OFFICIAL RULES
2026 MUSIC CITY MAYHEM CONTEST
UPDATED: January 21, 2026 @ 10:26 AM CT
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER, VOTE, OR WIN.
THIS PROMOTION IS OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND IS GOVERNED BY U.S. LAW. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
1. SPONSOR / ADMINISTRATOR
The 2026 Music City Mayhem Contest (the “Promotion”) is sponsored and administered by Tuned In Broadcasting, Inc. d/b/a Lightning 100, 1310 Clinton Street, Suite 215, Nashville, TN 37203 (“Sponsor”).
2. VOTER ELIGIBILITY
Voting is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of voting.
A valid U.S. mobile phone number is required to vote. Votes must be verified by a one-time validation code sent via SMS text message. Standard message and data rates may apply.
Limit one (1) vote per verified person/email address/mobile phone number per matchup per round. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any vote(s) associated with fraud, automation, bots, scripts, macros, VoIP numbers, international phone numbers, or any other unauthorized voting method.
Employees, officers, directors, agents, and representatives of Sponsor and its affiliated companies, advertising and promotion agencies, and members of their immediate families or households may vote but are not eligible to win prizes unless expressly stated otherwise.
By voting, voters agree to be bound by these Official Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding.
3. BAND ELIGIBILITY / ENTRY ELIGIBILITY
Entry into the Promotion is open only to individuals and/or bands (“Entrants”) who, at the time of entry:
- Are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia
- Are thirteen (13) years of age or older
- Reside within seventy-five (75) miles of Nashville, Tennessee 37203
For group entries, at least fifty percent (50%) of performing members must maintain a primary residence within the required geographic radius during the Promotion Period.
Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility at any time and may require proof of age, identity, and/or residency. Failure to provide requested documentation may result in disqualification.
If an Entrant is under the age of majority in their state of residence, a parent or legal guardian must execute all required releases and prize documents.
Limit one (1) entry per person and/or email address for the entire Promotion Period. Any attempt to submit multiple entries using different identities or accounts may result in disqualification.
4. SUBMISSION PERIOD
The Promotion begins at 6:00:00 AM Central Time on January 26, 2026 and ends at 11:59:59 PM Central Time on February 22, 2026 (“Submission Period”). Sponsor’s computer is the official timekeeping device.
5. HOW BANDS CAN ENTER
During the Submission Period, visit www.lightning100.com/musiccitymayhem (“Website”) and complete the official entry process. Entrants must create or log into a Contest account, provide required information, submit their entry materials, and agree to these Official Rules.
6. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & RIGHTS GRANTED
Entries must be original works and must not infringe upon any third-party rights. Entrants must own or have secured all rights necessary to submit the Entry and grant the rights described herein.
By submitting an Entry, Entrant grants Sponsor and its designees an unlimited, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, sublicensable license to publish, broadcast, publicly perform, reproduce, distribute, edit (including radio edits), adapt, and otherwise use the Entry in any and all media now known or hereafter developed, without compensation.
Entries may not be obscene, defamatory, hateful, unlawful, or otherwise inconsistent with Sponsor’s brand values. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entry at its sole discretion.
Any individual appearing in an Entry must have executed a valid release. Sponsor may require copies of such releases prior to awarding any prize.
7. SPONSOR COMMUNICATIONS
By entering or voting, participants may receive transactional communications related to Promotion administration. By providing a phone number or email address, participants grant Sponsor and Promotion sponsors the right to send promotional communications, subject to applicable law.
To opt out of SMS communications, reply STOP. Standard message and data rates may apply.
8. DMCA COMPLIANCE
Tuned In Broadcasting, Inc. complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. §512). Proper DMCA notices must include all required statutory elements. Misrepresentations may result in liability under applicable law.
9. PUBLIC VOTING / JUDGING / WINNER DETERMINATION
Sponsor will select thirty-two (32) finalists at its sole discretion. Finalists will compete in a bracket-style public voting tournament conducted via the Website.
Each matchup will be open for one (1) day. The entry receiving the highest verified vote total advances.
Tie Breaker: Ties will be resolved by votes from five (5) Lightning 100 employees.
A wild card finalist will be selected based on the highest cumulative vote total among remaining bands.
Live Showcase & Final Scoring
The final four (4) finalists plus one (1) wild card will perform live at Third & Lindsley in Nashville, TN on April 23, 2026.
Final scoring formula:
- 50% – Judges’ scores (finale)
- 30% – On-site fan votes (finale)
- 10% – Online votes (finale)
- 10% – Cumulative votes from prior rounds
Sponsor’s decisions are final. Sponsor reserves the right to make changes to the scoring formula with notice posted on the Website.
10. FINALIST ELIGIBILITY / LIVE SHOWCASE REQUIREMENTS
Finalists must be available to perform live on April 23, 2026. All travel, lodging, and incidental expenses are the responsibility of the Finalist unless otherwise stated.
Finalists must meet all technical, safety, and performance requirements. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Finalist unable to perform as required.
Finalists must complete all required eligibility, liability, publicity, and tax documents (including IRS Form W-9) prior to prize fulfillment.
11. PAID PROMOTION RESTRICTIONS
Contestants are prohibited from purchasing paid promotional opportunities on Lightning 100 platforms during the Promotion Period. Paid promotion may resume upon elimination or conclusion of the Promotion.
12. GENERAL CONDITIONS
Participants release and hold harmless Sponsor and Promotion Parties from any liability arising from participation or prize acceptance. No class actions permitted. Damages limited to out-of-pocket expenses.
13. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
Sponsor is not responsible for technical failures, lost entries, voting disruptions, or unauthorized interference. Sponsor may cancel, suspend, or modify the Promotion if integrity is compromised.
14. GOVERNING LAW
The Promotion is governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee. Venue shall lie exclusively in Nashville, Tennessee.
15. WINNERS LIST
The Winners List will be available at www.lightning100.com beginning April 25, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
16. PRIZING
Grand Prize:
- One (1) month heavy rotation airplay on Lightning 100 (100.1 FM)
- Advertising package valued at $3,200
- Live performance with broadcast at Third & Lindsley
- Two-day studio recording session with engineer at SAE Institute
- $300 Gruhn Guitars gift certificate
- $1,000 Stringjoy credit
Runner-Up:
- $200 Gruhn Guitars gift certificate
Additional prizes may be awarded. Prizes are non-transferable. Taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner.
17. SPONSOR’S RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
Sponsor reserves the right to modify these Official Rules at any time. Continued participation constitutes acceptance of any such changes.
