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24 Hour Song Challenge Philly Anthems Edition

Write a song in 24 hours for a shot at our biggest prize yet.

Win $5,000, perform live at the XPoNential Music Festival and Philly Music Fest, and be featured on WXPN’s Philly Anthems album alongside Philadelphia artists including Christian McBride, Eric Bazilian, Devon Gilfillian, Eliza Hardy Jones, and Lady Alma.

You’ll also receive studio time at MilkBoy Recording Studio, a Russo Music gift card, songwriting workshops, and a premium WXPN Membership.

About Philly Anthems

Philly Anthems brings together 12 Philadelphia artists to create new music in celebration of America’s 250th.

How It Works

Get the prompt by email, write the song, then upload your performance video within 24 hours.

  1. Prompt drops at noon

    June 6 at noon, WXPN sends out the surprise prompt and the clock starts.

  2. Make the song in one day

    You have 24 hours to write your song and record a performance video.

  3. Upload and submit

    Post your video to YouTube and send in the link before the deadline.

Important Dates

  1. May 29
    Register for emails Sign up before midnight.
  2. June 6
    Prompt reveal The countdown begins at noon.
  3. June 7
    Video submissions Submit your entry by noon.
  4. June 15-19
    Public voting The public votes on 12 semifinalists.
  5. By July 14
    Winners announced Four finalists and one grand prize winner take home cash and prizes.

Register

Sign up here to get the prompt by email, plus reminders and challenge updates.

Meet The Judges
Mike Vasilikos

WXPN Midday and XPN New Music Show host, Mike Vasilikos has dedicated his career to connecting listeners with the heritage music they love and introducing them to new artists, all while supporting up-and-coming local musicians.

Jim McGuinn

Jim McGuinn is WXPN’s program director and has a lifetime of experience in radio and the music industry, both as a programmer and as a songwriter/performer himself.

Raina Douris

Raina Douris, an award-winning radio personality from Toronto, Ontario, is the host and writer of NPR’s daily nationally syndicated music interview and discovery program World Cafe.

Kristen Kurtis

WXPN Morning Show Host and Assistant Music Director, Kristen Kurtis is integral in curating the songs and artists heard on WXPN. With more than 15 years in radio, Kristen has a keen ear for the sound that resonates with fellow die-hard music fans.

Bruce Warren

WXPN’s former Assistant GM for Programming and current Executive Producer of World Cafe, Bruce Warren is not only “Chief of a lot of things” at XPN, he is the quintessential music lover and artist enthusiast who’s been advocating for musicians for decades.

Paige Walter

As WXPN’s Associate Digital Editor, Paige Walter covers the live music scene in Philly and beyond. You can find her photography and coverage on XPN.org and all of XPN’s social channels.

Sadie Gust

With her powerful, soulful vocals and songwriting chops beyond her years, Sadie Gust won the 2025 24 Hour Song Challenge with the song “Split,” which she performed with her band at the XPoNential Music Festival last fall.

John Faye

John Faye is a singer-songwriter who has had a prolific multi-decade career as the voice of the Caulfields, IKE, John & Brittany, and his solo work. John taught songwriting at Drexel University from 2005-2021, and has mentored thousands of aspiring musicians throughout his career.

FAQ
How do I submit my song?

On June 6 this page will be updated to have both the prompt and the form where you can submit your song.

Where do I have to live to be eligible?

You are required to have your primary residence in WXPN’s FM listening areas to be eligible. This includes all of WXPN’s frequencies including:

  • 88.5 FM Philadelphia/South Jersey/Wilmington
  • 91.9 FM North Jersey/Poconos
  • 88.7 FM Lancaster/York
  • 90.5 FM Worton/Baltimore
  • 99.7 FM Harrisburg

If you can hear us on your FM radio in your primary residence, then you are eligible.

Does the production quality of the audio and video get judged?

We will not judge the production quality of the audio and video. But providing us with the best audio and video you can helps to ensure we can focus on your songwriting.

What if I have a songwriting partner or I submit our song as a band?

You can submit as the sole songwriter, a group of songwriters or a band.

Can I submit more than one song?

You can only submit one song.

