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No Purchase Necessary To Enter or Win. Limit one entry per band or band member. All subsequent entries from a single band will be void. All band members must be 18 years of age or older as of Jan 26, 2012.

ENTRANCE ELIGIBILITY LIMITED TO 8 BAND MEMBERS OR LESS. BAND MUST BE LOCATED WITHIN 40 MILES FROM THE HARD ROCK Cafe, STATION SQUARE PITTSBURGH.

To Enter: Bands need to fill out registration form and submit (1) one mp3 of an original song at www.wxdx.com.

Any questions are to be directed to the Hard Rock Cafe; Gary Marasco, General Manager or Roy Martin-Smith, Sales & Marketing at 412-481-7625.

ENTRY MATERIALS: Deadline for all submissions is Wednesday, January  4, 2012 at noon. To enter, you must submit a song recorded by your band, on which the band plays an original musical composition and lyrics (music and lyrics must be written and owned by a member or members of the band and recording must be owned by a member or members of the band) along with the completed online Official Registration Form. The music submitted cannot have been previously published by a songwriter outside of band members performing. Modification of another artists existing work does not qualify as original. Sponsors and their affiliates are not responsible for lost, late, damaged, illegible, incomplete entries or for any mail or delivery issues related to this contest. All entries shall become the property of Sponsors and will not be acknowledged or returned.

BAND SONG LANGUAGE CONTENT:Please watch the language used in your song submission. Just like the radio station isn't allowed to use some language considered offensive on-air, the same goes with the radio station website. In addition, the Semi-finals during the showcase are "Limited All Ages" events and the Hard Rock Cafe would like to keep it as clean as possible. If we find your MP3 submitted uses language that might be considered offensive, we will either ask for a new song, an edited version of the same song; edit the song ourselves, or not accept the song in some case.

Selection Process (Total of 18 Bands Chosen):

On or around, Friday, January 6, 2012, WXDX will place select bands MP3's on a designated link on www.wxdx.com for band fans and station listeners to vote on which band they want to see in the showcase. One vote per computer. Bands are encouraged to have their fans vote for them. Any band arising suspicion of cheating via the internet voting process can be disqualified at the discretion of WXDX and/or the Hard Rock Cafe.

Website voting ends on or around Wednesday, January 11 at 3 pm.

ONLY FOUR (4) BANDS OUT OF EIGHTEEN (18) WILL BE CHOSEN VIA THIS METHOD OF ONLINE VOTING.

On or around, Thursday, January 12 the top four (4) bands will be selected by a calculation of tallied votes on the WXDX Winter Rock Showcase designated website linked from www.wxdx.com. The selection will be represented by the top four bands chosen by a calculation of most votes and highest rating average from listeners and fans logging on to rate bands.

On or around January 11, 2012 an additional sixteen (16) bands will be selected by authorized representatives of WXDX, Drusky Entertainment, and the Pittsburgh Hard Rock Cafe. Bands will be selected based on the following criteria: originality of music and lyrics (0-25 points); appeal of pop/rock style (0-25 points); quality of musicianship (0-25 points); and overall technical presentation as demonstrated by the MP3 submitted (0-25 points). The selection process and application of the above criteria will be at Sponsors' sole discretion.

If Selected to Perform: Each band selected will be assigned a night on which they will compete at the Hard Rock Cafe - Pittsburgh. Each member of each band selected to perform will be required to execute The Pittsburgh Hard Rock / WXDX Winter Rock Showcase Engagement Agreement that must be returned before the band will be permitted to perform in each round of the competition. Sponsors reserve the right to verify any entrant’s eligibility and the right to disqualify any participating band that violates Sponsors’ policies or rules. Non-compliance with any of the foregoing may result in disqualification of the entire band.

The showcase will be as follows:

Semi-Finals: THURSDAY - January 26, February 2, & February 6

At the Pittsburgh Hard Rock Cafe there will be three (3) nights (1 per week) on which six  (6) bands will perform in the first round of the competition. Each band will have a total of 15 minutes to set up their equipment and 20 minutes to play their compositions. Full backline will be provided. The majority of each band’s set must consist of original material, but MAY include one (1) cover song. Sponsors reserve the right (in their sole discretion) to disqualify any band that performs primarily cover material during the competition. Members of the audience will vote by ballot for the band of that evening (40% of the vote) along with a panel of three (3) or more industry professionals will vote accounting for (60%) of the vote. Overall highest total of the two scoring factors will progress to the finals round. Ballots will be counted and judged at the conclusion of all the bands’ sets by authorized representative(s) of 105.9 The X radio station and the Pittsburgh Hard Rock Cafe.

Final Showcase: Friday, February 24, 2012

The three (3) bands selected ("Semi-Finalists") (1 from each of the three weeks first rounds at the Pittsburgh Hard Rock Cafe) will join one additional band selected by the judges as a “Judge’s Save” band for the return to the Hard Rock Cafe for the finals run on Friday, February 24, 2012 and will play a set of approximately 40 minutes in length.

FINALS COVER SONG:  One cover song by a specific artist/band at the discretion of WXDX & the Hard Rock Cafe will be required at the finals. Semi-finalist winners will select a song to learn from the artist/band chosen by WXDX/Hard Rock Cafe.

