stay in a competition that is meant to further a band’s career? Maybe the ourstage officials should do follow-ups on all of the acts on the site to make sure the bands are viable for the end prize.
I think that the artists of today should keep their standards high. Leaving great bands like that in the charts shows other bands that they’re not gonna be too successful unless they can rise above them. Good music always deserves to be heard. Real music must be remembered. If not, I fear for the future of the industry. Listen to Earshot, Cold, and The Scaramanga Six. Thanks!
MAYBE IT IS NOT A CURSE… MAYBE ONE OF THESE A-HOLES CHEATED LIKE THE OTHER PEOPLE DO ON HERE! SO THE WINNER IS NOT REALLY THE MOST TALENTED. THEY ARE JUST THE ONES WITH THE MOST TIME ON THEIR HANDS TO SIT AROUND AND JUDGE ALL DAY
I was once highly interested in something that has turned out to be a bunch of BS. Have you ever been in a competition and judged your self but happen to notice a comment on someone’s music saying how great it is only to notice the person commenting is the artist themselves under another name that they no doubt use to vote for themselves on OUR STAGE?? Until they fix that the whole judging system is flawed. Maybe they need to set it to one account per ip address or something. This is coming from a man in his first run made it within the top 12 and at one point top 5 until of course the lames started their voting games. I don’t mind losing fair and square but anyone who claims not to be aware of the games on here is in DENIAL or one of those who are PLAYING THE GAME! Next month instead of waiting around for the fans to decide I will be sure to setup 10-20 accounts and go judge crazy… No wonder the industry is f’d up!