The Cue Sheet Palooza Hackathon will explore ways music creators and stakeholders can get paid their screen-based performance rights royalties faster and more precisely. We’re investigating the challenges they face throughout the Performing Rights royalty pipeline, and kickstarting innovations that will expedite a more accurate payment of performance rights royalties.
So — we’re inviting software developers to rethink and redefine how all the relevant data is collected and processed. Hackers, creators, designers, and coders will collaborate and compete using AI, XR, blockchain, data analytics, and other state-of-the-art technologies — with guidance from our group of industry mentors — to build a prototype for a simpler, more effective platform around cue sheets and artist payments.
Our goal is to free up a music creator's time to make music — and not spend hours on administrative work in order to get paid. After the marathon 24-hour session, a panel of industry judges will choose the winning teams, who will be awarded cash and sponsor prizes. The Cue Sheet Palooza Hackathon is set for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19-20, 2022 in Toronto, Canada.
If, per COVID concerns, we need to transition to an online event, we will announce in early 2022.
API Partners / Sponsors: If you are interested in being an API Partner or sponsor, please email with the subject line Cue Sheet Hackathon and we'll get back to you ASAP.
$CAD6,000 in prizes
First Place Winner Overall Highest Score
Second Highest Overall Score
Third Highest Overall Score
Create a protoytpe app or software project that redefines, improves, and possibly automates the Cue Sheet process using at least one of the APIs or SDKs provided. Projects must be ready to present to the panel of Judges on Feb. 20 at the end of the event.
More specific challenges will be announced mid-November 2021.
Amin Bhatia
Award Winning Composer-Synthesist/ Amin Bhatia
These are the Official Rules and Regulations (the “Official Rules” or “Agreement”) that govern how the Cue Sheet Palooza (SCGC-SOCAN) Hackathon operates (the "Hackathon"). In these rules, "we," "our," "us," and “Hosts” refer to the Screen Composers Guild of Canada (“SCGC”) and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (“SOCAN”) . “You,” “Yourself,” and “Participant” refer to an eligible participant.
OVERVIEW
The Hackathon will take place in Toronto on February 19-20, 2022. The Hackathon is designed to create new tech innovations around cue sheets and payment processes for composers, artists, and the industry. Please note that this is a skills-based competition, and chance plays no part in the determination of the finalists and Prizewinner(s) (defined below). By participating, you (and your parent/legal guardian if you are a minor) agree to these Official Rules.
You must be 16 years or older (with express permission from a parent or legal guardian, if applicable) to enter the Hackathon. The Hackathon is open to all Canadian residents, including Quebec, and any applicants from outside of Canada. This Hackathon is void where prohibited by law. No purchase is necessary, and a purchase or payment of any kind will not increase your chances of winning.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
To participate, visit https://cuesheetpalooza.com and submit a Hackathon application by January 28, 2022 at 11:59pm EST.
Participants will be selected to participate in the Hackathon based on the completeness of their application and the potential to impact the Music and Entertainment industries.
Selected Participants will be notified of their selection by February 4, 2022.
If you are a minor and are selected to participate, you must get written permission from your parent/legal guardian before you can participate in the Hackathon.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO WIN?
You must complete an application by January 28, 2022 at 11:59pm EST to participate in the Hackathon (some exceptions may apply at our sole discretion). You must be selected as a Participant. Once you are selected as a Participant of the Hackathon, you will be required to submit a project (“Project”) in compliance with the rules set forth herein (“Project Requirements”). At least one member of your team must be onsite in Toronto at the event for the duration of the Hackathon. Any member of your team that is participating in person must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination to representatives of the Hosts upon request. Should COVID-19 restrictions in Toronto prohibit in-person events, the Hackathon will instead be held virtually and the Hosts will provide notice to Participants of this transition.
Project Requirements
You must write fresh, new code and put the code in a repository that our judges can review.
You must use at least one of the APIs provided by us for the Hackathon.
Your Project must be your own original work created for this Hackathon, except for any materials made available by us for the Hackathon.
Your Project cannot have been selected as a winner in another hackathon or competition.
