Big Music America Contest

Big Music America was a "Search for the Superstars of the '80s", a national contest with 41 participating radio stations, put on by Starstream Communications Group, Inc., a Houston based marketing firm. The name was changed in 1982 to Miller High Life's "Rock To Riches" Talent Search, when Miller signed on as a financial sponsor. In 1981 the Big Music America contest drove 10,000 tape submissions via 41 radio stations. Ten winners in each location were issues on albums. The albums were sold at $3.98 (150,000 albums were sold). Voters would choose which band they'd like to see advance, and the bands that got the most votes would be pitted in the finals. The 1981 local winners received $500, regional $5000, and nationally $25,000 and Ramsa sound equipment.