Can singers find success online at 'Idol Underground'?

American Idol is more than just a reality show that brings in massive ratings for FOX. At the end of each season, it creates a brand-new household name, and bestows the title of American Idol on one very lucky hopeful plucked from virtual obscurity. It is that rich promise of discovery -- of going from nobody to somebody in 19 short weeks -- that makes Idol, well, Idol.

And now, thanks to the success of Idol, there are more opportunities than ever for young singer/songwriters hoping to get their big break. A couple of music competitions have sprung up online and they offer unknown musicians more of what American Idol offers -- exposure, money, and even the possibility of a record contract.

The online competitions are great for contestants who missed the Idol auditions, were cut early, or were too young or too old to try out for Idol. There's no audition required, and no snarky comments from Simon Cowell. Contestants just have to upload an audio or video clip to the various sites, and wait for the voting to commence.

Idol Underground, is an online contest created by Fluid Audio Networks, under a license with FremantleMedia, one of the producers of American Idol. Idol Underground features several genres of music, including pop, rock, rap, R&B, jazz, country, folk, and more, and offers up to $10,000 in prize money.

Music Nation's contest is sponsored by Epic Records and runs for 15 weeks (it started yesterday, January 29). Recording contracts will be awarded in three categories: pop, rock, and urban. There is a $25 registration fee. For a complete list of rules, go here.

So who knows? Maybe the next top-selling musical artist won't be discovered on TV, but on laptops across America.