1) WHEN WILL WINNERS OF ANY GIVEN CONTEST BE CHOOSEN, NOTIFIED, AND/OR POSTED?
Contest#4 Winners Posted April 15-22, 2008. Contest#5 begins 5/1/2008, Start Preparing Now!
Do NOT email ModernBeats asking if Winners have already been picked, or if Winners have already been notified, or when Winners will be posted. Your email will not be replied to. All answers to questions regarding such are listed below:
a) Winners (1st-4th place and the Top 10) are chosen approximately 2-3 weeks after the final entry date per contest. If 3 weeks have past since the final entry date of any given contest, the answer is yes, the winners have been chosen.
b) Winners (1st-4th place and the Top 10) are notified approximately 3-4 weeks after the final entry date per contest. If 4 weeks have past since the final entry date of any given contest, the answer is yes, all winners have already been notified.
c) Winners (1st-4th place and the Top 10) are posted approximately 4-5 weeks after the final entry date per contest. It may very well take the entire 5 weeks from the final entry date per contest to post the Winners.

2) How do I qualify to enter the ModernBeats $2,000 Beat Contest?
Contest#5 is open worldwide to all existing ModernBeats Customers. Your contest beat must be an instrumental music production, 100% original and cleared (Read FAQ question #3). Your contest beat must use 1 or more of the following ModernBeats soundsets/loopsets: RnB Keyz Chopz 1, Vinyl Scratchez 2, Live Rhythmz 1. Proof of your ownership of at least 1 of the featured sets mentioned will be verified by ModernBeats Inc upon entry. All non-qualifying entries will be void. Contest is void where prohibited by law. Cash prizes are paid towards PayPal accounts, otherwise applied as store credit.

3) When ModernBeats says my beat must be 100% original and 100% cleared, what does this mean?
In order for Winners' music to be forwarded to the major networks included in our prize packages, your contest music must be an 100% original work and 100% clear of extraneous/binding contracts with third parties. In order for your music to be forwarded for possible placement in film. tv .& more you must accept ModernBeats' publishng agreement. By ModernBeats serving as the publisher of your contest beat, your chances of getting your music placed in film, tv, & more increase greatly due to ModernBeats' network relations and reputation as a music publisher.

4) Can I have/use vocal performances in my contest beat?   
No, starting September 18, 2007 all contest beats must be instrumental productions only. This also means no production team tagging or shout outs allowed such as "John Doe Productions" or "John Doe Beats" at the intro or through out your contest beat. Why? Because such vocal tags render your music useless to MTV Networks and UK's Active Music if not 100% instrumental and broadcast-ready. Note: We are not saying original vocal percussion and vocal sound effects can't be used. Read FAQ question #5 for full details.

5) I know the contest beats must be instrumental productions, but can I use vocal percussion and vocal sound effects?
Yes, but no lyrics or live vocal performances are allowed. Also, no samples taken from movies (i.e. Scarface starring Al Pacino) are allowed. Types of vocal tracks allowed include beat boxing, vocal percussion, and vocal sound effects such as breathing, sighing, yelling etc.

6) Does the style of my contest beat have to be Hip-Hop? The style does not have to be strictly hip-hop. Winners are selected more on the level, quality, and detail of production versus style. However, it is preferred to give your contest beat more of an "urban" edge versus other styles, but by no means limit your creativity. For example, producing a hip-hop style production with some creative techno or pop elements could show another dimension/level of creativity within the production.

7) If I have a beat that uses a sample from a TV show, movie, or one of Timbaland's songs, can I submit that beat for the contest? No, definitely not. Your beat will be immediately disqualified no matter how great the rest of your production is. Legally, music productions can only use such samples if they have been cleared by the original copyright owners and where the copyright owners have directly granted you the rights to use such samples. Using samples in your contest beat that originally came from TV shows, movies, games, artists' songs etc will result in disqualification from the contest. If you want a chance at having your music on MTV or BBC, best follow these rules as these networks nor ModernBeats will tolerate this infringement. All contest music forwarded to MTV networks and Active Music must be 100% original, 100% cleared. If your contest beat is not 100% original and cleared, your contest entry is void.

