KWC USA 2023 Competition Rules
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
These rules and conditions of entry apply to Karaoke World Championships within the USA for the 2023 competition season.
By entering this competition entrants are bound by these ‘Conditions of Entry’.
The organizers of KWC USA reserve the right to determine an entrant’s eligibility over and above these Conditions of Entry. No correspondence will be entered into. All decisions will be final.
1. Who is eligible to enter:
1.1. All entrants must be, at the time of entry into the competition
a) 21 years and over;
b) To be eligible as a contestant to represent a country singers must have lived in the country for 3 years or more; or have citizenship (i.e. a national passport and social security number) of the country they are representing.
c) Singers from previous years are welcome to compete again after 2 years (*first-place gold medal world champions are excluded from ever competing in the division they won, they may compete in a different division).
d) The KWC is open to amateur performers only
1.2. An amateur is defined as someone who meets the following criteria –
a) Does not have a regular income as a vocalist. (A regular income is defined as someone making a living from singing.) [making over 50% or more of their income, in a professional capacity, regardless of whether or not they have a day job will be considered as a professional for these purposes]
b) Does not have a management contract or a recording contract as a singer with a major label or a production.
c) Singers with record releases from 3 or more years ago or have recent indie releases on Spotify, etc. are welcome to compete under amateur status: An entrant who may have had a previous professional entertainment history may enter after a 5-year break.
d) Participants in major vocal television shows will be considered as amateur singers as long as they did not win the show they were featured on, were not included in the final rounds of the competition, and were not given any contractual obligations that might be in conflict with participating in the full KWCUSA competition season.
1.3. Employees (as per definition below) of the following are not eligible to enter the competition -
a) Country partners are not eligible. If you are the person (or one of the persons) responsible in producing your national competition and forming your national jury, you cannot participate as a singer.
b) Karaoke World Championships USA Officials, State Talent Directors, Charter Talent Directors, or Judges, are not eligible to compete.
c) Employees of participating talent trial locations cannot enter trials at the venue where they work. They may try out for another participating talent trial location in their state. Previous employees of a participating venue team must have left employment of the venue by December 31st, 2022 to be eligible to try out for that venue team.
Definition of an Employee – An employee is anyone whose services are rendered or subcontracted, whether paid or not, by the associated business.
1.4. Direct Family Members (as per definition below) of employees (as per definition above) cannot enter trials where their family works. They may enter the competition trying out for another participating venue team.
Definition of Direct Family Members – Includes direct family members, domestic partners whether married or unmarried, fiancées, boyfriends, girlfriends, and roommates, anyone who lives in the same household (whether they are related or not).
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2. Entry Conditions
2.1. All entries are subject to the competition’s full Conditions of Entry. If an entrant is unsure of their position, they must contact KWC USA via www.kwcusa.org for verification of eligibility;
2.2. Contestants may try out for any participating venue team within their State during the competition series. Once they have won a place on a venue team, they may NOT continue to compete for a place for any other venue teams within that state.
2.3. Once a contestant has won a place on a venue team they will immediately secure their place in the State Final Tournament. They may no longer enter the competition again at the venue team level.
2.4. If a contestant is unsuccessful in a venue trial final making a team, they may try out for any other participating venue team for the duration of State trials.
2.5. Venues may require a minimum attendance of contestants during the team trials. It is the entrant’s responsibility to check with their karaoke operator regarding individual venue team trial requirements;
2.6. The organizers reserve the right to disqualify any contestant whose manner, or that of their associates, is disrespectful towards other singers, coordinators, sponsors and organizers of the event. No correspondence will be entered into.
2.7 Any contestant, family members, or associates who argue the decision of officials may be considered unruly and the contestant may be disqualified from advancing in competition. Should the argument concern the official outcome of a final event, and the contestant has been awarded a prize, that contestant may be stripped of the prize and such prize awarded to another contestant.
2.8 Contestants, their family members, or any of their associates who exhibit offensive behavior during any portion of the contest will result in disqualification of that contestant from future competition. If the contestant, their family members or associates exhibit offensive behavior after the contestant has competed; and such behavior is on KWCUSA trial, tournament, or finals location property; even after the winners are announced, that contestants scores will be nullified.
2.9 If the contestant whose score has been nullified is a winning contestant, the next contestant in scoring position for that particular category shall be the winner. It will not be the responsibility of KWCUSA or any of its representatives to recover any money or prize awarded a contestant who is later disqualified or found to be ineligible following final review and decisions of the officials.
2.10 KWCUSA will have present during all phases of the KWCUSA competition, a representative to answer any complaints concerning the KWCUSA competitions. No KWCUSA representative shall answer a complaint concerning official judge scores or the opinions of the judges or outcomes of any judged event.
2.11 Complaints, not made in person to the designated individuals on site at any event, concerning any breach of KWCUSA rules must be made in writing and sent by registered mail to KWCUSA 5047 Auburn Skyline Ave Las Vegas NV 89139. A complaint must reach the KWCUSA office no later than 10 days after the tournament or finals in question to be considered for action. Such complaint should include all relevant facts, details, and witness statements concerning such complaint. If the complaint concerns the eligibility of a winning contestant the complaint must include relevant documents. *Any statements of fact are to be notarized, including statements by witnesses.