Are there any rules about age to submit?

All entrants including any performers on the song and appearing in the video must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the recording.

What if I’m signed to a record label or have artist management/agency representation? Can I still participate?

You cannot currently be signed to any record labels. However, if you self-release your own recordings then you are eligible. If you have management/agency representation but believe you still qualify as an independent artist, please contact us and we will determine your eligibility.

Do I have to include the word(s) in the contest’s prompt in my song?

There are no parameters as to how you choose to integrate the prompt into your song. It can be overt, subtle, metaphoric, direct, indirect, etc.

Can I use AI (artificial intelligence software) to help me with my songwriting?

The spirit of this contest is all about HUMAN songwriting. So please no use of AI software. Remember, WXPN is rhythms not algorithms!

Can I use song ideas I already have in development?

We ask that you develop your song from scratch in the 24-hour period.

Can I sample other musicians’ work in my original song?

Your submission cannot contain material that could violate intellectual property rights or that could be copyright infringement. Your video also should not feature any music that you did not originally write and perform. Unfortunately, sampling falls under these categories.

I use beats, loops and effects to write my songs. Am I eligible to submit?

If your beats, loops and effects are original and do not contain any copyrighted material then you can submit your song.

Can I have other musicians perform the song I wrote?

Yes. You are not required to perform your song in the studio. The songwriter(s) should complete the registration and submit the song. There will be a place in the registration to list the performer(s) of the song. However, only the songwriter(s) will be considered eligible for the prizes.

Do the musicians/performers need to appear in the video or can I submit the audio of the song with other imagery in the video?

The song must be performed live in the video with the musicians/performers appearing.

If the song I sing or perform on is written by someone else, and it wins a finalist or grand prize, who gets the prize?

The songwriter(s) listed in the registration will be the sole recipient of any prizes. It is fully up to the songwriter(s) to determine if/how they decide to share in any prizes.

If I sing or perform on a song submitted by someone else, can I still submit my own song that I wrote?

Yes you can. However, remember you may only submit one song that you are listed as the songwriter.

Official Rules
Contest Timeline

The WXPN 24-Hour Song Challenge (the “Contest”) submission period begins at 12:00 pm EST on June 6, 2026 and ends at 11:59 am EST on June 7, 2026 (the “Submission Period”). WXPN’s clock is the official timekeeping device for the Contest.

The Contest judging period begins on or about June 9, 2026 and ends on or about June 24, 2026 (the “Judging Period”).

Five (5) submissions being considered for the Grand Prize (the “Finalists”) will be publicly announced no later than July 14, 2026 and the Grand Prize Winner will be publicly announced shortly thereafter. We will contact the Finalists and Grand Prize Winner directly via email and/or phone.

Eligibility

The Contest is open to all individuals and groups (the “Entrant(s)”) who are named as writer or a group of writers of the original song (the “Song”) submitted to the Contest.

Each Entrant (and all members of a group) must be at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry. If the entrant is a group, all individuals’ names must be listed.

The following individuals are not eligible to enter or win a prize: employees of WXPN and their immediate family members, and employees and their family members of any businesses who are official sponsors of the Contest.

An Entrant (either individually or as a group) can only submit one (1) Song.

Entrants must have their primary residence be in WXPN’s terrestrial broadcast listening areas (WXPN, WXPH, WXPJ, and WKHS).

Independent musician(s) who self-release their own recordings are eligible. Entrants must not be signed to any major or independent labels for distribution. WXPN will make any and all final determinations as to Entrant(s)’ status as independent musician(s).

How To Enter

In order to submit a Song to the Contest, contestants must register via an online form at songchallenge.xpn.org no later than May 29, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST.

To enter the Contest, you must create a video (the “Entry Video”) under five (5) minutes in length of the performance of a single, original song by the end of the Submission Period that is inspired by a thematic prompt (the “Prompt”) that WXPN will announce on June 6, 2026 at 12 pm EST.

Submit a hyperlink to an embeddable, publicly viewable recording of the Entry Video to YouTube by the end of the Submission Period on June 7, 2026 at 11:59 am EST.

