Momento Cultural: Festival John Lennon Songwriting Contest

2011 Rules & Regulations

Each song submitted must be contestant's original work. Songs may not exceed five (5) minutes in length. Songs may have multiple co-writers, but please designate one name only on the application. Contestant may submit as many songs in as many categories as he/she wishes, but each entry requires a separate cassette, CD, or MP3 file, entry form, lyric sheet, and entrance fee. One check or money order for multiple entries/categories is permitted. (Entrance fee is non-refundable. JLSC is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, postage due, stolen, or misappropriated entries. The JLSC is not responsible for faulty file uploads accompanying online entries.)

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is conducting 2 separate Contests during 2011 - Session I and Session II. Twelve (12) Grand Prize winning songs from each Session (one from each category) will receive $6,500 in project studio equipment from Avid, Roland/Boss, Ableton, Audio-Technica, Gibson and Epiphone, Propellerhead, Neutrik cables and a $500 gift certificate from MusiciansFriend.com. The 12 Grand Prize Winners in each Session will go head-to-head in an online voting competition to become the Lennon Award Winner in their respective category. The 12 Lennon Award Winners will receive $1000 in Mackie, Ampeg products, and 1,000 CDs in full color, premium 6-panel Digipaks, worth $1,990 courtesy of Disc Makers. Thirty-six (36) Finalists from each Session will receive $100 gift certificates from Musiciansfriend.com and Sibelius. One (1) Lennon Award winning song will receive a Mackie Mixer and Studio Monitors, A $1000 scholarship to Digital Media Academy, and $20,000 for the “Song of the Year”.

Contest is open to amateur and professional songwriters. Employees of JLSC, their families, subsidiaries, and affiliates are not eligible.

Winners will be chosen by a select panel of judges comprised of noted songwriters, producers, and music industry professionals. Songs will be judged based on melody, composition, originality and lyrics (when applicable). The quality of performance and production will not be considered. Prizes will be awarded jointly to all authors of any song; division of prizes is responsibility of winners. Void where prohibited. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. The JLSC reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value.

One (1) band will be selected by WARPED TOUR organizers to tour and perform for one week on WARPED TOUR 2012. Performance of the song will be considered for this special prize.

Winners will be notified by email and must sign and return an affidavit of eligibility/recording rights/publicity release within 14 days of notification date. The affidavit will state that winner’s song is original work and he/she holds all rights to song. Failure to sign and return such affidavit within 14 days or provision of false/inaccurate information therein will result in immediate disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Affidavits for winners under 18 years of age at time of award must be countersigned by parent or legal guardian. Affidavits subject to verification by JLSC and its agents. Entry constitutes permission to use winner’s names, likenesses, and voices for future advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation.

CDs, cassettes, and lyrics will not be returned.

If submitting between the dates of February 2nd, 2011, and February 15th, 2011, and include indication that your submission is a love song, your submission will also be considered for the special Valentine’s Day offer at no additional cost. The Valentine’s Day Love Song winner will be chosen by JLSC staff. Songs will be judged based on melody, composition, originality and lyrics (when applicable). The quality of performance and production will not be considered. Prizes will be awarded jointly to all authors of any song; division of prizes is responsibility of winners. Void where prohibited. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. The JLSC reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value.

Winner Announcements: Valentines Day Love Song announced on or prior to May 1, 2011. Session I announced on or prior to September 1, 2011. Session II announced on or prior to March 1, 2012. Announcements will be sent to the email address provided by each entrant and will also be posted on jlsc.com, no other notification will be given. “Song of the Year” will be announced by July 2012. For more information contact info@jlsc.com.

Each entry requires the following elements:
	One song five (5) minutes or less (mp3, CD or cassette)
	A lyric sheet -- no lyrics necessary for instrumental compositions
	A payment -- $30.00 per song
	A completed application