The Austin Chronicle is excited to announce the return of Sound Wars. Sound Wars is a month long digital song competition for local Austin bands competing for notoriety, exposure, and a chance to play the 21st Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, at Waterloo Park.
Competing bands must be registered in the Chronicle's Musicians Register (austinchronicle.com/musiciansregister) and opt-in on their profile page by uploading an mp3 and selecting it to be included in the competition. REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
The first round of competition begins on Monday, July 11, at noon, and voting will end on Friday, July 15, at midnight. The second round of competition will consist of the Top 10 bands from the previous round and begin on Monday, July 18, at noon, and voting will end on Friday, July 22, at midnight. The Sound Wars winner will be announced on Monday, July 25.
A half-page ad will run in the Chronicle on Friday, July 29, congratulating the winner of the Sound Wars competition. The ad will prominently feature the name of the band and a photo.
The winner will also receive the following:
The Sound Wars winner will be asked to play the 21st Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival and will receive payment for their performance. The band will be featured in all Hot Sauce Festival print collateral and mentioned in radio and TV spots.
A half-page ad* in The Austin Chronicle to be used at the winning band's discretion. Must be used by Sept. 1, 2012. Can be used for promoting a future gig, CD release, etc. Black-out period during the month of March. (Value of $1,585.)
*Ad content subject to Austin Chronicle approval. Austin Chronicle will assist in ad design.
Bands participating in the Chronicle's Sound Wars must be based in the Austin area.
Bands must be signed up for the Chronicle's Musicians Register in order to participate.
Participating bands must agree to upload one song in MP3 digital format for voters to listen to.
Only one song will be allowed in the competition.
Competing songs must be original compositions by the participating band.
To qualify to win the Hot Sauce Festival performance slot, the band must be able to perform a full musical set of at least 30 minutes.
The winners of the first edition (The Tiny Tin Hearts), the second edition (God, the Devil, & the Pimp), and the third edition (Distant Lights) are not eligible to participate in the fourth edition of Sound Wars. To participate in Sound Wars, bands must opt in on their Musicians Register profiles by noon Friday, July 8.
Voters must be registered in order to vote in the Sound Wars competition.
Voters will only be allowed to vote once per day for a band.
Voters will be allowed to vote for multiple bands, but only once per day.