It’s like American Idol, but with drunk contestants: Epic Records has inked a two-year deal with Times Square restaurant Spotlight Live to host karaoke competitions that could net the winner a recording contract. For two years, the restaurant will run four ten-week contests. Instead of a shaky Paula Abdul evaluating the talent, however, the votes will fall upon the restaurant’s diners, online audiences and Epic talent scouts. Each contest winner will hit the studio to record eight singles, which Epic will then distribute. Based on the success of those singles, Epic will decide whether to pick up an option to sign the performer to a full record contract.

The whole idea seems kind of gimmicky, like an AI knock-off where even the most off-key voice gets a ticket to Hollywood, but Spotlight founder Jeff Worthington insists creative measures like this are necessary if the record companies want to stave off extinction. “The label and customer have the opportunity to interact with each other,” said Worthington. Alicia Keys will perform before the kick-off contest on November 7th, which gives all of you at home exactly three weeks to practice your rendition of Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison” in the mirror.