TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. Eligibility:

1.1 Participants must enter the competition under the appropriate category:

Youth Category (Ages 12-17): Open to individuals who are at least 12 years old and no older than 17 at the time of entry. Youth entrants must have their parents or guardians sign the application form.
Adult Category (Ages 18-50+): Open to individuals who are 18 years or older at the time of entry. Participants turning 18 within the competition year are eligible to enter this category.

1.2 Participants must be an Australian Citizen / Resident residing in the Northern Rivers Region as defined by the NSW State Government.

1.3 Individual artists and bands are eligible. DJ submissions will not be considered.

2. Submission Requirements:

2.1 Participants must submit one original track (song), including the lyrics, per entry.

2.2 The song must not exceed a duration of 5 minutes.

2.3 No DJ or instrumental songs will be accepted.

2.4 You must submit a short bio, 1 x image of yourself (artist/ or band) and a 100-word statement telling us what the song is about and what it means to you.

2.5 All submissions must be uploaded to a downloadable cloud-based storage platform (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive) owned by the participant. When the application is submitted, the provided details will automatically be saved in SAE’s database on Salesforce. Both SAE and BayFM will have access to this data solely for competition purposes.

- Submissions must include a high-resolution MP3 file (360kbps) and/or a 16bit/44.1kHz WAV file. Additionally, all submissions MUST include streaming links (e.g., SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Tidal) or a smartURL/Linktree containing all relevant streaming links to the song.
- DO NOT submit a link to an entire LP, album, or EP—only the song being entered into the competition is permitted.’
- Ensure your submission is downloadable with permissions share ‘anyone with the link’.

2.6 No AI-generated songs: Songs created using AI composition tools such as Suno, Udio, or any similar platforms are not permitted. Entries must be solely written and composed by the entrant(s) without the assistance of AI-generated lyrics, melodies, or production elements. Any song suspected of being created or assisted by AI software will be subject to investigation and may be disqualified at the discretion of the competition organisers.

By submitting an entry, all participants confirm that their song is an original human composition and does not violate this policy.

3. Competition Period and Winner Announcement:

3.1 The competition opens on April 13, 2026, at 9am (AEST) and closes July 12, 2026 at 12am (AEST).

3.2 The winners for first prize and second prize will be announced on BayFM’s Northern Rivers Music Box radio show on August 14, 2026 at 5pm. The winners will also be announced on BayFM’s and SAE’s social media channels. By participating in the competition, applicants consent to the sharing of their data, including the announcement of the winner live on radio and on BayFM’s and SAE’s social media channels. Participants acknowledge and agree that their data, such as their track, full name/artist name, song lyrics, image, and bio, may be shared on social media platforms for promotional purposes related to the competition.

3.3 The winner will also be notified via email.

4. Prize Details:

• The Adult winner will receive:

- The opportunity to record one track of their choice in a state-of-the-art studio located at the SAE Byron Bay campus.
- Their mixed and mastered track, completed by an Audio Engineering student from SAE.
- The opportunity for their track to be played on BayFM for a minimum of four (4) weeks from the initial play.
- The chance to perform and headline at the BaySounds Live Event on November 21, 2026 (max 25-minute set).
- Video footage of their live recording, edited and filmed by SAE students.
- Media opportunities may include Bay FM radio interviews and social media promotion.

• The Youth winner will receive:

- The opportunity to record one track of their choice in a state-of-the-art studio located at the SAE Byron Bay campus.
- Their mixed and mastered track, completed by an Audio Engineering student from SAE.
- The opportunity for their track to be played on BayFM for a minimum of four (4) weeks from the initial play.
- The chance to perform and headline at the BaySounds Youth Showcase at Howl and Moan Records.
- Video footage of their live recording, edited and filmed by SAE students.
- Media opportunities may include BayFM radio interviews and social media promotion.

5. Additional Conditions;

5.1 The winner must abide by campus rules and guidelines during the recording and performance.

5.2 If the winner is under the age of 18, they must be accompanied by a parent or adult during the recording session and Open Day performance.

5.3 The prize includes one full day (8 hours of studio time) at the SAE Byron Campus.

5.4 The day of recording will be agreed upon by the SAE Byron Bay campus.

5.5 The SAE Byron Bay campus holds the right to change or move the scheduled date of recording, subject to staff and studio availability.

5.6 The SAE Audio engineers, and SAE film crew will not make any second-round edits or adjustments to the track once it has been received by the winner.

5.7 Part of the winning prize is for the adult winner to perform live at the BaySounds Live Event on November 21, 2026. The prize winner must be available on that date to be eligible to win the entire prize.

5.8 Part of the winning prize is for the youth winner to perform live at the BaySounds Youth Showcase at Howl and Moan Records on a date to be confirmed in September 2026.

5.9 Part of the main prize is to have your song produced, recorded, mixed & mastered at SAE sometime during the month of September 2026. The prize winner must be available to record during that month of September to be eligible to win.

6. Copyright:

6.1 The copyright of the submitted track will remain the property of the artist

6.2 By entering the competition participants grant SAE University College and BayFM a non- exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and distribute the submitted track for promotional purposes related to the competition and associated events.

6.3 SAE University College and BayFM will not claim ownership of the intellectual property rights of the submitted track beyond the scope of the competition.

7. Promotional Rights:

7.1 Participants grant the right to BayFM and SAE University College to use their image, band/ artist information and track to be promoted on social media channels and radio.

7.2 The participant grants the right for BayFM and SAE to submit to relevant media agencies in regard to promoting the competition.

Privacy Terms and Conditions for Songwriting Competition Between SAE and BayFM

8. Data Collection and Usage:

By participating in the songwriting competition between SAE Byron Bay and BayFM, you agree that both companies will collect, and process personal data provided by participants for the sole purpose of the competition. This data may include but is not limited to your name, contact information, and any other information required for participation.

8.1 Data Sharing: Both SAE and BayFM may share the collected data with each other for the purpose of organising and administering the competition. This includes sharing information about participants, such as names, song submissions, and contact details, to ensure the smooth running of the competition and to facilitate communication between the companies and participants. By participating in the competition, contestants’ consent to the sharing of their data, including the announcement of the winners live on radio and on BayFM and SAE’s social media channels. Participants acknowledge and agree that their data, such as their track, full name/artist name, song lyrics, image, and bio, may be shared on social media platforms for promotional purposes related to the competition.

8.2 Confidentiality: Both companies are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of the data collected during the competition. Any personal information shared will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and will only be used for the specified purposes outlined in these privacy terms and conditions.

8.3 Data Retention: The personal data collected for the competition will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required by law or for legal purposes.

8.4 Participant Rights: Participants have the right to access, rectify, or delete their personal data held by SAE and BayFM. You can view both SAE and BayFM’s privacy policies here. If you wish to exercise these rights or have any questions regarding the handling of your personal data, please contact SAE at [email protected] or BayFM at [email protected].

8.5 Third-Party Services: It is important to note that third-party services, such as online platforms or payment processors, may be used in conjunction with the competition. Participants are encouraged to review the privacy policies of these third parties to understand how their data may be handled when using such services.

8.6 Changes to Privacy Terms: SAE and BayFM reserve the right to modify or update these privacy terms and conditions as necessary. Participants will be notified of any significant changes, and continued participation in the competition will constitute acceptance of the updated terms.

By participating in the songwriting competition between SAE and BayFM, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these privacy terms and conditions regarding the collection, use, and sharing of your personal data.

By entering this competition, participants agree to comply with these terms and conditions. Any breach of these terms may result in disqualification. The company reserves the right to make changes to the terms and conditions if necessary, and any such changes will be communicated to participants promptly.