The WXPN 24-Hour Song Challenge (the “Contest”) submission period begins at 12:00 pm EST on June 1, 2024 and ends at 11:59 am EST on June 2, 2024 (the “Submission Period”). WXPN’s clock is the official timekeeping device for the Contest.
The Contest judging period begins on or about June 3, 2024 and ends on or about June 17, 2024 (the “Judging Period”).
Four (4) submissions being considered for the Grand Prize (the “Finalists”) will be publicly announced on or about June 24, 2023. The Grand Prize Winner will be publicly announced on or about July 1, 2024. We will contact the Finalists and Grand Prize Winner directly via email.
ELIGIBILITY
The Contest is open to all individuals and groups (the “Entrant(s)”) who are named as writer or a group of writers of the original song (the “Song”) submitted to the Contest.
Each Entrant (or all members of a group) must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry. If the entrant is a group, all individuals’ names must be listed.
The following individuals are not eligible to enter or win a prize: employees of WXPN and their immediate family members, and employees and their family members of any businesses who are official sponsors of the Contest.
An Entrant (either individually or as a group) can only submit one (1) Song.
Entrants must have their primary residence be in WXPN’s terrestrial broadcast listening areas (WXPN, WXPH, WXPJ, and WKHS).
Independent musician(s) who self-release their own recordings are eligible. Entrants must not be signed to any major or independent labels for distribution. WXPN will make any and all final determinations as to Entrant(s)’ status as independent musician(s).
HOW TO ENTER
In order to submit a Song to the Contest, contestants must register via an online form at songchallenge.xpn.org no later than May 23, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST.
To enter the Contest, you must create a video (the “Entry Video”) under five (5) minutes in length of the performance of a single, original song by the end of the Submission Period that is inspired by a thematic prompt (the “Prompt”) that WXPN will announce on June 1, 2024 at 12 pm EST.
Submit a hyperlink to an embeddable, publicly viewable recording of the Entry Video to YouTube by the end of the Submission Period on June 2, 2024 at 11:59 am EST.
ENTRY GUIDELINES
The Entry Video must:
- contain a Song that is the original work of the Entrant (or all members of an Entrant, if a group). Covers of other songwriters’ or performers’ songs will not be accepted.
- be inspired by the Prompt that WXPN establishes. (There are no parameters as to how you choose to integrate the Prompt into your Song. It can be overt, subtle, metaphoric, direct, indirect, etc.)
- be created specifically for the Contest and not have appeared on any previous media streaming platform (e.g. Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, SoundCloud, etc).
- be a maximum five (5) minutes in length.
Entrants are permitted to have musicians/singers (“Performers”) other than themselves perform the Song. Performers are not eligible to receive any prizes directly from WXPN.
You represent that the Entry Video and Song does not:
- contain material that violates or infringes another’s rights, including, but not limited to, privacy, publicity, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights;
- contain material that is indecent, lewd, pornographic, obscene, profane, hateful, defamatory, slanderous or libelous.
- promote discrimination against or contempt for other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease
- contain material that violates any federal, state, or local laws or ordinances.
- contain material generated by any Artificial Intelligence (AI) software.
By submitting a Song and Entry Video, Entrant further represents and warrants that:
- The Song, including the musical composition, are Entrant(s)’ original work of authorship and Entrant(s) are the sole creator and author of the Song, including the musical composition.
- The Entry Video is Entrant(s)’ own original work of authorship or that Entrant(s) has all rights necessary (including all members of an Entrant, if a group) to submit the Entry Video, including without limitation, the title or rights in any content, trademarks, artwork, text, and/or music featured in the Entry Video.
- Entrant has the right to grant WXPN the rights and licenses to use the Song, including the musical composition, and Entry Video. Use in any form includes but is not limited to: social media posts, on-air playback, on-air promotions, streaming playback, web site coverage.
WXPN claims no rights in the ownership of the Song or Entry Video. WXPN claims no rights in the ownership of the materials you submit in conjunction with the Contest. By submitting a Song and Entry Video through the Contest, you hereby grant WXPN a limited, non-exclusive license to use, stream, transmit, beam, store, publicly display, translate, reproduce, and distribute the Song and Entry Video, in any format, whether known or unknown, including the limited right to use your likeness, persona, logo, trademark, and right(s) of publicity.
WXPN reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Entrant if WXPN does not believe that the Song and Entry Video qualifies under the Entry Guidelines or any other terms and conditions of the Official Rules.
JUDGING
All eligible Songs and Entry Videos that meet the requirements of the Entry Guidelines and Official Rules will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by WXPN that will consist of members of the WXPN staff, a celebrity musician, and one WXPN member. WXPN’s Program Director along with the Contest judges will have the final decision on the Finalists and the Grand Prize winner.
Songs and Entry Videos will be judged on the following criteria:
- Lyrics – 40%
- Composition/Melody – 40%
- Performance – 20%
Video and audio quality/presentation is not an official criteria for the Contest. However, we encourage Entrants to provide the highest quality they are reasonably able to in order to best present their Song and Entry Video.
PRIZES
There will be four (4) Finalists selected. One of these four (4) Finalists will be selected as the Grand Prize winner.
All Finalists will be announced on WXPN during “Afternoons with Dan Reed” on or about June 24 – June 27, 2024.
The Grand Prize winner will be announced on WXPN on or about July 1, 2024 during “Midday with Mike Vasilikos.”
Prizes will be awarded jointly to the Entrant(s).
The Grand Prize winner will receive:
- One Thousand US Dollars ($1,000) honorarium
- Ten (10) hours of studio time at Milkboy Recording Studio
- A spot to perform the winning Song live at the XPoNential Music Festival
- One (1) year WXPN Program Partner Membership
The remaining Finalists will receive:
- Five Hundred US Dollars ($500) honorarium
- One (1) year XPN Membership