What's the pitch to describe "The Music Mentor?" Take three parts "American Idol," add one part "The Sing-Off" and season to taste with "America's Got Talent" (or, perhaps, "Morristown's Got Talent," for local effect). Pour the batter into a Sundance Channel mold and bake at 350 degrees until you're humming along and dreaming showbiz dreams.  

Morristown-based Denise Marsa Productions LLC has just released online a synopsis pilot for "The Music Mentor." The proposed unscripted documentary television series will showcase the "do-it-yourself, nuts and bolts of being an indie artist navigating the labyrinth of the music business," according to Marsa.

Specifically, the series will follow the roster of artists represented by Marsa's affiliated boutique management and PR firms, KeyMedia Group and KeyMedia Public Relations. With more than 30 years experience across multiple platforms in the music industry, Marsa positions her firms' services as a soup-to-nuts agency.

The Morristown resident wears many hats in the service of her clients, all indie musicians, who call upon her for production, promotion, management, media training and mentoring. Her home office in Morristown includes a private recording studio, where her stable of singer-songwriters and performers can lay down tracks.

When asked how to best crystallize her role in the careers of these developing artists, Marsa said, "I am their champion. I'm driven to bring success to my clients. I help them to stand out."  

To hear her tell it, Marsa's early days as a singer ("Lucky Stars," a duet with Dean Friedman, was a big hit in the UK) and songwriter gave her the perspective and first-hand experience that informs her work as a mentor and champion.

"I am an artist, and I found the actual business of music to be really challenging," she said. "I had a hard time finding someone who could guide me through the labyrinth. I learned from that experience that having a trustworthy, strong manager is 50 percent of the battle [for an independent artist]."  

Marsa learned the ropes of music promotion the hard way. "I finally released my own record, did it my way, and paid for it myself. When people I met with said I had to promote it, well … that was the start of KeyMedia Public Relations."  

With the pilot webisode of "The Music Mentor," available for viewing on YouTube, Marsa said she hopes to entice large media outlets to share the journeys of her artists as they work to build an audience. "I describe the show as PBS meets A&E meets Bravo meets VH1," she said. "I'm eclectic, just like my artists, so I see it as a mix-up. We're looking for corporate, network or cable support for this project. Part of the charm of this will be speaking to the part of the audience that shuns the mainstream. We need an indie counterpart to the mainstream music shows." 

Among the young artists featured in "The Music Mentor" is Morristown native and 16-year-old Broadway hopeful Dane Michael Glynn. Marsa described his sound as "an up-and-coming Josh Groban" but added that Glynn's dancing talent makes him a natural for a rock musical.

Glynn signed with Marsa because he was a fan of fellow client Rachel Millman, a Springfield-based indie-pop singer. Under Marsa's production, the two teamed up for live performances at the Livingston and Rockaway Malls, entertaining throngs of Black Friday shoppers while promoting their latest recordings. Marsa signed another client artist, Christopher Dalliman, after hearing him play at a bar in New York.

Glynn, who is featured in the documentary, said, "I've learned that it takes lots of practice and hard work to really find the right sounds for a record. Denise wanted my record to sound 'right' for me.

"I met Denise when I needed help compiling a medley for my performance in the 2010 Morristown's Got Talent Show. I was a finalist. I had heard Denise had offices in Morristown and I loved her work and we reached out to her. We worked together on Morristown's Got Talent and we just had such a great connection and then we started discussing my making an EP and "Sir Dream-A-Lot" was born. Denise has helped me find my pop voice and my overall confidence has increased since working with her. I learned so much about the business and also about how to handle myself and who I am."

Millman credited KeyMedia with giving her internet exposure and club dates. "The past two years have been a whirlwind," she said. "I went from being completely unknown to having a high profile on Google and playing some of the best-known music clubs in New York City." 

After meeting through a mutual acquaintance, Millman and Marsa connected through their involvement in music. "After Denise heard my voice, we realized we were on the same page about what we wanted for my career," Millman said. "Denise has been able to guide me musically by finding perfect songs for me ... She has also continued to teach me about the business side of the music industry and helped me to become a strong and confident business woman. She's an unbelievable mentor."

Marsa said she sees this new venture as coming full circle in her music career. As a young artist, she longed for a mentor to guide her through the business' complexities and politics. Now she wants to put her hard-won expertise to work on behalf of her artists. "[Big record] labels aren't investing in artists' development all that much these days, but mentors can do that," she said. "Building an artist's career is a very specific project; the same tools don't work for everyone, because it's one-of-a-kind. I don't know if a young person can navigate this industry on their own. I have so much experience, so why not use it? A manager can speak for you, advocate for you and your work."

For more information, visit www.keymediapublicrelations.com.