Music Prize

Tonight on the Prize Fest page we'll be live streaming the finalists for this year's Music Prize competition!

Tonight! Join us at 6:00 p.m. Central Time to find out which musicians will be competing for this year's Music Prize! We'll see you there!

Viva La Thursday! Let's learn about our prized Music Prize Mentor-Judge Jeremy Weiss!

Jeremy Weiss is the founder and owner of The CI Companies, the umbrella brand of his career endeavors: CI Records (label), LAUNCH Music Conference & Festival, CI Productions, CI Design & Printing, & the Christmas Burns Red Festival.

Established in 1987, CI Records has signed notable acts, such as August Burns Red, Texas In July, The Pink Spiders, Hawk, Carousel Kings, Vision, Sense Field, The Pavers, and many more.

A top-notch label executive himself, Jeremy presented the roundtable session "Working With A Label" at MPCon 2023, in which he discussed with attendees how to approach labels and create the right partnerships to make themselves and their labels successful.

Meet with Mentor-Judges like Jeremy Weiss when you qualify for the Music Prize Finals!

The application deadline (Friday, June 7) for Music Prize 2024 is 13 days away! Time to put the pedal to the metal.

Head over to www.PrizeFest.com/Music and register your act NOW! The clock is ticking!

It's Randy Nichols time! Randy is one of the many treasured industry heavyweights we've been honored to have as a Mentor-Judge at Music Prize & MPCon.

Randy is the founder of Force Media Management, a 13-year-old management company , under which he partners with teams and clients, shaping and executing creative, audience-aligned strategic plans to grow diverse artists into global brands through impactful market research and pe*******on.

Randy was an early innovator and thought leader in the live-streaming market, having produced some of the earliest successful streaming events. He has guided artists to Gold records and Grammy nominations and is regularly invited to speak about artist management, live streaming, merchandise, and technology at conferences including SXSW, CMJ, Launch Music Conference, and Montauk Music Festival.

Randy has managed Beach Slang, Vacationer, Bayside, Underoath, The Starting Line, Say Anything, Aaron Gillespie, and The Almost.

Last year at MPCon, Randy hosted the roundtable session "The Power of a Good Music Manager," during which he sat with attendees and helped them strategize to create a path toward achieving meaningful goals to take their careers to the next level.

Meet with Mentor-Judges like Randy at MPCon 2024, when you qualify for the Music Prize Finals.

Applications for Music Prize 2024 are due by June 7, 2024, at 11:59 PM CT. Register today at www.PrizeFest.com/Music

Today is the day!

Music Prize 2023 Grand Prize-winning band and Jazz Fest 2024 rockers LVVRS return to Shreveport TONIGHT for the Provenance Concert Series!

The event will take place from 5 PM - 8:30 PM at the outdoor stage at Provenance Town Center - in front of Windrush Grill, Rhino Coffee South, and Marble Slab Creamery. LVVRS will take the stage at 6 PM.

Admission to this event is FREE and open to the public (all ages). Beer and wine will be available to purchase.

Ready to show our Music Prize family some LVV? Us too - see ya soon!

Photos by Angelo Joseph

Have plans this Friday? Cancel them.

Music Prize 2023 Grand Prize-winning band LVVRS are returning to Shreveport THIS FRIDAY, May 10, 2024, for the Provenance Concert Series!

The event will take place from 5 PM - 8:30 PM at the outdoor stage at Provenance Town Center - in front of Windrush Grill, Rhino Coffee South, and Marble Slab Creamery.

This event is FREE and open to the public (all ages). Beer and wine will be available to purchase.

Bring your blankets and chairs and experience a LVVRS-filled evening with your friends! Viva LVVRS!

Only ONE MONTH remains to apply for Music Prize 2024, the greatest music discovery showcase and conference in the world!

Network with and receive mentorship from music industry powerhouses at MPCon, then perform a live set in competition for the $10,000 grand prize!

Previous finalists and winners have gone on to receive record deals from some of the greatest major independent record labels in the industry, perform at some of the largest festivals and venues in the world, record albums, go on tour, and much much more.

Simply put, Music Prize is one of the best-kept secrets for independent bands and artists.

Applications for Music Prize 2024 are due June 7, 2024!
Register using the link in our bio! 😎

Viva La Music Prize!

We are so back this Mentor Monday! What do you know about Shannon Ligon (apart from the fact that she absolutely ATE in this photo)?

