All submissions for this contest are now closed. Thank you for all that have participated. The finalists have been announced at http://www.shadowville.com/winners/ and voting is open to the public until September 30, 2008.

Welcome to the second annual Make-A-Hit™ Contest! Shadowville Productions prides itself in discovering talented artists by encouraging their efforts through rewards and prizes every year. Last year, an artist named Pyro walked away with $300 cash!

This year, the prizes just got better! Shadowville.com is giving away a brand new, factory sealed Sony PlayStation 3 along with cash and beat prizes for talented vocalists to rap, sing, chant, mumble on one of our six beats showcased below to select from.

Contest runs from August 1, 2008 12:00 AM to August 31, 2008 11:59 PM EST. No purchase necessary. By participating in this contest, you agree to be legally bound to the Official Rules and Regulations written below. Please read this page in its entirety carefully.

How to Enter:
1. Download one of the following six contest beats. Any other beats will not qualify.

[audio:Shadowville Contest - Deja Vu.mp3]
Download | 2Deep - Deja Vu (88.5 BPM)

[audio:Shadowville Contest - Dreamy Days.mp3]
Download | Hala-X - Dreamy Days (78 BPM)

[audio:Shadowville Contest - Future Muzik.mp3]
Download | Slantize - Future Muzik (120 BPM)

[audio:Shadowville Contest - I Had Enough.mp3]
Download | ADP - I Had Enough (106 BPM)

[audio:Shadowville Contest - Magnetik.mp3]
Download | Sinima - Magnetik (85 BPM)

[audio:Shadowville Contest - Payment Received.mp3]
Download | Slantize - Payment Received (75 BPM)

Are the beats above opening a new window when trying to download, instead of saving? Try to Right Click the download link and choose ‘Save Target As’ (IE) or ‘Save Link As’ (Firefox).

2. Write and record to the beat. Song length must be a minimum of 2 minutes and using English as the primary language. The ’shadowville.com’ vocal tag in the beginning must be kept intact in order to qualify as a valid submission.

3. Submit song and contact information to contest@shadowville.com (MP3 and WMA media formats only, all others will be rejected) by August 31, 2008 11:59 PM EST. Only one song entry permitted per contestant. Features or collaborations are allowed, but you decide how the prizes are split if you win. You can also mail your submissions on CD (audio file only, no computer data format allowed) to:

Shadowville Inc.
Make-A-Hit Contest II
338 38th Street
Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Important: Include your real name, stage name, phone number, and e-mail address with your submission so we can contact you if you win!

4. Wait one week for three semi-finalists to be announced. Judges include the Shadowville team and guest judge Killah Priest (Wu-Tang Clan affiliate).

5. Fans vote for the winner over the course of three weeks.

6. Winners get prizes!

Some Advice
In addition to the obvious winning points such as delivery, creativity, structure, and lyrics, here are some miscellaneous tips:

1. Have clean, crisp, professional recording quality.
2. Aim for industry-ready material, something that would be played on the radio (profanity is allowed) or commercially promoted.
3. Take very good care in the mixing and engineering work.

Bonus:
All approved contest submissions will receive an exclusive 10% off coupon code to all Shadowville.com leases by e-mail (you must submit using a valid e-mail address that can be responded to). Code expires October 19, 2008.

Questions or discussions about this contest? Go to this forum thread.

Official Rules & Regulations:

1. DESCRIPTION OF CONTEST. The second annual Shadowville Make-A-Hit™ Contest (”Contest”) is designed to discover the best overall hip hop, R&B, or pop artist. The Contest is divided into three phases. Phase 1 is the standard submission phase, Phase 2 is the semifinalist judging phase, and Phase 3 is the public voting phase. Phase 1 begins 12:00 AM EST August 1, 2008 and ends 11:59 PM EST August 31, 2008. Phase 2 begins 12:00 AM EST September 1, 2008 and ends 11:59 PM EST September 7, 2008. Phase 3 begins 12:00 AM EST September 8, 2008 and ends 11:59 PM EST September 30, 2008. To enter, entrants must first download the contest version of one of six instrumental compositions provided by Shadowville Productions (”Beat”). Internet access may be required. Only one song entry is permitted per entrant. Features or collaborations are permitted. The song length must be a minimum of 2 minutes. The primary language used in the song must be English. The contest version must include the official Shadowville sound tag in the intro of the Beat. Entrants will write, rhyme, and record on the Beat and then submit the finished master recording by e-mail to contest@shadowville.com in MP3 or WMA digital format. All other formats will be rejected without notice. You may also send submissions by mail in a standard audio CD format (computer data formats will not be accepted) to Shadowville Inc., Make-A-Hit Contest II, 338 38th Street, Lindenhurst, NY 11757. At the end of Phase 1, the Shadowville team will select three semi-finalist winners during the Phase 2 period, which will be announced some time on September 8, 2008. Phase 3 will then take place in which audience members (Shadowville.com account registration required) can listen, review, and vote on one of the three semi-finalists (limited via account, cookie, and IP) on the website. Multiple votes cast from the same person through deceitful tactics such as, but not limited to, using multiple computers or web proxies may result in deletion or banning of that voter’s account. The winner will be announced some time on October 1, 2008. No purchase necessary.

2. ELIGIBILITY. Open to residents of the United States, the District of Columbia, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and member states of the European Union who are 13 years of age or older at the time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. Employees of Shadowville Productions, Shadowville Inc., and its subsidiaries and affiliates, participating advertising and promotion agencies and prize suppliers (and members of their immediate family and/or those living in the same household of each such employee) are not eligible.

