This is an opportunity for artists to show their creative side by putting their video making skills to the test, whether it be a professionally produced video or a homemade video that can be shot on just an iPhone or video camera. Two videos will become winners: one that is a fully produced video and one that is a homemade video. The two winners will be awarded some cool prizes, including a one-year license to Filmora9 and a GoPro camera. All “Video Only” entrants will receive a free a 30-day free trial of Filmora9, a leading video editing software program that makes future music video editing as easy as ever. 

 

“Music videos are just as important as they have ever been,” said Candace Avery and Jim Morgan, Co-Founders of Unsigned Only. “Sites such as YouTube and Vimeo make it easy to post a video, but many of these indie videos don’t get many viewers. We want to help indie artists gain viewers and real recognition, and we are looking forward to receiving some really creative, interesting videos.”

 

It’s very simple to participate. Artists just need to make a music video (or choose one that has already been created) and upload it to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, or any other website or platform where Unsigned Only can go and view it. Then, upon entering online, artists will provide a streaming link to the video.

 

All “Video Only” entries will also be entered into the overall 2019 Unsigned Only Music Competition and be eligible for all the regular competition prizes. Unsigned Only is open to all artists who are unsigned to a major record label and awards more than $150,000 in cash and prizes split among 38 winners, including a $20,000 cash prize to the overall Grand Prize winner. The Grand Prize winner is also awarded one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives. This is a unique opportunity for an artist to directly network with the highest level of record company professionals and get guidance, advice, and feedback. First Place and Second Place winners will also be selected in each category and awarded prizes. Since its inception in 2012, five Grand Prize winners have been signed to record label deals.

2019 Judges include: Aimee Mann; Garth Hudson (Founding Member, The Band); Grouplove; Taj Mahal; Sanctus Real; Bow Wow; Robert Smith (The Cure); The Secret Sisters; Boney James; Gareth Emery; O.A.R.; Jack Ingram; Lionel Loueke; Simón Mejía (Bomba Estéreo); Oumou Sangaré; Janiva Magness; Fred Hersch; Francesca Battistelli; Frank Foster; Cedric Gervais; Aaron Shust; Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Metals); Ruthie Foster; Lucero; Mariza; Tinariwen; Craig Campbell; JD McPhereson; Carter Burwell; Zbigniew Preisner; Russ Landau; Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine); Anthony Decurtis (Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone); Mac Randall (Editor, JazzTimes); Marcos Juarez (Head of Latin Music, Pandora); David Sikorski (Senior Editor, EARMILK Media INC.); Jeff Zuchowski (Vice President, Artist Marketing & Industry Relations, Pandora); Lyndsey Parker (Managing Editor, Yahoo Music); Jed Gottlieb (Music & Theater Writer, Boston Herald); Kevin McNeese (President, NewReleaseToday); Art Tipaldi (Editor, Blues Music Magazine); Nigel J. Farmer (Editor-In-Chief, Jazz In Europe); John Dibiase (President, Jesus Freak Hideout); Miriam Di Nunzio (Arts Editor/Entertainment, Chicago Sun-Times); David Silbaugh (Talent Buyer, Summerfest); Angel Romero (Founder / Sr. Editor, World Music Central); Brandon Chitwood (Assistant Director, EDM Joy); Chad Jensen (Artist Manager, Jensen Artist Management); Brinson Strickland (President, Collective Music Nashville); Deborah Klein (JV Partner and Artist Manager, Primary Wave Entertainment); Chris Sampson (EVP, Programming Superfly Presents (Bonnaroo, Outside Lands Music And Arts Festival); Kristyn Ciani (Talent Buyer, C3 Presents (Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Shaky Knees); Connie Farr (Music Supervisor / Creative Director, ThinkSync Music); Evan Stein (Owner, Experience Music Group); James Kempner (Owner, JMK Connections); Jennifer Taunton (Music Supervisor, Level Two Music); Jessica Cole (Founder / President, Lyric House); Rachel Levy (SVP, Film Music at Universal Pictures); Sheryl Louis (Artist Manager, CSM Management); and more to be announced.

Categories include: AAA (Adult Album Alternative), AC (Adult Contemporary), Americana, Blues, Christian, Country, EDM, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Instrumental, Jazz, Latin, Pop/Top 40, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Screen Shot (songs suitable for placement in film/TV/advertising/gaming), Teen (artists 18 years old or younger), Vocal Performance, and World Music.

Unsigned Only is sponsored by Berklee College of Music; Eventric; Hybrid Studios; Lurssen Mastering; Merch Cat; Musicians Institute; Musician Wellness; Pro Tour Nutrition; Radio Airplay; Shubb Capos; Symphonic Distribution; The Music Business Registry; and Vocal Eze.

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