2015 Florida GRAMMY® Showcase

<p><b>Official Rules:</b></p><p><b>1. How to Enter:</b><span>&nbsp; Please complete the attached entry form and submit materials as described in the entry form.&nbsp; All entries must be <b>received</b> between <b>1 p.m. ET February 2, 2015 </b>and <b>11:59 p.m. ET, February 27, 2015</b><b> via submittal online at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sonicbids.com/florida-grammy-showcase-2015"><u>http://www.sonicbids.com/florida-grammy-showcase-2015</u></a>&nbsp;</b>(Please note that a no-obligation, free-trial registration with Sonicbids is required to enter online if you do not have a Sonicbids account)<b>. </b>All entrants who enter will also be considered by FMF2015 for a showcase spot in their schedule, to be determined at their sole discretion.&nbsp; <b></b></span></p><p><b>2. Materials:</b> Materials submitted become the property of The Recording Academy and will not be returned. The Recording Academy will not be responsible for any deterioration in recording quality of submission that may occur, for defective or unreadable submissions, or for lost or incomplete packages.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p><b>3. Eligibility:</b> Only artists age 13 and older who are Florida or Puerto Rico residents who are not currently under contract with a record label are eligible to enter this contest.&nbsp; This rule is not meant to exclude artists who have formed their own label to release their own project.&nbsp; FL/PR residency required for a minimum of six of the last twelve months.&nbsp; The Recording Academy reserves the right to request additional proof of residency.&nbsp; Past Florida GRAMMY Showcase winners are not permitted to enter.&nbsp; Past Florida GRAMMY Showcase finalists are welcome to enter, with the exception that the six 2014 Florida GRAMMY Showcase finalists may not enter this 2015 event.&nbsp; Minors (18 and under in FL / 21 and under in PR) must have signature on entry form from parent or guardian to enter. All individuals or group member entrants must read and sign these Official Rules.</p><p><b>4. Judging: </b>Submissions will be screened and scored by a Judging Committee made up of music professionals on The Recording Academy Florida Chapter Board and any other qualified person(s) that they may choose to appoint in addition.&nbsp; Entries will be judged based on vocal ability, musicianship, and commercial potential. Entrants agree to accept these Official Rules and the decisions of the Judging Committee as final. </p><p><b>5.&nbsp; Prizes:</b> Six semi-finalists and six finalists will be named with only the six finalists invited to perform at Florida GRAMMY Showcase on April 17, 2015 in Orlando.&nbsp; From these six finalists, an Artist Development Package Grand Prize and Runner-Up Prize winner will be selected at the showcase event.&nbsp; The other four finalists will also receive Artist Development Packages.&nbsp; If a selected finalist is unable to attend and perform at the showcase, the next highest finishing semi-finalist will be given the showcase slot.&nbsp; Details of Artist Development prize packages to be announced.&nbsp; Prizes range in approximate retail value from $500 for the Sixth Runner-Up Prize to $10,000 for the Grand Prize.&nbsp; </p><p><b>6. Expenses/Taxes:</b> Finalists selected to perform at the event are responsible for all expenses associated with any prize which are not specifically provided for in these Official Rules, including paying for their own transportation and accommodation costs related to attending and performing at the event and bringing their own instruments for the performance.&nbsp; Prize winners responsible for any and all taxes due on value of prizes awarded and will be sent IRS W-9 forms for the 2015 tax year.&nbsp; Winners will be provided cash prizes as a tax gross up in an amount corresponding to the average taxpayer tax implication based on their prize value. </p><p><b>7. Finalist/Winner Notification:</b> Semi-finalists and finalists will be notified by email or telephone on or about March 26, 2015.&nbsp; All potential finalists/winners are subject to verification at the sole discretion of The Recording Academy.&nbsp; Neither The Recording Academy nor its affiliates or agencies are responsible for lost, late, stolen, misdirected, delayed or damaged mail or notifications.