Verizon SuperPages has come on board as the major sponsor for the local program that gives 20 contestants a chance at a music career.  This year's grand prize winner will receive a trip to New York City, including hotel & airfare, to audition for record label executives.

Jason Carroll won the first season of Gimme the Mike!

FOX 50 will hold auditions to find the future star on Saturday, February 12th from noon to 5pm and on Sunday, February 13th from 2pm to 5pm at the Triangle Town Center in Raleigh .

Anyone aged 16 and over who lives in the FOX 50 viewing area can audition; be prepared to sing up to 60 seconds a cappella. Registration begins one hour prior to audition start time on both days.  Complete rules and the official registration form can be found on www.fox50.com .

FOX 50 will air Gimme the Mike! on Thursdays at 7:30pm beginning in April.  The timing move will give the local competitors even more exposure, putting a spotlight on some of the best talents in the Triangle.

Five finalists will be selected by this year's judges, Dick Hodgin of Osceola Recording Studios, Brian Dawson from K97.5 WQOK and Heather Green from 94.7FM WQDR.  A sixth finalist will be chosen by viewers, who can vote for their Wild Card choice each week.  This year a new live Wild Card Special will air, giving the Wild Cards a chance to sing again.  One will be chosen by viewers to move on to the finals.

The first Gimme the Mike! champion Jason Michael Carroll has now signed with management company Murphy to Manteo and has been picked up by the Monterey Peninsula Artists booking agency.  MPA books such talent as Aerosmith, Toby Keith and the Dave Matthews Band.  Carroll has had interest from several national record labels and has also been traveling to Nashville to write with some big names in country music like Radney Foster, Tracy Byrd and Jeffrey Steele.

Tapings for the first five shows will take place in April at the Fletcher Opera Theater at the BTI Center in downtown Raleigh .  All shows are free and open to the public.  Hosts from last season, MIX 101.5 Personality Jim Kelly and North Carolina actress/comedian Debra Terry will return.

For complete rules, audition and show information, log on to www.fox50.com .