Last updated: [DATE]
NO PURCHASE-BASED CHANCE ELEMENT. This is a skill-based contest. Winners are determined solely by judged merit against the published rubric below — never by random selection. This is not a lottery, raffle, or sweepstakes.
The Feature Fund ("Contest") is administered by [YOUR LEGAL BUSINESS NAME], located at [BUSINESS ADDRESS], reachable at [CONTACT EMAIL] ("Sponsor").
Open to legal residents of the United States (including DC) and Canada who are 18 years of age or older, or the age of majority in their jurisdiction, whichever is older, at the time of entry. Employees, contractors, and immediate family members of Sponsor are not eligible. Void where prohibited by law. [Confirm whether you're excluding any specific states/provinces with your attorney — rules differ by jurisdiction.]
Each judging cycle runs for [30 days / specific start–end dates], as posted on the site at the time of entry. Entries received after a cycle closes roll into the next cycle.
Submit one original song that you wrote and/or performed, along with your artist name, a link to the track, and a one-sentence pitch, and pay the non-refundable $5.00 USD entry fee through our payment processor. You may submit multiple entries; each requires a separate $5.00 fee and must be for a different song. All submitted material must be your own original work, and you must own or control all rights necessary to submit it. We do not accept entries containing hate speech, unlicensed samples, or content that infringes on someone else's rights.
Regardless of outcome, every entrant receives: (a) a written scorecard from our judging panel, (b) inclusion in that cycle's public "Spotlight Roll" on our website and social channels, and (c) our Press Starter Guide (PDF). These are delivered whether or not you win the grand prize, which is why the entry fee is non-refundable — you are paying for a service that is rendered, not for a chance at a prize.
Entries are scored by Sponsor's judging panel on a 1–5 scale across four categories: Songwriting, Production Quality, Originality, and Story/Brand, for a maximum score of 20. The entry with the highest total score each cycle is the Grand Prize winner. The next two highest-scoring entries are Runners-Up. In the event of a tie, a second judge independently reviews the tied entries to determine the winner — ties are never broken by random selection. All judging decisions are final.
The Grand Prize is a paid, disclosed feature placement with an independent music publication. The specific outlet, its approximate audience size, and the Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of the placement will be posted on this page before judging closes each cycle, once the placement is confirmed with the publication. Estimated ARV for the current cycle: [$X]. Runners-Up receive [describe: e.g. an extended featured interview on Sponsor's own platform + additional social promotion]. No cash alternative will be offered unless required by law. Sponsor may substitute a prize of comparable or greater value if the original arrangement becomes unavailable for reasons outside Sponsor's control.
The winner will be notified by email within [X] business days of the cycle closing and must respond within 7 days to claim the prize. If we don't hear back in that window, we may select an alternate winner from the remaining highest-scoring entries.
By entering, you agree that if you win, Sponsor may use your name, artist name, likeness, and a clip of your submitted song to promote the Contest and the resulting feature, at no additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.
Winners are solely responsible for any taxes owed on prizes received. Sponsor will issue applicable tax forms (e.g., IRS Form 1099) where required by law for prizes valued at $600 or more.
Entry fees are non-refundable, since payment covers the judging, feedback, and spotlight described in Section 5, all of which are delivered independent of contest outcome. We will issue refunds for duplicate charges or verified technical errors — contact [CONTACT EMAIL] within 7 days of your charge.
We collect your name, email, and submission details to run the Contest and contact you about it. We do not sell your personal data. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Contest if fraud, technical failure, or any factor beyond Sponsor's reasonable control impairs its integrity, and to disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process. Sponsor's decisions in all matters relating to the Contest are final.
These rules are governed by the laws of [YOUR STATE / PROVINCE], without regard to its conflict-of-law principles.
Contact [CONTACT EMAIL].