Offical Contest Rules

The Ultimate Shredder Contest

Submissions are now open for the Ultimate Shredder Contest, showcasing the region’s most talented guitarists. Guitarists throughout New England are invited to submit a performance audition video for the opportunity to compete LIVE before celebrity judges at Lansdowne Pub in Boston, MA, on February 26, 2026 (the “Event”).

OFFICIAL RULES.

ELIGIBILITY:
All entrants (separately and collectively, “Participant(s)”) must be legal residents of the United States, living or working in a New England state (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT), aged 18 or older, or with Parent or Legal Guardian permission if under age 18. Employees of Music Drives Us, any company owned or operated by its founder Ernie Boch, Jr. (“related entity”), any media station on which Music Drives Us or a related entity advertises, promotion sponsors, or any advertising or promotional agency that does business with Music Drives Us or a related entity are not eligible to participate in this contest; this ineligibility also applies to members of the employee’s household or immediate family, including spouse, siblings, parents and legal guardians, children and legal wards, grandparents, and grandchildren, including "in-laws" and “steps”. One database registration per person; multiple entries will disqualify the Participant. Void where prohibited. NO PURCHASE REQUIRED.

AUDITION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Entries will be accepted through Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 11:59pm ET (the “Deadline”). To enter, a Participant must submit their Entry at MusicDrivesUs.org/the-ultimate-shredder-contest; the Entry must include a completed entry form, including all required personal and contact information and confirming their availability to perform at the Event if selected, and one (1) original performance audition video.

The performance audition video must be a recording of the Participant performing an original solo or improvisation, up to three (3) minutes (180 seconds) in length, with no edits, cuts, or overdubs. Video must clearly show the Participant’s hands, face, and full performance. Backing tracks are not permitted, except when used in the Participant’s headphones as a guide. Videos should be uploaded as unlisted to YouTube and submitted via the online entry form on the Website. Shredder submissions must be submitted by the Deadline to be considered for the contest.

Performance audition videos must not be defamatory or portray another in a false light, pornography, sexually explicit content, images of child abuse or animal abuse, or other objectionable content, or material that is contrary to applicable local, national, and international laws and regulations.

AUDITION SELECTION & NOTIFICATION:
Music Drives Us will review the timely submitted complete entries and will select the Participants who will be invited to perform at the Event, in its sole discretion after the entry submission period ends. The selected Participants will be contacted by phone and/or e-mail by Tuesday, February 3, 2026, and invited to perform live at Lansdowne Pub on February 26, 2026. Participants must confirm their commitment to perform at the Event by Tuesday, February 10, 2026 or forfeit their position.

EVENT PERFORMANCE RULES:
On Thursday, February 26, 2026, the selected Participants will perform the solo or improvisation, contained in their performance audition video, live at Lansdowne Pub at 9 Lansdowne Street, Boston, MA. Participants must bring their own guitar, but the amp/backline can be provided. No MIDI guitars, backing loopers, or multitrack devices (unless prior approval received from Music Drives Us, in its sole discretion). Wireless systems may be allowed, but must be tested in advance by Music Drives Us or the venue. Music Drives Us reserves the right to disqualify any Participant for rule violations or inappropriate behavior. Rule violations include: plagiarizing other solos or works; exceeding the time limit; and playing auto-tuned guitars or looped pre-recorded leads. Guests and Participants under the age of 18 must have a Parent or Legal Guardian present at the event and must wear a wristband provided by venue security.

EVENT JUDGING CRITERIA:
A panel of celebrity judges, selected by Music Drives Us, will judge each Participant performing at the Event based on speed, accuracy, technique, originality, and stage presence. One Winning Participant will be determined by the judging panel. All decisions by the judges are final.

PRIZES & COMPENSATION:
One (1) prize will be awarded to one (1) winner:

$10,000.00 USD, issued via check.

No additional monetary compensation will be provided to Participants. Winning Participant may not request prize substitution. The prize is non-transferable and may not be claimed or used by any person other than the Winning Participant. Winning Participant must claim the prize in person at the location determined by Music Drives Us within thirty (30) days after the end of the contest with legal identification. If the Winning Participant is under 18 years old, the Prize will be awarded to a Parent or Legal Guardian. If the Prize is not claimed within the 30 days period, it will be forfeited, and another winner selected by Music Drives Us in its sole discretion.

