Any individual who is a member of the Columbus Blues Alliance (including membership forms and dues mailed with the application) may participate in the Columbus Blues Challenge, except the following:

• Any artist whose name has appeared on a final W.C. Handy/Blues Music Award ballot, including members of bands nominated for Band Of The Year
• Any act who has participated in two consecutive IBCs
• Any act that has participated in three IBCs since 2017
• Any act that previously placed first in its Category at the IBC
• Any act that won the preceding Columbus Blues Challenge in any category

Other restrictions:

• Acts must be based within a 250-mile radius of Columbus, Ohio
  • NOTE: If you are based near another Blues Foundation affiliate, please get in touch with us first!
• An individual may not compete in more than one Category
• An individual may not compete in more than one act in any capacity

Performance Categories:

• Band – any act with more than two members
• Solo/Duo – any act with only one or two members
• Youth – any act whose members will all be under the age of 21 at the time of the International Blues Challenge

Time Limits:

• Each act is allotted 25 minutes for its performance, and timing begins when the first note is played
• The timekeeper will inform the audience of the time remaining, starting at the 23-minute mark
• Acts finishing their performance with more than 3 minutes remaining will incur a one-point penalty to their Average Weighted Score

Prize Monies:

• The winning Band act will receive $1,200
• The winning Solo/Duo act will receive $500
• The winning Youth Act will not receive prize money. Still, it may be invited to participate in any official Columbus Blues Challenge fundraising events and receive an equal share of funds raised.
• Prize monies will be paid by check no earlier than two weeks before the International Blues Challenge.
• All prize monies will be paid out in a single payment after all official fundraisers have concluded.
• Only one check will be written for each act.
• The proceeds of any official fundraising event will be totaled and divided by the total number of participants from all participating acts. Each person will receive that amount for the event as part of the total paid out, along with prize monies

Equipment:

• A PA system, microphones, drum kit & throne, 2 guitar amplifiers (minimum), and 1 bass amplifier will be provided
• Guitarists may bring their pedalboards
• Drummers may bring their own throne, cymbals, snare, and kick pedal
• The use of keyboards and keyboard amps will be decided on a case-by-case basis
• The use of small harmonica amps may be allowed
• Use of small, portable amp systems (such as the Bose Portable Line Array System) may be allowed
• Unless permitted in advance, all acts will be required to use the provided equipment; there will be no exceptions to this rule.

Each act is evaluated on 5 different Scoring Categories:

• Blues Content – the sound and feel of the music, which should be true to the blues. This includes all sub-categories (traditional, contemporary, soul, country, rock, etc.)
• Vocals – the Act’s vocal skills, including concepts such as tone, musicality, meaning, and expression
• Instrumental Talent – the ability level on all instruments featured in the Act
• Originality – original works are encouraged (covers are OK, but should reflect the Act’s own aesthetic)
• Stage Presence – the Act’s visual appearance, personality, charisma, audience engagement, etc

Each Category has a different weight, by which each judge’s raw scores will be multiplied:

• Blues Content = 4
• Vocals = 3
• Instrumental Talent = 3
• Originality = 2
• Stage Presence = 2

Each act is scored from 1-10 for each Scoring Category based on the following guidelines:

• 1-3: typical of a beginning blues band
• 4-5: typical of a local weekend band
• 6-7: typical of an advanced local band not yet ready to headline a major blues club
• 8-9: typical of blues artists that headline major blues clubs
• 10: typical of blues artists who play the main stage at major festivals

Penalties:

• Acts finishing their performance with more than 3 minutes remaining will incur a one-point penalty to their Average Weighted Score.
• Acts’ performances exceeding 25 minutes will incur a one-point penalty to their Average Weighted Score for every 10 seconds, or portion thereof, in excess.
• Acts that are unable to perform following their scheduled preceding act may perform later, but will incur a ten-point penalty to their Average Weighted Score.

Determining Winners:

Judges’ raw scores in each Scoring Category are multiplied by the Category Weight. Weighted scores are summed to determine the acts’ Weighted Totals for each judge. The Acts’ Weighted Totals are summed and divided by the number of judges to decide on their Average Weighted Score. Penalties incurred by an act will be subtracted from their Average Weighted Score. The act in each Performance Category with the highest Average Weighted Score, minus penalties, will win that Category.

In the event of a tie for 1st place in any Performance Category, the winner will be determined as follows:

• The act with the highest Weighted Total from any judge
• The act with the highest Average Weighted Score in each Scoring Category (in preferential order):
  • Blues Content
  • Vocals & Instrumental Talent (combined)
  • Originality
  • Stage Presence
• A majority decision from the judges

From the Blues Foundation‘s website:
“In 2005, the Blues Foundation established an award for the Best Self-Produced CD, given out at the International Blues Challenge, as part of our mission to celebrate blues recording and to ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Unlike our celebration of blues recordings and performances at the Blues Music Awards or our recognition of up-and-coming musician performances via The International Blues Challenge, this award was created to recognize excellence in independent Blues recordings.”

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The Columbus Blues Alliance participates in the Best Self-Produced CD category, depending on eligible releases from regional artists. Our submission rules are as follows:

• Artists within Ohio may submit an entry
• Entries must be received at the Columbus Blues Alliance office by October 1st, 2024
• A panel of judges will be created to evaluate all entries collectively
• Entries will be judged based on the following criteria (in order of importance):
  • Blues Content
  • Musical Performance
  • Audio Quality of the Presentation
  • Cover Art and Design
  • Credits and Liner Information
• The Blues Foundation‘s rules determine eligibility:
  • Compilations are not eligible
  • The CD’s release date MUST be between November 1, 2023, & October 31, 2024, to be eligible.
  • A performer previously nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition. A CD issued in the name of an otherwise eligible performer, which also includes the contributions of a Blues Music Award nominee, may be ineligible, depending on the extent of the contribution. Please get in touch with The Blues Foundation directly to confirm your eligibility.
  • A CD on a record label that has been previously nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition.
  • Judging will take place in three rounds. Judges will remain anonymous to protect them from outside influences and to represent a cross-section of professionals from the blues radio and print industries. The final results will be announced at the International Blues Challenge finals.

If your CD is selected to represent Columbus, you must provide us with 4 copies to mail to the Blues Foundation.
If your CD is selected as a finalist, you will need to provide us with additional copies to send to the Blues Foundation.
(Finalist judges are a different set of individuals from previous rounds)
Best Self-Produced CD Finalists are NOT required to attend the International Blues Challenge.