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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If I am a solo or track act, can I enter? or How many people can be in my group?
You may have 1-100 people in your group. We welcome solo performers, groups and FULL BANDS. Maximum of 5 people may audition at any live auditions/preliminaries. ACTUAL MEMBERS of your full group (background singers, dancers, triangle player, etc.) will be able to perform at the FINAL SHOWCASE ONLY.

I am in a contract with an (agent, manager, producer, etc) Can I still Enter?
YES! This contest is for aspiring professional artists. As long as you are not in a Major Label contract, you are free to enter. When you win the contest, you will negotiate with the music industry based on your present circumstances. YOU decide who you deal with. If you want to enter, but are an artist with a Major Label deal -uhm -what are you doing here? Give someone else a chance to catch up!

I am an (agent, manager, producer, etc) Can I Enter for my artist?
YES! You may enter as many of your artists as you wish. YOU MUST HAVE PERMISSION to enter their music. If you are not in a legal contract to represent their music, the artist should do it themselves. Should they make it to the Semi-Finals or Finals your artist will be required to perform the song and fill out any necessary paperwork.

Do I HAVE to sign with one of the companies involved?
Unlike some other competitions, as a winner, you are not FORCED to sign with anyone you do not feel comfortable with. GO FOR THE BEST DEAL YOU CAN!

What Style of Music Can Be Entered?
All music will initially be categorized in one of 6 categories/genres to compete in: Pop/Top 40, Country, R&B/Hip-Hip/Urban, Rock, Alternative/Punk/Other or Christian/Gospel.

Can we have PROFANITY or EXPLICIT Lyrics?
No. As the Next Hit Song is a Family Event and show we do not allow Lyrics, Performances, Choreography or outfits that contain profanity, violent or sexually explicit materials. Keep it PG-13! If profanity is normally a part of your lyrics, we suggest you send your “clean” stuff to increase your chances of being included in the final showcase.

When will the finalists be announced?
Progress of the contest and announcement dates will be found by a link on the home page of the official web site located at www.NextHitSong.com. The selected finalists for each category are notified a few weeks before the showcase.

Can we sing other people's music or Can we submit materials that do not have a copyright?
You may only submit original songs that you own the copyright or have written permission/are licensed to use. If you have not registered the copyright to your song yet, you can still submit your entry however, we highly recommend you protect your songs. You can copyright your lyrics or music online at The Next Hit Song Web Site for only $15+government registration fee. Click Here to copyright your music.

I missed the deadline -what do i do now?
Relax! There will always be another Next Hit Song Contest next year.

I am an artist. I play in several different acts. Can I submit all of my groups to the Next Hit Song?
The Next Hit Song is about MUSIC. If you happen to be involved with multiple songs, feel free to enter them yourself, or have someone else in the group enter any of the songs. Please note you will only be able to be involved and perform ONE SONG during the semifinal or final showcases.

I have more than one CD out. Can I submit one entry per CD release?
Yes. Only one song may be entered at live auditions. You may enter as many songs as you wish online here. Be sure to send in ALL of your BEST material! You never know which one the world will think should be America's Next Hit Song!

Are band member substitutions allowed if we can't make it to the showcase?
Yes, of course. We are here to HELP you! Which means we will attempt to accommodate all entrants that make it to the finals any way we can.

If one member of the group is 18, can another member be under 18?
Sorry, due to various state liquor laws, we can not accept any entrants under the age of 18.

Do we have to pay to be in the showcase?
There is a $30 one-time administrative fee that needs to be sent with your first song entry and $10 each additional entry. Live auditions are free. If you are selected as a finalist there is NO CHARGE to be in the showcase. You will however be responsible for your own travel and accommodation expenses to any preliminary, semifinal or final round. A sponsor may or may not provide travel to the 10 final showcase participants.

RULES FOR THE NEXT HIT SONG:

LIVE AUDITIONS:

GOOD QUALITY AUDIO CASSETTES OR CDS ONLY. We can't be responsible for skips.
Artists are allowed up to 1 minute for song entered.
.5 point penalty per judge for Wrong CD track or tapes not cued.
.5 point penalty per judge for attempting to exceed time limits.
.5 point penalty per judge for starting over (this will be allowed once if time schedule permits).

The stopwatch will start EXACTLY when the music starts. One minute is enough time for the average 1st verse and 1st chorus. Be sure that you do not have long musical intros as it will count in your allotted time.

