Next Stop: Detroit
SU2BU is the premier national talent discovery engine built for artists who make music you can actually feel. Hitting major cities across the country, we provide raw, unsung, and veteran talent with the premium platforms they deserve. If your sound is rooted in rhythm, blues, and authentic soul, this is your home. While our foundation is built on music that moves grown folks, we welcome all soulful Hip-Hop and R&B artists to the stage. Bring your grit, keep it soulful, and prove you belong in the spotlight.
What’s On The Line?
First Place - The Big Stage
Secure the ultimate grand prize: a $1,500 cash prize and the opening performance slot for Boosie Badazz & Friends: Blues on the River V on July 18th. You will share the monumental stage with Southern Soul heavyweights like King George and West Love.
2nd Place - The Atlanta Experience
Win an all-expenses-paid trip to Atlanta to record a professionally engineered track with Grammy-winning producer Jirou Street. This package includes your flights, hotel accommodations, and exclusive studio time to elevate your sound.
3rd Place- The Visibility Pack
Take your brand to the next level with an exclusive feature verse from Southern Soul sensation West Love and a professional EPK (Electronic Press Kit). You will also receive a comprehensive career consultation with The Omen Agency to map out your next major moves.
Two Paths to the Stage.
One Grand Finale.
Path A
The Digital Hustle
Online Virtual Submission
Record Audition video
Record a 90 second audition video
Upload it to YouTube
Submit your link and your registration fee below to qualify.
Drive your fans here to vote
The artists with the most digital motion bypass the line.
Path B
Prove It In Person
Live Auditions
Show up to Club Celebrity
14421 Plymouth Rd, Detroit, MI 48227
Mark Your Calendar
Wednesday, May 27th
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Step on stage
Show off your presence in front of our judges
THE HUSTLE REQUIREMENT:
PROVE YOU'RE A DRAW
We are a booking agency, which means we book artists who know how to pack a room.
If you make the Top 10, you will perform at the Grand Finale at DRMM Hall on
Wednesday, June 24th (Doors open at 7:00 PM, Show from 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM) in front of a 600+ capacity crowd.
As part of the competition, all Finalists are required to sell tickets to this event to prove they are a legitimate, bookable draw. Bringing your supporters and flooding the venue is your final audition for our judges and industry peers.
Your reward is the stage, the crowd, and a shot at life-changing prizes. Bring the ambition and the audience — we'll give you access to the machine.
YOU CAN BE NEXT
Secure Your Spot.
FAQ
What exactly is Show Up To Blow Up (SU2BU)?
SU2BU is a premium, national talent discovery engine designed to bypass traditional industry gatekeepers. We provide raw, independent talent with a high-quality stage, real audiences, and life-changing prizes. This isn't your average open mic; it’s a professional showcase where the fans and expert judges decide who gets the spotlight.
Do I have to live in Detroit to compete?
Not at all. We built a Dual-Path system so artists from anywhere can shoot their shot.
- Path A (Digital): You can submit a 1-minute and 30 second YouTube audition link online and drive your fans to our site to vote for you.
- Path B (Live): If you are local or willing to travel, you can show up and perform in person at our live auditions in Detroit on Saturday, May 30th at Club Celebrity.
How much does it cost to register?
The standard registration fee is a flat $200. This secures your entry whether you are submitting online or booking a live slot. If you wait to pay at the door on the day of live auditions, the fee increases to a $250 Walk-Up Premium. We highly recommend registering online early to lock in the lower rate. Note: All registration fees are strictly non-refundable.
How does the ticket-selling phase work if I make the Top 10?
If you make the Top 10, you will perform at the Grand Finale at DRMM Hall (June 18th) in front of a 600+ capacity crowd. Finalists will receive an allotment of physical tickets to sell for this event. It is in your best interest to sell your tickets, as crowd support plays a major role—both in energy and in demonstrating to our judges that you are a true draw. You don’t want competing artists to outshine you with a stronger audience presence.
Bring the ambition, bring your supporters, and we’ll provide the platform and access to the machine.
Can I just pay cash at the door for the live audition?
We will accept walk-ups only if there are slots available, but you will still have to scan a QR code at the door to register digitally on your phone. However, we are strictly capping the live auditions at 60 artists so the judges can see everyone. We highly recommend securing your slot online right now, if you wait until May 30th, you will likely get turned away at the door.
What are the actual prizes if I win?
We engineered a prize pool that moves the needle for your career:
- 🥇 1st Place: The opening performance slot for Boosie Badazz & Friends: Blues on the River V on July 18th.
- 🥈 2nd Place: An all-expenses-paid trip to Atlanta (flights, hotel, and studio time) to record a track with Grammy-winning producer Jirou Street.
- 🥉 3rd Place: A major Visibility Package including an exclusive feature verse from recording artist West Love, a comprehensive career consultation, and a professional EPK.
I’m submitting online (Path A). How does the voting work?
Once you submit your YouTube link and pay the $200 registration, your profile goes live on our platform. It is your job to hustle and drive your fans to the SU2BU website to subscribe and vote for you. The artists with the most digital motion and votes will bypass the line and secure a spot in the Top 10.
How is the Grand Finale winner decided?
The Grand Finale on June 18th at DRMM Hall is where the best of the best clash. The winner is decided by a weighted combination of live crowd reaction (measured by our digital voting tech in the building) and our expert judge's panel. Together we bring the crowd, you bring the energy, and leave it all on the stage.
Can I enter as a group or band, or is this just for solo artists?
Groups, bands, solo Southern Soul artists, and rappers are all welcome to compete—just keep it soulful. The $200 registration fee covers the entire act. Make sure your stage presence and sound are tight enough to compete with the best.
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