TMT-Media 15th Anniversary Song Competition

1. Organizer

The organizer of the competition is:

2. Nature of the competition

The TMT-Media 15th Anniversary Song Competition is a free, skill- and merit-based music competition. The winner will not be selected randomly. All valid entries will be reviewed by TMT-Media, and the winner will be chosen according to the judging criteria in these terms. No purchase or payment is required to participate.

3. Competition period

The competition begins on 1 August 2026 at 00:00 CEST and ends on 1 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

The winner is scheduled to be announced on 15 September 2026. TMT-Media may reasonably change the announcement date if an unexpectedly high number of submissions requires additional evaluation time. Any change will be announced through the same channels used to promote the competition.

4. Eligibility

The competition is open to solo musicians, artists, producers, ensembles and bands worldwide. Every person participating in an entry must have reached the legal age of majority applicable in their country of residence at the time of submission.

For a band or group entry, one adult member must submit the entry as the authorized representative of the group. That person confirms that the other participating members have agreed to the submission and to these terms.

Employees, contractors and immediate family members of TMT-Media, as well as anyone directly involved in administering the competition, may not participate. Participation is not permitted where the competition or acceptance of the prize would be prohibited by applicable law.

5. Eligible music

There are no genre restrictions. Eligible submissions may include original compositions, cover versions, songs with vocals, instrumental music, solo performances, band or ensemble performances, and music created using conventional acoustic or electronic instruments.

Only one song may be submitted per entry. The submitted song must not exceed five minutes. The performance and submitted song must comply with the rights requirements in Section 11.

6. How to enter

To participate, the entrant must email [email protected] using the subject TMT-Media 15th Anniversary Song Competition.

The email must include:

1. the entrant’s full name;
2. the artist, project or band name;
3. the entrant’s country of residence;
4. the title of the submitted song;
5. a link to a video showing the entrant or band performing the submitted song;
6. a short explanation of why the entrant believes they should win; and
7. confirmation that the entrant has read and accepts these terms and conditions.

The entrant should not send multitracks, stems, session files or other large production files with the initial entry.

The video link must remain accessible to TMT-Media until at least 16 September 2026. An unlisted or private-sharing link may be used, provided that TMT-Media can access it without requesting additional permission. Entries that are incomplete, inaccessible or received after the deadline may be excluded.

7. Video requirements

A professionally produced video is not required. A mobile-phone recording is sufficient.

The video must clearly show or otherwise reasonably identify the participating musician or musicians, clearly present the submitted song, contain enough of the performance to allow meaningful evaluation, represent the entrant’s own genuine performance, and correspond to the song that would be mixed and mastered if the entrant wins.

Reasonable audio editing, video editing and synchronization are permitted, provided that the video still honestly represents the entrant’s performance. TMT-Media may ask for additional information where the identity of the performer, authenticity of the performance or relationship between the video and the proposed song is unclear.

8. Human-created work and generative AI

This competition is intended to support human musicians and human-created music.

Generative AI must not have created or substantially replaced the entrant’s composition, melody, harmony, lyrics, arrangement, lead or backing vocals, instrumental performances, artistic identity, performer likeness or submitted performance video.

AI-generated voices, voice cloning, synthetic performers and fully or substantially AI-generated songs are not eligible.

Conventional production tools are permitted, including digital audio workstations, non-generative effects, amp simulators, electronic instruments, legally licensed samples, pitch correction, timing correction, noise reduction and mastering tools, provided that they do not generate or substantially replace the entrant’s creative work or performance. A technical feature that uses machine learning only for corrective or processing purposes will not automatically disqualify an entry.

TMT-Media may request reasonable clarification about how a submission was created. An entry may be disqualified where TMT-Media has reasonable grounds to conclude that prohibited generative AI was used or that the entrant provided misleading information about its use.

9. Judging process

All valid entries will be reviewed by TMT-Media. The evaluation will consider:

• the artistic potential and identity of the musician or band;
• the quality, character and emotional impact of the song or interpretation;
• the musical performance;
• originality and creative direction;
• the potential benefit of professional mixing and mastering;
• whether the submitted material is suitable for the offered service; and
• the entrant’s explanation of why they should win.

For cover songs, originality will be assessed through the entrant’s interpretation, performance, arrangement and artistic identity rather than authorship of the underlying composition. A funny or unusual explanation is welcome but is not required to win.

The criteria are considered together and are not necessarily given equal numerical weight. The final decision reflects the professional and artistic judgment of TMT-Media. There is no entitlement to individual scores, rankings or detailed feedback.

10. Winner selection and notification

One winning musician, artist or band will be selected and contacted using the email address from which the entry was submitted.

The winner must respond within seven calendar days and confirm acceptance of the prize, continued eligibility, the identity of the person or group receiving the prize, that the necessary rights and permissions are available, and that suitable files can be supplied for mixing and mastering.

If the selected winner does not respond within seven calendar days, is found to be ineligible, cannot provide suitable material or declines the prize, TMT-Media may select another entrant. Entrants are responsible for checking their spam and junk-email folders.

11. Copyright and third-party rights

The entrant must own or control the rights necessary to submit the performance video and proposed recording to TMT-Media for the purposes of this competition.

For an original song, the entrant confirms that the song and performance do not infringe the rights of another person.

For a cover song, the entrant confirms that the submitted performance is their own, that any backing tracks, samples, arrangements or third-party recordings are used lawfully, and that they understand additional licences or permissions may be required before the finished recording can be commercially released, distributed or publicly performed.

