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Hey Kansas City Bands: Enter The 2021 Tiny Desk Contest!

The NPR Tiny Desk Contest is open until June 7.
NPR
The NPR Tiny Desk Contest is open until June 7.

Undiscovered musicians can win a chance to perform a Tiny Desk Concert at NPR's headquarters and be featured on KCUR and 90.9 The Bridge. You have until June 7 to enter the contest.

Calling all unsigned artists from the Kansas City area: KCUR and 90.9 The Bridge wants to hear your music!

NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest is back for its seventh year, offering thousands of undiscovered musicians and bands the chance to play at NPR's headquarters in Washington, D.C. — in the very same spot that hosted Lizzo, Chance The Rapper, Yo-Yo Ma, and many more.

Here's what you need to know:

  • You must be 18 years of age or older and live in the U.S.
  • You cannot have a current record deal.
  • You must film a video of yourself performing one original song — no covers, no sampling.
  • Yes, you do need to perform the song at a desk of some sort.
  • Upload your video to YouTube and then submit your entry to the Tiny Desk website.
  • The contest is open now, and it runs until 11:59 p.m. on June 7, 2021.

Check to see if you are eligible here.

One winner will be chosen by NPR's panel of judges, which includes "All Songs Considered" host Bob Boilen, 2020 contest winner Linda Diaz, musicians Phoebe Bridgers and Tobe Nwigwe, and DJs from NPR Member Stations.

You'd be joining some great company: Other past winners of the Tiny Desk Contest include Quinn Christopherson, the Grammy Award-nominated Tank and the Bangas, and three–time Grammy winner Fantastic Negrito.

It's the opportunity of a lifetime, and we want to see a flood of artists from Missouri and Kansas. We'll be looking out for great local performances, and some of our favorites will be featured on 89.3 KCUR, KCUR.org, and 90.9 The Bridge.

So what are you waiting for? Enter the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest right now.

Announcing The 2021 Tiny Desk Contest

As KCUR’s Audience Editor, I ask the questions: What do people need from us, and how can we best deliver it? I work across departments and projects to ensure our entire community is represented in and best served by our journalism. I help lead KCUR’s digital efforts to make our station more responsive, more competitive and more engaging. Contact me at gabe@kcur.org
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
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