Spotify want to hear the STORY OF YOUR SONG and what it means in your life. 

We make playlists and mix-tapes for people we love (or want to love); agonize over the songs that will play first, or last, at our wedding; we remember what was on the radio just before our first kiss or during the best dance party of the summer; and most of us remember kicking back at some time or another in exactly the right mood to blast tunes and hear what STEREO really means…. 

And there are other stories– unanticipated, uncategorized, and often as not, unknown to anyone else – secrets we keep to ourselves: joy, humor, sorrow, and craziness (sometimes all of the above) woven so deeply with a certain song that we can’t even imagine them anymore without.

We know you have these stories.  And we know your love for your song is a great Story – a beautiful, magical thing.

Now, Spotify wants you to share the STORY OF YOUR SONG and what it means to you and your life.  Tell us how and when it became yours.  Your Story could become one that gets chosen to help Spotify share the joy of sharing music and the connections we all have with it.

And here’s where it gets really interesting: filmmakers will have the opportunity to bring the selected song Stories to life in the most creative way possible. The style and structure of the final Videos are completely open. Think live-action, animated, stop-motion and everything in between! Just find the best, funniest, sweetest, saddest, wildest, most creative and most compelling way to tell the Story of Your Song.

What you need to know:

• You WON’T be able to play the actual song in the Video, so think about how you’re going to bring the STORY to life, not the actual song.
• Your Story should be true and authentic - think about why this song is uniquely yours.
• Payment for a win in the Story phase is contingent on your completion of the Winner’s Affidavit, the IP Assignment, and any necessary cooperation with the winning filmmaker selected to bring your Story to life in the subsequent Pitch Phase.
• If you win in the Pitch Phase and CHOOSE to feature a Story winner in your Video, you will be required to make your own travel arrangements to film the Story winner from the previous phase. You are NOT required to feature the Story winner in your Video.
• In addition to Pitches based on one of the winning Stories, we will also be accepting Pitches that are NOT based on any of the winning Stories - also known as WILDCARD PITCHES. To submit a Wildcard Pitch, select "Wildcard" from the Base Story list instead of one of the winning Stories during the pitch phase. 

The goal of this project is to make 30-90 second Videos that capture real Stories of people’s connections to certain songs. Videos should bring to life the unique and authentic connection that your Story-teller has to their song.

--Key Marketing Messages:

•  Your Video should include the URL “thatsongwhen.com” with the call to action: “Share yours" or "What's yours?"

--Target Audience: Anyone who loves music. Spotify’s core audience is in the 18-35 range and is digitally savvy, but Stories can come from anyone.

--Executional Mandatories:

• Your Video should include the URL “thatsongwhen.com” with the call to action: “Share yours" or "What's yours?"

--Tone: Tone is completely up to you and will depend on your Story. Most importantly, your Video should feel authentic.

--Inspiration: Remember, you can tell the Story in any way you choose. Check out the inspiration below, and GO BIG!

• Humans of New York: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8TjO2FGnao
• Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vUhSYLRw14
• I met the Walrus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3ilNnBrJHk
• Shugo Tokumaru / Katachi: http://vimeo.com/58022280

--Exposure: Intended for digital, but if you hit it out of the park, there’s a good chance Spotify will promote it using paid media.

--Product: You are not required to mention Spotify or show the Spotify interface in your Video.

This Project will be worth a total of $70,000 and consists of 3 Phases: a Story Phase, a Pitch Phase and a Video Phase. Be sure to read the following information carefully as well as the Official Rules.

PHASE 1: STORY – Tell us the STORY OF YOUR SONG and what it means to you in 500 characters or less.

The winning Story creators will receive $250 each and a 5% one-time residual payment for any winning Videos based on his/her Story. That means if your winning Story is the basis for the 1st place Video, you will receive $1,000, the 2nd place Video $500, or the 3rd place through 8^th place Video, $250.

Payment for a win in the Story phase is contingent on your completion of the Winner’s Affidavit, the IP Assignment, and any necessary cooperation with the winning filmmaker selected to bring your Story to life in the subsequent Pitch Phase. Being a winner in the Story Phase does not guarantee that your Story will be brought to life by a filmmaker in the following Phases.

Referral: Any Tongal member who refers one of the winning Story creators in this Project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee equal to 5% of the amount won up to $500. Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.

