Rules and Terms of Participation

Rules of Four For Music Scoring Contest, also called FFM Scoring Contest (the Contest/the Competition). 

By registering for participation in the Contest, you agree with the rules and regulations listed below.

The organizer of FFM Scoring Contest is Four For Music Ltd., a recording company.

The rules concern two main parties – Four For Music Ltd., also called Organizer, and the Contestants, also called Composer/s and Participant/s. 

1.1 The competition is open to composers of all ages from all over the world, divided into two groups – music students and standard group.

The first group, called music students, includes students who are currently pursuing bachelor’s or master’s degrees in majors such as, but not limited to, composition, sound design, sound engineering, conducting, etc. The students have to provide a scanned copy of a valid student ID proving their student’s status upon registration in order to get fee free access to the contest. It is up to the Organizer to decide if the Participant is eligible for free admission or not.

The second group, called standard, includes all other composers willing to participate in the competition. They are required to pay a registration fee of EUR 20.

If the participant is under 18 years old, then they will need a permission from their parent/guardian. Proof of permission should be provided upon request from Four For Music.

This competition is worldwide, however, it is important to note that some countries and regions don’t permit these types of competitions; so it is important for the participant to check if their region or country allows the contest prior to entering.

1.2 The Composers participating in the Contest should download the extract from Shibil from the registration confirmation email that they will receive from the Organizer. They have to use all noises and sounds present in the scene.

1.3. By submitting their music, the Composers agree that the composition is original and composed by them only.

1.4 The Participants are only allowed to use the following instruments:

Strings 31 [10-8-6-4-3]

Woodwinds 8 [2-2-2-2]*

Brass 10 [4-2-3-1]

Timpani 

Auxiliary Percussion, Synths, Piano, Harp, and ethnic instruments can be used as MIDI/synth prelays.

*The second player can also play Piccolo, English Horn, Bass Clarinet, Contrabassoon

The Participants are free to decide whether they are going to use all instruments listed above or a combination of their choice.

1.5 Each participant has to complete the registration form at Four For Music website: www.fourfomusic.com/contests. If the Participant wants to register for the standard group, they have to pay a registration fee of EUR 20. If the Participant wants to register for the student group, they need to provide a relevant document proving they are currently enrolled in a higher education programme in a music-related major.

 After the registration, the Participant will receive a registration confirmation and further details about the competition via the email address they have provided during the registration. It can take up to 72 hours to receive the confirmation email due to the technical time needed for processing the payment (in the case of standard registration) or checking the student status verification document (in the case of student registration). 

1.6. Each Composer has the right to participate once with one original composition only. The Contestant has to register with their names and email address, which the Organizer will use to identify them during the Contest. Once registered successfully, the Contestant must not make another registration or submission. A second registration and submission would be considered invalid. 

1.7 Each Composer has to send a Dropbox or WeTransfer link to an uploaded file with the a) video extract with music and the original film sound effects, b) a music-only file, and c) conductor’s score (optional) to contest@fourformusic.com via the email used during the registration by the time of the deadline stated on the official website of the FFM Scoring Contest. The files must be in .mov or mp4 format (video), .wav or .mp3 format (audio) and .pdf format (optional score) The name of the files must contain the first and the last name of the Participant, followed by FFM001. Example: John Willer FFM001. The names of the Participant must correspond to the names that appear in the registration form. 

1.8 The Organizer has the right to make changes to the Competition, add updates, and cancel the Competition. If the FFM Scoring Contest is cancelled,  the Participants will get their entry fee refunded (excluding the applicable PayPal fees) within 30 days. 

1.9 Deadlines may be extended in rare individual cases such as, but not limited to, technical issues, illness, accident, Covid, or war. The Organizer reserves their right to decide if the deadline should be extended or not. 

1.10 The FFM Scoring Contest is under no obligation to provide comments or feedback regarding the submitted composition or the decision process. 

