MOBO UnSung is back and bigger than ever with exciting opportunities for unsigned emerging artists.

MOBO UnSung is open to singers, songwriters, producers, groups/live bands, rappers and poets who write/compose their own material.

Artists who perform within the musical genres of Hip Hop, Grime, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Reggae/Dancehall, African music, Alternative (Rock or indie pop), Electronic/Dance or Gospel (as well as Spoken Word) are eligible.

The competition is open only to musicians, bands, producers and performers based in the UK and Ireland who have not signed a contract to a record company, or any contract with any third party record label (or any similar arrangement which entitles a third party to your exclusive recording services) at the point of entering the competition. 

You must be a resident of the UK or Ireland to apply for MOBO UnSung. 

If you're based outside the UK and wish to have your music supported by MOBO, you can of course send a link to your music to our editorial team. You should find the relevant contact details on our 'Contact Us' page.

Yes, applicants must be aged 16 or older at time of application. 

MOBO UnSung - Terms and Conditions

Thank you for your interest in MOBO UnSung organised by MOBO Organisation Ltd. 

Please note the following important information and terms and conditions: 

1. The competition is open only to musicians, bands, producers and performers based in the UK and Ireland who have not signed a contract to a record company, or any contract with any third party record label (or any similar arrangement which entitles a third party to your exclusive recording services) at the point of entering the competition and you must notify us promptly if you enter into any such arrangements with any third parties during or prior to the expiry of the MOBO UnSung Competition. This restriction would not include self released material whether in the physical format or as a digital release. Self-released means recordings entirely financed by the musicians or performers with no financial assistance from any commercial organisation or relationship or an agreement with a record label or other investor but always expecting any distribution deal you might have entered into (including iTunes and/or a digital aggregator). In the event of any query or disagreement on what constitutes a valid entry, MOBO Organisation’s decision is final. You may only enter ONCE under one name (either as a solo artist or as part of a group) via the UnSung application form or TikTok Wildcard(s). Multiple entries will be disqualified (at our sole discretion).

2. This competition is open to musicians and performers who produce or create music within the following genres: 

• Hip Hop/Rap

• R&B/Soul 

• Alternative (Rock/Indie Pop) 

• Gospel 

• Grime 

• Jazz

• Reggae/Dancehall  

• African music  

• Dance/Electronic

• Spoken Word 

3. Applications will be accepted online only from 9am (09.00) on the 19 April until 23:59 pm (11.59) GMT on the 5th May 2023 at https://mobo.com/unsung 

You will need to submit: 

• A link to two original sound recordings by you – this must be a URL link on a music streaming platform e.g. Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud etc.

• A direct link to a video of a music video or live performance on YouTube. It need not be a public link (unlisted on YouTube).  

• Provide one high-resolution press photograph, and one biography (one side A4), both pre-cleared for all media uses. 

4. Regrettably we will not be able to enter into any correspondence with competition entrants. However we may contact each competition entrant to give them updates about the various stages of the competition. Please make sure your application is clear and complete. You cannot amend the application once it has been submitted, or submit additional songs, so please do not send additional links (or similar) to us. The acceptance of all entries is at the MOBO Organisation’s sole discretion.

TikTok - Wildcard Entry System 

The bulk of MOBO UnSung entrants make it through to the Top 10 as they're whittled down through the MOBO UnSung application form and live auditions. However, in an exciting new element for MOBO UnSung 2023, entrants can now apply via TikTok from April 21 to be in with the chance of being fast tracked to become a MOBO UnSung Top 10 finalist. 

To enter via TikTok, you must follow the instructions below:

• Your TikTok video submission must showcase you performing an original song or cover within the following genres: 

• Hip Hop/Rap

• R&B/Soul 

• Alternative (Rock/Indie Pop) 

• Gospel 

• Grime 

• Jazz

• Reggae/Dancehall 

• African music  

• Dance/Electronic

• Spoken Word 

• Set the privacy settings on your account to ‘public’, rather than ‘private’;

• In your video submission, please also tell us why you should be selected as a MOBO UnSung TikTok Wildcard! 

• Video submission should be no longer than 2 minutes long and the more creative you are the better!

• Include #MOBOUnSung2023 in caption 

• Tag @moboofficial & @soundon in the caption (https://www.tiktok.com/@moboofficial & https://www.tiktok.com/@soundon) 

Terms and Conditions: 

1. There are 3 MOBO UnSung Wildcard spaces available. Only those that apply via TikTok will be considered for a Wildcard spot. 

2. Your TikTok video must not contain any material which is in any way defamatory, obscene, unlawful, harmful, offensive or inappropriate or which infringes the rights of any third party.

