Independent Music World Series

•	The IMWS is open to all musicians not currently signed to a major record label or affiliate playing any style of original music. Acts cannot have any members currently signed to a major label. Employees of Disc Makers, its affiliates, subsidiaries, or sponsors, and members of their immediate families, are not eligible.
•	All styles and genres of music are welcomed and accepted.
•	Showcase eligibility is based on the home state of the main contact. Whatever state the main contact resides determines which showcase event the submitted act will be eligible for. See below for the regional breakdown.
•	Three original songs (minimum) must be submitted as MP3s (if submitting online via Sonicbids) or on CD if submitting by mail. If sending a CD, please indicate which three tracks you want screened. Note: Materials (e.g., bios, band photos, press kits) should not be sent. CDs cannot be returned once submitted.
•	Only one entry per act, please.
•	A $25 processing fee must accompany all entries. If submitting through Sonicbids, Sonicbids Members pay $25, Non-members pay $29.95 (this includes a six-month membership!). This fee is collected by credit card when submitting online - check or money order made payable to "Disc Makers" for mailed entries. (Don't forget you also get a FREE copy of Billboard's Musician's Guide to Touring and Promotion and a free issue of DRUM!, Remix and Electronic Musician magazines just for entering.)
•	An official IMWS Entry Form must accompany all mailed entries. The Entry Form should include names and contact information for all current members of the act (including everyone who would be playing in the showcase). Sonicbids entries will be contacted after the submission is made to collect the contact info of participating members. This information is necessary to enable us to contact you immediately if your act is chosen to perform.
•	Entries are judged on Songwriting, Overall Vibe, Musical Performance, Vocal/Lead Instrument Performance, and Originality. Genre and production quality are not a factor.
•	A team of independent music professionals screens the talent pool as the field is narrowed to six finalists.
•	A panel of area industry will be selected to judge the live showcase and choose the Grand Prize Winner.
•	All members of the act must be 18 or older to be eligible.

Region:	West	Southwest	Southeast	Northeast
Showcase City:	Los Angeles, CA	Chicago, IL	Atlanta, GA	New York, NY
Showcase Date:	July 17, 2008	October 16, 2008	September 11, 2008	August 14, 2008
Eligible States:	Alaska Arizona California Hawaii Idaho Montana Nevada Oregon Utah Washington Wyoming Yukon Territory British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan	Colorado Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Michigan Minnesota Missouri New Mexico Nebraska North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma South Dakota Texas Wisconsin Northwest Territory Manitoba Ontario Victoria Island Banks Island Baffin Island Queen Eliz Island Ellesmere Island	Alabama Arkansas Florida Georgia Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Virginia West Virginia	Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Maine Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Quebec Newfoundland

To enter online via Sonicbids you'll need:
1. Three original songs in MP3 format.
2. A valid credit card to charge the $25 entry fee. (If you are not a Sonicbids member, an additional $4.95 will be charged for a six-month membership.)

To enter through the mail you'll need to register online at the IMWS web site. Then mail:
1. A completed Entry Form,
2. A CD with at least three original songs, and
3. A $25 check or money order made payable to "Disc Makers" to

Disc Makers IMWS (Your Region)
7905 N Rt. 130
Pennsauken, NJ 08110

FAQs

Are solo acts allowed to enter?
I'm a songwriter. Who will perform my music if Im selected? Is there a backing band provided?
Do you supply instruments and a backline at the show?
Can I use backing tracks during my performance?
What types of music are acceptable?
Is profanity allowed in the lyrics?
When are the finalists announced?
What's the deal with the free publications? When do I receive them?
Do the songs need to be copyrighted first?
It looks like I missed the deadline! What do I do?
I am an artist that plays in a number of different acts. Can I submit all of them for IMWS consideration?
My band has more than one CD out. Can I submit one entry per CD release?
Are band member substitutions allowed if we can't make it to the showcase?
If one member of the act is 18, can another member be under 18?
Are IMWS shows all ages?
Can people who live outside of the US enter?
Why does it cost more to submit via Sonicbids?