Let's get you caught up:
Shannon is the founder and managing member of PrettySMART Law. Her experience covers Entertainment, Media, and Business Law where she has successfully worked within the entertainment industry for over ten years. She has negotiated record, film, TV licensing, and sports deals against Warner Bros. Entertainment, HBO Sports, and Sony and has worked on publishing deals for producers’ work on Kanye West, 50 Cent & more.

Last year, at MPCon 2023, Shannon hosted roundtable sessions on publishing, ownership, and monetization, which walked attendees through how to take full ownership of their work and squeeze every penny out of their creative pieces.

Meet, network, and learn from Mentor-Judges like Shannon Ligon at Music Prize & MPCon 2024! All Music Prize finalists receive complimentary passes to MPCon.

Registration for Music Prize is open for 32 MORE DAYS! Register today at www.PrizeFest.com/Music!

Viva La Music Prize!

Hey, Music Prizers! Help make Music Prize 2024 the largest and loudest to date by participating in Give for Good 2024!

What is Give for Good, you ask? It’s North Louisiana’s largest day of giving organized to support North Louisiana non-profits by the Community Foundation of North Louisiana.

How can you help? You can make a donation to support the work we do at the Prize Foundation, now through May 7th - the official Give for Good period.

For Music Prize specifically, your contribution helps us to provide this nationally unique conference and competition at no cost to bands and artists, provide travel and lodging stipends for those traveling from afar, and also helps us continue to grow and enhance the program for others.

Donations start at just $10, and there are all sorts of other bonus cash awards, like the highest number of unique donors. Anything is appreciated!

While the biggest day in the Give for Good period is this coming Tuesday, May 7, 2024, you can make a donation today at:

https://www.giveforgoodnla.org/organization/filmprizefoundation?mc_cid=61b55d5f00&mc_eid=38b3efcd67

We love seeing everyone's joy and success during and after Music Prize! Help us send down the elevator for the next round of musicians by contributing to Prize Foundation during Give for Good!

Viva La Music Prize! Viva La Prize Fest! Viva La Give for Good!

Save the date! Music Prize 2023 Champion Band LVVRS will be returning to Shreveport on Friday, May 10, 2024, to take part in the Provenance Concert Series!

The Provenance Concert Series is a live music concert series at the new outdoor stage of the Provenance Community in South Shreveport.

More on LVVRS at Provenance coming soon!

Mentor-Judge Highlight! It's Chris Riemenschneider time!

Chris has been a music critic at Minneapolis’ The Star Tribune since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out in “Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." He authored “First Avenue: Minnesota’s Mainroom” and has worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman. Chris has written for the Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, SPIN, Billboard, and The Dallas Morning News and contributed to “The SXSW Scrapbook” and “Whole Lotta Led Zepplin”.

At MPCon '23, Chris hosted roundtable session "How To Impress A Music Critic & Get The Ink," which outlined what it takes to impress a music critic, what a music critic looks for in an act, the importance of criticism, and how music journalism can impact your career.

Meet with industry forces like Chris, who specialize in their respective realms, sit on their roundtable sessions, and learn how to take your music career to the next level.

💵 Music Prize finalists receive complimentary passes to MPCon.
📋 Register for Music Prize at www.PrizeFest.com/Music!
📆 Applications are due Friday, June 7, 2024!

Get ready to meet Candace Newman! It's good ol' Mentor Monday and we are, again, taking a closer look at one of many industry heavyweights who have shared the Music Prize stage & MPCon floor with us.

Behind her sweet smile, Candace Newman is an absolute beast!

Candace Newman is the CEO and Founder of Live Out Live, a non-profit dedicated to encouraging marginalized teens and young adults to pursue careers in live entertainment. Candace began her career at Universal Music Group, then moved to being a Live Nation Concerts Tour Executive, booking, producing, and promoting major artists like Rihanna, David Blaine, and the Backstreet Boys. Her experience and leadership position allowed her to spearhead inclusive efforts for women in the entertainment industry.

Meet with industry powerhouses like Candace at MPCon 2024 when you qualify for the Music Prize finals!

Register today at www.PrizeFest.com/Music and submit your application by June 7, 2024 to get into the mix.

Best of Luck and Viva La Music Prize!

Mentor Monday - let's go! Hugo Burnham!

