General Requirements for Participation in the Showcase
- 1 Eligibility - Contestants must be 16 years of age or older and reside in the United States, U.S. Territories, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, or South Africa in order to submit material to the You, God’s Music™ Multimedia Platform. Legal documentation is required to verify age, such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or a parental consent form for those under 18.
- 2 Performance Submissions - Throughout the Showcase, Contestants may be required to record and upload up to three (3) full-length Christian cover or original songs to the platform. The following types of submissions are not allowed: 1. Lyric videos or slideshows with Christian imagery and audio. 2. Lip-sync videos not featuring the Contestant’s voice. 3. Short clips or partial songs. | Light lip-syncing to one’s own recorded vocal is permitted to enhance performance quality (especially in outdoor or live settings where technical limitations exist), as long as the Contestant's voice can be heard clearly.
- 3 Photo Submission Requirement: Each Contestant is required to submit a photo along with their audition. If selected by the Showcase Judges, the submitted photo will be used for promotional purposes, including display on our platform alongside the Contestant’s music video. It may also be featured in marketing materials, such as graphics and advertising content, to support the Contestant’s promotional efforts.
- 4 Approval & Notifications - Once a submission is reviewed and approved, Contestants will receive a notification via email or text. At the conclusion of each round, all Contestants will be informed whether or not they have advanced.
- 5 Song Selection Per Round - A different musical video must be submitted for the first three rounds. In the Final Round, Contestants may either submit a new song or select a previously submitted video.
- 6 Vote Count Display - In the first three rounds, the number of public votes will be displayed on each Contestant’s thumbnail image. Additionally, each Contestant will have access to a list of their donors, viewable through the donation notes. | In addition to the vote count, the Contestant's thumbnail will also display a number indicating their current ranking position based on total votes received. This feature provides a clear and motivating visual of each Contestant’s standing within the round. | In the Final Round, both the vote count and ranking display features will be turned off to maintain the integrity and suspense of the final results.
- 7 Final Round Submission - For the Finals, Contestants will be prompted to upload the best of their previous performances or a new musical video to be voted on by the public.
- 8 Faith Testimony Video (Semifinals) - During the Semifinal Round, Contestants must submit a 2-minute video testimony sharing how their faith in Jesus Christ has impacted their life. | This testimony is not scored, but is intended to help the public connect with the Contestant’s spiritual journey. | The testimony should complement the Contestant’s musical performance and must be uploaded at the start of the Semifinals.
- 9 Charity Benefit - A Christian Church, Community, or Christian Educational Organization selected by the Contestant will receive 20% of their total public vote count as a charitable gift.
- 10 Encouragement to Build Support - Contestants are strongly encouraged to invite friends, family, church members, and community supporters to register, and become part of the You, God’s Music™ community, but not necessary to vote.
- 11 Advancement Based on Talent & Support - Progression in the Showcase is based on a combination of musical talent and the number of public votes a Contestant receives. | At the start of each new round, vote and score counts reset to zero. Vote counts are visible during the first three rounds but not shown in the Final Round.
- 12 Eligibility Restrictions - Employees, board members, affiliates, vendors, and sponsors of You, God’s Music™, as well as their immediate family members or household residents, are not eligible to participate in the Showcase.
- 13 Music Selection & Licensing - Contestants may perform either Christian cover songs or original compositions. Contestants can choose from over 25 million Christian songs within the ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC catalogs, covering genres from Contemporary Christian to Gospel. No purchase of rights or sheet music is necessary. Final approval of song choice rests with You, God’s Music™.
- 14 Judging & Confidentiality (Finals) - In the Final Round, Judges’ scores are submitted confidentially to the accounting firm, Aprio, LLP, and are not accessible to board members, staff or Contestants. Contestants will not have direct interaction with Judges during the competition. While vote counts are hidden in the Final Round to the public, Contestants may still view their vote count and donor information via Donation Notes on their wall.