A team of music professionals will screen the talent pool at auditions and select 4 from each category to move on to preliminary rounds. 24 entrants will showcase at the preliminaries in front of local music professionals who will then select 1 person per category to move to semifinals. All preliminary entrants will be posted on the internet for public vote. The top 3 winners of the public vote will also be sent to the semifinals if they have not already been selected. The top 10 from the semifinals will move to the final showcase. For details on the Semifinals and Finals please click here.

You will be required to fill out a release and an entry form to participate in a live audition. You download the release online or pick one up at the audition location.

For complete details on live auditions please click here.

GENERAL RULES FOR ALL ENTRANTS

The Next Hit Song is a contest of skill. The Next Hit Song is only open to musicians who are US Residents and eligible to work. You may not currently be signed to a major record label. Employees, interns, volunteers and artists of Need Promo, LLC, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, or sponsors, artists, or any other organization connected to the contest, members of their immediate families, are not eligible to compete.

There are 6 Categories/Genres of music accepted:

Pop/Top 40
Country
R&B/Hip-Hop/Urban
Rock
Alternative/Punk/Other
Christian/Gospel

All members of a group must be at least 18 years of age and eligible to work in the United States.
You may enter as many songs as you wish. Each song must be entered separately. Only one song per ENTRANT/GROUP will be allowed to be performed at semi-final and final showcase.
Live Auditions will be held on select dates at select locations and may be substituted for internet entry. If you make it to a live audition, , we recommend you also enter online to increase your chances of winning.
Only the first minute of each song will be considered. One minute is enough time for the average 1st verse and 1st chorus. Be sure that you do not have long musical intros as it will count in your allotted time. The 10 finalists selected to perform at the final showcase will be allowed to perform the entire song (up to 4 minutes).
A $30 processing fee for the first song and $10 for each additional song will be charged for each internet entry.
Quality of audio/video production will NOT be a factor in judging.
The Next Hit Song is a family event. We do not allow Lyrics, Performances, Choreography or outfits that contain profanity, violent or sexually explicit materials. Keep it PG-13! If this type of thing is normally part of your lyrics, we suggest you enter with your “clean” stuff to increase your chances of being included in the final showcase.
A panel of music business and related industry will be selected to judge the final showcase and choose one Grand Prize Winner. All decisions by judges are final.
Finalist will not have to pay a “showcase” fee. All entrants, including those selected to continue on to later rounds are responsible for their own transportation, accommodations and associated expenses. The Next Hit Song may or may not cover your travel expenses for final showcase.
We are not responsible for lost, late, mutilated, misdirected, or postage-due entries, traffic jams, technology issues or malfunctions, misinformation of directions, illness, inability to perform, lack of transportation or any other circumstance that may prevent you from entering in a timely and proper manner either at a live audition, internet entry, preliminary, semifinal or final round in this contest. Incomplete, illegible, or fraudulent entries not considered.
Rules subject to change at any time without notice.
All entries are accepted and processed in the order received. A tentative schedule will be provided to you with the date(s) and approximate times at least five days in advance of any competition.
No fire or live animals can be used in any routine.
In the event of any tie during any round, an official “tie-breaker” judge’s decision will be used and is final.

By entering this contest and/or using any prize, prize winner and guests agree: (1) to release Next Hit Song, Need Promo, LLC, and their respective parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies and their respective shareholders, officers, directors, employees, agents, members, and assigns, sponsors from liability of any kind or nature for any loss, claims, damages or injuries of any kind associated with participation in this contest or with acceptance and use of any prize: and (2) to be bound by these rules and any decisions of the sponsor or promoter relating to the participation in the contest, selection of winners and awarding of prizes, whose decisions are final. Entry into the Next Hit Song Contest and Acceptance of any prize constitutes permission to use winner’s name, biographical information, and/or likeness by producer, sponsors, affiliates and sponsors of the contest for purposes of marketing, advertising and promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. In order to claim prize, additional releases and/or waivers of liability required by Need Promo, LLC and/or any applicable sponsors or sanctioning body shall be required as appropriate.

Void where prohibited by law. Subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Winner’s name will be posted on the contest’s web site www.NextHitSong.com following the contest.

Contest produced by Need Promo, LLC and primarily Sponsored by Broadjam, InGrooves and the Omni Broadcasting Network.

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