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NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. ENTRY IN THIS PROMOTION CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES.

These terms and conditions (“Rules”) relate to the MIDI Innovation Awards 2024 (“Competition”).  You may not participate in the Competition and are not eligible to receive the prize described in these Rules unless You agree to these Rules. Please read these Rules prior to entry to ensure You understand and agree. You agree that Your participation in the Competition constitutes agreement to these Rules.

Promoter: 

The MIDI Association, whose address is 26895 Aliso Creek Rd. #B-921, Aliso Viejo, Ca.92656

Founding Partners: Music Hackspace, NAMM, The MIDI Association

Eligibility: The MIDI Innovation Awards are open to individuals worldwide who are at least 18 years of age as of the time of entry, and corporations established worldwide. We reserve the right to disqualify any entrant from the Competition if it is prohibited in the entrant’s jurisdiction.

Release Timing: The entries must have been released or received a major innovative update after March 1st, 2023 (date of the last MIDI Innovation Awards close of entry). 

Submissions of existing commercialized products are eligible, as are prototypes and designs. 

Content Restrictions:  The Submission must not contain:

Material that violates or infringes any rights of  any other party, including but not limited to copyright, trademark, privacy,  publicity or any other intellectual property rights or civil rights;  

The Submission must not in any way disparage the promoter  or any other person or party; 

The Submission must not contain material that is inappropriate, indecent,  obscene hateful, tortious, defamatory, slanderous or libelous; 

Categories:

The intent of the Categories is to make the competition fair by distinguishing products made by established companies or teams (Category A) from early-stage products, prototypes, or non-commercial products made by startups, inventors, and artists (Category B).

We welcome entries from, but are not limited to: MIDI instruments, controllers, software, art installations, MIDI peripherals, I/O boxes, lighting systems, automated systems, and more. Products and prototypes submitted must be able to connect to, or be controlled by, other MIDI devices or software.

Category A – Commercial Products

Commercial Products by established companies or teams.

Entrants can submit to compete in two subcategories (and enter multiple entries):

  • Hardware Products
  • Software Products

Category B – Prototypes and Non-Commercial Products

For independent developers, DIY, Open Source, or non-commercial products.

Entrants can compete in three subcategories (and enter multiple entries):

  • Hardware Products
  • Software Products
  • Artistic/Visual Project or Installation

Entrants whose products incorporate MIDI 2.0 features are encouraged to indicate this during the submission process by selecting the “MIDI 2.0 Product” option on the entry form. This designation will allow the judges to consider the product for a special recognition award for outstanding use of MIDI 2.0 technology.

The MIDI Innovation Awards reserves the right to reassign entrants to what we consider the correct category and/or subcategory at our sole discretion.

Selection Process:

How are the finalists selected?

To participate in the competition, simply fill out the entry submission form.

Category Finalist Selection

Three finalists from each category will be selected by a combination of 50% Public Voting on MIDI.org and 50% voting by a jury selected by the MIDI Association.

MIDI 2.0 Recognition Award

In addition to the category awards, a special recognition will be given to the best MIDI 2.0 product. Entrants who have flagged their products as incorporating MIDI 2.0 features will be considered for this award. The judges will evaluate these products based on their innovative use of MIDI 2.0 technology and select a recipient for the MIDI 2.0 Recognition Award.

Finalists Virtual Web Pitch Event

Finalists must be available to pitch their idea at the proposed time.

Shortlisted candidates must have internet connection and be available for the recording of the awards event.

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to pre-film a video to be shown during the virtual pitch event and will be contacted ahead of time if applicable.

Shortlisted candidates agree to:

  • Follow the Berlin Code of Conduct when participating in the live-streamed event.
  • Acknowledge that the event will be recorded and published.
  • Give permission for the MIDI Innovation Awards to publish their pitch idea on social media.

Marketing:

All entrants give permission for their material(s) submitted to be used in marketing materials to advertise and promote the MIDI Innovation Awards and/or The MIDI Association.

Finalists will need to prepare a 2-3 minute pitch of their idea which will be livestreamed on YouTube, Facebook, and Believe in Music TV.

Jury Voting Criteria:

During the event, a jury of independent members will score entries on a scale of 1-10 in the following categories:

  • Innovation
  • Inspiring / surprising
  • Interoperability
  • Practical / commercial viability

The promoter’s decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to these awards, including, but not limited to, interpretation and application of these Official Rules. By entering the awards, entrants fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the judges, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the awards.

MIDI Innovation Awards Timeline:

The timeline is available at https://midi.org/innovation-awards and can be modified.

Prizes:

Commercial Participants:

Recognized as winner of most innovative MIDI products.

Non-Commercial and Prototypes:

Hardware prize & software prize – vary each year and are announced on https://midi.org/innovation-awards.

Prizes by NAMM:

  • Be at the 2026 NAMM Show.
  • Share a booth size 5′ x 10′ with other winners at the 2026 NAMM Show.

Prizes by MIDI Association:

  • Lifetime sysex ID.
  • Can apply for the use of the MIDI 2.0 logo.
  • Amenote MIDI 2.0 development board.
  • Access to the MIDI Association GitHub.

Artistic installation prize will be announced at https://midi.org/innovation-awards.

Prize information is correct at the time of publishing.

All prizes are non-exchangeable and no cash alternative is available.

Ownership of Entry Submitted:

By entering, each entrant warrants and represents the following with respect to their Submission:

  • The entrant is the sole and exclusive owner of the Submission or has the permission to enter on behalf of the owner.

  • The Submission will not infringe on any rights (including, without limitation, any intellectual property rights) of any third parties.

  • Any third parties appearing in the Submission have given entrant appropriate consent to be used as permitted herein.

  • All information the entrant provided herein is true and accurate.

We reserve the right to request third-party releases/authorizations from any third party included in any Submission at any time, without any payment or consideration to be paid by Promoter. Failure to produce fully executed third-party releases/authorizations (if applicable) may result in disqualification of the Submission and from the Awards, in Promoter’s sole and absolute discretion.

Governing Law:

These Rules are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with the Competition shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located within California.

Use of Data:

The Promoter will be collecting personal data about entrants online, in accordance with its privacy policy. Please review the Promoter’s privacy policy at the MIDI Association Privacy Policy.

By participating in these Awards, entrants hereby agree to the Promoter’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted the NAMM privacy policy.

List of Winners:

To obtain a list of winners, please visit midi.org/awards or send an email to MusicInnovationAwards@MIDI.org.

If we are unable to reach a winner or if a winner does not collect the prize within 1 month of the announcement, then we reserve the right not to award that prize or to award that prize to a runner-up.

We reserve the right to update these terms and conditions, and any changes will be published on www.midi.org.

By participating in the MIDI Innovation Awards, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Rules.