TAXES:
As required by applicable law, Music Drives Us will report the total value of the Prize to the IRS and will furnish winners with a federal Form 1099. The Winning Participant must provide their social security number to Music Drives Us for tax reporting purposes, and is solely responsible for payment of all taxes incurred as a result of the award of the Prize.

LICENSING:
Entry into this contest constitutes full permission for Music Drives Us, related entities, promotion sponsors and their respective affiliates to broadcast and/or to photograph or publish and post on the Music Drives Us, an affiliate entity’s, or a media partner's website the Participant’s name, voice, submitted recording, recorded comments, biographical information, face, and likeness without compensation. By entering, Participants certify that they have all rights necessary to provide a recording of the submitted song for posting online, review and possible selection by Music Drives Us, possible performance at the Event, and possible publication as described above. Each submitted audio/video entry must be the original work of the Participant and must not contain third-party copyrighted materials or any other materials that may be restricted, prohibited, or outlawed by federal, state, or local laws. If any song is deemed to be the property of a third party or if the entry is otherwise determined to infringe on any third party's rights or violate any law, the song recording and the Participant will be disqualified. Music Drives Us also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any entry if it contains indecent or otherwise offensive material. By participating in this contest, Participants agree that submitted entries, performances at the Event, or any portion of either of the foregoing, may be disclosed on radio or television, posted on Music Drives Us website (MusicDrivesUs.org), YouTube, and used in any other media at Music Drives Us’ sole discretion.

DISCLAIMER:
Music Drives Us undertakes no liability or responsibility, and makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the performance of the prize(s) awarded, for any failure to perform or negligent performance of any service provider, or for any other risk, incident or damage, direct or indirect, relating to or arising out of the contest, including (but not limited to) cancellations, postponements, delays or other scheduling changes; missed events or connections or inability of winner to attend; and accident, injury, death, damage or expense arising from or occurring during the use of the prize, or travel to/from or attendance at any event relating to the contest, by the winner and/or winner's guest(s). Music Drives Us is not responsible for damage to a prize or loss of a prize after the prize has been claimed. Music Drives Us is not responsible for technical, hardware or software failure or malfunctions, lost or unavailable network or other telecommunications connections, or lost, late, misdirected, damaged, illegible, inaccurate, incomplete, garbled, disconnected, or delayed contest entries or communications, whether caused by the sender or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or used in this contest, or by any human error which may occur in the execution of this contest. If, for any reason, the contest is not capable of being conducted as planned, including but not limited to infection by computer virus, bug, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or other causes beyond the control of Music Drives Us, Music Drives Us reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the contest and/or determine an alternate method of awarding the prize(s).

GENERAL:
Failure to conform to all contest rules, or any fraud or other illegal or inappropriate conduct on the part of a Participant or on a Participant’s behalf, will result in the Participant's disqualification and forfeiture of any prize won. Music Drives Us reserves the right to rule ineligible Participants who, in Music Drives Us' sole judgment, engage in abusive conduct with respect to any contest or promotion conducted by Music Drives Us or its affiliates. Music Drives Us reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify this Contest and these Official Rules at any time, which changes will become effective upon announcement. By taking part in this contest, Participants agree to be bound by these rules and all decisions of Music Drives Us regarding these rules and all aspects of the contest, and of the judges, which decisions are final and binding. Copies of written contest rules and, where required by law, the winner's name, are available during regular business hours at Music Drives Us (111 Morse St., Norwood, MA 02062) for sixty (60) days after the contest concludes.

As a condition to participating in this Contest, each Participant agrees that any and all disputes that cannot be resolved between the parties, and all causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Contest, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, exclusively before a court located in Boston or Dedham, MA, having competent jurisdiction, which court shall apply the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof. The Participants hereby waive any and all right to trial by jury. If any provision of these Official Rules is declared or found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, then such provision will be null and void but each other provision hereof not so affected will be enforced to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

All applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.