Hugo’s music career started in 1977 as a founding member of Gang Of Four. The band is considered creatively ground-breaking, with artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M., and Nirvana citing them as highly influential. After Gang of Four, Hugo worked as a Manager before joining Island Records in NYC as an A&R rep. He went on to work with Quincy Jones at Qwest Records and then at EMI Music in Los Angeles before starting his teaching career in Boston in 2000.

Hugo knows the ins and outs of being a signed, touring musician and working with signed, touring musicians and doesn't hesitate to instill his knowledge in upcoming artists.

Meet heavyweights like Hugo at MPCon 2024 by registering for Music Prize at www.PrizeFest.com/Music! Finalists get free passes, attendance priority, and first-choice at roundtable selection.

The deadline for Music Prize applications is June 7, 2024! Best of luck and Viva La Music Prize!

Music Prize 2023 finalist Scott Strickland has announced his first run of 2024 Texas shows taking place in conjunction with the release of his EP "Strings Attached: The 1500 Sessions."

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, Scott will make his debut at Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe in Galveston, Texas. The following day, on Friday, May 3, Scott will mosey on over to The Woodlands, Texas where he'll take the stage at Dosey Doe Breakfast, BBQ & Whiskey Bar.

Winding down on Saturday, May 4, Scott will celebrate the official release of "Strings Attached: The 1500 Sessions" with a live show at The Saxon Pub in Austin, Texas.

Tickets for all three of these shows are available at scottstricklandband.com!

Congratulations, Scott Strickland, on what's bound to be an incredible release! Viva!

It's Music Mentor Monday which means it's time to learn all about another Force in the music industry, who we've had the honor of working with to propel independent artists into the next great phases of their careers!

Rachel Jacobson is the Senior Vice President of Creative Sync at Warner Chappell Music. Rachel has almost 20 years of industry experience, having spent years at a time in the sync & licensing departments of some of the most impactful publishing companies, record labels, and label groups in the business. This includes (but is certainly not limited to) Because Music, Atlantic Records, and SONGS Music Publishing. With this, Rachel has worked with an impressive roster of artists, including (but also far from limited to) Justice, Christine and the Queens, METRONOMY, SebAstian, and SHYGIRL.

Did we mention she's also like... really, really cool?

You can meet and network with Mentor-Judges like Rachel at Music Prize Conference (MPCon) 2024 -- it's actually a very significant aspect of the ✨Music Prize Experience✨! All Music Prize finalist acts receive FREE passes to MPCon.

Register for Music Prize and complete your Musician Portal by June 9, 2024 to advance!

Best of luck and Viva La Music Prize!

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is one month away and you can catch TWO of our Music Prize champions on Weekend One!

Music Prize 2013 Grand Prize Winner A.J. Haynes will be the first to take the Festival Stage on Sunday, April 28th, with her American soul-rock band Seratones! Right after the Seratones set concludes, Music Prize 2023 Grand Prize Winner LVVRS will take the Shelly Gentilly Stage!

Ahhh... a decade of Music Prize champs... what a weekend... what a day!

Grab those tickets if you're feeling wild. Single-day passes to see LVVRS, Seratones, and many more legends and legends in the making are just $85!

Man, everyone's been talking about Music Prize 2021 Award-Winning band Been Stellar!

Not only will they be tearing up the stage, this year, at Lollapalooza 2024, but they also just released their new single "All In One," which is available on all platforms now!

This is all leading up to and following the release of their debut album, "Scream from New York, NY," which will be released through independent, international record label Dirty Hit, on June 14th, 2024!

Mark those calendars and rock out to "All in One" in the meantime! 😉 Viva Been Stellar!

Merry Mentor Monday! Let's check out industry powerhouse Sonya Kolowrat of The Beggars Group of Labels!

Sonya Kolowrat has 25+ years of music industry experience and works at The Beggars Group of Labels, where she has been for nearly 20 years. She began her career in the publicity department of the legendary label Rykodisc, and spent much of her career handling press campaigns for a variety of artists. She is now Beggars US Director of Catalog and works closely with label artists to maximize their catalog efforts.

The Beggars Group is the home of 4AD, Matador Records, Rough Trade Records, XL Recordings, and Young. In other words: Sonya Kolowrat? Big deal.

Meet and network with Mentor-Judges like Sonya at MPCon 2024! All Music Prize finalist acts receive FREE passes to MPCon.

Register for Music Prize TODAY at www.PrizeFest.com/Music and apply by June 9, 2024!

