For payments using a Visa, Discover, MasterCard, American Express, or eCheck please use the Paypal button to the left. Remember to print out your receipt emailed to you from PayPal and enclose it with your submission and a completed entry form to the following address: BLUES IDOL CONTEST P.O. BOX 10550 MARINA DEL REY, CALIFORNIA, 90295, U.S.A.

Rules and Regulations

1: All entrants to any BLUES IDOL contest both imply and agree to participate in the contest and obey the rules by their participation in the contest.

2: The contest is open to any artist who does not have, or any artist who has had but does not currently have, a recording contract or national distribution deal. Employees of BLUES IDOL, its affiliated companies, their advertising agencies, and immediate families are not eligible to enter to win.

3: All entries must be postmarked no later than September 15th, 2004. Winners will be announced by October, 2004.

4: Entrants are required to supply typed lyrics along with a cassette/CD of the song. Lyric sheet must be typed or printed legibly. No music sheets/scores required.

cheap car insurance california 5: Entries will be judged in the following (5) five categories: Vocals, Lyrics, Music & Melody, Commercial Appeal & Overall Quality.

6: Entrants can submit one (1) song per cassette/CD. If there is more than one writer per submission, all co-writers must sign a letter of agreement for the song to be submitted, and must abide by all criteria to enter. If there are co-writers on the winning entry, the prize package must be divided between co-writers at their mutual discretion. Each song submitted must be contestant's original work. No song previously recorded and released through national distribution in any country will be eligible. Contest is open to amateur and professional songwriters.

7: Songs can be no longer than 5 minutes in length

8: Finalists will be determined by the BLUES IDOL Advisory Board. Winners will be selected by a panel of distinguished judges.

9: Five (5) Finalists will be notified by mail and must sign and return an affidavit of eligibility/recording rights/publicity release within 14 days of notification date. The Grand Prize Winner will be chosen at a live concert event by a panel of Grammy-winning producers, songwriters, and music industry professionals (details to be posted at www./ at a later 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 finalist will be selected. Affidavits of winners under 18 years of age at time of award must be countersigned by parent or legal guardian. Affidavits subject to verification by BLUES IDOL and its agents. Entry constitutes permission to use winner’s names, likenesses, and voices for future advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation.

10: Prizes: One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive a Recording Contract with BLUES IDOL, project studio equipment, and other prizes to be announced. Twelve (12) First Prize Winners will have their recording released on a BLUES IDOL Compilation CD and will receive various other prizes to be announced. Twenty (20) Finalists will receive various prizes to be announced.

11: A BLUES IDOL Compilation/Sampler CD will be created from the finalists.

12: The entrant warrants and represents that the songs submitted are sole, exclusive and original works of the entrant and have not been paid, published, released, or otherwise distributed.

13: Each entry will receive a written critique of their submission by the BLUES IDOL Advisory Board that includes Grammy-winning producers, songwriters, and music industry professionals. CDs, cassettes, and lyrics will not be returned.

14: All material submitted must be contestant's original work and shall not infringe upon copyrights or any other rights of any third party. All entrants shall hold harmless and hereby indemnify BLUES IDOL, its principals, employees, agents, subsidiaries, and affiliates against all first, second, and third party claims arising from entries violating any contest rules and regulations. NO composition or lyrics previously licensed or released for commercial sale in any country will be eligible. This includes material which has been signed with a publisher or record label.

15: Entrants can only win the Grand Prize once.

16: Winners shall solely be responsible for all applicable taxes or additional charges on any prize awarded. Winners will be requested to execute a W-9 tax form. It is understood that an Internal Revenue form 1099, to report on the value of any such prize as earned income, will be issued for such purposes by either BLUES IDOL or its promotional partner issuing the prize. Winners agree to accept the estimate of fair market value. This is applicable to all prizes values at $500 or more including cash won that adds up to $600 or more in any given year. Prizewinners must execute and return this release form, a W-9, a photocopy of legal documents showing social security number and any additional required forms within 10 days of receiving forms.

17: BLUES IDOL requires proof of winners’ own social security number before prize can be sent to winner. Receipt of prize may be delayed until such proof is received by BLUES IDOL. Prizes will be mailed/available for pick up 6-8 weeks after they have been awarded unless otherwise noted.

