Official Rules

Live From The Casita Songwriter Search · Presented by Mellow Minds Media

Draft template — bracketed placeholders must be completed and these rules reviewed by a qualified attorney before publishing.
  1. Sponsor

    The Live From The Casita Songwriter Search (the "Contest") is presented and sponsored by Mellow Minds Media, [legal entity name], [address] ("Sponsor"), and hosted on the Live From The Casita brand.

  2. No purchase necessary

    No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning.

  3. Eligibility

    Open to legal residents of [the United States / state], [18] years or older as of entry. Employees of Sponsor and their immediate families are not eligible. Void where prohibited.

  4. Entry period

    The Contest begins [date/time, time zone] and ends [date/time, time zone]. Entries submitted outside this window are void.

  5. How to enter

    Complete the entry form at livefromthecasita.com/search, including all required fields and a link to one original song. Limit [one] entry per artist/band.

  6. Submission requirements

    The submitted song must be original. By entering, you represent that you own or control all rights in the song, or have permission from all writers and performers, and that it does not infringe any third-party rights.

  7. Judging

    Entries are judged on songwriting quality (30%), performance potential (20%), emotional connection (20%), fit with Live From The Casita (15%), and readiness to record/film (15%) by a panel selected by Sponsor. Winner selection is based on skill, not chance. [Tie-breaker: highest songwriting score.]

  8. Prize

    One (1) winner receives: $500 cash; a recording session at an external studio (winner retains ownership of the resulting master); a filmed Live From The Casita episode and podcast featuring the song; and features across Mellow Minds / Live From The Casita channels. Approximate retail value (ARV): $[____]. Prize is non-transferable; no substitution except by Sponsor.

  9. Winner notification

    The winner will be notified by [email/phone] within [X] days of selection and must respond within [X] days, or an alternate may be selected.

  10. Ownership & licenses

    The winner retains ownership of the studio master and of the song. By accepting the prize, the winner grants Sponsor (a) a promotional license to use the studio recording in Sponsor’s marketing, and (b) the right to record, produce, distribute, and monetize the Live From The Casita episode and podcast, including the winner’s performance, name, and likeness, under a separate written release. All co-writers and band members must sign.

  11. Publicity

    Except where prohibited, accepting the prize authorizes Sponsor to use the winner’s name, likeness, and entry for promotional purposes without additional compensation.

  12. Taxes

    The winner is solely responsible for all taxes on the prize. Where the total prize value meets or exceeds the applicable IRS reporting threshold ($2,000 for prizes awarded after Dec 31, 2025), the winner must complete a Form W-9 and Sponsor will issue a Form 1099-MISC.

  13. General conditions

    Sponsor may disqualify any entry that is incomplete, ineligible, infringing, or in violation of these rules, and may modify or cancel the Contest if it cannot run as planned.

  14. Privacy

    Information collected is used to administer the Contest and, where you opt in, to send updates from Mellow Minds Media / Live From The Casita. See [privacy policy link].

  15. Platform disclaimers

    This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Meta (Facebook/Instagram), TikTok, or any other platform. Entrants release these platforms from any liability.

  16. Governing law

    These rules are governed by the laws of [state]; disputes will be resolved in the courts of [county/state].

  17. Contact

    For the winner’s name or questions, contact [email] after [date].

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