STEP 1: Read the Rules

1. How to Enter. A minimum $20 entry fee donation is required for your first song. You may enter up to two additional songs at $10 each. You may enter online by completing the 3 Steps outlined on this page. We do not accept mail-in entries. Deadline to submit is August 10, 2024 at 11:59 pm. Do not submit unless you are willing and available to perform in the Show on October 5, 2024 in Branson, MO at Pepsi Legends Theater. Only participants who actually perform their song in the Show will be eligible for prize offerings. The Submissions Judges will decide on the Top Ten by September 6, 2024 after which HOOKED! staff will notify you whether you made the Top Ten or not. At that time, the Top Ten will be given all pertinent information regarding the Show, including sound check and Show check-in times. Failure to adhere to the given schedule could result in your disqualification from the contest. If selected for the Top Ten, please be prepared to send a photo and brief bio to be used for website, printed program, social media and other promotional/production purposes.

2. Eligibility. The Contest is open to any independent amateur or semi-professional songwriter, band or artist anywhere. HOOKED! Songwriting Contest broadly defines an amateur or semi-professional songwriter, band or artist as an individual or entity whose personal income is not primarily from original music-related sources (i.e. songwriting royalties, artist royalties, merchandise sales, live performance, synchronization licenses, record label advances, publishing advances, etc.). By submitting, you are agreeing that you meet the criteria as described above and you represent and warrant that (a) all registration information you submit is truthful and accurate; (b) you will maintain the accuracy of such information; (c) you are 12 years of age or older; and (d) your entry to the Contest does not violate any applicable law or regulation. If you are under 18 years of age, however, you must have permission and clearance to enter the Contest from your parent or legal guardian. Entry to the Contest is void where prohibited. Top Ten finalists are notified by email address or phone number and must perform in the Show on October 5, 2024 to qualify to be judged for the prizes. If any of the Top Ten finalists do not respond to notifications within three (3) days, we reserve the right to contact those next in line until we have filled up ten slots for the Show on October 5, 2024. Your song may be performed by you as a solo artist or as a group/band. If you are not a performing songwriter, you may elect to have your song performed by another vocalist/artist.

3. Judging. This Contest is a talent and skills-based event. All entries are judged based on the quality of the lyrics, melodies, composition/arrangement and performance. Quality of recording and/or production will not be considered, although presenting the best recorded and produced representation of your song is highly recommended. All entries will first be screened by a panel of professional Submissions Judges who will select the Top Ten contestants for the Show. The Show Judges will hear and judge the Top Ten’s songs for the first time at the Show on October 5, 2024. As mentioned above, once the initial screening process has been completed the Top Ten finalists among all entries will then be invited to perform their entry at the Show on October 5, 2024 for the chance to win one of the prize offerings.

4. Prizes. The winning song, along with two (2) additional runners-up will receive prizes. First place prize is a $1000 cash prize. Second place will receive a $500 cash prize. Third place will receive a $300 cash prize.

5. Content. All songs must contain appropriate content for an all-ages audience. Please do not submit songs with profanity, sexual references, or illicit drug or violent content. We do not claim ownership in the materials you submit in conjunction with the Contest. Such materials include written text, files, images, photos, video, songs, lyrics, poetry, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, remarks, suggestions, ideas, graphics, tags, hashtags, genres, splits, ownership splits, identifiable numbers, identifiable codes, songwriter name, personal identifiable information, copyright registration information, affiliated companies or individuals, rights holder, administrator, publisher, or any other materials (collectively, “Content”) that you display, upload, transfer, publish, or post as a result of Contest. By submitting any Content through the Contest, whether public or private, you hereby grant to us a limited, non-exclusive license to use, modify, format, stream, transmit, beam, store, publicly perform, publicly display, adapt, translate, create derivative works, reproduce, and distribute such Content, in any format, whether known or unknown, including the limited right to use your likeness, persona, logo, trademark, and right(s) of publicity for purposes of the Contest. This Contest reserves the right to advertise, play, and use your submitted songs for up to 48 months after the end of the HOOKED! Songwriting Contest. By entering the Contest, you represent and warrant that your entry is an original work and that the content does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, trademarks, contract rights or any other rights of any person or business. You further agree to indemnify and hold HOOKED! Songwriting Contest, Prince Ivan and The Nest and all contest sponsors, their subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their respective officers, agents, partners and employees, harmless from any loss, liability, claim, or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of any breach of your representations and warranties set forth above and/or if any part of the entry causes HOOKED! Songwriting Contest, Prince Ivan and/or The Nest to be liable to another.

6. Co-writers. Entries may have multiple co-writers; however, each contestant, upon entering, guarantees that they have the absolute right to enter (including approval from non-contestant co-writers). By entering, the contestant agrees to indemnify and hold HOOKED! Songwriting Contest and its sponsors harmless from and against any claims inconsistent with the aforementioned. Additionally, In conjunction with Eligibility requirements already set forth, it is here further clarified that all co-writers involved in your songs must also meet the Eligibility requirements as defined above. Division of prizes among co-writers is the responsibility of the submitting contestant.

7. Revenues. All revenues generated from this event will solely benefit charity (TBA) and the production, promotion and operation of the HOOKED! Songwriting Contest event.

8. Problems with Submissions. If there is a problem with your recording, entry, or payment, we will make best efforts to contact you via the email address or telephone number provided on your entry. Failure to respond and resubmit the requested information will result in disqualification and forfeiture of your entry. If an entrant’s payment does not go through he or she will have three days from notification to resubmit funds or he/she will be disqualified.

9. Inappropriate Behavior. The HOOKED! Songwriting Contest staff reserves the right to ban and/or disqualify entrants who exhibit harassing, abusive, or rude behavior to Contest staff, judges, contestants, or sponsors.

10. Refunds and Unforeseen Circumstances. Due to the fundraising nature of the HOOKED! Songwriting Contest, no refunds for Show tickets or Contest entry fees will be given, regardless of weather, cancellations, or other unforeseen circumstances. In the event of bad weather, the HOOKED! Songwriting Contest will go on as scheduled unless it is absolutely impossible or entirely unsafe for judges, finalists, and audience members to travel.

11. Travel and Accomodations. The Top Ten finalists are responsible for their own travel arrangements to the HOOKED! Songwriting Contest in Branson, MO, but may contact Contest staff for local hotel and restaurant suggestions.

12. Consent. By entering the HOOKED! Songwriting Contest, contestants and/or their legal guardian (if the contestant is a minor) consent to accept the decisions of the HOOKED! Songwriting Contest and its judges, which are final and binding in all matters. Contestant agrees to be bound by all terms of these official HOOKED! Songwriting Contest rules and regulations as established.

STEP 2: Fill Out the Form

STEP 3: Make Your Entry Fee Donation

All revenue goes to a charity (TBA) and to production/promotion expenses related to the HOOKED! Songwriting Contest event. As a reminder, your first song submission costs $20 and you can enter up to two additional songs for $10 each.

REPEAT STEPS 1-3
for Additional Entries

You may submit three songs total

Complete steps 1-3 for each entry (After confirmation of your song submission, you will need to refresh this page to make an additional entry.)

Submissions deadline is August 10, 2024 at 11:59 pm

Top Ten finalists will be notified and announced by September 6, 2024