Dream Machine

So, you wanna be a pop star? Think you've got what it takes? Roberta Michèle thinks she does. An aspiring young singer from Edmonton, Alberta, Michèle is lucky: her demo tape grabs the interest of Sony Music Canada--and they offer her a record deal. But first, Michèle has to face directors, producers, designers, photographers and consultants, who decide on her look and sound. Is she raunchy or sophisticated? New alternative or adult contemporary? What does it take to break into an overheated pop marketplace? B4-4, Canada's hit boy band, tell us how they landed a record deal. Radio programmers, television moguls and agents provide tips on how to get airplay, while singer Jann Arden talks about a business that manipulates an artist's music and image in its ruthless pursuit of more hit "product." Dream Machine leads us through the looking glass of the pop music industry, exposing the meticulous grooming of a potential star. Will Roberta Michèle survive with her integrity intact? Will she be The Next Big Thing? Follow her transformation from aspiring young singer to pop princess, with a fascinating--and rarely seen--glimpse into the music world.