Call for entries: Unsigned Only competition

The competition is intended for solo artists, bands and singers all over the world who are looking for exposure, recognition and a chance to be noticed by industry professionals. Unsigned Only says the objective of the competition is to find an outstanding and talented performer who needs to be discovered.

Interested artists should submit their entries here. The submission deadline is 30 April.

The grand prize winner will be awarded $20 000 in cash, plus additional prizes, and one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives. First- and second-place winners will be selected in each category and will be awarded prizes. The first place winner in the Screen Shot category will also be mentored by a group of music executives who place songs in film, adverts, TV and video games. The winners of the 2019 competition will be announced in early September.

“Getting a record deal isn't the only success Unsigned Only artists have achieved,” the Unsigned Only website reads. “Many winners have also secured licensing deals, publishing deals, better gigs and more recognition after winning the competition.

“It offers great prizes, recognition, exposure and the chance to be heard by a group of judges consisting of high-profile recording artists and industry professionals. But Unsigned Only also takes it a step further and puts the winner in direct, personal contact with the influential record label executives who are the ultimate decision makers.”

The winner, the website says, will for the first time get an opportunity to be mentored by a group of record company presidents, A&R reps and more.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to directly network with the top echelon of record company professionals and get guidance, advice, feedback and networking opportunities. Unsigned Only offers many categories/genres for you to enter. You can enter as many songs as you like, in as many categories as you like. Since Unsigned Only is looking for an artist, it is advantageous to enter multiple songs so that the listening committee can know who you are as an artist.

Unsigned Only is expanding the competition to include five new categories to enter, namely blues, instrumental, jazz, latin and world music.

”We are very pleased that world music artists will now be able to enter the competition and have their music heard by such an esteemed panel of judges,” said Candace Avery and Jim Morgan, co-founders of Unsigned Only. “We are strongly committed to providing exposure to the different music traditions of the world and we look forward to providing world music artists the opportunity to showcase their music on a global platform.”

Judges include Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals), Mariza, Oumou Sangaré, Tinariwen and Angel Romero, founder and editor of World Music Central.

View the original call here.