3. Entry Requirements
3.1. All entrants must be eligible to obtain a United States passport should they become National Finalists.
3.2. All entrants are responsible for ensuring they are fit for national and overseas travel and have no apparent reason for being ineligible to travel or for entry into another country. Proof may be required. (* This includes any proof of vaccinations that may be required)
3.3. The organizers reserve the right to make the final decision regarding an entrant’s eligibility over and above these conditions of entry. Entrants may be asked to sign legal documents and provide proof of eligibility.
3.4 All entrants must have a current United States Passport to compete in the KWCUSA National Finals event.
3.5. All issues regarding an entrant’s eligibility must be addressed, clarified and cleared 10 days prior to National Finals. Proof of claim will be required.
3.6 If you have been removed or prohibited from of any of the participating KWCUSA team contest locations due to behavioral rules within your state competitions for any reason, you will not be able to compete at the State Finals Event.
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4. State Prize Package
4.1. Winners in the State Finals place into the KWCUSA National Finals event held in Las Vegas 2023.
4.2. One winner from each State Finals will win accommodations and airfare to the KWCUSA 2023 National Finals.
4.3 Prizes for the KWCUSA 2023 National Finals will be listed at www.kwcusa.org
4.4. If the top State Final winner is not available to make the National event for any reason, they will forfeit their prize and it will be awarded to the next scoring contestant to ensure at least one team representative is sent for every participating State. (Provided there is time upon finalization of details regarding the original winner, the runner up will take their place and will be subject to the same conditions of participation.)
4.5. The State Final winner will be responsible for all costs that are not offered as part of their prize package including, but not limited to, resort fees & taxes, travel costs to and from all airports and baggage fees, travel insurance, food & drinks and any additional travel outside the offered prize package, including but not limited to, any costs incurred during their trip to compete as the KWCUSA State representative at the Karaoke National Championships.
4.6. Any additional travelers going with a winning contestant to the Karaoke National Championships Finals event will travel entirely at their own expense.
4.7. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash. Venue team winners are required to attend their respective Venue and State Finals. State Team Final winners are required to attend the National Finals. Entrants who do not attend their respective finals will forfeit any prizes not already presented to them.
4.8. The State Finals Winner/s is required to attend & represent their State at the Karaoke USA National Championships Finals.
5. Competition Format
5.1. Trials will be held for various venue teams across the USA. Variations may occur for certain venue teams including, but not limited to, the number of trials conducted, the number of entrants selected at each trial and the number of representatives selected for the team. All variations, including but not limited to, the number of representatives selected for each venue team to move on, are at the sole discretion of KWCUSA Talent Directors and official KWCUSA organizers only.
5.2. A select number of winners will make a team and be eligible to compete in the State Final Tournament for their participating state.
5.3. Contestants may sing any song of their choice during the trials and venue finals with no single contestant repeating the same song within the team trials competitions unless otherwise noted.
5.4. It is the sole discretion of the State Talent Directors as to how many songs will be performed by each contestant at each Venue team selection final and State Finals.
5.5. It is the State Talent Directors decision as to how often songs can be repeated by different contestants in any venue trial or State Final and if duplications are allowable. Having reached this level of competition contestants should have a small repertoire of songs at the ready and register their songs early if possible.
5.6. Venues and karaoke operators may conduct their trials and finals in a manner that suits their own venue. At all times they are required to adhere to the ‘Conditions of Entry’ & KWC judging criteria & conduct their trials and finals in a fair manner.
5.7. All contestants are responsible for their own travel & accommodation costs to and from all trials, venue team finals, tournaments, State & National Finals.
5.8 It is the contestant’s responsibility to be present when their name is called for competition regardless of the estimated and posted start or performance time. Contestants who do not appear when their name/number is called will be eliminated from the competition. It is suggested that contestants be available 30 minutes prior to your scheduled competition time. Check with your local State Talent Director for any specific rules.
5.9 Upon completion of performances the contestant is given a brief moment to bow and take audience applause, then must immediately exit the stage. A delay by a contestant to leave the stage area may result in points being deducted from the contestant’s score.
5.10. At the KWCUSA National Finals Event contestants are permitted to use their own commercial karaoke tracks/discs or digital downloads as long as they are original discs and are clean and not scratched, links are provided in advance, and proof of purchase is included for the tracks/discs/downloads. Pirated discs, homemade Tracks, Youtube links and digital formats moved to disc WILL NOT be accepted. Tracks from streaming services such as Tidal, Spotify, Karafun, Sumle, ect. will not be accepted. CDG & VCD formats are permitted. No responsibility will be accepted by the organizers for formats not being available in all venue talent trials and at all finals. Please check with your karaoke operator running local trials as to their operating system specifications. USB of songs are acceptable as long as you have a valid receipt of the songs on the USB. At National Finals contestants may use commercially available CDG+ or instrumental tracks with or without scrolling lyrics if they so choose. Check your local organizers for any specific restrictions in your area.
