Loon’s budding singers, composers, and song writers all over the world will have their chance to take a shot for glory when the Loon Music Society, in coordination with the Center for Developments in Culture, Heritage and the Arts (Charts), under the auspices of the Office of the Mayor, launched the Musikang Loonanon, the town’s first popular music songwriting and interpretation festival.

            1. The contest is open to all Loonanons by consanguinity or affinity, old enough to weave music around lyrics, regardless of gender, occupation or where he/she/they may be based the world over;

            2. All entries must be original, unpublished and not winners of any prior songwriting contest using Visayan as base language. Commonly used street slangs are acceptable;

            3. Entries may be sole or collaborative efforts and may be of any musical category, style or variety as one of our aims is, hopefully but not necessarily, to come up with a distinct Loonanon brand of popular music;

            4. Contestants must submit the following in a long manila envelope:
                a) Three (3) printed copies of the song entry’s lyrics with chords. These shall not bear the songwriter’s name or any identifying mark.
                b) A magnetic (cassette tape) or digital (CD, DVD) copy of the entry. The singer on the record is not  necessarily the final interpreter. This means that, this time, the singing quality is not yet part of judging. (See criteria)
                c) A sealed white mailing envelope containing the Title of the Entry, Name, Address, Contact Number and Signature of the songwriter/s.

            5. The contestant may or may not submit score sheets. However, submission is for the best interest of the writer. The Loon Music Society shall take care of scoring entries without score sheets that make it to the top ten.

            6. The Criteria for Judging are as follows

                     a) Songwriting:
                    1. Musicality and Style - 30%;
                    2. Lyrical Impact - 30%;
                    3. Originality - 30%  
                    4. Listeners’ Appeal - 10%.

                     b) Interpretation:
                    1. Voice Quality - 40%
                    2. Mastery & Style - 40% 
                    3. Stage Presence – 20%.

             7. Final arrangement of winning pieces may be done by the Loon Music Society (for a minimal fee) or by any Loonanon musician under contract with the songwriter. Fees shall be shouldered by the composer.

            8. Ten (10) finalists shall be chosen from all entries submitted before deadline: midnight of June 30, 2009. Finalists shall be announced on July 5, 2009.

          9. The finalist songwriters’ chosen interpreters, shall undergo singing workshops together with the songwriters themselves for final arrangements and recording.

             10. The finals and awards night will be on September 5, 2009 in a dinner show setting together with balikbayans, guests and patrons.

            11. Proceeds from Musikang Loonanon are for the implementation of more future music development programs for Loonanons undertaken by the Loon Music Society in coordination with the Center for Developments in Culture, Heritage and the Arts.

            Handsome cash prizes await the winners of the Musikang Loonanon Popmusic Festival. The first prize winner will receive P 15,000;   second prize - P 10,000 and third prize - P 7,000. The ten finalists will receive P1,000 each.

               The Best Interpreter will receive a cash prize of P3,000, while all interpreters will receive a token prize of P500 each.

               Official Entry Forms are available at the Charts. Online Official Entry Forms shall soon be available. Those interested to join are requested to contact Loi and Inday Larido or coypponte at the Center for Developments in Culture, Heritage and the Arts or any Loon Music Society member for more info and for Official Entry Forms.