The entrant is responsible for obtaining any permissions required from co-writers, performers, producers, band members, record labels, publishers, owners of samples or backing tracks, and any other relevant rights holders.

Winning the competition does not grant the winner a licence to commercially release a cover song or other protected material. TMT-Media may refuse to work on material that appears to infringe copyright or other third-party rights.

12. Use of submitted videos and information

Submitting a video does not give TMT-Media general permission to publish, repost, edit or use that video for advertising. Submission materials will initially be used only for administering and judging the competition.

TMT-Media will obtain separate permission before publicly sharing a submitted performance video, extracts from the submitted music, photographs of the entrant, before-and-after audio examples, or other promotional content featuring the entrant.

By participating, entrants agree that, if selected, their artist, project or band name and country may be published on the TMT-Media website, News page and TMT-Media social-media accounts when the winner is announced. A winner’s private legal name will not be published unless the winner separately agrees.

13. The prize

The prize consists of professional mixing and stereo mastering by TMT-Media for one song with a maximum duration of five minutes.

The prize includes professional mixing, stereo mastering of the approved final mix, delivery of the final master in high-resolution WAV format and an appropriate listening format, and reasonable revisions without a fixed numerical limit when requested within 14 calendar days after delivery of the first mixed and mastered version.

The included revision window covers changes that remain within the originally agreed scope. It does not include replacing or re-recording substantial parts of the song, a substantially different arrangement or production direction, changing the selected song, or rebuilding the project from materially different source files.

The prize does not include, unless TMT-Media separately agrees in writing: songwriting or composition; arrangement or production; recording sessions; extensive performance editing; extensive vocal tuning; re-amping; restoration of seriously damaged recordings; additional versions or alternative arrangements; stem mastering; immersive or Dolby Atmos mixing; distribution or release administration; licensing of a cover song or samples; or work requested after the 14-day revision period or outside the agreed scope.

Additional services may be discussed separately but are not required to receive the prize.

14. Delivery of the prize

The winner must provide technically suitable audio files, including clearly named and consolidated multitracks or stems, files beginning from the same timeline position, a rough mix, tempo and sample-rate information where applicable, production notes and relevant reference tracks.

The files should be supplied within 30 days of accepting the prize unless another deadline is agreed in writing. The winner will be given a reasonable opportunity to correct incomplete or technically unsuitable files.

If the winner cannot provide usable files or a suitable song after being given a reasonable opportunity to do so, TMT-Media may withdraw the prize and select another entrant. The production schedule will be agreed after all required files have been received.

15. Prize restrictions

The prize is personal to the selected artist or band, cannot be exchanged for cash, cannot be sold, cannot be combined with another offer, and cannot be transferred without written approval from TMT-Media. There is no cash alternative.

16. Disqualification

TMT-Media may disqualify an entry where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the entrant submitted false or misleading information, misrepresented the identity of a performer, submitted a performance that is not their own, used prohibited generative AI, infringed copyright or another third-party right, attempted to manipulate the competition, submitted unlawful, hateful or seriously abusive material, behaved abusively toward TMT-Media or another participant, or materially breached these terms.

17. Personal data

TMT-Media will process the entrant’s name, email address, country, artist or band information, video link and submission information to administer the competition, review entries, check eligibility, communicate with entrants, select and announce the winner, deliver the prize, prevent misuse, and handle questions, complaints or legal claims.

Processing necessary to administer the entry and provide the prize is based on Article 6(1)(b) GDPR. Processing necessary to prevent misuse, resolve disputes or establish, exercise or defend legal claims may be based on TMT-Media’s legitimate interests under Article 6(1)(f) GDPR.

Access will be limited to TMT-Media personnel and service providers who need the information for these purposes. Competition entries will not automatically be added to a newsletter or marketing list. Marketing messages require a separate voluntary subscription.

Information belonging to unsuccessful entrants will normally be deleted within 90 days after the winner has been confirmed, unless longer retention is reasonably necessary to handle a complaint, protect legal claims or meet a legal obligation. Information concerning the winner may be retained for as long as necessary to provide the prize and meet applicable legal, accounting or business record-keeping requirements.

Entrants may request access, correction, deletion, restriction or portability of their personal data and may object to processing based on legitimate interests where the legal requirements are met. They also have the right to lodge a complaint with a competent data-protection supervisory authority.

Further information is available in the TMT-Media Privacy Policy. Privacy questions may be sent to [email protected].

18. Social-media disclaimer

Where this competition is advertised through Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Xiaohongshu, Bilibili, Douyin or another platform, it is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with that platform. Entry takes place exclusively by email.

19. Changes or cancellation

TMT-Media may modify, suspend or cancel the competition where circumstances outside its reasonable control make fair, lawful or practical administration impossible. Material changes will be announced through the same channels used to promote the competition. Changes will not be made solely to disadvantage an entrant who has already submitted a valid entry.

20. Liability

Nothing in these terms excludes liability where exclusion would be prohibited by law, including liability for intentional misconduct, gross negligence or injury to life, body or health.

TMT-Media is not responsible for technical problems outside its reasonable control, including unavailable video links, email-delivery failures, internet outages, corrupted files or incorrect contact information supplied by an entrant.

21. Applicable law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. Mandatory consumer rights applicable in an entrant’s country of residence remain unaffected.

22. Contact

Questions about the competition may be sent to [email protected].