The Sherwood Anderson Fiction Award
First Prize: $1,000 and publication
Four Finalists: Notation, possible publication

2010 Judge: Benjamin Percy, author of The Language of Elk, Refresh, and the forth coming novel The Wilding.

The James Wright Poetry Award
First Prize: $1000 and publication
Four Finalists: Notation, possible publication

2010 Judge: Rachel Zucker, author of Museum of Accidents, The Bad Wife Handbook, and Eating in the Underworld.

The postmark deadline for both the Sherwood Anderson Fiction Award and the James Wright Poetry Award is October 1, 2010. Please send the $10 entry fee (check or money order, made out to Mid-American Review) for each set of three poems or each story up to 6,000 words; previously unpublished work only. Submissions will not be returned; send SASE for early results. All participants will receive MAR v. XXXI, no. 2, where the winners will be published. Open to all writers not associated, past or present, with judge or MAR. Judges' decisions final.

All queries regarding the contests can be directed toward Michael Czyzniejewski at mikeczy@bgsu.edu.

More information at http://www.bgsu.edu/studentlife/organizations/midamericanreview/index.html

THE ARTISTS FORUM (AF) invites all emerging and established artists to participate in its first photography competition: THE ARTISTS FORUM INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION (AF-IMC)

The AF-IMC is open to artists worldwide and seeks to:

•Engage artists by challenging them to present their best work for juried selection.
•Provide much needed exposure for under-served artists by showcasing their work to the public.
•Enhance artist communications and business contacts.

The AF-IMC offers artists a chance to have their work critiqued by some of the art world’s most influential professionals, win valuable prizes and opportunities! (See juror bios & prize listings below). With an entry fee of $25, artists may affordably enter as many works as they wish.  And we’ve teamed up with Sonicbids.com to make the whole process quick and easy!

AF-IPOE 2010 THEME:  “CAPTIVATE” (see below for full details)

AF-IMC CATEGORIES: POP, ADULT CONTEMPORARY, DANCE, ELECTRONICA, ROCK, ALTERNATIVE, R&B, HIP HOP, NEO-SOUL, COUNTRY, FOLK, JAZZ, CLASSICAL

AF JURORS: ERIC BEALL, HAROLD STEPHAN, ANDY MARVEL, and ALEX MOULTON

SPONSORS: APPLE, PROPELLERHEAD SOFTWARE, NOISY PLANET, SONICBIDS

LOG ON TO ENTER: SONICBIDS.COM/AFIMC

CONTEST DEADLINE: OCTOBER 15, 2010

Winning entries will be promoted to industry personnel and the public-at-large via an array of media avenues.  Winning artists will also be eligible to receive private mentoring sessions from industry leaders and included in a special AF published annual.  Look for MORE AF Juried Competitions in music, film/video, and other disciplines in 2010!


2010 AF-IMC THEME: "CAPTIVATE"

This year’s task is to challenge artists to show interpretations for the word "captivate". 

The word "captivate" (and its derivatives) can be illustrated as a verb, noun, adverb, adjective, or phrase - be it physically, mentally, socially, politically, sexually. For example, as a verb: to enthrall, charm, enchant, bewitch, fascinate, beguile, entrance, enrapture, delight, attract, allure; engross, mesmerize, spellbind, hypnotize.  As a transitive verb: attract and hold the interest and attention of; charm: he was captivated by her beauty.  As an adjective: "a captivating smile". Additional Derivatives include: captivatingly (adverb), captivation (noun).

More information at http://www.theartistsforum.org/2010music.html

The Association of Artists for a Better World, a non-profit organization devoted to improving our planet through artistic expression, is now accepting submissions for the fourth volume of "Songs for A Better Planet". This compilation will highlight artists in touch with current issues, and put media and press in touch with their artists. The single most significant factor to the success of an emerging artist is industry exposure.

All proceeds from CD sales will be donated to Gulf Restoration Network, who has been committed to protecting and preserving the natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico for over 15 years.

