Inspired by Record Store Day? Get your band signed!

If the limited-edition releases distributed as part of the first Record Store Day drop this past Saturday have you and your bandmates thinking “Hey, that should be us!,” here’s your chance. 

Record Store Day Canada, in partnership with Microforum Vinyl Record Pressing, is once again proud to present the RSDC Unsigned Competition, offering one unsigned artist the chance to get 300 vinyl records pressed of an original song. 

All it takes is a performance of a song to enter.  

The contest kicks off Tuesday, September 1 at 9 a.m. EST and runs through November 30 at midnight. 

The contest calls for a video performance of an original song written specifically for the contest to be submitted via YouTube — submit multiple songs and you’ll be disqualified. 

This year’s judges include Pierre Markotanyos (Return to Analog Records), Rob Nagy (Taproom and Retail), Jesse Letford (Universal Music Canada) and Anika Wallia (CARAS/The JUNO Awards/MusiCounts). 

A complete list of rules is available here. 

The contest sponsored by Anthem Entertainment, Audio-Technica Canada, Dine Alone Records, GrooveWasher, Microforum Vinyl Record Pressing, Nickel Brook Brewing, Co., Org Music, Paranoid Print Co., Return to Analog Records, Sony Music Canada, The Nielsen Company, The Orchard, Universal Music Canada, Warner Music and Whiprsnapr Brewing Co.

Last year’s winner, The Sun Harmonic, describes the win as “a dream come true. I had only cut vinyl in short-run quantities before and never pressed a record of my own, so even having shrink-wrap on my album was a thrill for me,” says Kaleb Hikele, the band’s singer. “I mailed them across Canada in the middle of the pandemic and felt connected during a dark time in our lives. The timing was strange but couldn’t have been better to encourage me to make a great record for the year 2020. Thank you to those at RSD and Microforum Vinyl Record Pressing who gifted us this prize and have remained friends ever since!”