&nbsp; </p><p><b>8. Representations and Warranties:</b>&nbsp; Entrant represents and warrants that: (a) he/she is the sole and exclusive owner of all rights to the entry materials submitted as part of the entry process ("Materials"), including without limitation any and all copyrights therein, and the Materials are free of any adverse claim by any person or entity; (b) the Materials do not infringe the copyright, literary, privacy, publicity, trademark, service mark, trade name, trade secret, intellectual property right, or any other personal or property right of any person or entity; (c) the Materials will not constitute a libel or defamation of any third party; (d) the Materials do not contain any material that otherwise violates any criminal prohibition or the personal or proprietary rights of any person or entity; and (e) the Materials do not violate any federal, state or local laws or ordinances.</p><p><b>9. Indemnification:</b> Entrant hereby agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless The Recording Academy and its present and future direct and indirect parents, affiliates, successors, partners, subsidiaries, employees, officers, directors, trustees, governors, volunteers, representatives, agents, licensors, licensees, assigns and related companies, advertising and promotion agencies, and the immediate families or household members of each (collectively the Sponsor Affiliates) against any and all third-party claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, including reasonable legal fees and expenses, arising out of or related to any breach by the entrant of any provision of this document, including, without limitation, entrant's representations and warranties.<span><br /> </span><b>10. Release of Liability:</b> By participating, entrant releases the Sponsor Affiliates, and all others associated with the development and execution of the contest from and against any and all injury, loss or damage caused or claimed to be caused by his/her participation in the contest and/or the acceptance, use and/or misuse of any prize, and entrant agrees that these entities are in no matter responsible for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relating to the promotion and/or the awarding of any prize.&nbsp; If the preceding release is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or void for any reason, entrant agrees that: (a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with the contest shall be resolved individually without resort to any form of class action; (b) any claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys fees; and (c) under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.</p><p><b>11. General:</b> Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements. If selected as finalists and/or winners, finalists/winners (and any other persons appearing in the materials) grant to The Recording Academy a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual and transferable right and license to use the Materials for any advertising, promotional or commercial purposes, including the right to publicly display, perform, reproduce and distribute the Materials in any media channels; and understand and agree that their names, photos, or likenesses, statements, and submitted songs and lyrics may be publicized in or broadcast over any medium in association with The Recording Academys Florida GRAMMY Showcase without compensation, except where otherwise prohibited by law.&nbsp; Finalists/winners (or parent/legal guardian if finalist/winner is a minor) must sign an Affidavit of Eligibility certifying eligibility, including unsigned status. Finalist/winner (or parent/legal guardian if finalist/winner is a minor) may also be required to sign and return a Liability/Publicity release. In the event such Affidavit and Liability/Publicity Release is not returned within ten (10) days of the request being made, prizes may be forfeited and an alternate finalist/winner selected. This statement is subject to verification by The Recording Academy. Any false information will result in automatic disqualification and forfeiture of prize.&nbsp; The Recording Academy reserves the right to permanently disqualify from this contest any person it believes has violated these Official Rules.&nbsp; The Recording Academy reserves the right to terminate, cancel, suspend and/or modify the contest if any fraud, virus or other problem corrupts the administration, security, or proper play of the contest. No substitution of prizes is offered, no transfer of prizes to a third party is permitted, and prizes may not be redeemed for cash value.&nbsp; The contest is governed by U.S. law, is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.&nbsp; Void where prohibited and outside of Florida and Puerto Rico.</p><p><b>12. Winners Names: </b>For names of Winners, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to The Florida Grammy Showcase Winner List, The Recording Academy, Florida Chapter, 8004 NW 154 St., Suite 359, Miami Lakes, FL 33016.&nbsp; Requests must be received by May 8, 2015.</p><p> </p><p><b>13. Sponsor:</b> National Academy of Recording Arts &amp; Sciences, Inc.</p> <p></p>