3. PRIZES & APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUES: (1) Grand Winner Prize - One Black Sony PlayStation 3 40GB ($399.99 value), three Gift Vouchers, each good for one non-exclusive license to a beat on Shadowville.com ($117.00 value), a Sponsor Spot advertisement including Feature option on Shadowville.com for one week ($12.95 value); (1) Second Place Prize - $50 cash ($50.00 value), three Gift Vouchers, each good for one non-exclusive license to a beat on Shadowville.com ($117.00 value); (1) Third Place Prize - Three Gift Vouchers, each good for one non-exclusive license to a beat on Shadowville.com ($117.00 value); (3) Runner-Up Prize - One Gift Voucher, good for one non-exclusive license to a beat on Shadowville.com ($39.00 value). PlayStation® is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation. All rights reserved. Sony does not endorse or sponsor this contest.

4. WINNER REQUIREMENTS/OBLIGATIONS. Each entrant agrees and acknowledges that all right, title and interest in and to the entry and any materials or information supplied by entrant to Shadowville Productions in relation to the Competition (collectively the “Materials”), including without limitation any and all intellectual property rights therein, are co-exclusively licensed and assigned to Shadowville Productions. Shadowville Productions shall co-exclusively own all rights to in and to the lyrics, vocals, and master recording therein. Shadowville Productions has the right to edit, adapt, modify, publish, promote, and otherwise use or not use the entry and the information contained therein in any way, in any media throughout the universe, without any compensation to the entrant. Entrant agrees to do all things and execute all documentation necessary to effect the assignment and/or waiver herein described. The entrant acknowledges that: (I) Shadowville Productions has no obligation to use, publish or exploit any Materials, including the songs submitted by the Competition winners; (II) OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH HEREIN, SHADOWVILLE PRODUCTIONS OR ITS ASSIGNS MAY COMMERCIALLY EXPLOIT THE MATERIALS WITHOUT LIABILITY OR ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION OF ANY KIND TO THE ENTRANTS. Shadowville Productions shall immediately have co-exclusive ownership of the copyrights of all uploaded works from users. As such any entrant, who is currently signed to an exclusive recording agreement, should not post songs on this site without the prior written consent of the label to which you are signed. At no time may an entrant use any content, specifically including but not limited to the imported beats, for their own use, in a commercial capacity unless proper licensing is obtained. All information on the site belongs exclusively to Shadowville Productions and may not be used in any way outside of the confines of the game without permission. Any entrant found to be using such content inconsistent with these rules will be immediately removed from the game and subject themselves to liability at law or in equity. Shadowville Productions will file claims, prosecute and vigorously pursue any and all users that are not in conformity with the rules and regulations of the game. Shadowville Productions will also assist plaintiffs who file civil suits against another entrant for a violation of any intellectual property right protected under US copyright law.

5. GENERAL RULES. Void where prohibited by law. All federal, state and local laws apply. All prize winners must submit an Affidavit of Eligibility certifying that he/she holds all rights to the submission, that the submission has not been previously published, has not won a previous prize or award and that he/she has followed the Official Rules of the Contest. All winners must also provide a Liability/Publicity release form within 7 days of first attempted notification. Noncompliance within this time period or return of any prize notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification and an alternate will be selected. In the event a winner is less than the age of majority in his/her state of residence, all required documents must be signed by the winner’s parent/legal guardian on his/her behalf. No substitution or transfer of prize by winner permitted. Shadowville Productions reserves the right to substitute prize of equal or greater value. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission to the Shadowville Productions and its agencies to use winner’s name and/or likeness for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. By participating in this Contest, entrants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of the judges which are final. In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between disclosures or other statements contained in any contest materials and the terms and conditions of theOfficial Rules,the Official Rules shall prevail, govern and control. In no event will more than the stated number of prizes be awarded. Shadowville Productions is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the contest, or in the announcement of the prize.

6. NOTICE TO ENTRANTS. ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SHADOWVILLE PRODUCTIONS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Not responsible for faulty, incorrect or mistranscribed phone transmissions, incorrect announcements of any kind, technical hardware or software failures of any kind including any injury or damage to any person’s computer related to or resulting from participating in or experiencing any materials in connection with the contest, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission that may limit a user’s ability to participate in the contest. Shadowville Productions reserves the right to cancel or modify the online contest if fraud, misconduct or technical failures destroy the integrity of the program; or if a computer virus, bug, or other technical problem corrupts the administration, security, or proper administration of the program as determined by Shadowville Productions/judging agency/administrator, in their sole discretion. In the event of termination, a notice will be posted online and the contest will be conducted from among all eligible online contest entries received prior to termination. Any damage made to the Web Site will also be the responsibility of the authorized e-mail account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized e-mail account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Proof of submitting entries will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Shadowville Productions. Any use of robotic, automatic, programmed or the like methods of participation will void all such submissions by such methods. Shadowville Productions reserves the right to freeze or close an account or to prohibit the participation of an individual/account holder if fraud or tampering is suspected or if the account holder fails to comply with any requirement of participation as stated herein or with any provision in these Official Rules.

7. WINNER. A semi-finalist list will be available on a webpage commencing on approximately September 7, 2008. A final winner will be available on a webpage commencing on approximately October 1, 2008.

Disclaimer: These rules are subject to change or revision at any time without notice.