8 Winners will receive world-wide exposure including distribution, publicity, promotion, and recognition.

More information at http://www.abetterworld.ca/?p=4169

The Extreme Tour presents its 17th year of festival-style events across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Hundreds of Thousands of people have attended Extreme Tour events over the last 16 years,and many of today's top recording artists were introduced to the national stage while traveling with us.

HOWEVER, THE EXTREME TOUR HAS A UNIQUE ACCESSIBILITY TO YOUNG ARTISTS AS THEY ACCEPT ARTISTS AT EVERY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT (NOT JUST NATIONALLY KNOWN ARTISTS OR ARTISTS ALREADY SIGNED TO A MAJOR LABEL)!

Perhaps because of these facts, a performance slot on the Extreme Tour stage has become one of the most highly coveted developmental experiences available to up and coming indie artists in today's evolving music industry.

Selected artists and athletes can apply for as much or as little of the tour schedule as they feel they can do. The Extreme Tour takes care of travel expenses like housing and food, select artists will be compensated for their participation with an additional stipend.

The 2011 U.S. Tour will select 50-75 bands for 2011. The International tour teams will accept an additional 15-30 bands based on availability of slots and performances.

All selected artists will receive exclusive mentoring and assistance from a group of Industry Veterans who have agreed to help the selected 2011 artists develop their music and careers beyond just their involvement with the Extreme Tour. Past Extreme Tour artist mentors have been influences and mentors for bands and artists like: The Trans Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Alice Cooper, System Of A Down, Bad Brains, P.O.D., Kutless, Switchfoot, Jeremy Camp, and countless other major names in the entertainment industry.

Also, unlike most other major tours, Extreme Tour artists do not pay any performance, merchandising, or production fees to the tour, and receive 100 % of their merchandise sales.

There will be two U.S. Tour teams, each doing multiple events in over 100 separate cities and markets nationwide. Shows will take place at the club, theater, and festival level in most major markets including:

* New York City
* Los Angeles
* Washington D.C.
* Boston
* Philadelphia
* Atlanta
* Orlando
* New Orleans
* Kansas City
* Minneapolis
* Dallas
* Albuquerque
* Denver
* Las Vegas
* Seattle
* and many more.


The Tour schedule will run for 6 months, from April through September. When you submit, you will be able to specify how much of the tour schedule you are looking to be a part of. An average of 10 bands perform in each city. While you may apply for all cities, you are NOT required to.

In addition to tour consideration, EPKs will also be reviewed for potential airplay on the syndicated National Radio Show the tour is partnering with. Submissions in all genres are accepted, including genres that often are not accepted for other major tours like: Punk, Hardcore, Metal, Rock and roll, Hip-Hop, Spoken Word, Comedy, etc.

Past performers include: KJ-52 (Uprok Records); Kutless (BEC Recordings); Falling Up (BEC Recordings); Spoken (Tooth and Nail Records); Stutterfly (Maverick Records); L.A. Symphony (Gotee Records); House of Heroes (Gotee Records); and many, many more.

The Extreme Tour is sponsored and endorsed by: Vic Firth, MyStar Sound, FreshPark Skate Equipment, Nextsport Skate and Scooters, Luis Palau's "Livin' It" Alliance, Phonetic Propaganda Clothing, and EMC Board Co.

Artists and Athletes desiring to be considered for the 2011 Extreme Tour are encouraged to apply by submitting an EPK through the submission process located at the following link:

www.Sonicbids.Com/TheExtremeTour2011

Applications are being accepted for a limited time and interested applicants are encouraged to give prompt attention to this opportunity. More information about the Extreme Tour is available on the submission's page or at www.TheExtremeTour.Com

The wakeup song has been a part of the space program since the days of the Apollo missions, and now NASA is giving you a chance to be a part of this history!  Submit your original song by January 10, 2011.

Entries will be screened by our NASA panel. The top entries will then be posted on this website for a public vote starting on February 8, 2011.

The two songs with the most votes will be announced and played during the STS-134 mission, scheduled to launch on February 26, 2011.