PHASE 2: PITCH - Submit your Pitch (What Is a Pitch Phase?) convincing the Sponsor why you should be selected to execute a Video based on one of the winning Stories from the previous Phase OR as a Wildcard Pitch using:

• Text (REQUIRED): 500 characters or less synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this Video.

• Links (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, cinematography, etc.) and DO NOT INCLUDE LINKS TO YOUR SHOWREEL. Please link to individual videos.

• Script (Optional): This should include dialogue from the video you intend to create. 

• Treatment (Optional): A detailed narrative description of what's going to happen in the video. 

• Image (Optional): Additional concept art, storyboards, shot list, casting notes, anything that helps get your point across.

• Pitch Video (Optional): This is your opportunity to show us what you're capable of. Consider submitting a Pitch video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect should they choose your Pitch. Also, test videos, animatics, etc. are welcome.   

To note, in addition to Pitches based on one of the winning Stories, we will also be accepting Pitches that are NOT based on any of the winning Stories - also known as a WILDCARD PITCH. To submit a Wildcard Pitch, select "Wildcard" from the Base Story list instead of one of the winning Stories.

The 4 most compelling Pitches will be selected and, upon submitting the Winner’s Affidavit and the IP Assignment, will each receive $2,000 to help create the Video.  Additionally, upon submitting a Video that satisfies the criteria laid out in your winning Pitch, the Pitch winners will also be GUARANTEED a winning place in the subsequent Video Phase.  So, if your Pitch is selected and you execute your Pitch effectively in your Video submission, you will win an additional $5,000, at a minimum, and have a chance to compete for the $20,000 First Place video prize (subject to deduction for one-time 5% residual payment to eligible Story winners). For an example of an effective Pitch, check out Erik Beck’s winning “3 Artists & 5,000 LEGOs” Pitch video. All Pitches will remain private until after the winner of the Video Phase is announced and the Project is complete.   

PHASE 3: VIDEO – The 4 winners from the Pitch Phase will each create a 30-90 second Video based upon their winning Pitch.

All other creators are invited to enter a Wildcard (What Is a Wildcard?) submission that can be based on one of the winning Stories from the previous Phase or a totally original concept that is not based on any winning material from the Story Phase.  The Judges will score all Wildcard submissions and the 4 highest scoring Wildcard Videos along with the 4 winning Videos submitted by Pitch winners will be scored to determine the standings for the Video Phase.  Remember, the 4 Pitch winners, along with 4 Wildcard creators, will receive prizes.

--Video Phase Payout: Winners of the Video Phase will earn the following prizes: 1st place $20,000; 2nd place $10,000; 3^rd place $5,000; 4^th place $5,000; 5^th place $5,000; 6^th place $5,000; 7^th place $5,000; 8^th place $5,000 (less any 5% one-time residual payments paid to the Story winners, as applicable).

--Music:  Tongal has partnered with four premiere music providers: Audiosocket, Killer Tracks, Epidemic Sound and Music Dealers. Any of which can be used to source music for your Video submission to this Project. You may use up to THREE total tracks per Video submission, and they can come from any of the four providers listed above. Music from these providers is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into Submissions to this Project and will not require a separate Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the provider’s names above.

If you are selected as a winner and choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. If you obtain music from other catalog providers, you must purchase the appropriate license at your own expense and submit it with our Music Release Form when you turn in your Video paperwork.  

--Referral: Any Tongal member who refers one of the winning Video creators in this Project using the Tongal “Invite Friends” functionality will receive a referral fee equal to 5% of the amount won. That’s a potential $2,500 in bonus cash just for telling all of your talented friends about this Project! Check out more about our Referral Program in FAQ.

1. The Video MUST not exceed 90 seconds in length. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 16x9. Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should you win, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec

2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.

3. In the event you utilize any third party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider not provided by Tongal, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.

4. BY SUBMITTING A VIDEO ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES – SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL.  FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.

5. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.

6. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.

7. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.

8. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.

9. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.

10. In the event that fewer than 50 Pitches are received, the Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest for up to fourteen (14) days at their discretion.

11. In addition to the judging criteria stated in the OFFICIAL RULES, Pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final Video based on their prior work and experience as a filmmaker.

12. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Videos without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.

13. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, winning Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their winning Videos, as well as a photograph/headshot  OR copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec to claim your prize.

14. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.