The FFM Scoring Contest bears no responsibility for, and will not be held responsible or liable for, the contents of any internal or external comments or feedback regarding any score.

2.  Prizes 

2.1 The Winners will receive the prizes as follows:

1st Proze: Preparation of scores and parts, recording with a 50-piece orchestra (10/8/6/4/3, 2/2/2/2, 4/2/3/1, Timpani) and mixing of the winning composition.
Feedback from the judges.
Sample libraries by Strezov Sampling:

• AFFLATUS CHAPTER I STRINGS
• CHOIR COLLECTION BUNDLE
• KAMBANITE CHURCH BELLS

2nd Prize: Feedback from the judges.
Sample libraries by Strezov Sampling:

• BALKAN ETHNIC ORCHESTRA
• WOTAN MALE CHOIR
• FREYJA FEMALE CHOIR

3rd Prize: Feedback from the judges; Sample libraries by Strezov Sampling, namely:

• CHOIR ESSENTIALS
• PERCUSSION ESSENTIALS
• KAMBANITE CHURCH BELLS

The decisions of the FFM Scoring Contest will be final and there will be no appeal.

2.3 The recording session of the composition of the First Prize winner will take place within two months after the announcement of the winners. 

The First Prize winner can watch online or attend the recording session if they wish so. The Organizer will not cover any costs or expenses with regards to the travel and accommodation of the winner if they decide to be present during the recording session.

If the First Prize winner is under 18, they will need to attend the recording session with an accompanying adult, in case they wish to attend.

2.4 The Organizer reserves the right to award additional prizes or change the prizes for all winners. 

3.  Copyright

3.1 The Participant retains full ownership of their work, but by entering the Contest, they assign to the Organizer, on a non-exclusive basis and free of charge, their copyright to their composition submitted for the Contest for purposes of marketing (such as, but not limited to usage on FB page, newsletters, etc.) in territorially and time-unlimited way.

3.2 The Participant, if selected as winner, does not have the right to assign the rights/sell their version of the entry to third parties such as, but not limited to music libraries.

3.3 The FFM Scoring Contest holds the rights to present the winning submissions on the official website of the Competition, as well as on the Organizer's social media channels, newsletters, and other marketing materials as they see fit.

3.4 By taking part in the Contest, the Participant declares that they hold exclusive and unlimited copyright to the sent compositions and assume responsibility towards the Organizer for legal faults of the submitted compositions and in particular for claims of third parties against the Organizer connected to an infringement of their copyright.

The burden of determining that any material is not protected by copyright, trademark, rights of privacy, publicity, or any other proprietary rights rests with the Composer. The Contestant shall bear sole responsibility for any damage resulting from any infringement of copyrights, proprietary rights, or any other harm resulting from such a submission.

3.5 Should third parties lay a claim against the Organizer on account of breach by the Participant of copyright or personal rights of third parties related to the usage of their composition, the Participant shall indemnify the Organizer against any and all such claims by third parties.

3.6 The Participant is allowed to share their submission on social media and on their website on condition that they credit the original creator of the film/the name of the film – “Shibil” and disclose that the composition is created for the purposes of this Contest.

4. Additional provisions 

4.1 Unless otherwise provided by applicable law, a complete legal relation between the Participant and the Organizer shall be governed by the Law of the Republic of Bulgaria. 

4.2 The Organizer of the Competition makes final decisions upon all organizational issues. Such decisions are irrevocable and non-claimable.

4.3 The Organizer has the right to change the rules of participation. 

4.4 The Participant agrees that they shall be bound by the terms and rules stipulated by Four For Music Scoring Contest, also called FFM Scoring Contest (the Contest, the Competition, and the Organizer), organized by Four For Music Ltd.

4.5. The Participant agrees that personal data, such as names and email addresses, as well as other information provided during the Competition, may be collected, stored, and used by Four For Music Ltd. (the Organizer) for the purposes of the Contest, including in marketing materials such as social media posts, newsletters, etc.