2011 Durango Song Contest - Write with a Hitmaker

The Durango Song Contest Write with a Hitmaker provides the opportunity for talented, up-and-coming artists and songwriters to work with established songwriters and bring their compositions to the masses. Winners will receive the opportunity to write with hit songwriters, and for the first time ever Durango has introduced a Film/TV category, the winners of which will receive a placement deal and library slot with RipTide Music and Pacifica Music, whose recent clients/projects include Black Swan, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Microsoft, Lexus, and Yahoo.

Additionally, there is a $500 travel stipend for one selected Sonicbids artist to attend the 2011 Santa Barbara Expo./n/nAbout Durango Song Contest:

The Durango Song Contest Write with a Hitmaker provides the opportunity for talented, up and coming artists and songwriters to work with established songwriters and bring their compositions to the masses. This year, not only can artists submit to write with professional songwriters at the Durango Songwriter's Expo in Santa Barbara, but for the first time ever, artists can also submit to a TV and Film licensing opportunities through RipTide Music and Pacifica Music (see details in the lower half of the gig description).



Durango Songwriter's Expo Write with a Hitmaker contest has already produced a Grammy nominated #1 song, written at The Expo by the first pop/rock winner, Alissa Moreno with Jeffrey Steele. Three of the first six winners have signed significant publishing deals, as well.



One artist in each category will be selected. A maximum of two songs per category will be reviewed. There are separate submissions for each category, and a panel of music industry professionals will select the winners. Artists can submit to one category for $45, two categories for $75, three categories for $100, or each of the four categories for $115.



Prizes:



This year's Pop/Rock winner will receive:

• The opportunity to write with the #1 hit songwriter and lead singer of the band, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillips.


• A one song publishing deal with the hit songwriter, Keith Follese's ("The Way You Love Me") company, The Family Business.

• The opportunity to write with hit songwriters and Expo alumni, Ken Johnson and Andi Zack, who co-wrote last summer's top 10 smash, "Beer on the Table" by Josh Thompson.


• A one song publishing deal with Nashville's Ash Street Music.

This year's RipTide/Pacifica Music TV and Film (Vocal and Instrumental) winner will receive:

• A prestigious film and TV placement service deal and library slot, with either RipTide Music or Pacifica Music (depending on whether your song has vocals or is instrumental). Please see below for full details about the opportunity.

In addition to the songwriting opportunities, all Sonicbids members have the chance to receive free registration in the 2011 Santa Barbara Expo (a $299 value). Additionally, there is a $500 travel stipend for one selected Sonicbids artist to attend the 2011 Santa Barbara Expo, located in southern California's wine country. The 3 runners-up in each category will get 50% off the registration fee for the expo.

About Durango - RipTide Music/Pacifica Music Song Contest (for TV and film):


Artists can submit their songs and instrumentals for a "deal offer" with either RipTide Music (vocal songs) or Pacifica Music (instrumental pieces and song).



RipTide Music is a creative, forward thinking Los Angeles based music licensing and publishing company. It represents the work of accomplished composers, indie bands, artists and singer/songwriters for licensing in television, movie trailers, films, video games and advertising.



Pacifica Music is a modern production music catalog created by two of Hollywood's leading independent licensing and publishing companies, RipTide and picFACTORY Music. The catalog currently offers over 7,500 tracks across all modern genres with new tracks being added at an aggressive pace. Pacifica showcases a collection of works from a global network of artists, composers, musicians and producers, and delivers music through its industry leading website, a variety of popular digital asset management systems and on hard drives.



All submissions must be fully developed and produced as 'master quality' recordings to be considered.



A few hints for song submissions:

• Songs that are upbeat and good feeling often get placed
  
• A strong, broad based lyrical 'hook' that can fit a number of potential scenes has a better chance of getting placements than a song with a very personal message


• For instrumental library submissions, songs that sound original and veer away from 'typical' library songs have a great chance of being selected. The bar has moved upward and 'production music' needs to sound like it was produced like a record. Indie sounding instrumentals are useful


• Genre hybrids, such as hip hop/rock, are unique and more appealing for TV and film placements.

1. Only original music will be considered. Please no samples, covers or third party material.


2. Only 2 songs or tracks will be accepting per artist or composer


3. Selected artists must attend the Durango Santa Barbara Expo (registration fee will be waived).


4. The format for submissions is MP3 files

Recent RipTide credits include:


Trailers: Tangled, Your Highness, Inception, I Am Number Four
TV: 90210, Castle, Terriers, NCIS

Sports: Lincoln, Applebees, Aiden Mattox, Pillsbury

Games: Call of Duty: Black Ops, UFC Undisputed 2010.