Community Funded Song Contest
January 5th, 2010 by Lior Shamir“What if I run a song contest where the entry fees from all the participants are awarded to the winner?”
Consider this concept for a Community Funded Song Contest:
Everyone Gets Heard By Everyone
Instead of fans or industry judges voting for a winner, the paying contest participants (you) vote for the winner. This means that, not only do you pay, say, $10 to upload your song, but you must also listen and review every song entered in the song contest in order for your vote to count. You must pay. You must listen. You must vote. Everyone who takes part gets heard by everyone who takes part.
Winner Takes All
Your entry fee goes into a ‘cash prize pool’ for the category you entered into. The winner for this category wins the cash. All of it. Mainstream categories (Rock, Pop, Country etc.) will naturally draw more entries — and cash — than niche categories such as Avante Garde and World. Select your category carefully or…
Create Your Own Category
Some artists refuse to pigeon-hole their music into a single category (or genre) while others stick to one, defining genre and never stray. When you enter the Community Funded Song Contest, you’ll have a choice of categories. However, if you don’t find one that works for you, you can create your own category and hope that other participants will follow. For example, a Nashville-based songwriter may create the Nashville Alt. Rock category which may attract other Nashville-based songwriters.
So if I don’t win, I paid and got nothing?
No! Remember, if you participate, your song will be reviewed by everyone else who participates. You can leave comments for one another too.
How does this concept compare with the Free Song Contest concept?
Leave me your feedback please.
January 5th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I like this idea a lot, but I think categories should be limited to a pre-set list at first. Too many categories will thin out participation in each; additionally, it will make navigation a beast, both for uploading and for listening. Instead, use pre-set categories (not too many!) and allow each song to have a 140-character descriptor. This way a song could be in Rock, but tagged for all to see as “a Nashville alt. rock tune made of oil, gasoline and chicken guts”.
Jeff
http://www.cerebellumblues.com
January 6th, 2010 at 12:29 am
This sounds good to me! Let’s do it!
January 6th, 2010 at 12:34 am
Art isn’t, or shouldn’t be, a contest. I’d love to see a promotional idea that doesn’t involve making someone feel like a loser and declaring someone else a winner.
Two cents.
January 6th, 2010 at 12:34 am
i have already copyrighted this idea. and I think it is a good idea.
January 6th, 2010 at 1:24 am
Like the pyramid scheme but who will be truly honest everyone will vote for themselves no? What about the industry reps would they be interested in the winners/runner ups ect..
January 6th, 2010 at 3:22 am
This idea rocks! My main pain: I think there should be more prizes than just one “winner takes all”. After all, isn’t a number 2 hit worth having? or a number 5?
Otherwise, the most popular genre (that appeals to the most people) will be handicapped to win.
January 6th, 2010 at 4:50 am
I think that they are both great ideas. People may be more receptive to this idea since it’s more interactive and people are into being interactive these days. But both of these contest are really good ideas. Maybe you could test them both out to see what the response is.
Jeff had a great suggestion that might help simplify things a bit as far as genres go.
James
January 6th, 2010 at 8:19 am
Hi Lior,
It sounds like a pretty good idea.
One thing that comes to mind is how many songs will i have to listen to? (in the popular categories for ex.)
Naturally, i wouldn’t want to have to listen to loads of songs.
Shalom & Shana Tova
Shaked aka Shak
January 6th, 2010 at 8:25 am
This is a great concept. I think it would be hard for everyone to review everyone but it’s an idea that deserves to be explored.
January 6th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Actually not bad, I see the creative juices flowing here to respond to market song context comments and create some alternatives here
But here’s a thought: As a musician one wants a “public” recognition to get the music out there and to go somewhere further with that. The problem with purely a cash incentive from “internal” fellow blog/community site users with limited (or no) connection to the industry kinda undermines that objective.
I am not saying it should not be done.
It could work if then the said “winner” is then reviewed by the industry after the event. That way, the Song Competition organizers save on the admin and related costs etc.. and use the filter of the community to do the initial leg work. The artists don’t get nothing: the “winner” get the collective competition fees and a forum post the competition to be reviewed by the industry for further promotion.
thoughts?
JS
January 6th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
My honest comments are.
In my opinion your last idea looks like you are straying from the main reason why song contest are held in the first place and focussing around why you think other people are not anticipating. (money) From my view point other peoples opinions are necessary worth measuring my music.
If you are looking to sell a service then it should add tangible value to the product. That’s my open and honest opinion.
January 6th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
1. I like Jeff’s “140-character descriptor” idea. This will work nicely with Twitter!
2. Paul – you either can’t vote for yourself or you get two votes, only one of which can be cast for yourself. I think the former is easier — and easy to code.
3. Russell is right. Perhaps we need to consider an “equity” scheme. For example, if 100 artists enter and you get 10 votes, you get 10% of the proceeds. Makes sense?
4. Shaked – you have a point but I do like the idea of earning the privilege of entering by having to judge as well as be judged.
5. John, I’m just trying to make this idea financially viable but I’m not married to the details. I like your thinking.
January 6th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
This is an interesting concept, inexpensive, peer-reviewed. I would inquiry if something could be done to preclude artists from voting for themselves. Another benefit to song contests is the exposure to the “industry,” which this would not appear to provide. I am not in this for prizes (cash, instruments, etc). Those are nice but my prize is a cut. I enjoy participating in these; it’s part of the journey, a means to the (hopeful) end. It’s the exposure, promotion I’m after.
Lior Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Interesting.
You should review this survey:
http://www.wearelistening.org/blog/7-reasons-to-enter-a-song-contest/
January 6th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
I think this a great concept and would look forward to it being put into practice.
I suggest that it may be practical to have the competition often but limit the number entering.
This would be all participants will be able to do the reviewing process. For instance I reckon with the time I could put aside to do this I could fairly review ten per competition a week.
January 7th, 2010 at 6:10 am
I love this idea and would definitely love to hear all the songs! To Paul, I am an industry professional and would certainly listen to the runners up (one man’s trash is another man’s treasure).
Chris Keaton
Lior Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
That’s the spirit Chris!
January 7th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
hey all,
kind of agree with abd…our art is OUR art…it’s an extension of our soul (at least i think for most of us), so in some way it can’t be judged as being better or worse than another’s. so how can we create a “contest” in which the one who doesn’t win is not a loser?
..and…i personally liked the other contest idea better. in this one i like the idea of being heard by our peers (though it seems like that would take a lot of time)..maybe a combination of the two ideas..?? don’t know, just brainstorming as i type…
Z
January 7th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
I play golf and we have a “Skins Game” every week here on Kauai… You put money into the pot and if you have a good day on the course you usually win some money…
This Community Song Contest seems like a great idea… You put a little money in and have a chance at winning some decent cash…
It would be a learning process… I would value what other aspiring songwriters are creating and what they have to say to me regarding my efforts in this tough songwriting world…
Only thing I would do is limit the number of entrants in each category so we would not have to spend days and days reviewing songs…
ark
Lior Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I love the analogy and community spirit.
January 9th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Personally, I don’t view it as having winners or losers anymore than when I pitch a song and it gets rejected. Just because it gets rejected doesn’t make it a bad song. I see this more as an opportunity to get exposure for your art…a chance for your song to get heard. In my experience, the only way songs ever get cut is if they first get heard.
January 10th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
I think that is a wonderful idea . The main reason for not entering many song contests for me is the cost. Most contests charge per song. This soon adds up and can become quite overwhelming when you have nothing .
LETS DO IT
LP UK