Million Dollar Riff launches Worldwide Songwriter’s Competition

PRESS RELEASE:

Million Dollar Riff (MDR) is challenging the status quo for songwriters, kicking off its worldwide competition next week. Entry opens 1-31 August at milliondollarriff.com/competitions
 
The Australian-made, independent platform is it a gateway for songwriter’s – to develop their craft, test songs (globally), connect with peers and industry opportunities – and it brings music enthusiasts together, to liberate independent music and place value on what they’re offering each other. You can be any age, origin, nationality, genre and in any situation (emerging, professional, published or unpublished). 

Entry songs are rendered anonymous, as 45 second samples for the public to vote on. This creates a level playing field and puts music enthusiasts in the judge’s seat, to determine what they want to hear, purely by what they hear.

It’s self-sustained by the community, with each entry funding the winning prize pool of $10,000 AUD minimum. Entry fees are $88 AUD per song – $50 funds the prize and the remaining $38 funds the operation (covering any TAX, GST, permits and tech).

All entrants and voters receive the basic competition stats and get linked to the songwriter’s they vote for. The top ten finalists will have their full length songs revealed, for a final round of voting deciding the winner.

“Competitions have a major influence over culture. We’d like to see what this can do, for the songwriter’s benefit”, says MDR’s Founder Damian McSweeney.
 
“The music industry’s seen challenges, with revenue problems, technology and the years of free music. We’ve been spectators of it, and it’s made us sceptical to some degree.

MDR’s been a grass roots effort so far. We won’t be for everybody but we’re filling a gap for the independent community, looking for ways to define the environment outside of commercial catalogue. 

We plan to improve and grow the services available, which is why we’re piloting the competition, to gauge the next steps forward. Above all, we want to liberate music creators so they can enjoy what they’re doing. The network’s growing every day and when people come together, and are open to ideas, great things can happen. We hope it resonates.”

http://milliondollarriff.com/competition
Vote on the go with the free app App Store | Google Play

Key dates
Entry opens 8am AEST Mon, 1 Aug 2016 / closes midnight AEST on Wed, 31 Aug 2016
Public voting opens 8am AEST Thurs, 1 Sep 2016 / closes midnight AEST Fri, 30 Sep 2016
Top ten finalists announcement (for a final round of voting) no later than Mon, 3 Oct 2016
Winner announcement no later than Fri, 21 Oct 2016

Further details
Anyone can enter and vote (online only). Entrants retain all copyright and licensing responsibilities, licensing MDR for their promotion. Entries songs must be original and cannot infringe copyright of any third parties, publishing companies or co-writers. Ten finalists’ full length songs will be revealed for a final round of voting and can be advertised for purchase. The votes are added to the first rounds’ tally to determine the winner.