sponsored by
and
Gannon Broadcasting Systems
2008 Contest Rules
1. ENTRY PROCEDURE:
You must complete a CONTEST ENTRY FORM and return it to the
sponsoring radio station with your registration fee before their
deadline date.
Registration deadline is 2p.m.,
July 7, 2008. Inquiries can be made to showdown08@gannonbroadcasting.com
2. REGISTRATION FEE:
A ONETIME REGISTRATION FEE OF $10.00 PER ACT IS REQUIRED - U.S.
CURRENCY ONLY. THE FEE IS TO BE COLLECTED ONLY ONCE PER STATION,
REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES DURING THE COURSE OF
COMPETITION. A CONTESTANT MUST PAY THE REGISTRATION FEE AND COMPLETE AN
ENTRY FORM FOR EACH DIFFERENT RADIO STATION.
B. Registration forms may be picked up at Gannon
Broadcasting; Growlers Pub, Pizza and Brew; Dawson and Stevens Classic
Diner; Bear's Den Pizzeria in Grayling, MI.
3. DISPUTES:
The sponsoring radio station is authorized to resolve all disputes
at the local Showdown. SPI is the sole authority in resolving all
disputes at the state, regional and national level competitions and to
disqualify any contestant at any level of the contest for failure to
comply with the rules and regulations, including errors and omissions.
SPI's decisions are final.
4. PERFORMANCE: The following applies to any Showdown contest:
A. Each act entered in the Showdown must perform only with the
personnel listed on Section 1 and 2 of the Entry Form. No personnel
changes or substitutions will be permitted once competition has begun.
Once an individual withdraws from an act at any level of the Showdown,
he/she cannot perform at the next level.
B. Individuals may perform with only one act during any local Showdown.
C. A Radio Station may, at it's discretion, provide a backup band for
acts requiring instrumental support or allow contestants' pre-recorded
music. No live "backup band" vocals are allowed.
D. Neither the backup band nor any of its members is permitted to
compete in the Showdown in which they are the backup band.
E. Each act must perform live, vocally and/or instrumentally. No
special lighting, props or special effects may be used.
F. Any act with three or more individuals playing an instrument may not
use the backup band or any part of the backup band, or prerecorded
music.
G. The amount or performance time given to each local Showdown
contestant will be determined by the local radio station.
H. All performances must be done in good taste: no music or lyrics that
the radio station or SPI considers to be offensive may be performed.
I. Age restrictions will be at the discretion of the radio station
and/or its venue.
J. Contestants may perform their own music and receive extra bonus
points from the judge. Music eligible for bonus points will be defined
as any piece of music written or co-written by the contestant (either
individual or member of group). Any contestant (either individual or
member of group) who claims to be using his own music may be
disqualified at any level of the contest at the discretion of SPI, if a
musical copyright for the music exists which does not name the
contestant as author or co-author.
K. Acceptable documentation to prove ownership of your music shall
include either a certificate of copyright, proof of song registration
with BMI, ASCAP, etc., or a notarized copy of the application applying
for the copyright with a signed statement by the contestant as to its
status.
L. Performances will be awarded 0-10 points in each of the following
categories: 1) Marketability in country music; 2) Vocal/instrumental
ability; 3) Originality; 4) Stage presence/charisma: 5) Talent. An
optional bonus of up to three points may be awarded for acts performing
their own music.
M. In the event of a tie, the first tie-breaker shall be the highest
number of points given in the Talent category. The second tiebreaker
shall be the highest number of points awarded in the Stage
Presence/Charisma category. The third tiebreaker shall be by a secret
vote of the judges based on overall performance style and impact.
N. Performance will be July 20,2008 at Dawsons and
Stevens Classic Diner, located at 231 Michigan Avenue in uptown
Grayling. Contestants must be at Dawsons and Stevens by 2pm. Contest
is from 2-5pm.
