These rules outline what you need to know before submitting your creative work. By participating, you agree to follow these guidelines.

1. Eligibility

• Participants must be 13 years or older.
• Submissions from minors require a parental consent form before publication or payment.

2. Submission Guidelines & Requirements

• All works must be inspired by one song. You may select from the Project playlist (available on Spotify) or choose your own in the approved genres.
• Attribution: For all entries, include:
  • Name of the song
  • Album it appeared on
  • Original artist name
  • Medium (e.g., Poetry, Oil on Canvas, Musical Composition)

• Accepted Submission Types:

• • • Written Works – Original, unpublished poetry, essays, short stories, flash fiction, or lyrics.
    • Short Films – Original, unreleased, 5-15-minute projects. 
    • Musical Works – Original compositions and/or lyrics.
    • Visual Art / Drawings – Original unreleased visual artwork sized 8.5x11in.
  • AI Disclosure: Must disclose if AI was used in any capacity. Inclusion is at the Company’s discretion.

• All submissions must include:

• Short artist bio
• Blurb describing the piece

• Group Submissions:

• Allowed under a group name
• One person must be designated as point of contact for all communications, payments, invites, and gifts

3. Submission Formats by Medium

3.1 Written Works

• Must be submitted as .docx files only.
• Google Docs links are not permitted.
• Must include author name, medium type, and English translation if applicable.

3.2 Short Films

• Acceptable file format for Phase 1: Unpublished link to YouTube, Vimeo, or personal website.
• Acceptable final file format upon selection: .mov.
• Raw files may be requested only after selection.
• All non-English speech or text must appear with English captions or on-screen translations (see Multilingual Requirements section).
• Musical scoring must be included here.

3.3 Visual Art

• Includes drawings, illustrations, digital art, painting, mixed media, photography, and other still formats.
• Must include an English translation for any non-English text within the piece.
• Must include artist bio and medium type.

3.4 Music & Audio

• Must include lyrics sheet (if applicable), translated into English if not originally in English.
• Must confirm all samples are cleared.
• Submission formats accepted: .wav, .mp3, .mp4

4. Contributor Fund Minimum

• Payment comes from the Contributor Fund, divided based on total funds raised and number of contributors selected.
• There is no guaranteed payment amount, but the minimum goal is $500,000.
• Contributors also receive:
  • One (1) author copy of the published Project
  • Select merchandise
  • Invitation to the debut event
• Travel and lodging are the Artist’s responsibility, except for top 50 artists by social media votes, whose lodging may be covered

5. Multilingual Accessibility & Translation Requirements

5.1 Language of Entry

Contributors may submit work in any language.

5.2 English Translation Required

All non-English content—spoken, written, visual, sung, or displayed—must include an accurate, complete English translation.

5.3 Film & Video Submission Requirements

• Captions: All non-English dialogue, narration, or sung lyrics must have embedded English captions.
• On-Screen Text: Any non-English written elements (signs, graphics, scene-setting details) must have an English translation visible in the video.

5.4 Internal Verification Supported Languages

The project may spot-check translations for the following languages:

• French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Yoruba, Xhosa, Korean.
  Spot-checking is not guaranteed.

5.5 Languages Requiring Full Responsibility by the Artist

For all languages not listed above, contributors are fully responsible for translation accuracy and compliance.

5.6 Purpose of These Requirements

To ensure:

• Safety of content.
• Accurate review.
• Prevention of hidden or noncompliant themes.
• Equal evaluation of all international works.

5.7 Non-Compliance

Failure to comply may result in:

• Delay,
• Request for correction,
• Disqualification,
• Removal from consideration.

All decisions are final.

6. Content Restrictions

6a. Editorial & Content Guidelines:

• Written works may be edited for formatting or clarity without altering the creative intent.
• Up to three rounds of final edits may be requested.
• Communication regarding edits occurs primarily via email, unless otherwise scheduled.
• Sensitive or adult themes are allowed; the Company reserves discretion on inclusion.

6b. Plagiarism & Liability:

• Artists are fully responsible for ensuring originality.
• If a submission infringes on third-party rights, the Artist assumes full liability.
• The Company is not responsible for plagiarized or unlawful content.