18: Contestants must use their true, legal name when entering contests or claiming prizes and may not win any contest under an assumed name. Winner will be disqualified and prize(s) forfeited if they are found participating under an assumed name or alias.

19: All prizes must be accepted as awarded. Prizes are non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and are not redeemable for cash or other prizes. BLUES IDOL retains the right to substitute a prize with another similar prize of equal or greater value in the event the original prize offered is not available due to circumstances beyond the company’s control. Inability of winner(s) to accept the prizes will result in forfeiture. Certain prizes may require the winner to be 18 years of age or older or have signed permission of parent or legal guardian to accept the prize.

20: BLUES IDOL, its affiliated and parent companies, are not responsible for any disconnection of a participant’s telephone or email, change of address or other condition that may lead to BLUES IDOL’s inability to notify a contestant that the contestant has been awarded or has won a prize and such condition will result in forfeiture of contest/prize.

21: Winners are responsible for all costs associated with travel to any venue or event for which a prize was awarded, unless otherwise specified.

22: If the prize includes travel, lodging, entertainment or a special event, winner is responsible for all taxes, expenses and gratuities not expressly included in and as part of the prize. Winner agrees to accept all blackout dates, space availability requirements, etc. established by BLUES IDOL’s prize partner(s) such as hotels, airlines, trains, ships, etc. Winner agrees that acceptance of any trip taken as a prize from BLUES IDOL does so entirely upon their own initiative, risk and responsibility. If the trip requires traveling outside of the United States, the winner, upon winning the prize, must have a valid US passport. If the winner does not have a valid US passport upon winning the prize, the trip may be forfeited.

23: Winner agrees to indemnify and hold harmless BLUES IDOL LLC., promotional agencies, their agents, officers, employees, affiliates and assigns for any injuries, accidents, misfortunes, or causes of action arising from or in connection with participation in any contest and/or acceptance of the prize.

24: Contestants will permit BLUES IDOL to use their name, voice, and/or likeness without prior notice or compensation, for promotional purposes in connection with the contest in either broadcast or print forms. BLUES IDOL shall have the right to use the song at their discretion as they see fit, without reservation and without payment to broadcast the song which comprises the lyrics and music of entrant.

25: The right title and interest of the entrant in and to the copyright to the lyrics & music submitted remains with the entrant. The only commitment is to the contest, nothing else. Any further follow-up would need entrant's permission, as in our Winner's Affidavit and Agreement. However, your entry does constitute permission to use your name, likeness and voice for future publicity and advertising purposes without additional compensation.

26: BLUES IDOL is not obligated to return copies of the songs submitted by entrants and shall not be responsible for any loss or damage suffered by an entrant as a result of the delivery of the song.

27: BLUES IDOL is not obligated to pay any royalties or fees of any kind to the author/entrant, except for the prize money, should the entrant's song be selected as the winning entrant.

28: All decisions are made by BLUES IDOL with respect to the acceptance of any entry and eligibility of entries shall be final and binding upon all participants.

29: Contest/prizes subject to Federal, State, and local regulations and laws and is void where restricted or prohibited by law. Upon winning any prize valued at $100 from BLUES IDOL, the contestant is no longer eligible to win any prize from BLUES IDOL within a thirty (30) day period following the first win.

30: No purchase necessary.

31: A BLUES IDOL Compilation/Sampler CD will be created from the finalists.

32: A portion of the proceeds from the contest will go to charity including The International House of Blues Foundation and Angels On Earth Foundation.

33: Contestant agrees to indemnify and to hold BLUES IDOL, its affiliated and parent companies harmless in the event of any injuries or other maladies with regards participation in any contest staged or sponsored by BLUES IDOL. Contestant has entered the contest at his/her own risk and agrees to hold nobody responsible for any injuries or misfortune with regards to participation in any BLUES IDOL contests/events.

34: BLUES IDOL retains the right to amend these rules and regulations at any time for any reason.

BLUES IDOL is sponsored by:
JBL, AKG, Digitech, DBX, Cohn De Silva Entertainment, McCartney Multimedia, Ifanz.com, E-Pass Technologies, Vampire/Transylvania Imports and BLUES IDOL. Other Sponsors to be announced.

Download and print the application in PDF.