For more information, visit https://songcontest.nasa.gov/

JanSport, the original outdoor gear Brand that equips people globally with quality backpacks, travel gear and collegiate apparel, today announced its third annual Battle of the Bands competition in conjunction with Sonicbids, the website that helps bands get gigs and promoters book the right bands.

Now through Nov. 1, 2010, amateur, unsigned bands who have submitted to SXSW are invited to submit a song, photo, video and bio for the chance to win the JanSport Battle of the Bands contest. Once you’ve submitted to SXSW at www.sonicbids.com/sxsw, you will receive further instructions from Sonicbids on how to make your free submission to the JanSport Battle of the Bands competition. Following public submissions, JanSport and Sonicbids will nominate the top 50 semifinalists. From Nov. 17 - Dec. 17, the public can vote for their favorite band and determine the top 10 finalists. The top ten finalists will be revealed on Jan. 3, 2011. Of those 10 finalists, JanSport, in conjunction with Sonicbids, will select the grand prize winner who will be revealed on Jan. 25, 2011.

Each one of the top ten finalists will receive a JanSport prize package consisting of a JanSport original Right Pack and luggage set. The contest’s grand prize winner will receive JanSport’s Right Pack and luggage set, in addition to a 3 day, 2 night trip for the band to Austin, Texas and the opportunity to play the Sonicbids Official Party at SXSW 2011 presented by JanSport.

“Self expression has always been at the core of the JanSport Brand, and this competition truly allows us to embrace that attribute via music,” said Ann Daw, marketing director for JanSport. “Last year’s Battle of the Bands was a huge success and an incredible experience for us as we became exposed to so many talented musicians and we’re looking forward to partnering with Sonicbids this year, as we start the process all over again.”

“Consumer brands like JanSport are tapping into the indie music scene more and more as emerging artists have very strong and powerful connections with their fanbases. It has always been our mission to align Sonicbids with brands that can help take our members’ careers to the next level,” said Panos Panay, founder and CEO, Sonicbids. “We’re excited to team up with JanSport again this year to engage our artists’ fans in selecting a band for Sonicbids Official SXSW Party. Nearly three thousand avid music fans attended last year and we’re looking forward to the talent discovered through this year’s battle.”

The 2011 South by Southwest music festival will be held March 16-20 in Austin, TX.

The 2010 DIY Book Festival has issued a call for entries for its ninth annual program celebrating the success of independent authors and publishers.

The DIY Book Festival will consider self-published or independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children’s books, teenage, how-to, cookbooks, science fiction, audio/spoken word, photography, art, comics, ’zines, fan fiction, poetry and e-books published on or after Jan. 1, 2007.

All entries must be in English and have been self-published or issued by an independent publishing house.

*** Please note that print-on-demand (POD) authors with iUniverse, PublishAmerica, Infinity Publishing and other outlets are eligible for the competition.

Our grand prize for the 2010 DIYBF Book of the Year is $1500 cash and a flight to the awards ceremony, held in February, 2011 as part of the annual DIY Convention in Los Angeles.

Submitted works will be judged by a panel using the following criteria:

1) General excellence and the author’s passion for telling a good story.

2) The unique use of guerilla marketing tactics to reach a wider audience. This includes innovative marketing, merchandising, publicity tactics and other innovative methods of reaching an independent audience..

ENTRIES: Please classify your book and enter it in the following categories.Multiple entries must be accompanied by a separate fee for each book.

1) General Non-fiction
2) General Fiction
3) Children’s books
4) How-to
5) E-books (word or .pdf file acceptable)
6) Comics
7) ’zines
8) Photography
9) Fan Fiction
10) Poetry
11) Art
12) Teenage
13) Biography/Autobiography
14) Audio/spoken word
15) Compilations/Anthologies
16) Best Unpublished Short Story
17) Cookbooks
18) Science Fiction

In addition to honoring the top selections in the above categories, The DIY Book Festival will award the following chosen from submissions:

1) DIY Author of the Year-Honors the outstanding book of the competition.

2) DIY Book Design of the Year --- Honors outstanding and innovative design.