Q: Are solo acts allowed to enter?
A: Absolutely. Just be aware that the finals are a live showcase and you will be expected to perform your original material on stage.
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Q: I'm a songwriter. Who will perform my music if I'm selected? Is there a backing band provided?
A: If your music is selected, it is entirely up to you how to present the music live. We have had many solo artists and songwriters perform at showcases, and many others who have had back up musicians accompanying them or performing their music. Ultimately, live performances are judged on songwriting, overall vibe, vocal/lead instrument performance, musical performance, and originality. With those criteria in mind, it is your decision on how to best present your material. We do not provide backing musicians. That is entirely the responsibility of the showcasing act.
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Q: Do you supply instruments and a backline at the show?
A: We supply a backline that consists of guitar amps, a bass amp, keyboard amp, and drum kit, complete with all hardware, pedals and cymbals. All instruments (guitars, keyboards, etc.), effects, and turntables are the responsibility of the performing artist. We are always willing to accommodate special needs or specific situations, all handled on a case by case basis.
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Q: Can I use backing tracks during my performance?
A: Yes. Whatever you need to present your music in the best possible light is what you need to do for the showcase. We have had numerous hip hop and pop acts use backing tracks live.
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Q: What types of music are acceptable?
A: Every kind of music is accepted! Since 2002, our Grand Prize Winners include: Singer Songwriter (Amber deLaurentis, Chinua Hawk), Hard Rock (Dirty Power), Punk/Pop (Bang Sugar Bang), Pop Rock (Plain Jane Automobile, Rich Creamy Paint), Hip Hop (Treologic, The Urban Sophisticates, BurnDown All-Stars, Dura Hale), Electronic Pop Rock (Brice Woodall), Jazz (Orbert Davis), Bluegrass Rock (Rose's Pawn Shop), Rock (Shipwreck Union), Salsa (Bio Ritmo), Country/American (Deadman), Jam (Gamble Brothers Band) We've also showcased Gospel, World, Country, Flamenco, AAA, R&B, Pop, Funk, Crunk, Klezmer, Alternative, A Capella, Punk, Emo, and Latin.
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Q: Is profanity allowed in the lyrics?
A: Sure. If it's part of your lyrics, we'll give it a listen. All we recommend is you send your absolute strongest material if you want to end up on stage.
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Q: When are the finalists announced?
A: The six finalists are typically announced about a month before the showcase through emails, online, and in a letter to all who submitted music.
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Q: What's the deal with the free publications? When do I receive them?
A: Typically we try to get the publications to entrants around the same time as the showcase in their region. There are possible delays, mostly due to conflicts with the publication schedule. Oftentimes, particularly with Billboard's Guide to Touring and Promotion, we will hold off a mailing in an effort to provide entrants the most recent issue (the guide is printed twice a year). But the showcase schedule is a fairly good guide for the mailing of the free publications.
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Q: Do the songs need to be copyrighted first?
A: Technically no, but we highly recommend you protect your songs.
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Q: It looks like I missed the deadline! What do I do?
A: Don't worry. There's another IMWS showcase coming your way next year. You can pre-register for any upcoming IMWS showcase, and we'll automatically send you an Entry Form when your region becomes eligible.
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Q: I am an artist that plays in a number of different acts. Can I submit all of them for IMWS consideration?
A: As long as they are different acts (different band members, etc.), yes. For our internal tracking and registration purposes, you may not be the main contact for each act (we will pick one of the other names from your Entry Form).
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Q: My band has more than one CD out. Can I submit one entry per CD release?
A: No. We will only accept one entry per act, so send in your strongest material!
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Q: Are band member substitutions allowed if we can't make it to the showcase?
A: Sure, as long as the subs aren't signed to a record label.
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Q: If one member of the act is 18, can another member be under 18?
A: All performing musicians must be 18 or older.
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Q: Are IMWS shows all ages?
A: Some are and some aren't. It depends on the venue. We make an effort to schedule IMWS shows in all-ages or 18 & over venues, but we can't guarantee they will be. We will clearly post the age stipulations when we promote a showcase. We have always been able to showcase underage bands in 21 & over clubs, but we are limited to the club's policies in regard to how this gets handled.
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Q: Can people who live outside of the U.S. enter?
A: This event is limited to residents of the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.
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Q: Why does it cost more to submit via Sonicbids?
A: To submit through Sonicbids, you have to have a Sonicbids membership. If you are already a Sonicbids member, the fee is the same. If you are not a member, Sonicbids is offering a special six-month membership for a nominal $4.95 when you enter the IMWS (for a total of $29.95).
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