The WXPN 24-Hour Song Challenge!
Drumroll!!! The Song Challenge prompt was:
“SUMMERTIME”
The submissions are in! And WOW! We cannot wait to listen to your songs.
The WATCH PAGE is live so dive in and check out what your fellow songwriters have been up to! We’ll be sharing your submissions over the next few weeks on xpn.org. Make sure you share your video on social and tag @wxpn and use the hashtag #xpnsongchallenge
Khalil Amaru is named grand prize winner of the WXPN 24-Hour Song Challenge
“This means so much to me because ‘Dear June’ came literally through tooth and nail.” — Khalil Amaru
Four Finalists Announced!
Best Bear, Khalil Amaru, Mackenzie Johnson, and Yuneer Gainz all advance to the next round of the 24-Hour Song Challenge!
WATCH ALL THE ENTRIES
Check out all of the amazing songs WXPN musicians created in just 24 hours! We’re blown away!
The WXPN 24-Hour Song Challenge Prizes
Songs will be judged based on creativity, originality, musicality, and how well they incorporate the provided prompt. Check out the FAQ and Rules for more info.
Grand Prize Winner:
- $1,000 honorarium
- Ten hours of studio time at Milkboy Recording Studio
- A spot to perform the winning song live at the XPoNential Music Festival
- A one-year WXPN Program Partner Membership
Remaining Three Finalists:
- $500 honorarium
- A one-year WXPN Membership
IMPORTANT DATES
The WXPN 24-Hour Song Challenge is open to individual songwriters, groups of songwriters, and bands. You must register in advance to participate. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to showcase your talent and win amazing prizes!
· May 23rd: Registration closes for submissions
· May 29th: Q&A virtual workshop for
contest details and instructions
· June 1st: Prompt revealed at noon and challenge begins
· June 2nd: Song Challenge video submissions uploaded by noon
· June 2nd through June 23rd: Judging and sharing entries on xpn.org
· June 24th: Four finalists announced
· July 1st: Grand Prize Winner Announced
Registration Closed!
For those who signed up, we’ll see you in the information webinar on May 29th!
Got Questions? Contact us!
Meet Our Judges
WXPN’s panel of judges will carefully review all submissions, announce four finalists on June 24th, and crown the top prize winner on July 1st.
Donn T
Singer-songwriter, producer, author, label owner, visionary artist and mentor, Donn T works in genres from house and trip hop, to acoustic soul and pop and has collaborated with legendary artists like Jill Scott, The Roots, Chuck D, and more.
Mike Vasilikos
WXPN Midday and XPN New Music Show host, Mike Vasilikos has dedicated his career to connecting listeners with the heritage music they love and introducing them to new artists, all while supporting up-and-coming local musicians.
John Vettese
WXPN Philly Local host and Editor of XPN.org, John Vettese is Philly’s on-the-ground local music champion, who’s been reporting, recording, and sharing the heart of Philly’s music scene for over 18 years.
Bruce Warren
WXPN Assistant GM for Programming and Executive producer of World Cafe, Bruce Warren is not only “Chief of a lot of things” at XPN, he is the quintessential music lover and artist enthusiast who’s been advocating for musicians for decades.
Heather Hurlock
WXPN Digital Content Manager, Heather Hurlock is an editor, digital strategist, songwriter, and vital player in the Philly regional music scene, fronting the band Tin Bird Choir, playing solo, and collaborating with an array Philly music mainstays.
Michelle Squiccimara
Michelle is a museum registrar living in Bucks County with her family and twelve tomato plants. She is a lifelong XPN listener and a member since 2008. She enjoys listening to music, cooking, attending Philadelphia cultural events, serving on her local library board, and tending to her garden. Her favorite XPN memory is running to catch a gorgeous sunset tracked by the opening chords of “Constructive Summer” by The Hold Steady at the XPoNential Festival in 2014.