Sending a BIG ol' Prize Congratulations to Music Prize 2023 finalist duo Stone & Snow who have been chosen as one of sixteen Official Showcase Artists for Southeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference!

SE Regional Folk Alliance is one of five chapters of Folk Alliance International which aims to provide opportunities for members to network locally and and further the Alliance's mission of serving, strengthing, and engaging the global folk music community through preservation, presentation, and promotion.

Stone & Snow will head to Black Mountain, NC in early May to dominate the SERFA stage. We love to see it!

Congratulations, Stone & Snow! Viva!

LAUNCH Music Conference, co-founded and directed by Music Prize Mentor-Judge Jeremy Weiss, is an education and performance-centered developing artist music conference that takes place annually over three days and three nights in both Lancaster, PA, and Dallas, TX.

This year, LAUNCH Lancaster will take place from April 25-28.

Much like Music Prize & , LAUNCH Music Conference provides a unique opportunity for artists, music industry professionals, and fans to meet, network and further their careers from the up-and-coming artist to the seasoned music industry veteran.

Learn more and grab your badges at www.launchmusicconference.com!

Merry Mentor Monday! Music Prize Mentor-Judges mentor Music Prize finalists and other artists and industry peeps at MPCon, which takes place during Music Prize weekend, before each nighttime showcase!

Let's take a moment to learn about Music Prize Mentor-Judge Michael Robinson!

Michael coordinates programming for BandLab Opportunities via ReverbNation, where he worked for six years before moving on to EMinor Incorporated and, eventually, his current position at BandLab. A former full-time touring bassist and freelance producer and audio engineer, Michael has worked in the music and technology space for over a decade and is passionate about supporting emerging and DIY artists.

Michael is just one of several music industry heavyweights who make Music Prize the incomparable experience it is.

Learn how to attend MPCon and register for Music Prize through the link in our bio!

Applications for Music Prize are due by July 7, 2024, at 11:59 PM.

Congratulations to Music Prize 2023 Grand Prize-winning band LVVRS for achieving 355.3k Spotify streams on their debut EP "Midnight Fantasy," which was released just one month ago on February 16, 2024!

"Midnight Fantasy" is available for streaming on all platforms and purchase on the LVVRS official website, www.lvvrs.com!

Congratulations, LVVRS, and cheers to the continued success of this stellar release!

URGENT NEWS - Music Prize 2022 Audience Choice-winning band, Benedetto, will be taking over the airwaves on NPR's Red River Radio station TONIGHT from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. CT!!!

Benedetto's live show is one of a series of live performances hosted by Red River Radio as part of their pledge drive to keep commercial-free public radio alive and well in NWLA and surrounding areas.

Tune into Benedetto's live performance tonight at RedRiverRadio.org or on one of the following FM stations:

89.9 FM - KDAQ - Shreveport
90.7 FM - KLSA - Alexandria
90.7 FM - KBSA - El Dorado
88.9 FM - KLDN - Lufkin
100.7 FM - KTYK - Overton

We can't wait! VIVA BENEDETTO!

Merry Mentor Monday! Let's check out the one and only Maggie Gaus! 😎

Music Prize brings industry heavyweights like Maggie together to help you elevate your career in the music and entertainment industry through close networking and mentorship at MPCon.

Maggie works in the Film Music Department at Universal Pictures under the President. She began her work in music supervision with an independent supervision company assisting with the creative and licensing of TV and film projects for Netflix, Amazon, HBO Max, and Disney+

In other words... she's kind of a big deal!

Wanna attend MPCon? All Music Prize finalists get free access to MPCon and the first pick at Roundtable Selection!

Register for Music Prize today at www.PrizeFest.com/Music!

Will your band take home the $10,000 Grand Prize?

Register for Music Prize 2024 today and complete your Musician Portal before July 7, 2024, to compete for your spot in the Music Prize Qualifiers!

In the Music Prize Qualifiers, promote yourself to rack up votes and advance to the Music Prize Discovery Showcase & Finals where you'll network with industry pros and put on your best show for one of four cash prizes!

Performance pay awarded to all finalists. Travel and lodging accommodations offered.

Register at www.PrizeFest.com/Music or use the link in our bio!

THANK YOU to New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival & Foundation for their Lovers of the Prize level sponsorship of Music Prize 2024! Viva la Jazz Fest!