We, in our sole discretion, reserve the right to disqualify any Project containing racial, religious, or ethnic slurs; explicit language, obscene, defamatory, pornographic, violent or sexual content; libel or hate speech; references to alcohol, drugs or other illicit substances, or otherwise objectionable, offensive, illegal, inappropriate or prohibited material.
By entering, you represent and warrant that:
Your Project includes only material that you own or that you have permission from the copyright/patent/trademark owner to use (including source code, user interface, music, video or images)
Your Project does not contain any third party copyrighted materials, and otherwise does not violate or infringe the rights, including, without limitation, copyrights, trademark rights or rights of publicity/privacy, of any third party.
Projects that do not fully comply with the Official Rules (as determined by the Hosts in their sole and absolute discretion) are ineligible. As well, the Hosts, their agents, employees, officers, directors, affiliates, vendors, contractors, resellers and advertising agencies and their respective agents, employees, officers, directors, and their immediate families and those with whom they reside (whether related or not), are ineligible as Participants. For the purpose of these Official Rules, immediate family is defined as spouse, common-law partner, mother, father, legal guardian, in-laws, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, children and grandchildren.
WHAT ARE THE HACKATHON DATES?
The Hackathon will begin on February 26, 2022 at or around 10:00am EST and end on Feb. 27, 2022 at or around 2:00pm EST (the “Hackathon Period” subject to change) and consists of the following phases:
PHASE 1 (February 26, 2022): Hackathon Participants create their Projects.
PHASE 2 (February 27, 2022): Hackathon Participants finalize and test Projects, present and demonstrate their Projects to the judges.
PHASE 3 (February 27, 2022): At the close of the Hackathon Period, judges review and score Projects, and then select finalists.
HOW ARE WINNERS SELECTED?
Judges will select finalists and Prizewinner(s) with the highest scoring Projects based on the judges’ opinions on the following factors:
Impact to Industry: 25%
Innovativeness: 25%
User Experience: 25%
Technical Excellence: 25%
Each factor above will be ranked by the judges on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being the lowest score and 10 being the highest score.
WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?
There will be three (3) cash prizes awarded to the three Participants with the highest scoring Projects, as selected by the judges (“Prizewinner(s)”).
First place: $3,000 CAD
Second place: $2,000 CAD
Third place: $1,000 CAD
(collectively, the “Prizes”)
In the event two or more Participants receive the same score for their Project the judges will vote to determine the ranking of each tied Project for the purpose of determining the order of the Prizewinner(s). The odds of winning a Prize depends on the number of eligible Participants participating in the Hackathon.
There will be no substitutions to the Prizes allowed unless expressly authorized by the Hosts. Other prizes provided by the Hosts may be announced prior to the Hackathon, subject to availability and approval.
The Prizewinner(s) will be announced at the conclusion of the Hackathon Period.
The Prizewinner(s) must agree to execute any further contracts or releases provided by the Hosts in order to receive the Prize(s) (collectively, “Processing”). This Processing may include tax withholdings. A Participant is not the Prizewinner and will not receive any Prizes until the Hosts have verified Participant’s eligibility.
If you are an international winner, please note your check may be subject to different taxes due to your country's Tax Treaty(s) with Canada. More information on Canadian taxes that may be applicable to you is available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/international-non-residents-tax.html.
WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS AM I AGREEING TO BY PARTICIPATING?