5.11. KWCUSA Finals producers have the right to refuse the use of a contestant’s disc or song format if they feel it is in violation with US copyright laws or doesn’t play on their system properly.
5.12. No responsibility will be accepted for contestants’ discs at any stage of the competition.
5.13 Reasonable care is taken by KWCUSA, its sponsors, representatives and the State Chapter Finals location/National Finals Location, to provide adequate equipment for all contestants. All contestants will be required to sign an affidavit (KWCUSA Sign in Sheet) holding KWCUSA, any of its sponsors, representatives and the State Finals location/National Finals Location harmless should any problem occur as a result of malfunctioning equipment or disc failure during competition.
5.14 Due to time constraints, a song that fails to play, skip in mid-performance, or has any other malfunction does not give the contestant the right to start over or use a different song during the competition. The cause of the malfunction may or may not be taken into consideration for allowing a contestant to continue. A contestant who has performed at least 60 seconds of their song prior to any malfunction may or may not have their performance cut short. In the case of such action the officials will be instructed to judge the contestant as though the contestant completed the song.
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6. Judging Criteria
6.1 It is recommended that contestants dress to suit their song choice at all levels so as to maximize judging points.
6.2. Judging will be based on the following criteria for the 2023 season: Voice, Technique, Artistry, and Stage Presence. See www.kwcusa.org for full judging criteria breakdown.
6.3 State Finals shall provide at least 5 Officials for judging the finals and selecting the state team. No audience participation judging is allowed at the state finals level of competition unless a wild card placement is to be decided using this method.
6.4 Officials may not be employees of the State Finals venue.
6.5 Officials may not be related to any state finals contestant.
6.6. It is recommended that contestants support the venue where they are competing in trials or have made the team. Some venues may impose a minimum weekly attendance requirement. It is the responsibility of the entrant to check individual venue details with their karaoke operator.
6.7. The officials’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
6.8. All notices, rule changes, contestants advancements, or other pertinent information will be posted on the official website at www.kwcusa.org.
6.9 Contestants, their family members or associates are not allowed to have any contact with any Official during the contest performance periods. Officials on break during a contest period are treated as though they are still judging the contest.
6.10 Offering bribes of any nature to a judge to help advance a contestant is strictly prohibited. 6.11 Contestants are not to fraternize with the officials. (It is ok to say hello when passing them but there is no reason for you to have conversations with jury members while the competition is underway.)
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7. Karaoke World Championships Requirements
7.1. The Grand Final winner will be required to have a minimum of 4 songs prepared for the Karaoke World Championships International Finals. These songs must be submitted in preferred performance order by the set deadline by the international KWC panel. These songs can be from any category and are the choice of the Grand Finalist. Song choices may be subject to a time limit by the organizers of the Karaoke World Championships due to time restraints. Once submitted, the song choice and preferred performance order cannot be changed by the finalist.
7.2. The Grand Final winner/s will be required to adhere to the conditions of entry of the Karaoke World Championships International Organization.
7.3 Prize money at world finals may be subject to the local tax laws of the host country.
7.4. If the United States representative/s is crowned Karaoke World Champion and is awarded a trip to KWC the following year as a prize, they will be required to attend.
7.5. If the United States representative/s is awarded a recording deal at the world finals, they may be required to sign a contract with the International Organizers in Finland and may be required to travel to Finland at a future date.
7.6. The United States winner/s will be required to make themselves available for media requests for the duration of their reign.
7.7. The National Final winner will be permitted to use their own karaoke discs at the Karaoke World Championships as long as they are original discs. CDG & VCD formats are permitted.
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8. Indemnity
8.1. By entering this Competition you agree not to hold the Organizers liable for any loss, damage, illness, death, injury or claim whatsoever and to abide by the conditions of entry. All contestant entries remain the property of the Organizers.
8.2. If applicable, any Cash Prizes awarded will be finalized within 60 days of National Finals event.
8.3. By entering the competition you agree to your image, sound and performance from any association of your involvement of KWC being broadcast in any form at any time, both now and in the future while you are performing as an official representative of KWCUSA, and you will not claim any performance rights or fees. Recordings & photographs remain the property of the organizers & photographers.
8.4. By entering the competition you acknowledge that the organizers of Karaoke World Championships USA are not responsible for any changes to the organization, international final destination and prizes by the official world sponsor Singa.
8.5 The USA organizers reserve the right to change the National Championship prize package details to suit any unforeseeable changes made by Singa & their sponsors.
8.6. The organizers accept no responsibility for changes in prizes provided by sponsors and reserve the right to change the National Championship prize package details to suit any unforeseeable changes made by sponsors.
8.7. The organizers accept no responsibility for prizes offered by venue teams and operators outside of the National Championship prize package.
8.8. The official international organizers of the Karaoke World Championships is Singa.
8.9. The official partner of the Karaoke World Championships USA is Epic Performance Productions
8.9. All decisions made by the organizers are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
8.10. The ‘Conditions of Entry’ are subject to change without notice.
8.11 Any changes will be posted on the official website www.kwcusa.org