RULES/JUDGING CRITERIA

As a condition to participating in the singing competition, you (individually, or if a group, individually and jointly) agree to comply with the rules as found on www.vocalsport.com, as transmitted to you by email (or otherwise), and as found in these Competition Rules.

​Who Can Enter:
  • ​Beginners to advanced singers*​
  • ​*If you earn 50% or more of your income from singing, performing, or teaching singing, you are considered a professional (beyond "advanced"). Ask about performing as a guest artist! 
  • ​Note: 1st place winners from 2022 will not compete in future competitions (in the same category type), but may come back as guest artists!

Music Checklist & Deadline

  1. Get your song and lyrics approved in advance as soon as possible by emailing [email protected]. (Send song name, artist name, lyrics, and any lyric changes you are making.)* 
  2. After approval, choose a minus track from approved sources below (no backup vocals allowed).
  3. Tracks from some approved sources require licensing (see info below).
  4. If you are not using a minus track, let us know what type of live accompaniment you are using. 
  5. Cut your song down to 2:30 minutes (2 and 1/2 minutes).
  6. Email your minus track and purchase receipt to [email protected] by deadline (to be announced).
​
*We may ask you to submit a different song or substitute lyrics to meet the family-friendly requirements and support the inspirational theme.

​(See "General Music Requirements" and other requirements below.)

Modest Wardrobe Checklist & Deadline

  1. Email a photo of you wearing your Vocal Sport wardrobe  2 weeks before competition, latest to: [email protected]
  2. Don't change wardrobe once it has been approved.​
​
(See modest wardrobe requirements at "Family Friendly Requirements" below.)

"Other" Checklist & Deadline

  1. Sell 10 tickets by deadline (to be announced).
  2. Tell us your final tech needs (mic stand, stool, piano, etc.)  by deadline (to be announced).
  3. FYI: The venue may have up to 12 handheld wireless mics. No head mics or choir mics are permitted. (Head mics don't give the best sound, and choir mics are time-consuming to set up.)

General Music Requirements

Song Choice
​Music can be a powerful influence for good. We want to promote uplifting entertainment that inspires both the audience and the performers. Contestants should choose family-friendly songs with a focus on uplifting, positive, and hopeful themes. ​We welcome and encourage faith-based songs (songs about Jesus and God). 

​Song Length
  • Song length is ​2:30 minutes ​(2 and 1/2 minutes).
  • Cutting a verse and chorus will usually shorten your song enough.
  • If you need help cutting your song, the typical cost charged by a sound studio is $40 (provide them with your instrumental track, vocal demo track, and lyrics and let them know what you'd like cut out).
  • We can refer you to a pro who can cut your track--just ask us! (Their rate is $25)
  • You can you edit your song in "Audacity" or other free editing programs. Be sure to save your song as a WAV file (even if it started out as an MP3).
  • No abrupt endings to songs. ***If you need a few more seconds for your song to end smoothly, please contact us for permission.***

Covers and Original Songs
You may sing a cover of another artist’s song or your own original song. 

Duplicate Songs
Contestants in the same category/age division may sing the same song​​.

Acceptable Accompaniment Types
  • Minus Tracks (see requirements below)
  • A Cappella (not recommended for soloists)
  • Live accompaniment including piano (a piano is provided), acoustic guitar, ukulele, banjo, etc. 
  • Soloists may have one instrument (self-accompanied or provide your own accompanist).
  • No Bands. Groups must get approval for more than one instrument (only one outside accompanist).
  • No electric guitars allowed without permission (acoustic electric is allowed).

​Acceptable Genres
​Many genres are acceptable except heavy rock, metal, or songs with loud guitar or an excessive, heavy beat. As mentioned above: Contestants should choose songs with a focus on uplifting, positive, and hopeful themes. Here are just several examples of songs that would be approved:
  • "I Lived" by One Republic
  • "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman
  • "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood
  • "Rise Up" by Andra Day
  • "Miracle Worker" Forrest Frank & Tori Kelly
(The Vocal Sport screening committee will make the final determination about song choice.) 

​​​​Submission Deadline for Minus Tracks
  • Once your song and lyrics are approved, your track must be emailed to [email protected] by deadline (to be announced).
  • Send your track by Gmail or Google Drive link. IMPORTANT: Please make your link shareable.
  • All minus tracks are lined up in advance. Singers whose tracks are not received in time will be eliminated without a refund.

​Song Change Requests
  • Due to the song screening process, there may be a fee to change songs after you have already received song approval (whether using minus tracks or self-accompanied). Please request your song change by email before sending a new track. 
  • Because all minus tracks are lined up on a drive prior to the competition, no song changes will be accepted after the song submission deadline (TBA). ​

Family-friendly Wardrobe, Music, and Other Requirements

We encourage wholesome artistic expression that is uplifting and appropriate for all ages.  
  • MODEST WARDROBE–No very tight, low-cut, or revealing clothes. No spaghetti straps, strapless, off-the-shoulder or halter tops. Skirts and shorts must be at least fingertip length. No very high slits in skirts/dresses. No bare stomachs. No cutouts.
  • Music–No heavy rock, metal, or songs with an excessive, heavy beat.
  • Lyrics–No suggestive lyrics or themes. No offensive language (including casual or inappropriate use of names of deity).
  • Movements/Choreography–Must be appropriate for a family audience.
  • ​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. 
  • Warning–​Contestants will be disqualified if their performance does not meet the family-friendly requirements. ​

Live Accompaniment Requirements

​​Follow These Steps
  1. Get song title and lyrics approved before finalizing song choice. 
  2. If it's an original song, also send us a video clip so we can hear it.
  3. Make sure the length of your song fits within the 2:30 minute time limit  (2 and 1/2 minutes).
  4. Soloists may have one instrument (self-accompanied or provide your own accompanist).
  5. Groups must get approval for more than one instrument (only one outside accompanist). ​

