Announcing the Quick Fire Album Challenge!
The #QuickFireAlbumChallenge will give three artists two months to produce a 5-track VGM cover EP. Once the three EPs are complete, GameGrooves will pay for licensing, mastering, and album art. Once the albums are licensed and distributed, 100% of the net proceeds will go to the individual artists (i.e. GameGrooves will not take a cut from any of the album sales).
Licensing
Tracks must be from a licensable video game in order to be eligible. Arrangements must be under 5 minutes and cannot include samples, lyrics (if the original does not contain lyrics), or altered lyrics. Medleys/mashups are not allowed. If you are uncertain about a track’s eligibility, read this handy guide by Ro Panuganti or contact GameGrooves. Our partners at Soundrop will cover all the licensing for the winning entries.
Mastering
Mastering will be performed by AHMusic, who has mastered such VGM classics as FALLEN: An Undertale Tribute, Field of Hopes and Strings, Metal Trainer, and Sacred Groves. AHMusic will provide mastering guidelines to the selected artists.
Album Art
$100 will be provided for album art. If a musician wishes to hire an artist who charges more than the maximum allotted amount ($100), the difference will be paid by the musician.
Marketing and Press
All three EPs will be sponsored on the GameGrooves home page and will receive individual social media posts.
How to Enter
To enter the #QuickFireAlbumChallenge, submit your album pitch to gamegrooves87@gmail.com by 11:59 pm EDT on June 4th. Once all entries have been received, GameGrooves will choose the three most suitable pitches and announce the winning entrants.
Pitches can be everything from a video to a PowerPoint presentation (thanks Ro Panuganti) to a demo track(s). The more detail you can give, the better, but here’s what I need to know:
Which 5 VGM tracks you want to cover
The intended style/genre
Potential collaborators (if any)
If you’ve ever created an album before
Your portfolio
IMPORTANT NOTE: Collab albums and tracks are allowed. If you aren't confident that you can finish 5 tracks in 2 months, you can always split tracks between 2 or more people. Splits will have to be decided among the performing artists. Entrants may only be on one pitch (i.e. entrants cannot be included in multiple pitches).
Judging Criteria
GameGrooves will choose the three winning entrants based on a number of factors, including:
If the artist has ever created an album before
If the artist can reasonably be expected to arrange, record, and produce 5 tracks within two months.
If the artist gave an articulate vision for their album
If the artist seems willing to listen to input
Tentative Timeline
Tentatively, artists will have the months of June, July, and some of August to arrange, record, and produce 5 tracks. Albums will enter mastering mid-August, and be released some time in September.
Conclusion
Best of luck, and if you have any questions, contact GameGrooves on Facebook, Twitter, or at gamegrooves87@gmail.com.