COMPETITION RULES & INFO
Entries
Who Can Enter the Competition
Age Category Placement
You will be placed in the category of the age you will be on the day of the announcement of the Grand Final Competition winners. (This does not apply to groups.)
Changing Videos
- Any soloist or group (including bands)
- All ages and skill levels (excluding signed or contracted artists)
- 1st, 2nd & 3rd place competition winners may not re-enter the same category in successive competitions until after the Grand Finals are over and a new competition series begins.
- Grand Finalist 1st place winners may not enter another competition for 1 year after a win.
Age Category Placement
You will be placed in the category of the age you will be on the day of the announcement of the Grand Final Competition winners. (This does not apply to groups.)
Changing Videos
- If you want to change your video during a competition, you must submit a new entry and pay the entry fee again.
- Winners have the option to submit a new video for the Grand Finals.
Your Video & Song
Submit a Video
Family-friendly Rules
We strive for wholesome artistic expression that is uplifting, family-friendly, and appropriate for all ages.
Covers and Original Songs Accepted
You may sing a cover of another artist’s song or your own original song.
Acceptable Genres
Most genres are acceptable (see exceptions in the family-friendly rules).
Song Length
Any standard-length song is acceptable. There are no specific time restrictions.
Acceptable Accompaniment Types for Your Video
- Enter and submit your YouTube video link to be featured on our online video competition platform.
- Your video should be of you or your group singing live or in a music video with your recorded vocals.
- Any type of video recording will be accepted provided that is decent quality (720p or higher is recommended).
- We will email you a special link to share your video from our website.
- If your video does not meet the "Family-friendly" rules below, we will let you know and give you another chance to submit a new video. There is no refund if you fail to comply with the rules and we don't post your video.
Family-friendly Rules
We strive for wholesome artistic expression that is uplifting, family-friendly, and appropriate for all ages.
- Music–No heavy rock, metal, or songs with an excessive, heavy beat.
- Lyrics–No offensive language (including casual or inappropriate use of names of deity), no suggestive lyrics or themes.
- Movements/Choreography–Must be appropriate for a family audience.
- Wardrobe–No extremely tight, low-cut, or revealing clothes. No spaghetti straps, strapless or halter tops. Skirts and shorts must be at least fingertip length.
- Content–Must not include material that is inappropriate, indecent, obscene, hateful, defamatory, slanderous or libelous, including material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on age, disability, gender, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation or that is otherwise unlawful.
Covers and Original Songs Accepted
You may sing a cover of another artist’s song or your own original song.
Acceptable Genres
Most genres are acceptable (see exceptions in the family-friendly rules).
Song Length
Any standard-length song is acceptable. There are no specific time restrictions.
Acceptable Accompaniment Types for Your Video
- Minus tracks
- Live accompaniment including piano, acoustic guitar, ukulele, banjo, etc.
- A cappella
Winners
Choosing Winners
Judging Criteria May Include
Announcement of Winners
Competition Winners' Responsibilities for Grand Final Competition
Bonus Prize
- Winners will be chosen solely by Vocal Sport judges. (There is a bonus prize for the contestant in each competition with the most "likes" on their individual entry/blog post, however, the competition winners are chosen solely by judges.)
Judging Criteria May Include
- Confidence/audience connection (showmanship, audience appeal, facial expression)
- Interpretation (vocal expression, connects w/ song, emotion)
- Tone (quality of sound)
- Intonation (pitch)
- Vocal control (strength, dynamics, flexibility, range)
- Criteria may additionally include: Level of difficulty, style/song appropriate for voice, use of stage & movement (as applicable), mic technique, appearance/wardrobe, and other.
Announcement of Winners
- Competition winners will be notified by email and announced on the Prizes page. Their most currently-submitted video will be automatically entered into the online Grand Final Competition.
- Winners of the Grand Final Competition will be notified by email and announced on the Prizes page.
Competition Winners' Responsibilities for Grand Final Competition
- Winners' videos will automatically be entered into the Grand Final Competition.
- Winners have the option to submit a new video for the Grand Finals.
Bonus Prize
- To help spread the word about Vocal Sport and to bring additional exposure to your video, we are offering a bonus prize of $250 to the entry with the highest number of "likes" on their individual entry/blog post. Update: The "like" counter only shows exact numbers up to 1K likes, so if anyone goes that high, the first contestant to get 1K likes will be the winner.)
- One winner in each of the 3 competitions will be awarded. Bonus prize winners will be announced at the same time as the competition winners.
- This bonus prize is completely separate from the judging of the videos. Likes will not affect the judges' choice of winners.
- Cheating is not a legitimate way to win this bonus prize. Please gain likes fairly and your conscience will thank you. Violators will be excluded from winning the bonus prize.