Unsigned Only is a unique international music competition designed for solo artists, bands, and singers who are not signed to a major label record company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or imprints. Unsigned Only is looking for outstanding, talented artists: a band, singer, or solo artist...a newcomer or veteran...raw or polished - the gem that needs to be discovered. Unsigned Only is looking for the total package.
Unsigned Only gives away over $100,000 in cash and prizes, including $10,000 cash to the overall Grand Prize winner (as well as other prizes) and $1,000 to the First Place winner in each category. Prizes will also be awarded to Second Place winners in each category. Unsigned Only also offers the Grand Prize winner the unprecedented opportunity to be mentored by and directly network with the top echelon of record company professionals and get guidance, advice, feedback, and networking opportunities.
More Information is available here if you want to enter this year's competition
Judges include: Aimee Mann; alt-J; Robert Smith (The Cure); Sinead O'Connor; Kem; Aaron Shust; Rosanne Cash; The Killers; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC);Dustin Lynch; Rapsody; Jason Gray; Ray Wylie Hubbard; David Crowder; Lucero; Colt Ford; Frank Foster; Kool & The Gang; Kelly Price; Kyle Anderson (Senior Writer, Entertainment Weekly); Shirley Halperin (Music Editor, Billboard andHollywood Reporter); Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine); Anthony DeCurtis (Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone); Lucy Jones (Deputy Editor, NME); Hardeep Phull (Music Critic, The New York Post); Michael Hann (Music Editor, The Guardian); and Chris Richards (Pop Music Critic, The Washington Post)
NOTE: Unsigned Only accepts both original and cover songs in all categories, except Screen Shot, which requires original songs only. Entries in the Vocal Performance category will be based solely on the quality of the vocals. Unsigned Only accepts all genres of music in the Teen, Vocal Performance, and Screen Shot categories.