All Rules

*contest rules have been updated for further clarity - updated Mar. 9, 2023

1. The contest opens February 1, 2023, at 12 a.m. (MST) and closes March 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. (MST).
2. Enter online by visiting nmcostudio.com/lovesongLC and completing all required information and following all instructions. Submit your entry (a readable song audio file and/or text lyrics and a readable process video) as instructed on the website. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. (MST) on March 31, 2023.
3. No vulgarity or profanity
4. By submitting a song and process video you are agreeing to allow the contest sponsor, NMCO Creative Studio, and the contest assignees, Visit Las Cruces, to use submission materials for promotional purposes specific to the contest including but not limited to social media, websites, and other media. If selected, the winner may be asked to participate in Facebook Live events, Instagram stories and reels, potential music videos, and any additional unforeseen promotional needs related to the contest. Selected music will be used for commercial and promotional purposes for Visit Las Cruces only.
5. Please note that the contest participant cannot make any changes or alterations to any part of the submission once the presentation and entry forms have been submitted.
6. This contest is open to U.S. resident amateur and professional songwriters who are 18 years of age or older at date of submission. Employees of NMCO Studio and their families, subsidiaries, and affiliates are not eligible. Employees of Visit Las Cruces and their relatives are not eligible.
7. All submitted songs must be original, unpublished (or self-published) songs that have been written or co-written by the entrant(s).
8. Only one (1) entry per person or team.  Songs may have multiple co-writers, but please designate one name only on the application. Prizes will be awarded jointly to all authors of any song and the division of prizes is the responsibility of the winners.
9. For competition purposes, an unpublished song is defined as being recorded and self-released by the entrant(s) and/or not co-published by a commercially active music publisher.
10. Co-writers are subject to the same eligibility criteria.
11. One (1) winning entry will be chosen. Upon agreeing to the terms required of winning entries as described below, the winning entry will receive a $1,000 cash prize. Visit Las Cruces will then professionally record and master the winning song and have it be used for commercial use by Visit Las Cruces. Winning entries shall receive no monetary consideration from Visit Las Cruces beyond the initial cash prize.
12. All entries are judged based on the merit of the overall songs (lyric & melody). All entries will be first screened by NMCO Creative Studio for commercial quality and then by a selection panel to determine the final winner. Visit Las Cruces will award the final winner. All contest entrants shall stay informed of the selection process via nmcostudio.com/lovesongLC site updates. The winner will be notified via email and phone, at the discretion of Visit Las Cruces. In the event of multiple songs selected for commercial use, Visit Las Cruces will compensate all artists. All results will be posted on nmcostudio.com/lovesongLC. If the chosen winner does not respond to Visit Las Cruces notifications within seven (7) days, Visit Las Cruces reserves the right to contact the runners-up and/or honorable mentions for the receipt of prizes.
13. Winners must also sign and return an affidavit confirming that the winner’s song is original, and he/she holds rights to the song. Failure to sign and return the form within 30 days will result in immediate disqualification and an alternative winner will be selected. The affidavit will state that winner's song is their original work, and they hold all rights to song, that the song has not previously won a prize in a songwriting contest, does not copy any other work in whole or in part or otherwise infringe on any third-party rights, and has not previously been published in a national publication, and that winner has complied with the rules of the contest. Affidavits are subject to verification. Entry constitutes permission to use the winner’s name, likenesses, and voice for future advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation.
14. All federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. In the event the Contest is compromised by a virus, non-authorized human intervention, tampering or other causes beyond the reasonable control of NMCO Creative Studio, which corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper operation of the Contest, NMCO reserves the right in its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Contest. Should the Contest be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, NMCO reserves the right to award prizes based on the entries received before the termination date. By participating in this promotion, entrants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of NMCO and selection panel and to release, indemnify and hold harmless these parties, each of their respective parent, affiliate, and subsidiary companies, and all of their directors, officers, employees, representatives, partners and agents, from any liability whatsoever for any claims, demands, actions, costs, injuries, losses, liabilities, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest, including but not limited to copyright infringement liability.
15. If for any reason a contest participant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, the contest participant’s sole remedy is another entry in the contest.
16. Visit Las Cruces reserves the right at any time, for any reason, to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the contest, or any part of it.