The Countdown provides competitive framework to promote new music releases (tracks/songs or track-like compositions) from all over the World in a fun & friendly atmosphere. The game's unique approach, where everyone represents their own country makes participation in The Countdown an exciting experience and the quickest pathway to discover some of the best & hottest music that international scene has to offer!
1. The Countdown's goal is to feature and promote recent music hits and new releases from various countries and that on a monthly basis. An entry must be maximum 5 months old (single, album, compilation or digital download, latest release of either of these four counts). Original compositions are allowed. Covers are allowed. Instrumentals are allowed. Foreign artists are only allowed as "featuring" performers. All independent and recognized countries are allowed on an equal basis. The most recent releases are encouraged to be entered as are the songs on official singles' charts. The Countdown's goal is also providing an interesting and competitive environment where as many songs as possible are are of high quality and represent the full range of music genres. Another goal is also providing environment that is friendly and non-discriminatory as The Countdown is more than a game, it is also the music community in itself.
2. Seniority counts in the Countdown. You are free to invite other players to join yourself and create a national jury, but you can stay on your own as well. The Countdown offers you total flexibility and control. If you invite other people to your jury, you are free to apply your own own internal voting schemes, however voting or any other activity in a jury must be based on a fair and equal input amongst the jury members,. Keep that in mind if you wish to invite and/or accept other members into your national jury. If you do not vote in a given month, another person from your country that has listened to the songs may be designated to replace you and deliver official votes for your country.
3. You vote for your top 10 favorites every month. ( 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points: the highest to the lowest).
4. Rules might be object to change, if voted by a majority of members designated to be eligible to vote.
5. Songs directly qualified to or taking part in external competitions to select entries in European competitions: ESC and JESC are not eligible to take part in The Countdown.
6. Non-voting countries are penalized by subtracting 12 points from their overall vote. Non-voting members for the first time may be dismissed right away if replacement or possible replacement is ready to take over. if not; members that failed to vote that first time must obtain the majority approval among current managers to come back to the competition. Non-voting members for the second time will be permanently dismissed from The Countdown.
7. Members have the responsibility to enter songs that were released ( or re-released ) at the maximum 5 months ago. Any song that is too old song may be dismissed from a competition in a short period after its beginning. All members will be advised if such situation occurs. Members have the responsibility to anonymously advise the administrator if they believe other songs are too old or not eligible to compete. Members might be dismissed from The Countdown if they have entered songs that were not eligible on a multiple basis. Members may also be dismissed for cheating or any other dishonest activity. People with bad reputation and issues will not be allowed to participate in the contest and/or will be banned.
8. The final results on The Countdown are determined by:
a: The highest number of points
b: The highest number of voting juries
c: The highest number of the highest to the lowest scores ( 12 to 1 ).
9. Members are free to take time off The Countdown's participation without losing their right to participate in the future, they must advise the administrator of such situation as well as of the time period. The administrator might appoint a temporary replacement for a given country but such replacement will not take over the seniority of a regular member.
10. A minimum of 14 countries is necessary to start The Countdown on a monthly basis. If such number will not be met, The Countdown will be canceled that month. Your participation is extremely important and integral part of The Countdown.
11. The maximum of countries allowed to participate in The Countdown is 43 on a monthly basis. The Active Participation Comprehensive Package is the groundwork that the game uses to determine who is allowed to participate in such case. If the number of songs submitted is higher than 43, managers with the lowest results that have not been relegated within the last six months are then relegated. They are asked to confirm their participation in the following edition and are guaranteed the spot in it. No manager can be relegated twice or more every six months.
12. If non-participants wish to vote; in certain cases our competition offers the possibility to do just that in the "Rest of the World" jury. In order to encourage non-participants to enter the competition on an active basis the "Rest of the World" jury is a score that combines all non participants' votes into a single score. In order to keep fair and balanced approach, only citizens of non-participating countries can vote in the Rest of the World jury. In case if any non participant from a country that is already represented wishes to vote, it is up to you as a manager for your country to decide whether you wish to include their votes. Any non-participant even if currently not eligible to vote under the above mentioned circumstances is still welcome to express their thoughts on participating songs.
