The program was created by Gregory Charles Royal as Artistic Director of American Youth Symphony (AYS) in
Washington, DC. The idea developed during the organization's Plight of American Music Initiative Conference at the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in Washington, DC in February 2006. The conference, which was covered by
Voice of America and Fox affiliate WTTG, featured a panel of industry representatives including Travis Bowerman from the
Washington Performing Arts Society, Ashley Gauthier, a media attorney from
U.S. News & World Report, Malcolm Iniss from
Radio One, AYS Executive Director Susan Veres and Gregory Charles Royal. The panel discussed ways to engage youth culture in instrumental music performance and the current condition of live music attendance. and the program aired primarily on the internet and regional broadcast channels
WRNN-TV in New York and
KDOC-TV in Los Angeles. The initial 2006 season which had been assembled with musicians from the internet with auditions in Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Washington, DC incorporated the winners of that competition into a national version of the program in 2007, with a new crop musicians, which was to air on the Oxygen Network. The finals of the first season, a combination of 2006 and 2007 competitors, was taped at the
George Washington University in Washington, DC on June 13, 2008 and the organization negotiated to have the finals air on
Lifetime Real Women on July 12 and July 20, 2008. Comedian Vic Christian and Clare Dagress were added as hosts. Guitarist Bobby McManus was voted the first season winner. The show released a first-season winner's recording with Canadian Idol finalist
Sarah Loverock in October 2009. The release entitled "The Dreamer", which was written by judge Gregory Charles Royal, was certified Gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association
CRIA on November 4, 2009. ''America's Hot Musician'' aired on Lifetime Real Women in July 2008 [13] with Royal, National Symphony Orchestra Principal Second Violinist, Marissa Regni and nu-metal bassist Talena Atfield as judges, hosted by comedian Vic Christian. == References ==