NPR Music is kicking off 2016 with an invite to unsigned artists of all genres: Show why you should perform in NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert series. The winner will secure a spot at the iconic performance space and a U.S. tour with NPR Music.
Bands and musicians can submit original video entries to NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest Jan. 12-Feb. 2 at npr.org/tinydeskcontest (see rules for entry).
“This Contest brings out the creatives in our country,” says All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen, who developed NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concerts series with colleague Stephen Thompson in 2008. “When the Contest was first introduced, musicians from every state rose to the occasion and made incredible music recorded behind desks set on mountaintops, in the ocean and in cubicles. I simply can’t wait to see and hear what we get this round.”
For the second year, Lagunitas Brewing Company has provided exclusive support for the Tiny Desk Contest.
NPR Music has created a bigger prize package for the 2016 contest winner, which includes a four-part event tour with stops at NPR’s Ask Me Another program and at Lagunitas breweries in Petaluma, CA and Chicago, IL and a final stop in Portland, OR. A panel of musicians from the Tiny Desk roster—Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and The Arcs, Lucius ladies Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig and soul artist Son Little—will join Boilen and All Song Considered co-host Robin Hilton in selecting one Contest winner, to be announced in March 2016. Throughout the three-week submission period and afterwards, NPR Music will also feature select video entries on the Contest Tumblr, which already includes highlights from the 2015 contest.
“I dare say Tiny Desk has been our biggest stage,” say judges Laessig and Wolfe. “To this day, we meet people from all over the world who say Tiny Desk is what introduced them to Lucius. We couldn't be more grateful to be involved.”
The Tiny Desk Contest was inspired by NPR Music’s desire to help fans find music they love, and support artists throughout their careers. During its inaugural run in spring 2015, the challenge received entries from nearly 6,000 music makers across all 50 states. As the winning artist, Oakland blues musician Fantastic Negrito, performed at the Tiny Desk and Lagunitas’ Couchtrippin’ to Austin showcase during SXSW. He’s since appeared at music festivals all over the U.S. including SummerStage in New York and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco; embarked on a U.S. tour; and seen his self-titled EP top the iTunes blues charts.
Musicians interested in entering NPR Music’s 2016 Tiny Desk Contest must play one original song at a desk (any desk—get creative), upload a video of the performance to YouTube and submit with the entry form at npr.org/tinydeskcontest. NPR Music welcomes music from all genres and, and 2015 entrants are encouraged to participate again this round with new material. Artists must be at least 21 years old and live in the U.S. to enter. The winning artist(s) must be available to travel to Washington, D.C. between March 7 and March 9 to record their Tiny Desk Concerts performance at NPR Headquarters and eager to go on tour in spring 2016. See complete rules for entry.
For more information, visit NPRMusic.org.