3) DIY Independent Publisher of the Year-Honors the top publisher based on materials displaying excellence in marketing and promotional materials, as determined by our judges.

FESTIVAL RULES: DIY Book Festival submissions cannot be returned. Each entry must contain the official entry form, including your e-mail address and contact telephone number. All shipping and handling costs must be borne by entrants.

NOTIFICATION AND DEADLINES: We will notify each entry of the receipt of their package via e-mail and will announce the winning entries on our web site (http://www.diyconvention.com/). Because of the anticipated high volume of entries, we can only respond to e-mail inquiries.

Deadline submissions in each category must be postmarked by the close of business on November 25, 2010. Winners in each category will be notified by e-mail. Please note that judges read and consider submissions on an ongoing basis, comparing early entries with later submissions at our meetings.

TO ENTER: Entry forms are available online at http://www.diyconvention.com/ or may be faxed/e-mailed to you. Please contact our office for fax requests. Applications must be accompanied by a non-refundable entry fee of $10-$50 (see entry form drop-down menu for specific category prices) in the form of a check, money order or PayPal online payment in U.S. dollars for each submission. Multiple submissions are permitted but each entry must be accompanied by a separate form and entry fee.

Entry fee checks should be made payable to JM Northern Media LLC. We’re sorry, but entries must be mailed and cannot be delivered in person or by messenger services to the JM Northern Media offices.

Entry packages should include:

1) One copy of the book;
2) Your official entry form or a copy;
3) The entry fee or receipt for online payment;
4) Any marketing materials you wish to send. Marketing is used as a tie-breaking consideration by our judges.

Entries should be mailed to:

JM Northern Media LLC
Attn: DIY Book Festival
7095 Hollywood Boulevard
Suite 864
Hollywood, CA 90028-0893

Phone: 323-665-8080

AWARDS: The DIY Book Festival selection committee reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any project.

The 2010 DIY Book Festival is part of the DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books, which also produces the DIY Film Festival and the DIY Music Festival. The 2010 DIY Book Festival is sponsored by the Larimar St. Croix Writer’s Retreat, eDivvy, Shopanista, Westside Websites and The DIY Reporter.com.

After four successful years and rewarding more than 265 bands, Taco Bell is proud to announce the return of the Feed the Beat program! This year, Taco Bell continues to search for bands “outside the bun” in the music industry to provide them with free Fourthmeal – the late night meal between dinner and breakfast – to fuel bands on tour while also bringing bands opportunities to gain exposure for their music. Taco Bell will again conduct a nationwide search for 100 bands and provide them with one month’s supply of Fourthmeal ($500 in $5 Taco Bell Bucks per band). With no need to stand in line, “auditions” for Feed the Beat launched Monday, August 23rd and continue until Friday, September 17. Interested bands can visit http://www.feedthebeat.com/signup for more information.

The Billboard World Songwriting Contest offers unparalleled exposure among some of the music industry’s most influential professionals.

The top three winners in each of our 12 categories win great prizes as well as placement on our Annual Billboard Song Contest Winners’ CD. This CD is a compilation of the best songwriting the world has to offer. When we distribute the CD to our exclusive contacts in the music industry, it can change lives. It has. It will. And you can be on it! Did we mention great prizes?

Our judges are picked from a select group of music industry insiders knowledgeable about songwriting, current trends, and the music business in general. Depending on what tier of judging we are on , they could consist of musicians, songwriters, music fans, and music business students.

During the final selections of our winners, our contest judges consist of industry professionals familiar with A&R, Booking, Management, Touring, Marketing, etc. and have a thorough working knowledge of the songwriting process as well as what it takes to succeed in today’s music and entertainment scene on both a national and local levels.

More information at http://www.billboardsongcontest.com/

Share your music and get discovered for your chance to perform live on stage at a major music festival or event in Canada, U.S. or Latin America and $10,000 (US Dollars) in Sennheiser gear.

Also! The artist(s) that wins will be considered for the chance to win a 3-song demo with a major producer through Pick The Band and distribution through Universal Republic, and A&R Showcase! 

More information at http://www.heariam.com/