Connect with us:
UPCOMING EVENTS:
IMSTA FESTA London
June 1, 2024

IMSTA FESTA Tokyo
June 23, 2024


IMSTA announces the 2018 IMSTA Song-Writing Competition. This competition is an annual affair that provides aspiring and established songwriters the opportunity attend Black Rock Studios in Santorini Greece.

IMSTA accepts song submissions prior to live-judging at IMSTA FESTA (dates listed below). All song submissions will be reviewed and considered to be one of the top Finalists. Songs of any genre are welcomed.

Additionally at IMSTA FESTA - all in person Song Reviews have the opportunity to be chosen as a wild-card entry, to be added to the Finalist pool and be in the running to be chosen in the Top Three for the regional finals.

Dates & Locations

Event Location Submission Deadline Song Submission
IMSTA FESTA Miami - Feb 24, 2018 SAE Institute February 18, 2018
IMSTA FESTA LA - May 19, 2018 SAE Institute May 14, 2018
IMSTA FESTA SEOUL - June 23, 2018 Record Factory June 18, 2018
IMSTA FESTA CHI – Jul 21, 2018 SAE Institute July 16, 2018
IMSTA FESTA NYCSep 22, 2018 SAE Institute September 17, 2018
IMSTA FESTA TOR – Oct 13, 2018 Ryerson University October 8, 2018
IMSTA FESTA BER – Oct 27, 2018 SAE Institute October 22, 2018

This competition runs throughout the year with separate regional drawings that take place at each IMSTA FESTA. The finalists + wild card submissions will be judged at IMSTA FESTA and be awarded 1st, 2nd or 3rd.

Submitted finalists need to be present for judging. At the end of the year, the 1st place winners of each IMSTA FESTA will enter for the Grand Prize of a FREE trip to the Songwriting camp at Black Rock Studios in Santorini Greece.

Black Rock Studio is considered one of the most beautiful studios in the world. Each year Black Rock hosts several Songwriting Camps at their picturesque location on Santorini Island in Greece. This camp is attended by some of the most talented songwriters in the world. The Grand Prize winner will attend Black Rock Studios songwriting camp the following year. They will receive free airfare from the continental USA and Canada to and from Santorini and free accommodations in Santorini courtesy of Black Rock Studios and IMSTA.

CONTEST DETAILS

  • Songs must be submitted through IMSTA.org.
  • Each song entry must be Entrant's original creation. Songs should not exceed 5 minutes in length (5:00). Entries may have co-writer[s], but one name must be designated per entry.
  • Employees or Partners of IMSTA and our Sponsors, their families, subsidiaries, and affiliates are not eligible to enter competition.
  • Songs will be judged based on melody, composition, originality and lyrics (where applicable).
  • Prizes will be awarded jointly to all authors of any song; division of prizes is responsibility of winners.
  • Entry files must be uploaded as an MP3. IMSTA is not responsible for any corrupt files you may submit. Any and all corrupt files will be deleted without notification to you.
  • All submissions to this Competition must be fully submitted by 11:59 PM Central Standard Time (or, if being observed, Central Daylight Time) on the final submission deadlines of the Competition.
  • All entries are final and irrevocable. Once you have submitted an entry for this Competition you may not withdraw the entry or request to change the category, genre or other division you chose for the entry.
  • By entering the IMSTA Song-Writing Competition - you hereby give consent to have your song and/or song link posted to the IMSTA website, social media platforms, or any equivalent streaming/distribution service where your works are available, YouTube or any other online service for promotional purposes only.
  • Winner of the grand prize must be eligible and able to travel to receive prize. Grand prize winner will be notified by email at the address provided, and must sign and return an affidavit of eligibility/publicity release within ten (10) days after the date on such notification. The affidavit will state that the winner's song is an original work and that the winner holds all rights to the song or is a cover of a licensed song and is identified as such in the submission. Failure to sign and return this affidavit within ten (10) days, or the provision of false/inaccurate information therein, will result in immediate disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Affidavits of winners under eighteen (18) years of age at the time of award must be countersigned by the winner's parent or legal guardian. Affidavits are subject to verification by IMSTA.


