We seem to be entering the age of the online battle of the bands, with several websites springing up in the last year which enable unsigned bands to upload their music to a central server on the off chance they can build an online fan base and may be even attract some A&R interest. It's basically the Peoplesound concept of old, though some of the more interesting sites include voting mechanisms which can secure certain bands priority positioning if their music proves popular with the wider community (or if they manage to persuade enough friends to infiltrate the system and vote for them).
The latest of these is reportedly being set up by Freemantle Media and will be built around the American Idol brand. To be called American Idol Underground, wannabe bands will be able to upload their music to a central site. They'll have to pay $50 for the privilege but they'll get a guaranteed 200 plays on the streamed radio station run on the American Idol Underground website, and if they get the approval of other community members and a panel of 'celebrity judges' they will win stuff - probably cash and studio time.
No word yet on whether the plan is to expand the project globally, or whether sister company SonyBMG will get in on the act if any real commercial talent rises through the ranks.