Video entries must be received by this Sunday night. The winner plays at NPR HQ and goes on a national tour!
NPR Music's popular Tiny Desk Concert Contest is back for 2017. You or your band (or ensemble) could become the next great undiscovered artist to play NPR's Tiny Desk Concert.
This year's team of judges includes musicians like Trey Anastasio from Phish, BANKS, and Miguel; as well as Talia Schlanger of World Cafe, and Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton from All Songs Considered.
NPR Music is accepting entries through this Sunday January 29 at 9:59 p.m. MST.
To enter, just shoot a video of you or your group performing an original song around a desk – any kind of desk. Put it on YouTube, and submit an entry form, which can be found here.
One big caveat: You or your group must not be signed to any recording label. The contest is specifically for up-and-coming artists.
Winners play a Tiny Desk Concert at NPR's headquarters, and go on a nationwide tour with NPR Music.
Here's more information, courtesy of NPR Music:
To make sure you're eligible, you can take this quiz (or check out our Official Rules for all the details). If you win, you'll get to play a Tiny Desk concert at NPR's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Plus, you'll get to come on a nationwide tour with NPR Music and Lagunitas Brewing Company.
Above all, this contest is about two things: music and community. Whether you build an elaborate, creative setup for your entry or shoot something simple on a smartphone (like last year's winner), we're listening for your music above all else.
The past two Contests have not only brought into our lives undiscovered musicians we cherish — they've also shown us what local music scenes across the country are made of. Already, we've been digging through the great behind-the-scenes pictures and videos you're posting of your entries. (Feel free to email us your behind-the-scenes shots and stories or put them on social media with the #TinyDeskContest hashtag.)
You can follow along as we fall in love with new artists and songs: We'll be sharing it all with the Tiny Desk Contest community in our weekly newsletter and on our frequently updated Tumblr. And even if you don't plan to send in a video, we hope the Tiny Desk Contest helps you discover new music and makes you proud of the musical community right in your backyard, wherever that is.