OPEN Launches Contest For AAPI Artists

India-West Staff Reporter

LOS ANGELES, CA – OPEN, a digital platform for creators, has announced a new music contest aimed at supporting AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) singers, rappers, and artists.

The contest winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize along with a distribution deal. The competition, titled “Open Verse,” encourages artists to engage with fans on the OPEN platform, where fan interaction and clicks will count as votes.

Applications open on November 8, with two rounds leading up to a live final competition on December 14 in Los Angeles, which will also be streamed on Twitch and YouTube.

The contest features a mentoring panel of AAPI industry veterans, including singer-songwriter Madison Love (who has worked with Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez), Japanese rapper Verbal (known for collaborations with Kanye West and Pharrell Williams), and singer-songwriter Brian Lee (who has worked with Justin Bieber and Post Malone).

Alison Boya Sun, who leads the project at OPEN, said the contest is designed to encourage artists to explore OPEN’s tools, which support fan engagement, merchandise creation, and direct audience interaction. OPEN co-founder and CEO Jaeson Ma added, “We want to help artists build their brands without relying on algorithms or ads. This contest will help us find talented voices ready to break through.”