Before the finals on February 24, 2012, the select song your band chooses must be submitted to the Hard Rock Cafe and approved, only one band can perform a song by the selected group and will be awarded on a first come first serve basis.
(Previous cover bands have included:  Rolling Stones, The Who, Pearl Jam).

For the 4 bands playing during the second round, the voting process will be a combination of audience voting and voting from a panel of judges. First, members of the audience will vote by ballot for their respective favorite band. Second, a panel of a minimum of three (3) industry professionals will vote for their favorite band. Audience voting will account for 40% of the vote and the industry representatives will account for 60% of the vote. Ballots will be counted and judged at the conclusion of all the bands’ sets by authorized representative(s).

Based on the results of the voting, the "1st place winner" and "2nd" though "4th place" will be announced at the conclusion of the showcase finals on Friday, February 24, 2012.

PRIZES
SEMI-FINALS PRIZE
A $150 cash prize or gift certificate to local music store will be awarded each night of the semi-finals to the crowd favorite.

(Overall combined crowd and judges winner moves on to the final showcase on Friday, February 24, 2012.)

GRAND PRIZE: (1st Place)

• $1,000.00 cash prize
• A $1,150 Recording Package from Treelady Studios includes a full lock out day of recording, mixing for up to 3 songs, and more…***
• Featured spot on "The Edge of The X"
• Return opportunity at the Hard Rock Cafe.
• Drusky Entertainment Opening Slot:  Drusky Entertainment will add your band on as an opening act to a national act’s show playing a Pittsburgh date. Show to be worked out by winning band and Drusky Entertainment.
• Opportunity to have a record representative at the finals on Friday, February 24, 2012 that will give some quick critiques and advice to the winning act and a possible opportunity to give/send the record rep a press kit/CD.  If a record representative is unavailable to attend on February 24, attempts will be made to schedule a separate meeting at a later date shortly after.

Prize: (2) "2nd Place" Prize: $500.00 cash prize
Prize: (3) "3rd Place" Prize: $250.00 cash prize
Prize: (4) “4th Place” Prize:  $100.00 cash prize

TROPHY:
At the finals on Friday, February 24, 2012 a special Winter Rock Showcase trophy will be handed out to each the “Fan Favorite” and “Overall Winner” along with a Hard Rock Cafe gift certificate for $100..

Miscellaneous:
By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these rules. It is understood that these Rules and Regulations and dates are subject to change. A final hard copy of the rules will be provided by the Hard Rock Cafe - Pittsburgh on or before the first round of performances. Neither the Sponsors nor anyone acting on their behalf will enter into any communications with any entrant regarding this Contest other than for finalist or winner notifications. By entering, each band member warrants and represents that the band and its members are not currently under a recording contract and that the band’s entry composition is original (i.e., not a cover), does not defame or otherwise violate the rights of any third party and does not violate any federal, state or local laws or ordinances. Entering band members further warrant and represent that the band has secured the requisite consent from any third party referenced in the band’s recorded entry and agrees that Sponsors and their designees shall have, without limitation, the non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free license to record, adapt, modify and exploit the entry, and the recording and composition embodied therein for trade, advertising, promotional and/or other purposes as Sponsors may determine without further consideration to the relevant band or its members. No transfer, cash redemption, or substitution of prizes except by Sponsors due to prize availability and then for a prize of equal or greater value. If the scheduled Hard Rock Cafe / 105.9 The X Winter Rock Showcase is canceled for any reason, all entries will be voided. Taxes on prizes and any other expenses associated with prize not explicitly stated herein are sole responsibility of the individual winners. Entrants agree that: (1) Sponsors and their designees shall have the right and permission to use (if a winner) entrant’s name, CD recording, and photograph or likeness, as well as entrant’s voice and city of residence for advertising, publicity, trade and/or other purpose without additional compensation (unless prohibited by law); and (2) Sponsors, the participating local radio station and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, retail locations, distributors, suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies shall have no liability and will be held harmless for any liability, loss, injury or damage to entrants or any other person or entity, including personal injury, death or damage to personal or real property, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by reason of the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of prizes (including without limitation, the activities associated with performing in this showcase or travel related thereto or participation in this showcase).

*** TREELADY STUDIOS TERMS & CONDITIONS:

A $1,150 Recording Package that includes:

1. A pre-production planning meeting with Treelady Staff (valued at $50)
2. A Full Lock out day of recording (valued at $450)
3. Mixing for up to 3 songs (with up to 2 rounds of revisions, valued at $450)
4. Mastering for up to 3 songs (with up to 2 rounds of revisions, valued at $200)

Treelady Studio terms for the winning band are:
 

1. Winner must claim the prize within 6 months of the Challenge Finals, and use the prize within 1 year of the final contest date.
2. Prize is not transferable.  
3. Lock out day requires $100 deposit (local check), which will be returned to winner (un-cashed) if they show up for the appointment.
4. Winner may choose to use $1000 studio credit at Treelady Studios for Mixing, Mastering, or a larger project.  
5. Prize may not be combined with other awards, please contact us with any questions.