Rules

Conditions of Entry to the 2018 Contest

GENERAL (APPLIES TO ALL SECTIONS)

  1. The aim of the FOOM Song Competition is to encourage the writing of new material. Original songs can be entered in any style (with the sole exception of the Rock Music Genre category).
  2. There is a limit of two songs per songwriter in the Live section only. There is no limit on the number of entries in the Studio, Demo, Howard Kehl Rock Award or Lyrics sections but each song must be accompanied by an Entry Form correctly completed with the correct entry fee. Collaborators may also enter individually penned songs in conformity with this rule. The same song may not be entered in more than ONE section.
  3. Songs must be original and the entrant must sign the copyright declaration on the entry form. The entrant agrees to indemnify the organisers of the competition from any copyright claims which might arise from infringement of copyright laws. Winning songwriters must also agree to enter into a specific agreement with SCALA for the recording and use of their song on CD.
  4. Songs must not be previously recorded for commercial distribution or radio airplay (including independent release), offered for commercial download, published, be subject to recording or publishing agreements or have won prizes in other competitions.
  5. Entrants must make their own arrangements (at their expense) to take advantage of any prizes won from this competition and entrants living outside South Australia are STRONGLY advised to consider entering only the Studio Open, Howard Kehl Rock Award, Instrumental Open or Lyrics Only Sections. SCALA reserves the right to impose any conditions on recording as it sees fit.
  6. Except in the Lyric Section, songs or music should be no more than 6 minutes long. In taking up recording and CD prizes entrants must agree to meet any costs above the value of prizes offered if completed recordings of songs are longer than 6 minutes.
  7. The songwriter can nominate another person or persons to perform the song. The songwriter of a winning song is responsible for organising suitable musicians to record the song.

ENTRY

  • All entries to be submitted online via this (new) Song Central Online Entry site where recordings and lyrics can be uploaded and entry payment made online.

NB: Online SCALA membership payments can be made through the SCALA website.

  • The judges are instructed to first judge the quality of the song as it is presented to them. This will include taking into account the overall presentation of the song. Judges reserve the right to not choose a winning song in a section if, in their view, there is insufficient overall quality in that section. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. The competition organisers reserve the right to interpret these rules as they see fit and these interpretations are final.

CATEGORIES

Live Performance Section

  • Live Performance heats will be held at SCALA’s Performance Venue at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George Street, Thebarton, South Australia on Thursday 19th July, Thursday 2nd August, Thursday 17 August, Thursday 9th August, and Thursday 16th August 2018 commencing at 8:00pm. SCALA may alter the number of heats depending on the amount of entries received.  Finalists will be selected from each heat with the finalists judged in performance on the evening of Thursday 23rd August, 2018 commencing at 8:00pm. Entrants in this section must be available to perform their songs (or have arranged someone else to perform the song) on any of these dates. Entrants will be advised of the date of their heat via email.  Entrants in each heat and in the final must also comply with registration and running order instructions of the organisers.
  • For staging reasons there is a maximum of TWO performers on stage per song. Each performer may play any number of instruments and there is no restriction on multi-voice keyboards, loop devices or MIDI equipment but any equipment used must be set up within the time limits outlined in Rule 12. Full drum kits and elaborate keyboard/synthesizer instrumentations are NOT recommended because of the time taken to set up. Excessive instrumentation is not encouraged. Backing audio must not be used. Songwriters with backing audio should consider entering the Demo or Studio sections.
  • Performers have a six and a half minute limit in which to perform their songs including any introduction and setup.

Demo Open Section

  • Recordings can be ‘home recording’ or ‘demo’ quality, however these recordings would need to be of a sufficient quality so that they can be judged audibly and clearly. There is no limit on the number of performers or instruments used on the recording. These sections will be prejudged and, subject to these conditions, the winner/s will be announced at the Live Performance Final.

Instrumental Open Section

  • Recordings can be ‘home recording’ or ‘demo’ quality, however these recordings would need to be of a sufficient quality so that they can be judged audibly and clearly. There is no limit on the number of performers or instruments used on the recording. Entries in the Instrumental section will not have lyrics. These sections will be prejudged and, subject to these conditions, the winner/s will be announced at the Live Performance Final.

Studio Open Section

  • Studio recordings must be owned by the copyright owner of the song who can give permission for their use by SCALA.
  • Entries must be professionally recorded to commercial CD/radio airplay quality, unsigned and unreleased. There is no limit on the number of performers or instruments used on the recording. This section will be prejudged. The judges will be asked to judge the quality of the recording, musicianship and presentation of the song as well as the merits of the song but the quality of the song will have greater weight. Subject to these conditions the winner/s will be announced at the Live Performance Final.

Lyrics Only Section

  • Lyrics must be original. This section will be prejudged and, subject to these conditions, the winner/s will be announced at the Live Performance Final.

Howard Kehl Rock Music Development Section

  • Recordings can be ‘home recording’ or ‘demo’ quality, however these recordings would need to be of a sufficient quality so that they can be judged audibly and clearly. There is no limit on the number of performers or instruments used on the recording. These sections will be prejudged and, subject to these conditions, the winner/s will be announced at the Live Performance Final.

Please note this is a specific Rock genre category.  Please refer to www.britannica.com/art/rock-music for clarification, definition, and inspiration.

PRIZES

Songs are judged by panels typically consisting of a male and a female music professional. Judges are asked to complete a feedback sheet for all entrants. Feedback sheets contain a scale (with explanation) plus space for judges to provide constructive comments on each song as they see fit. Some panels provide combined comments. Whilst we encourage judges to provide feedback they are under no obligation to do so (but most judges do provide some feedback). Feedback sheets are returned to entrants. Entrants are reminded that any such feedback represents only the view of the individual judges and usually is offered as a general guide only.

Winning songs from the Live and Demo sections are re-recorded in professional studios and, with winning Studio section recordings, are mastered for release on albums forming part of the SCALA CD collection.

Winners of the Live Performance Section will receive:

Recording and mastering of your winning song for SCALA CD and download

SCALA CD/download release

5 copies of the CD

12 months SCALA membership

Winners of the Demo Open Section will receive:

  • Recording and mastering of your winning song for SCALA CD and download
  • SCALA CD/download release
  • 5 copies of the CD
  • 12 months SCALA membership

 

Winners of the Instrumental Open Section will receive:

  • $100-00 cash
  • Mastering for CD (if not already mastered)
  • 10 copies of CD
  • SCALA CD/download release
  • 12 months SCALA membership

Winners of the Studio Open Section will receive:

  • $200.00 cash
  • Mastering for CD (if not already mastered)
  • 10 copies of CD
  • SCALA CD/download release
  • 12 months SCALA membership

Winners of the Lyrics Section will receive:

  • $100.00 cash
  • 12 months SCALA membership
  • Lyrics printed in SCALA Newsletter.

 

Winner of the Howard Kehl Rock Award will receive:

  • Recording and mastering of your winning song for SCALA CD and download
  • SCALA CD/download release
  • 5 copies of CD
  • 12 months SCALA membership

Judges and organisers may split these prizes if there are multiple winners in the above categories.