Are you a musician? Do you have a desk and a phone? Then you have everything you need to enter NPR's Tiny Desk Contest!
Back in 2014, NPR started the Tiny Desk Concert series as a means of discovering new music and giving artists from around the country a spotlight. The artists who win tend to find a lot of success: Fantastic Negrito won a Grammy, Gaelynn Lea has played the Kennedy Center and other renowned venues across the nation, and Tank and the Bangas headlined NPR Music's 10-year anniversary party and has toured internationally.
But winning isn't everything. Many artists who enter get a lot of attention. Take Cincinnati's own Dawg Yawp, for example: while they didn't win last year's contest, their video was highlighted by NPR and has given them both critical acclaim and publicity. They were invited to perform a full TDC, which you can find here, and now they're heading to SXSW! The each concert in the Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour opens with one of NPR's favorite artists from that city.
Entering is easy! Record a video of you playing one original song. Make it your best song. This is the nation you're sending the song to, after all. Obviously, you have to perform it at a desk (it need not be tiny!). Upload it to YouTube and fill out the entry form, which we'll link you to below. Remember, you must be over 21 (it's sponsored in part by Lagunitas Brewery) and you can't have a current recording contract. We'll link you to the rules below, too. The contest is open from today (February 20) through March 25.
If you win, here's what you'll earn:
- A Tiny Desk Concert at NPR in Washington, D.C.
- A U.S. tour with NPR and Lagunitas
- An appearance at a taping of NPR's Ask Me Another
- Our respect and admiration (but you'll get that just for entering!)
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