IFP 50 Hour Music Challenge – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General

• Q: I am not from India. Can I participate?
  • A: Absolutely! IFP welcomes entries from musicians around the globe.
    
    

• Q: Is there a registration fee?
  • A: Yes, there is a registration fee of INR 699 (USD 8). Payment is made online to confirm your registration. You will receive a unique Creator ID via email upon confirmation.
    
    

• Q: In what language can I make my song?
  • A: You can create your song in any language you choose. However, if it is in a language other than English or Hindi, you must submit a translation in the lyrics document.
    
    

• Q: What are the sub-genres mentioned with the genres?
  • A: The sub-genres are provided for inspiration and exploration within your chosen genre. They are not mandatory categories. For example, if you select “Rock” as your genre, you can draw inspiration from sub-genres like Hard Rock, Funk, Grunge, Alternative, or Punk, but your final song will simply be entered in the Rock category.
    
    ROCK: Hard Rock, Funk, Alternative, Grunge, Punk
    POP: Dream Pop, Acoustic Pop, R&B, Singer-Songwriter, Bollywood
    ELECTRONIC: Psychedelic, House, EDM, Techno
    HIPHOP: Rap, Trap, Pop-Rap
    FOLK FUSION: Indie, Fusion, Classical, Folk
    
    

• Q: What is the evaluation criteria?
  • A: Your submission will be evaluated based on: Creativity and originality, Lyrics, Melody, Structure, Adherence to the theme, Adherence to the chosen genre, and Incorporation of the compulsory element.
    
    

• Q: What should be the duration of the song?
  • A: The song should be a minimum of 3 minutes and a maximum of 5 minutes.
    
    

• Q: Do end credits count toward the song’s maximum length?
  • A: No, end credits are not included in the duration of your song. They can be a maximum of 20 seconds.
    
    

• Q: Can I use more than one genre?
  • A: No. You must select one primary genre for your song (e.g., Rock, Pop, Electronic, Hip Hop, or Folk Fusion). While you can draw influence from other genres, the song should clearly fall within your selected category.
    
    

• Q: Can my song be only music or only vocals?
  • A: No. Your song must include both music and lyrics.
    
    

• Q: Can I modify the song after the challenge?
  • A: Yes, you can modify the song after the challenge, but you must include the credit: “This song was made for IFP – 50 Hour Music Challenge” in the song’s metadata or description.
    
    

• Q: Can I participate in multiple IFP challenges?
  • A: Yes, you can participate in other IFP challenges using the same email ID. However, each challenge requires a separate registration fee, and you will receive a separate Creator ID for each.
    
    

• Q: Who will judge my song?
  • A: Each song will be judged by an eminent jury with extensive industry experience, who allots scores to all the artworks sent as per the evaluation criteria.
    
    

• Q: Can I use stock sounds?
  • A: Stock music and backing tracks from stock music websites are strictly prohibited. You must create your track from scratch. However, royalty-free sound samples (e.g., from sample packs, DAWs, Splice, Loopcloud) are allowed and must be credited in the lyrics document.
    
    

• Q: Is there a limit on the number of instruments I can use?
  • A: No, there is no limit on the number of instruments you use.
    
    

• Q: Can we have additional singers in our team?
  • A: The total number of team members, including singers, cannot exceed 10.
    
    

• Q: Can I modify my team after I have registered?
  • A: Yes. You can modify your team anytime before the registration deadline.
    
    

• Q: How can I modify my team?
  • A: On the IFP tickting platform, go to the 50 Hour Music Challenge page and scroll down to click “Edit Profile.” You will find the “Edit Profile” button in the top right corner of the pop-up window.
    
    

• Q: Can we add our band intro to the start/end of the song?
  • A: You can include your band intro or any additional information in the 20-second end credits only. The main song content must conclude before the credits.
    
    

• Q: I am a participant from outside India. What standard time should we follow for the 50 hours?
  • A: The standard time for the challenge is Indian Standard Time (IST), GMT+5:30.
    
    

• Q: What can be the team size?
  • A: A team can have a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 10 registered members. Only registered members will receive e-certificates from IFP.
    
    

• Q: What about our song after the challenge?
  • A: You can use your song in various ways after the final results are announced at the festival.
    
    

• Q: I can’t find a team member. Can IFP help?
  • A: IFP will be hosting online speed newtorking sessoins specifically curated to help you connect with creators. Signup for one here: https://lu.ma/ifp
    
    
• Q: Can I sponsor this event?
  • A: Yes! Please contact us at [email protected] for sponsorship inquiries.
    
    
• Q: Is it compulsory for me to upload song lyrics?
  • A: Yes. Lyrics must be typed in Courier font, size 12, and submitted as a PDF document. 
    
    
• Q: Where do I upload my song and lyrics?
  • A: The upload link will be sent to the Team Leader’s email address at the beginning of the challenge.
    
    
• Q: Do I need to sign a Creator Agreement?
  • A: Yes. All participants must sign a Creator Agreement. This agreement protects both your rights as a creator and IFP’s rights as a platform.
    
    
• Q: Is it an online challenge, or do I need to be in Mumbai?
  • A: The challenge is completely online. You can participate and submit from anywhere.
    
    
• Q: What happens after I’ve submitted my work?
  • A: If your song is nominated, you will receive an email notification along with the further steps that you would need to follow.
    
    
• Q: What about the album art?
  • A: The 50 Hour album art will be shared by the IFP team during the submission process.
    
    
• Q: What if the compulsory element is related to Theme and Category?
  • A: The compulsory element might relate to the overall theme of the challenge or the specific category you have chosen. It will be designed to add an extra layer of creativity and challenge to your song. Be sure to incorporate it thoughtfully, even though it doesn’t need to be the central focus of your song.