By participating in this Hackathon, you (and your parent/legal guardian if you are a minor) acknowledge and agree to abide by the Official Rules:
To release and hold harmless SOCAN and the SCGC and its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees and agents from any and all liability for any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Hackathon or any prize won
That SOCAN and the SCGC decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Hackathon, and such decisions cannot be challenged or appealed
That you will not have any ownership rights in the APIs that are made available to you, but you will own all other rights in the Projects you create
That you grant SOCAN and the SCGC a non-exclusive license to present, exhibit, display, or otherwise use your Project for their own promotional or publicity purposes without additional notice or compensation
That you will abide by the Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct (available here: https://readthecode.ca/code-of-conduct/) in this Hackathon
That you will be responsible for your own federal, provincial, and local (or international, if applicable) tax obligations for any Prizes you may win, and your participation shall be subject to all applicable federal, provincial, and local laws and regulations
That, by entering the Hackathon, we may use your proper name, likeness, and province, country, region of residence and any photos or videos captured of you at the event or at the awards ceremony for promotional or other purposes, during or after the Hackathon, online and in print, or in any other media, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law
That, by entering the Hackathon, SOCAN and the SCGC may collect, use, and disclose personal information about you (for example: name, address, telephone number, e-mail address) for the purpose of administering the Hackathon, including for contacting and identifying you, and that you expressly consent to this collection, use and disclosure by the Hosts
To not use or display any trademarks or logos owned by SOCAN and the SCGC without our prior written permission
That we reserve the right to modify these Official Rules at our sole discretion
In the event these Official Rules are translated, the English version of the Official Rules shall be the original version and shall govern in the event of any conflict between the English version and a translated version of the Official Rules
THERE IS NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. That SOCAN and the SCGC, ITS PARTNERS AND THEIR SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATED COMPANIES AND ALL OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AGENTS (COLLECTIVELY, THE "RELEASED PARTIES") EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND (WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE), INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL RELEASED PARTIES BE HELD RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR THEIR OR PARTICIPANT’S USE OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED AND/OR MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HACKATHON OR FOR ERRORS OR ANOMALIES RESULTING IN THE UNINTENDED OR ERRONEOUS PARTICIPATION, AWARD OF HACKATHON PRIZES OR OTHER BENEFITS UNDER THE HACKATHON TO PARTICIPANTS. RELEASED PARTIES OFFER NO ASSURANCES, GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS THAT THE HACKATHON WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE AND DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE HACKATHON. RELEASED PARTIES ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY COMPUTER RELATED DAMAGES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGE OR LOSS DUE TO DOWNLOADING THE HACKATHON MATERIALS. RELEASED PARTIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE, AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE, FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND RELATED TO A PARTICIPANT’S PARTICIPATION OR INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HACKATHON, WHETHER THE DAMAGES ARE DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL. FURTHER, BY PARTICIPATING IN THE HACKATHON AND/OR ACCEPTING A PRIZE, YOU AGREE THAT RELEASED PARTIES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR, AND WILL BE HELD HARMLESS BY YOU AGAINST, ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE, INJURY OR LOSS TO PERSON (INCLUDING DEATH) OR PROPERTY DUE IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF PRIZE, PARTICIPATION IN ANY HACKATHON RELATED ACTIVITIES, RELEASED PARTIES’ USE OF ANY ENTRY OR PARTICIPATION IN THIS HACKATHON.
WHAT LAWS GOVERN THE WAY THIS HACKATHON IS EXECUTED AND ADMINISTERED?
This Hackathon will be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the provincial and federal courts in Toronto, Ontario, with respect to any legal proceeding or for any disputes arising out of this Hackathon without giving effect to any conflict of laws principles or provisions and without assertion of forum non conveniens.
WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE HACKATHON CAN'T RUN AS IT WAS PLANNED?
If someone cheats, or a virus, bug, bot, catastrophic event, or any other unforeseen or unexpected event that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled (also referred to as “force majeure”) affects the fairness and/or integrity of this Hackathon, we reserve the right to cancel, change, or suspend this Hackathon. This right is reserved whether the event is due to human or technical error. If a solution cannot be found to restore the integrity of the Hackathon, we reserve the right to: (i) terminate the Hackathon without awarding any of the Prizes; (ii) select finalists and Prizewinner(s) from among all eligible entries received before we had to cancel, change or suspend the Hackathon; or (iii) take such other action as deemed fair and appropriate by the Hosts.
If you or your team attempts to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Hackathon, or if we have reason to believe that you or your team have compromised the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Hackathon by cheating, hacking, creating a bot or other automated program, or by committing fraud in any way, we may seek damages from you to the fullest extent permitted by law. Further, we may disqualify you, and ban you from participating in any of our future Hackathons, so please play fairly.
A full list of all finalists and Prizewinner(s) will be published on SOCAN and SCGC’s websites after the conclusion of the Hackathon Period on February 20, 2022 but no later than March 11, 2022 at 5:00pm EST.