3. Entries will be accepted online only from 9am (09.00) on April 21 until 11.59pm (23.59) GMT on the 9th May 2023. 

4. Entrants must be based in the UK and Ireland, aged 18 and older and not signed a contract to a record company, or any contract with any third party record label. 

5. Entrants can both apply via the traditional application form on mobo.com/unsung or via TikTok. You may only enter ONCE under one name (either as a solo artist or as part of a group) via the UnSung application form or TikTok Wildcard(s). Multiple entries will be disqualified (at our sole discretion).

6. You only need to submit one (1) video. It's possible that the MOBO UnSung team will reach out to you to verify your age and eligibility, as well as to ask questions about your video submission. 

7. Entrants must follow the TikTok Wildcard entry instructions and meet the eligibility requirements to be considered. 

8. The entry process, judging process and final decisions will follow this procedure:

- The MOBO UnSung team alongside a collective of music connoisseurs will listen to all the eligible entries via TikTok to narrow them down to a “Shortlist” of 5. 

-  From the shortlist of 5, the MOBO UnSung Judging Panel will narrow it down to the 3 Wildcard finalists. Successful entrants will be notified from the 15th May 2023 onwards. The decision of the MOBO UnSung team and the Final Judging Panel is final. 

To read the full terms and conditions for the 2023 MOBO UnSung TikTok Wildcard competition, please click here. 

5. The competition is free to enter. 

6. Entrants must write/compose their own music and maintain full ownership of it. 

7. By entering the competition you agree:

-  that any material submitted and any consequent live performance at the live auditions or at the MOBO UnSung showcase does not infringe the rights of any third parties and may be broadcast or streamed on the radio/television/internet without further consultation or renumeration.                                      

-  You will be available to perform at the MOBO UnSung live auditions on May 27.(Venue in London)

- You will be available for a MOBO UnSung Top 10 finalists talent media day on June 18 (Venue in London)

- You would be available to participate in activities featured in the ‘Class of 2023’ MOBO UnSung programme from July to September 2023 - full list of activities to be outlined. 

9. The entry process, judging process and final decisions will follow this procedure:

- The MOBO UnSung team alongside a collective of music connoisseurs will listen to all the entries from the application form to narrow them down to a “Longlist” of 15 who will be invited to the live auditions in London. Successful entrants will be notified from the 15th May 2023 onwards. 

- From the 15 entrants, the MOBO UnSung Judging Panel will narrow it down to the Top 7 finalists. The decision of our first stage judging team and the Final Judging Panel is final. 

10. All submissions must be the original work of the Finalist without restriction from any third party. 

11. The 10 finalists are expected to be available for any UnSung events, press or live performance opportunities in 2023/2024. 

12. The 10 finalists who are approached to take part in MOBO UnSung performance opportunities (excluding the MOBO UnSung showcase) must be 18+ - or must have parental consent to travel. 

13. The Top 10 MOBO UnSung finalists will be composed of 7 finalists selected via the UnSung application form and 3 TikTok Wildcards, who will formulate the MOBO UnSung Class of 2023. 

14. Please note that In the event you are a finalist, you may be required at MOBO UnSung’s option to  enter into an exclusive worldwide recording agreement with a commitment of up to one EP. Any entrants who are 16 years of age and under 18 will need to secure their parental/guardian’s approval. 

15. MOBO reserves the right to revise and amend these terms and conditions in its discretion without notice and will make available such revised terms and conditions. 

Applications will open on the 19th April at 9am GMT, via this website (www.mobo/unsung.com) and close on the 5th May at 23:59pm GMT. You will be required to fill out an online form and this will be an opportunity to tell us about yourself, your brand, as well as your music. 

Artists interested in applying need to have the following items available:

• High res press shot (x1200 or higher)
• YouTube, Spotify or other DSP URL links to your music  
• Artist Bio (minimum of 100 words)
• URL link to Twitter or Instagram social media profile where applicable

As per MOBO privacy guidelines, we will keep all your personal information confidential and generally only use the information provided within the MOBO Organisation.

**Information such as artist bios and social media links will be used to build your profile and may be shared on a public domain.

NEW ENTRY SYSTEM ANNOUNCED! 

As the digital partner of MOBO UnSung, TikTok will introduce an exciting new gateway for artists to enter this year’s competition via their app, and once the final ten UnSung Class of 2023 are selected, TikTok’s SoundOn will provide its specialist support to promote the ten finalists.

From April 21st at 09:00am, artists will be able to apply for MOBO UnSung via TikTok to be in with a chance of securing one of the three Wildcard spots among this year’s MOBO UnSung Top 10 finalists. The deadline to enter via TikTok is 9th May at 23:59pm GMT To review the entry requirements and instructions beforehand, please click here. 

