Terms and Conditions – Music School of the Year Competition

The Basics

Welcome to the International Music School of the Year Awards Competition! This exciting global contest is brought to you by Build a Music School Ltd (“Organizer”). Let’s keep it fair and fun!

Acknowledgment of Understanding
By ticking you agree above or by participating in the Competition, you affirm that you have read and understood this waiver. You agree to be bound by its terms as a condition of participation.

Who Can Enter?

This competition is open to music school owners/directors from around the world.
You must be 18 years or older to participate.
Employees, contractors, affiliates, sponsors, judges, and immediate family members of the Organizer or any competition sponsors are not eligible to enter.
By entering, you confirm that your submission is original and that you have the rights to represent your music school in this competition.
The Organizer reserves the right to verify eligibility, including requesting proof of identity, ownership of the music school, or other documentation.

Categories to Choose From

We’ve created three categories to reflect different school sizes:

Emerging Innovators: 0–100 students.
Business Breakthrough: 101–500 students.
Enterprise Excellence: 501+ students.

You are limited to one entry in one category per Music School/studio/teaching business.

How to Enter

To participate, complete the official entry form on our website. Be ready to provide:

School Information: Name, location, and primary contact details.
Video Submission: Upload via VideoAsk following our guidelines.
Category Selection: Indicate which category or categories you’re entering.
Agreement of these terms and conditions: This is agreed upon submitting your registration.

Deadlines:

All entries must be received by January 15th, 2025 at 11:59 PM [time zone]. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Language and Accessibility:

All submissions must be primarily in English
If you have accessibility needs, please contact us for assistance.

Entry Fees

Entry fees are $50 USD
Each Music school is limited to one entry
Fees are non-refundable once the submission has been processed.
Payment must be made via our secure platform. Any payment issues or disputes may result in disqualification.

Judging Criteria

Our expert panel, consisting of industry specialists from representatives of the competition sponsors. They will evaluate submissions based on:

Best Innovation in Teaching.
Most Inspiring School Culture.
Creative Student Engagement.
Community Impact.
Business Growth.

Judging will be conducted using a standardized scoring system to ensure fairness.

Agreement to Rules and Judging Decisions
You agree to abide by all official rules of the Competition as published by the organizers. You acknowledge that judging decisions are final and not subject to dispute or appeal.

Prizes

Grand Prize Winners (one per category):

One ticket to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun for the 'Build a Music School' Conference 2025 (March 30th - April 4th, 2025) (combined value of $9,000 USD).
The opportunity to speak at the event, showcasing your school to a global audience.

Finalists (per category):

A digital “National School of the Year Finalist” badge.
Recognition on our social media platforms, website, and newsletters.

Prize Conditions:

Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
Please note the following condition regarding the main category prizes:
- The prize covers the cost of one Conference ticket only and does not include travel or other expenses unless explicitly stated. (As it is hosted in an all-inclusive Cancun resort, the accommodation & food/beverages & conference activities including a catamaran day trip are included)
- Attendance at the Conference is the responsibility of the prize winner. If the winner is unable to attend for any reason, the prize cannot be exchanged, refunded, or transferred to another event.
- Failure to attend the Conference does not entitle the winner to any compensation or alternate prize.
By accepting the prize, the winner acknowledges and agrees to these conditions.
Winners are responsible for any applicable taxes, duties, fees and travel associated with prize acceptance.
Prize-related travel must be booked within a specified period and is subject to availability.
Winners may be required to participate in reasonable promotional activities, including interviews, social media content, or public appearances, without additional compensation.

Use of Submissions

By participating, you grant us permission to use your submission (videos, images, descriptions, etc.) for promotional purposes. This may include, but is not limited to, social media posts, website features, email campaigns, and advertising.

Prohibited Content:

Submissions must not include offensive, illegal, defamatory, or inappropriate material. The Organizer reserves the right to reject such entries.

Original Work Clause:

All submissions must be your original work and must not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights. You agree to indemnify the Organizer against any claims related to copyright or intellectual property disputes.

Submission of Materials:

By submitting materials for the Competition, including videos, images, and written content, you affirm that you own or have obtained all necessary permissions for the materials. You grant the Music School of the Year Competition a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, distribute, display, and adapt your submitted materials for promotional or informational purposes.

Publicity Release

By participating in the Competition, you consent to the use of your name, likeness, voice, and any materials submitted to the Competition for promotional purposes, without additional compensation or notification.

Data Protection

Your personal data will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws and our Privacy Policy.
By entering, you consent to the use of your information for competition administration, promotional activities, and marketing communications.

Grounds for Disqualification

We maintain strict standards to ensure fairness and integrity. Submissions may be disqualified if:

They contain false or misleading information.
Entrants engage in fraudulent, illegal, or unethical behavior.
Entrants fail to comply with these terms and conditions.
They violate any applicable laws or third-party rights.

Liability and Disclaimers

The Organizer is not responsible for any technical errors, lost submissions, or delays caused by factors outside our control.
Participation is at your own risk. We are not liable for any loss, damage, or injury related to your entry or the use of any prize.

Force Majeure Clause:

The Organizer is not liable for any delay or failure to perform due to circumstances beyond its control, including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of war, or technical failures.

Release of Liability:
To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release and discharge the Music School of the Year Competition organizers, judges, employees, contractors, sponsors, affiliates, and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, liabilities, or damages arising from your participation in the Competition, including but not limited to claims of negligence or infringement of intellectual property rights.

Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risk:
By participating in the Music School of the Year Competition (the “Competition”), you acknowledge and agree that your participation is entirely voluntary. You assume all risks associated with your participation, including but not limited to the submission of materials, interviews, and any activities related to the Competition.

Disclaimer of affiliation or endorsement
The international Music School of the Year Awards Competition & its' organiser Build a Music School ltd is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or in any way connected to any other Music School of the Year awards or competitions. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners."

Changes to the Competition

The Organizer reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the competition if unforeseen circumstances arise. In the event of cancellation, entry fees will be refunded. Any updates to these terms will be communicated promptly.

Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from the competition shall be resolved in accordance with the laws of New Zealand (as this is the business residence of the main sponsor & organiser - Build a Music School Ltd)

Thank you for participating and good luck!