8) If I have a beat that copies or mimics a hook or melody from someone else's original song will I be disqualified?
Yes, you will be disqualified. ModernBeats Contests accept 100% original contest beats only. Copying and/or mimicking someone else's song's style, melodically or rhythmically, will simply get you disqualified. If your contest beat is a copycat, modified version of someone else's original music, you are just wasting your time entering the contest.

9) When using a ModernBeats loopset for my contest beat, do I have to use the loops in their full form?
No, you do not have to use the loops in their full intact form. In fact, we encourage you to chop up the loops as much as desired in order to achieve the exact style of production you are after.

10) Can I use other sounds/samples/instruments outside ModernBeats sets in my instrumental contest beat?   
Yes.

11) Can I use other ModernBeats soundsets/loopsets in my contest beat in addition to the required sets?
Yes.

12) Can I use the "ModernBeats Free Sounds Kit" in my contest beat?
Yes, but your contest beat must also use 1 or more of the required contest soundsets/loopsets (See FAQ Question #2) in order for you to be eligible to enter.

13) How much of the production in my beat should include ModernBeats soundsets/loopsets sounds in it?   
There is no hard-and-fast rule about the exact amount of ModernBeats samples to include within the overall production of your contest beat. However, a good rule of thumb would be to place ModernBeats samples somewhat "in the spotlight" by using ModernBeats samples in the main "foundation" tracks of your beat. Examples would include using ModernBeats drum samples for your main drum mix, using a ModernBeats melodic loop as one of your main riffs/hooks through your song, or using a ModernBeats ethnic instrument preset for the main melody in your contest beat.

14) Can I re-submit a beat I used in a past ModernBeats contest for the current running contest?
Yes, so long as the beat did not place within the Top 10 in a past ModernBeats contest and your contest beat has been updated using 1 or more of the required contest soundsets/loopsets.

15) Will Winners' songs posted on the ModernBeats.com website be protected with audio watermarks?
Yes, all Winners' songs posted on the ModernBeats.com will contain added audio watermarks in the form of voiceovers for the protection of Winners' produced works. See "SONG RIGHTS" under official contest rules for more details.

16) I'm not impressed with the beats selected as winners. How can ModernBeats consider the selected contest beats high quality productions and/or worthy of winning?
Through the process of winner selection, ModernBeats is BY NO MEANS making a claim that the selected winner beats are of "Top 40 / Hit Single" status or to be considered high quality productions. Instead, odds of winning are based on the number of eligible contest entries received. Additionally, odds of winning are determined by the level of skill, production, originality, creativeness, songwriting, and arrangement inherent from the same batch of eligible contest entries received. If the overall number of contest entries is low for any given contest, the choices available for winner selection will be low, as well. For those individuals who disagree with the winners selected for any given contest, this is a perfect opportunity for you to join in and compete for winning placement in future contests.

17) What bit rate should I submit my contest beat mp3 in?
No less than 128kbps and no higher than 192kbps in order to keep file size below the 5MB maximum allowed.

18) I'm 17 years old and want to enter the beat contest. How do I show parental consent for entry?
When you submit your song for the contest, do so with your parents' permission. Also, a parent or legal guardian
of winners under the age of 18 will be required to execute proper documents on behalf of the minor child: a) A
signed Affidavit of Eligibility, Release of Liability and Publicity Release form; b) Plus any necessary tax forms
(Both to be submitted to ModernBeats within 10 days of winner notification).

19) I'm a ModernBeats customer, but my past orders were made with my parent's credit card. How do I enter the contest?
Simply submit your contest beat and information as normal using your name own for the customer name and mp3 file name. Yet, in the "Other Soundsets/Loopsets" area of the contest form explain how your parent/guardian's credit card was used. Leave your parent/guardian's name as it appeared on the credit card used for your past order(s). Plus, leave the name of the sets that were ordered with that credit card. If there's a problem with your submission information, we'll notify you.