In previous years, this stage of the UnSung competition would include a public vote to assist with narrowing the Top 20 down to 10 finalists, who would go on to meet and perform for our esteemed MOBO UnSung judging panel. 

However, after careful consideration and feedback from key members of the music industry as well as previous UnSung finalists, we have decided to replace the public voting stage of the competition with an exciting new element. 

With the wealth of incredible talent across a multitude of genres, as well as striving to make the process as fair as possible to all artists who make it to this stage in the competition, the public vote will make way for a review by independent, external music connoisseurs who will screen the selected entries to help the MOBO UnSung judging panel arrive at the final Top 10 finalists. 

With UnSung entrants enjoying different levels of support among fans, family and friends, as well as us also wanting to give each genre an equal opportunity, we feel that this new route is a welcome improvement.  

During this stage of the process, MOBO and the music connoisseurs will consider the following criteria when reviewing each applicant:

• Quality of music – authenticity, production, originality, presence
• Future potential within the UnSung programme
• Competition eligibility requirements 
• Live performance skills - stage presence & star quality 
• Quality of application – first impression upon review of artist bio and social media links

Once the top entrants have been whittled down and contacted, an esteemed judging panel made up of music industry experts will convene to review the Top 20 applicants to determine which 10 acts will become a Top 10 finalist and a member of the MOBO UnSung Class Of 2023.

The judging panel stage of the UnSung competition will take place at a London venue in May.

MOBO UnSung no longer has 1 competition winner but will have 10 finalists who will each receive prizes and enter into a year-long artist development programme. 

The 10 finalists of MOBO UnSung 2023 will be announced in June. 

The nationwide search for exceptional unsigned talent will culminate with ten finalists, known as the MOBO UnSung Class of 2023, who will then go on to enter a year-long artist development programme of industry and production workshops, performance and networking opportunities, A&R, mentorship and more facilitated by MOBO and its partners through the unique, industry leading UnSung talent development programme, giving each UnSung finalist the opportunity to make their mark with their music and talent. 

The Top 10 MOBO UnSung finalists will receive money-can’t-buy opportunities including one-on-one mentorship, group masterclasses and support with the release, promotion, strategy and distribution of their own music via TikTok’s SoundOn. 

As TikTok's all-in-one music distribution platform, SoundOn supports the development of artists, enabling them to grow their fanbases, harness their creative voice and share their music with a global audience. The finalists will also become part of SoundOn’s community of artists, with whom they can connect and share their experiences with other breakout artists. 

Marshall will continue its on-going support for UnSung artists via access to their world-class recording studio, backing from its Record Label and Live Agency with  performance and networking opportunities, as well as use of Marshall’s leading products. 

Other exciting activities and opportunities for the 10 finalists will include editorial support and coverage across Mixtape Madness, one of the country’s leading music discovery platforms within British Rap and surrounding sub-genres, accumulating over 1 million subscribers and 820 million views. Also, Abbey Road Studios will host a songwriting/production masterclass at its state of the art recording studios to further enhance the artist’s creative output. There will also be a MOBO UnSung bursary, granted by the MOBO Help Musicians Fund, which will help each finalist fund an aspect of development of their own choosing, as well as receiving live performance opportunities and on-air radio support across BBC Music Introducing nationwide networks, BBC Radio’s platform dedicated to discovering and supporting new music and emerging talent. 

Regrettably, we will not be able to enter into any correspondence with competition entrants. However we may contact each competition entrant to give them updates about the various stages of the competition. Please make sure your application is clear and complete. You cannot amend the application once it has been submitted, or submit additional songs, so please do not send additional links (or similar) to us. The acceptance of all entries is at the MOBO Organisation’s sole discretion.

If you wish to get in touch with the MOBO UnSung team, please contact unsung@mobo.com with your query clearly stated in the subject line. A member of the UnSung team will aim to get back to you within 48 hours. 

As always, you can refer to the MOBO UnSung FAQ page or Terms and Conditions for further details.

UnSung fans will be able to join the conversation by using #MOBOUnSung and following @moboofficial on TikTok and @MOBOawards across all other social channels. Fans can also follow the behind the scenes action on @soundon & @soundonglobal. Plus, in another first, the MOBO UnSung Live showcase will be streamed LIVE exclusively on TikTok - more details to follow in the coming weeks.

For congratulating MOBO Unsung finalists:

So many talented artists featured in this year’s @MOBOAwards #MOBOUnSung competition! To support emerging talent + to find out further info on the competition, head over to mobo.com/unsung.

And please make note of our MOBO UnSung URL link.

1. Mobo.com/unsung