Unsigned Only Music Competition 2012

Unsigned Only is a unique international music competition designed for artists who are not signed to a major label record company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or imprints. The Grand Prize Winner will win $5,000 in cash and one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives.


New Judges Announced! Reach esteemed and accomplished songwriters and industry reps, including Robert Smith (The Cure); Cyndi Lauper; The Mountain Goats; St. Vincent; Craig Morgan; Steve Lillywhite; Jeremy Camp; Kelly Clarkson; Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine (Co-Founder & Editor-In-Chief); 3 Doors Down; Matt and Kim; and many more to be announced./n/nUnsigned Only is a unique international music competition designed for artists who are not signed to a major label record company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or imprints. The Grand Prize Winner will win $5,000 in cash and one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives. First Place and Second Place winners will also be selected in each category. Winners will be announced in July, 2012.

The goal of Unsigned Only is to find an outstanding, talented performer - a band 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.

New Judges Announced! Reach esteemed and accomplished songwriters and industry reps, including Robert Smith (The Cure); Craig Morgan; Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Cyndi Lauper; St. Vincent; 3 Doors Down; The Mountain Goats; Jeremy Camp; Kelly Clarkson; Manchester Orchestra; Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine (Co-Founder/Editor-In-Chief); Matt and Kim; Scott Lapatine (Founder/Editor-in-Chief, Stereogum); and many more to be announced.

Mentors include a group of high-profile record company executives, including Monte Lipman (President of Universal Republic); Pete Ganbarg (Executive Vice President/Head of A&R, Atlantic Records); David Wolter (Senior VP of A&R, RCA Records); Kim Stephens (President, Forward Entertainment/Capitol Music Group); Trevor Jerideau (VP of A&R, J Records); David Wilkes (VP of A&R, eOne Music); Pete Giberga (Head of A&R, Razor & Tie Records); Jason Geter (President, Grand Hustle Records); and more.

Conceived of and produced by the team who brings you the prestigious International Songwriting Competition (ISC), Unsigned Only offers a fresh and novel alternative to other music competitions. Yes, it offers great prizes, recognition, exposure, and the chance to be heard by a group of judges consisting of high-profile recording artists and industry professionals. But, Unsigned Only also takes it a step further and puts the Grand Prize winner in direct, personal contact with the influential record label executives who are the ultimate decision-makers. For the first time ever, a music competition offers the Grand Prize winner the unprecedented opportunity to be mentored by a group of record company presidents, A&R reps, and more.

Mentors include a group of high-profile record company executives, including Monte Lipman (President of Universal Republic); Kim Stephens (President, Forward Entertainment/Capitol Music Group); David Wilkes (VP of A&R, eOne Music); and Trevor Jerideau (VP of AR&R, J Records).



Please note: Entrants may submit as many songs as they like. Winners will be selected based on individual songs. However, since Unsigned Only is a music competition (not a songwriting competition), it is advisable to submit as many songs as is necessary for the judges to have a good representation of the artist.