Call for submissions: 2020 AfriMusic Song Contest

Entries will close on 1 February and should be submitted here.

Entry material must be emailed to info@afrimusicsongcontest.com.

The winner will be awarded with an all-expenses paid trip to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, where the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest will be held from 12 to 16 May.

All qualifying entrants are encouraged to promote their song within their country to ensure sufficient public votes for the National Selections and to compete in the finals.

Entry requirements

• Not more than three original and previously unreleased tracks (each song requires a new registration).
• Lyrics sheet.
• Music video(s) (if available).
• Three high-resolution promotional images of the artist.
• Performing artists' biography.
• Written confirmation from songwriter confirming that the song entered is original and has never been commercially released.
• Written confirmation from performer confirming participation in the contest (if performer is different from songwriter).
• If the artist is signed to a recording label, a signed clearance letter from the label needs to be submitted.
• Entrants must read the contest rules carefully prior to submitting their entry.

Eligibility

• All compositions (lyrics and music) submitted for the AfriMusic Song Contest must not have been commercially released or published. In case the composition has been made available to the public, for example, but not limited to, online video platforms, social networks or public performances, the entrant must inform the AfriMusic executive body (EXCO), who shall have authority to evaluate whether the composition is eligible for participation in the competition. The AfriMusic EXCO shall authorise or deny participation of a composition, which may have been available to the public as described above, subject to the prior approval of the reference group.
• Composers from different African countries can enter for any other country, however artists must be citizens or permanent residents in the participating country, but do not need to live in the country at the time of the competition, and If born in another country and qualify for dual citizenship may enter the competition representing their country of family origin.
• All compositions (lyrics and music) must be written and/or composed by the entrant. The entrant must own the composition. If the composition has been written and/or composed by more than one person, each person’s name needs to be completed on the entry form. All songs submitted need to be original compositions. Cover songs will not be accepted.
• AfriMusic reserves the right to request documented/written proof that all songwriters, composers qualify as set out herein.
• The maximum duration of each song is 4.5 minutes.
• It is at the songwriter(s) and/or composer’s discretion to select the artist that will represent their song in the competition. Artists can be established or unestablished performers.
• Songs previously entered into the AfriMusic Song Contest will not be eligible for entry in the new year.
• All artists competing in the competition must be 18 years of age and older.
• No artist may compete for more than one country in the AfriMusic Song Contest in a given year.
• The entrant is free to decide the language in which the artist(s) will sing.
• During the entry process artists need to submit all required assets including numerous images of the performer. AfriMusic will create a video for each song that will be voted for by the participating country’s public and judging panel to determine the country’s representative in the finals. AfriMusic may produce a music video of the winner from each national selection’s that will compete in the finals and feature on AfriMusic’s digital platforms for the judging panel, and public voting.
• Changes to the lyrics, the artist or group (including its name), the title of the song and the language of the song (i.e. all elements which appear in printed material such as brochures, CD covers and booklets) shall be allowed only up until phase two. AfriMusic in consultation with the entrant may review a later change of the language of the song for marketing purposes.

Order of contest

• National selections – 20 February to 20 March.
• Finals – 10 April to 25 April.
• Winner announcement – 27 April.

View the original call on the AfriMusic Song Contest official website.