6c. AI Disclosure Notice (Mandatory):

Contributors must indicate if any AI tool, including but not limited to text generators, image generators, music synthesis, or video assistance, was used in the creation of the submission. Disclosure does not automatically disqualify a submission but will be considered during editorial review.

6d. Adult / Sensitive Content Disclosure (Mandatory):

Some submissions may explore adult themes, mature subject matter, or sensitive topics. Contributors must disclose the presence of such content.

• Submissions submitted by contributors under 18 years of age may appear alongside adult-rated content.
• The project’s audience is typically rated NC-17 or higher, therefore, parental consent is required for minors.
• Editorial discretion may determine inclusion based on whether the content is integral to artistic expression or potentially distasteful.

7. Submission Process

7.1 Step-by-Step Submission Procedure

1. Prepare Your Work
   Ensure your piece meets all formatting, file type, originality, and eligibility requirements listed in these rules.
2. Complete the Submission Form
   Fill out the Project NS20-2 online submission form in full, including your contact information, artist bio, work description, and required disclosures.
3. Upload Required Files
   Attach your work in the approved formats for your medium. Each entry must be properly labeled with its title, song inspiration, medium, and creator name.
4. Upload English Translations (If Applicable)
   Any non-English pieces must include complete English translations. Films must include hard-coded subtitles plus translation for all scene-setting text.
5. Sign the Contributor Agreement
   Minors must upload a signed parent/guardian consent form. Your submission is not eligible without this.
6. Submit and Verify
   After submitting, you will receive an automated confirmation email. Review your confirmation details for accuracy. Corrections must be made within 72 hours.
7. Wait for Review
   All submissions enter Phase One evaluation. Artists will be contacted only if additional edits or clarifications are required.

8. Review & Selection Process

8.1 Initial Review (Phase One)

All submissions are screened by a preliminary review panel to ensure:

• The work follows all technical and file requirements.
• English translations are complete and accurate.
• AI usage is disclosed as required.
• The work meets content and originality standards.
• A signed agreement (and parental consent where applicable) is submitted.
• The chosen song and medium are clearly identified.

Pieces that fail basic compliance may be rejected or returned for correction up to one (1) time for technical fixes.

 

8.2 Artistic Review (Phase Two)

Compliant submissions move to the artistic evaluation panel, which includes:

• Professional editors
• Curators across genres (literary, visual art, film, and music)
• Guest industry reviewers (as available)

The panel evaluates:

• Creative interpretation of the inspired song
• Originality and execution
• Emotional and artistic impact
• Adherence to the project’s vision
• Technical craftsmanship

8.3 Final Selection (Phase Three)

A final selection group narrows down to the top 300 entries based on:

• Cohesiveness across the full collection
• Diversity of mediums, voices, cultures, and genres
• Alignment with thematic goals of Project NS20-2

Only selected contributors will be included in the final publication and eligible for the Contributor Fund distribution.

8.4 Communication Timeline

• Initial entry confirmation: Immediately upon submission.
• Consideration confirmation: Within 2-4 weeks upon the start of initial review.
• Correction requests (if any): Within 60–90 days of submission.
• Final decisions: Announced after the project’s full review period closes.
• Funds, merch, and author copies: Issued after final publication.

8.5 Appeal Policy

Submission decisions are final. The Company is not obligated to provide individualized artistic feedback or to reconsider declined submissions.

9. Rights, Licensing, and Attribution

• By submitting, you grant the Company perpetual rights to publish, distribute, duplicate, and promote your Work.
• The two-year exclusivity clause prevents the Artist from publishing the Work elsewhere during that time. After two years of acceptance, the Artist may freely publish elsewhere.
• You retain full creative ownership and copyright.
• Your name, likeness, and bio may be used in Project promotion.
• Work will not be used to train AI; human editors only will curate and review it.

10. Promotion

• Artists may promote the Project, contests, or showcases, but it is not required.
• Participation and payment are not contingent on promotion

11. Agreement & Consent

• By submitting, you confirm you understand and agree to these Participation Rules, as well as the Contributor Agreement and Parental Consent Addendum (if applicable)
• Minors require parent/guardian consent for payment, publication, or debut event participation