COMPETITION RULES & REGULATIONS

  1. Prize winners may be asked to prove that the composition was created with legal, purchased software. Songwriters using illegal software are not eligible to win the IMSTA Song-Writing Competition
  2. Submitted finalists are required to be present for judging at IMSTA FESTA.
  3. Entrants must be at least 16 years of age to enter this Competition.
  4. Entrants must provide true, accurate, current and complete contact and other information.
  5. You will be disqualified for false registration, making false claims, misrepresentation or any other conduct, action or activity that IMSTA, in its sole discretion, deems to be "cheating."
  6. Each song submitted must consist entirely of the Entrant’s original work. You will be disqualified for submitting any material for which you either do not solely own all worldwide copyright rights or have not obtained all necessary licenses, in proper form.
  7. Collaborative work among co-Entrants will be accepted, but all prizes will be awarded to the Entrants whose name is on the submission form. Division of prizes among co-Entrants is the sole responsibility of winners and IMSTA shall have no liability for co-Entrants failure to divide prizes.
  8. If an entry created by multiple songwriters wins the Grand Prize, only one songwriter may claim the complete Grand Prize. IMSTA is not responsible for selecting the single recipient of this prize.
  9. Closing and announcement dates for this Competition may change without notice to you. Such changes will be posted on imsta.org.
  10. IMSTA may change these rules at any time, at IMSTA’s sole discretion, without prior notice to you.
  11. Entering this Competition does not grant you any right or license to use any IMSTA material (i.e. logos, images, text, etc.), trademarks or other intellectual property of IMSTA for any purpose, without first obtaining IMSTA’s express written consent.
  12. Employees of IMSTA, their sponsors, advertising agencies, affiliates, agents, representatives, and the families or households of the above are ineligible to enter or win any IMSTA Competitions.
  13. The selection of winners by IMSTA and the judges are final and cannot be appealed.
  14. All prizes are non-transferable and void where prohibited by law. No cash substitution of prizes is possible.
  15. The odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Winners will receive the prizes as set forth in the Competition announcement.
  16. Winners understand and agree that they are solely responsible for any and all taxes, including but not limited to sales, income, or value added, incurred on prizes received, and for any and all duties, tariffs, or import fees that may be assessed upon receiving prizes.
  17. All Entrants acknowledge, as a condition of entry, that IMSTA has the right to publicize and broadcast any winner's name, character, likeness, voice and all other matters incidental thereto.
  18. This Competition is void where prohibited.
  19. Companies sponsoring the IMSTA Song-Writing Competition may choose to collect and use email address used by you in this Competition. IMSTA cannot control the privacy policies of these outside sponsors, and if you do not want your email collected by these sponsors, you should not participate in the IMSTA Song-Writing Competition.
  20. By entering this contest you hereby give consent to the recording, broadcast and promotion(s) of the reproduction(s) of the voice and music as part of the IMSTA Song-Writing Competition. You also understand and agree to receive no compensation for appearances and participation in the IMSTA Song-Writing Competition or promotion(s) of your works.
  21. By entering the IMSTA Song-Writing Competition - you hereby give consent to have your song and/or song link posted to the IMSTA website, social media platforms or any equivalent streaming/distribution service where your works are available, YouTube or any other online service for promotional purposes only.
  22. If you are a Finalist or a Wildcard, IMSTA reserves the right to use your name and likeness for promotional purposes.
  23. Artist's name and likeness may be used in advertising and promotional material for the IMSTA Song-Writing Competition, but not as an endorsement of any product or service.
  24. All rights in and to Artist's performance submitted to the IMSTA Song-writing Competition herein shall remain the sole property of the Artist and the rights granted herein are for broadcast and promotion only.