American Idol is looking to extend its musical reach online. Vocalists hankering for some exposure can now upload their vocal chops for the chance to gain some exposure:

Think you’ve got what it takes to be the next Carrie Underwood…or at least William Hung?

Wannabes hankering for a shot at American Idol, but who don’t want to deal with auditioning in front of Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell for the Fox competition can now take their act online.

Idol’s London-based producer, FreemantleMedia, has sealed a deal with Internet start-up company Fluid Audio Networks to launch American Idol Underground, a Web-based service that will give music hopefuls a chance to showcase their talents before a panel of celebrity judges.

But don’t expect Abdul, Jackson, Cowell or host Ryan Seacrest–Fluid and Freemantle say that aside from the moniker, the venture won’t have any direct connection to the top-rated TV show.

Freemantle is licensing the Idol brand name to Fluid, which will operate the network at IdolUnderground.com.

To enter, Netizens must fork over a $50 entry fee and then upload their music in any genre they please–rock, pop, electronica, folk, blues, classical, Christian, country, R&B and hip-hop.

American Idol Underground guarantees at least 200 spins per song and listeners will be given the opportunity to vote on each track on a 1 to 10 scale. The better the song, the more it will be played. At the end of every six months, the top-rated tunes from each month in each genre will go before a panel of celebrity experts who will decide the winner in each category.

Contestants won’t be awarded anything as big as the $1 million recording contracts bestowed on fourth season Idol winner Underwood and her TV predecessors. Instead, according to American Idol Underground producers, the winners will get smaller prizes and big exposure for their music. As opposed to the TV show, which searches solely for singers, the Internet-based radio station is being marketed to a variety of musicians. source