Entry Guidelines

The Entry Video must:

  • contain a Song that is the original work of the Entrant (or all members of an Entrant, if a group). Covers of other songwriters’ or performers’ songs will not be accepted.
  • be inspired by the Prompt that WXPN establishes. There are no parameters as to how you choose to integrate the Prompt into your Song. It can be overt, subtle, metaphoric, direct, indirect, etc.
  • be created specifically for the Contest and not have appeared on any previous media streaming platform, such as Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, or SoundCloud.
  • be a maximum five (5) minutes in length.

Entrants are permitted to have musicians/singers (“Performers”) other than themselves perform the Song. Performers are not eligible to receive any prizes directly from WXPN.

You represent that the Entry Video and Song does not:

  • contain material that violates or infringes another’s rights, including privacy, publicity, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights;
  • contain material that is indecent, lewd, pornographic, obscene, profane, hateful, defamatory, slanderous or libelous;
  • promote discrimination against or contempt for other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease;
  • contain material that violates any federal, state, or local laws or ordinances;
  • contain material generated by any Artificial Intelligence (AI) software.

By submitting a Song and Entry Video, Entrant further represents and warrants that:

  • The Song, including the musical composition, are Entrant(s)’ original work of authorship and Entrant(s) are the sole creator and author of the Song, including the musical composition.
  • The Entry Video is Entrant(s)’ own original work of authorship or that Entrant(s) has all rights necessary to submit the Entry Video, including without limitation, the title or rights in any content, trademarks, artwork, text, and/or music featured in the Entry Video.
  • Entrant has the right to grant WXPN the rights and licenses to use the Song, including the musical composition, and Entry Video. Use in any form includes but is not limited to: social media posts, on-air playback, on-air promotions, streaming playback, and website coverage.

WXPN claims no rights in the ownership of the Song or Entry Video. WXPN claims no rights in the ownership of the materials you submit in conjunction with the Contest. By submitting a Song and Entry Video through the Contest, you hereby grant WXPN a limited, non-exclusive license to use, stream, transmit, beam, store, publicly display, translate, reproduce, and distribute the Song and Entry Video, in any format, whether known or unknown, including the limited right to use your likeness, persona, logo, trademark, and right(s) of publicity.

WXPN reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any Entrant if WXPN does not believe that the Song and Entry Video qualifies under the Entry Guidelines or any other terms and conditions of the Official Rules.

Judging

All eligible Songs and Entry Videos that meet the requirements of the Entry Guidelines and Official Rules will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by WXPN that will consist of WXPN staff, member(s), volunteer(s) as well as outside musicians. WXPN’s Program Director along with the Contest judges will have the final decision on the Finalists and the Grand Prize winner. Additionally there will be a public voting component and those results will be considered in the final determination of the Finalists and Grand Prize winner.

Songs and Entry Videos will be judged on the following criteria:

  • Lyrics – 40%
  • Composition/Melody – 40%
  • Performance – 20%

Video and audio quality/presentation is not an official criteria for the Contest. However, we encourage Entrants to provide the highest quality they are reasonably able to in order to best present their Song and Entry Video.

Prizes

There will be Five (5) Finalists selected. One of these Five (5) Finalists will be selected as the Grand Prize winner.

All Finalists will be announced no later than July 14, 2026 and the Grand Prize winner will be announced shortly thereafter.

Prizes will be awarded jointly to the Entrant(s).

The Grand Prize winner will receive:

  • Five Thousand US Dollars ($5,000) honorarium
  • Five Hundred US Dollars ($500) gift card to Russo Music
  • Ten (10) hours of studio time at MilkBoy Recording Studio
  • A spot to perform the winning Song live at the XPoNential Music Festival & the Philly Music Fest
  • Winning song to be featured as a track on WXPN Philly Anthems album, digital + vinyl
  • Songwriting workshops organized by WXPN
  • One (1) year WXPN Program Partner Membership

The remaining Finalists will receive:

  • Five Hundred US Dollars ($500) honorarium
  • Two Hundred US Dollars ($200) gift card to Russo Music
  • One (1) year XPN Membership
The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage

The WXPN 24-Hour Song Challenge – Philly Anthems Edition has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.