5. LOCAL CONTEST PRIZES:
The only official prize offered at the local Showdown level is the
opportunity for the winner to advance to the state Showdown
competition. Local Showdown contestants must pay their own expenses
during the competition at the local, state and regional levels. In
signing this Entry Form, the Showdown contestant acknowledges that
neither SPI nor Colgate-Palmolive is responsible for any prizes
promised or offered at the local Showdown contest level (except for the
local Showdown winner's chance to compete in the state Showdown
competition). <>
6. STATE, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL FINAL:
A.The winner of the local Showdown is eligible to compete in the State
Showdown. Contestants may enter as many local competitions as they wish
until winning. Local winners may reenter the contest at the local level
only after being eliminated at a State or Regional Final. They must
complete a new entry form and pay the entry fee when entering at
another station. Each contestant will have seven minutes to perform at
the state Showdown. No prerecorded music is permitted at State,
Regional or National Final. The winner of each state Showdown will
receive $1,000 and the opportunity to compete at one of the five
regional Showdowns. Prizes won by minors will be awarded to a parent or
legal guardian, if requested.
B.There will be five regional Showdowns where State winners will
compete for seven minutes to win an all expense paid trip to compete at
the National Final. Contestants under 18 years of age must be
accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who must execute releases of
liability and publicity. National Final expenses paid by SPI are listed
below. All other expenses not specified shall be the responsibility of
the contestants. 1. Hotel accommodations (double occupancy). 2.
Round-trip coach airfare on the airline designated by SPI from a
continental USA airport closest to contestant's home served by that
airline. 3. Reasonable meal expenses.
C.The National Final will be held by January 31, 2009. The winner will
receive $100,000. The winner, or winner's parent or legal guardian (if
winner is a minor), must execute an affidavit of eligibility within 30
days of the National Final. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture
of the prizes. Prizes are nontransferable. Winners shall be solely
responsible for all taxes in connection with their prizes. <>
7. PROMOTIONAL AUTHORIZATION:
By submitting an Entry Form, the act (and each individual member
thereof) grants to SPI and Colgate-Palmolive the right to utilize the
act's (and each individual member's thereof) name, likeness, image,
voice, appearance, and performance in perpetuity worldwide for
advertising, trade or any other lawful promotional purposes whatsoever,
in any and all media now known or thereafter developed, without
compensation. I/we grant SPI and Colgate-Palmolive the right to
broadcast, market, sell and otherwise distribute my name, image,
likeness, voice, appearance and performance,either in whole or in parts
for commercial, non-commercial television, close-circuit exhibition,
home video distribution, internet, or any other purpose SPI and
Colgate-Palmolive, in their sole discretion may determine. I/we hereby
give all clearance, copyright or otherwise, for the use of my name,
likeness, image, voice, appearance embodied in my/our performance/state
presentation. If under 18 years of age, parent or guardian must sign
the entry form. <>
8. ASSUMPTION OF RISK:
By submitting this entry form, the act (and each individual member
thereof) assumes all risks of property damage or bodily injury
(including death) that might occur during the local, state, regional
and national Showdown events. The act (and each individual member
thereof) agrees not to bring against Colgate-Palmolive or other
national sponsors any claim for property damage or bodily injury
(including death) that might occur during local, state, regional, or
national Showdown events.
9. GOOD CHARACTER:
The act agrees that it may be disqualified immediately from any level
of Showdown competition if the act (or any member thereof) commits any
act or becomes involved in any situation that would adversely reflect
on the Showdown or any party furnishing a prize, or tend to bring it
into public disrepute.
10. ELIGIBILITY:
Submit any questions regarding eligibility to SPI.
A. I am/we are not an act with over seven individuals.
B. I/we have not performed on a record listed in Billboard, Radio
and Records, or the Gavin Report within eighteen months preceding local
competition.
C. I/we have (each) paid the $10.00 registration fee before performing
live at the local Showdown.
D. I am/we are not part of the backup band nor am I/are we related to
any member of the backup band by birth or marriage nor have I/we
performed with the local backup band or any member of the local backup
band for monetary compensation within the past year.
E. I am/we are not an owner, controlling stockholder or employee of and
I am/we are not related by birth or marriage, nor do I/we live in the
same household as the local Showdown judge, the radio station
sponsoring the local Showdown contest, Colgate-Palmolive (or any
national sponsor), SPI, or any employee, controlling stockholder,
owner, officer or agent of any of the foregoing parties.
F. I/we have not already been declared a local winner of a 2008 Country
Showdown and eligible for State competition.
G. I/we have never been a national winner, either as an individual or
as part of a group of the 2005, 2006 or 2007 Country Showdown.