Minus Track Requirements

Follow These Steps
  1. Get your song lyrics and title approved before you buy, cut, and email your track to us.
  2. Make sure the length of your song fits within the 2:30 minute time limit  (2 and 1/2 minutes).
  3. ​NO BACKUP VOCALS are allowed on the track whatsoever.
  4. Tracks must be purchased from one of the 5 sources listed below (or be custom-produced, or obtain special permission from track owner--details below*).
  5. Email your track and purchase receipt to [email protected]

You Must Buy Tracks From Specific Sources
For copyright reasons, it is required that all minus tracks be purchased from sources that have given us permission to use their tracks for competition (and placement on YouTube channel). ​Here are links to our 5 approved sources:
  1. ​​www.MusicalCreations.com - Search tip: if you are looking for "In My Life" by The Beatles, type song title followed by artist name in the search box to eliminate other songs coming up. "Musical Creations" also has many shortened songs for competition!
  2. NEW! www.Sing2Music.com (no license required). Only download from the BandCamp option (at the link) so you can get a WAV file.  ***Pay attention to the key because several options are available.***
  3. www.Karaoke-Version.com/custombackingtracks - Shop from their "custom" backing tracks tab only. This company requires a non-commercial license to perform with their track at the competition and to be featured on our YouTube channel. The non-commercial license fee is $21.99 (including the track) and you will need to pay Vocal Sport to obtain that license on your behalf. Once you've paid, we will send you the WAV file with no backup vocals. (You can also purchase the track yourself as an MP3 for $2.99 and customize it through the website, but you will still need to pay the $21.99 non-commercial license fee to Vocal Sport. See tutorial below for how to customize and download your song if you buy it yourself.)
  4. www.PraiseCharts.com - Search for songs with accompaniment tracks (not all songs have them). These tracks require a $30 non-commercial license fee to perform with their track at the competition and to be featured on our YouTube channel. You will need to pay Vocal Sport to obtain that license on your behalf. (You will need to purchase the MP3 track from the site for $5.95. WAV files are not available.)
  5. www.Daywind.com - Buy a digital track on this site with no backup vocals (scroll to see the digital tracks lower on each page). These tracks require a $50 streaming license fee to perform with their track at the competition and to be featured on our YouTube channel. You will need to pay Vocal Sport to obtain that license on your behalf.
  6. ProSound - See search details and links below. 

Here's a 40-second tutorial for using Karaoke-Version.com:
On iTunes Specifically Search These Names
  • Musical Creations (include your song title for a more specific search)
  • ProSound Karaoke Band
  • ProSound Competition Band (shortened songs)
  • ProSound Tribute Band
  • Note: You may see other artist names that include the word ProSound, but the copyright on the album must say "copyright ProSound Music."

Link to ProSound on Apple Music: Click here

IF YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR SONG
​Email us at [email protected] and we will help you track it down!

*Custom Produced Tracks
You can have a track custom-produced for you. Your producer cannot use anyone else's tracks or samples in the mix. You'll want to get your song title approved first and let us know someone is making a track for you.

*Get Permission to Use Another Artist's or Company's Minus Tracks or Accompaniment Tracks
If you want to contact a music owner, we need an email response from them answering each of these questions:
  1. May a contestant use your minus track(s) or accompaniment track(s) in a local singing competition? (Admission is charged for the event. The event is not televised, livestreamed, or broadcast on the radio.)
  2.  For the competition, may the sound tech add your track to a compilation of contestant tracks on a drive for ease of use during the competition? (The compilation will be deleted after the event.) 
  3. May the singing competition post videos of contestant(s) singing to your track(s) on YouTube? The videos will not be monetized. https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalSportCompetition/videos
  4. Optional: If you are you agreeable to the above, would you like to have other singers directed to you/your site to purchase tracks?

Copyright FYI
There are 2 different copyrights to every song: 
  1. The first copyright is for the song itself (lyrics, melody, etc.). Venues are responsible to have a performing rights blanket license (PRO license) in place. As such, an artist can sing most any song at a licensed venue, provided they are singing with a licensed track--or with permission from the creator of the track (or not using a track for accompaniment).
  2. The second copyright is for the accompaniment track. The track creators are very eager to protect their copyright and will go after people who use their track without permission or a license.
We know it's inconvenient to get permission to use tracks, but it's better than you or Vocal Sport getting in legal trouble.

​​Key Changes 
Be aware that key changes made to a minus track can sometimes cause the music to sound distorted. Compare the key-changed track to the original track to hear the difference in sound quality. 

Emergency Backup
As an emergency precaution, contestants should bring a copy of their song on a flash drive (or downloaded on a phone) to the competition, but do not turn it in.​

JUDGING

How Winners Are Chosen

Competition Judging Criteria May Include:
  • Confidence and audience connection (showmanship, audience appeal, facial expression)
  • Interpretation (vocal expression, connection with song, emotion)
  • Tone  (quality of sound)
  • Intonation (pitch)
  • Vocal control  (strength, dynamics, flexibility, range)
  • Criteria may additionally include: level of difficulty, appropriateness of style/song for voice, use of stage and movement (as applicable), mic technique, appearance/wardrobe, entertainment value, and more.
​
​Announcement of Winners:
  • Winners in each category and age division will be announced at the competition.
  • Other prize winners will be announced at www.vocalsport.com on the PRIZES page on the Monday following the competition.
  • ​Note: Winners will be chosen by Vocal Sport judges (or prize sponsors), not by popular vote.