The Record Deal
spotd offers a clear, direct route to an artist’s ultimate goal, providing a realistic, step-by-step plan to reach the top.
The artist who climbs to the top of the leaderboard doesn’t just gain visibility—they earn a record deal with one of our prestigious international partner labels, giving them the chance to break into the global music scene.
Every step on spotd is designed to guide artists with purpose and precision, removing the uncertainty and creating a straightforward path to industry success.
With a clearly mapped-out journey, the platform takes artists from upload to global stardom, backed by the industry’s most influential players.
Top 9 Special Prizes for Runner-Ups (Ranks 2-10)
After the ultimate winner claims the record deal, the next top 9 artists will receive career-boosting prizes:
- 2nd Place: Fully Produced Single & Music Video – A video production to launch their career.
- 3rd Place: 1-on-1 Mentorship with a Label Executive – Direct guidance from an industry professional.
- 4th Place: Social Media Branding & Music Marketing Package – Helping them establish a strong online presence.
- 5th Place: Music Distribution Deal – Ensuring their music gets on all major platforms with promotional support.
- 6th Place: Live Gig Opportunity at a Major Industry Event – Exposure in front of top music professionals.
- 7th Place: Studio Time Grant – A free 10-hour recording session at a professional studio.
- 8th Place: Custom Merch & Branding Package – Personal logo, album cover design, and merch to promote their brand.
- 9th Place: Feature on a Major Producer’s Beat – An opportunity to collaborate with a well-known producer.
- 10th Place: Interview & Spotlight on spotd’s Blog & Socials – Increased exposure with a feature story.
This system keeps users engaged and motivated at every stage, ensuring they continuously strive to improve while unlocking valuable music-related prizes.
How to Keep All Users Engaged Who Don’t Win the Main Prize
Give Small Participation Rewards – Everyone who reaches a milestone (even if they don’t win the stage prize) gets a bonus, such as:
- Free in-app visibility boosts (e.g., extra promotion for their music for 48 hours)
- Exclusive industry tips & masterclasses unlocked at each stage
- Digital badges & profile recognition (so others see their progress)
- Increased visibility on the leaderboard
- A chance to be featured in “Hidden Gems” picks curated by producers
This way, everyone feels rewarded, but the main prize still stays exclusive and competitive.
Voting System for Maximum Fairness
Judges’ Voting (50 Points Total)
Instead of averaging scores from all judges, we can have a weighted scoring system to reflect different aspects of the industry:
- Musical Talent & Originality (20 Points)
- Marketability & Industry Potential (15 Points)
- Live Performance & Stage Presence (if applicable) (10 Points)
- Consistency & Growth on spotd (5 Points)
Each judge gives a score out of 50 points, and the final judges’ score is an average of all judges’ ratings.
If we have 5 judges, each of them rates finalists individually, and the average of their scores becomes the Judges’ Final Score out of 50.
Community Voting (50 Points Total) – Adjusted for Engagement Balance
Instead of just raw votes, we now add multiple fan engagement factors to prevent manipulation and reward true organic growth:
- Fan Votes (30 Points) – Fans vote for their favorite finalist. The percentage of total votes determines their Fan Vote Score.
- Engagement Score (10 Points) – Based on streams, likes, comments, shares (helps prevent fake votes).
- Live Performance or Fan Interaction (10 Points) – A special live fan poll during a final performance or Q&A session.
Final Community Score Calculation Example:
- Most voted artist gets 30 points, others get scaled scores.
- The highest-engagement finalist gets 10 points, others are scaled.
- The most fan-supported live performance finalist gets 10 points, others are scaled.
This makes fan support more dynamic rather than just a popularity contest!
Final Winner Selection – The Best of Both Worlds
Each finalist’s total score =
- Judges’ Score (out of 50) + Community Score (out of 50)
The highest total score wins the Record Deal.
Why This Works
- Prevents Bot Voting or Bias – Engagement matters more than just votes.
- Encourages Live Interaction – Artists who perform live well have an edge.
- Ensures the Best Artist Wins – Not just the most popular, but the most talented.
Introducing the “Producer’s Choice” Wildcard!
To make the competition even more exciting and unpredictable, we introduce a Wildcard Entry – the “Producer’s Choice” finalist.
How It Works:
- One additional finalist is selected by spotd’s top producers and industry partners.
- This artist does NOT have to be in the Top 10 leaderboard—it’s based purely on talent, uniqueness, and industry potential.
- The chosen wildcard finalist joins the Final 10, making it a Top 11 Showdown.
Why This Makes the Competition Even Better:
- Second Chances: A rising artist who may not have gotten enough points but has incredible talent still gets a shot.
- Industry-Driven Selection: The music industry experts get to push forward a truly exceptional artist.
- More Drama & Excitement: The community won’t know who the Wildcard is until the final reveal, keeping suspense high!
Final Showdown:
- Top 10 from the leaderboard + 1 Producer’s Choice Wildcard = 11 Finalists
- Judges (50%) + Community Vote (50%) = Grand Winner
This makes sure raw talent never gets overlooked, while still keeping it fair for those who worked hard to earn points.
Grand Finals: How the Winner is Chosen
Top 10 Finalists Selection (Every 6 Months)
The top 10 users on the leaderboard (based on points) advance to the Judges’ Round.
These 10 artists get a final showcase where they present a new performance, song, or video.
Each finalist gets a dedicated promo week on spotd, with interviews and spotlights.
Industry Eyes Are Watching
On spotd, every piece of content you upload is seen by record labels and industry professionals who are actively engaging with your work, offering feedback, and scouting fresh talent. Gone are the days of uncertainty—no more wondering if your music is actually being noticed. With spotd, you can be sure that your content is getting the attention it deserves from the decision-makers who shape the music industry.
Our transparent breadcrumb trail lets you track exactly when your videos are viewed by major labels, removing any doubt and giving you a clear path forward. This unique blend of visibility and direct feedback makes spotd the ultimate platform for emerging talent, ensuring you’re always one step closer to real industry connections.
Clear Path & Milestones
The milestones in spotd provide a sense of clarity, progress, and achievement, which are key drivers for artists on their journey through spotd.
The psychological power of milestones lies in how they break down a daunting goal (like getting signed) into smaller, achievable steps. This step-by-step structure reduces the overwhelming uncertainty that many unsigned artists face, offering a clear roadmap from start to finish.
By offering 10 carefully mapped-out levels, spotd gives artists a tangible path to follow, eliminating the ambiguity of “how do I get noticed?” or “where do I even begin?” Milestones create motivation through a sense of progression, each level reached validating the artist’s effort and keeping them invested.
Industry insights from record producers and talent show execs ensure that these milestones are not just motivational, but strategically aligned with real-world industry standards.
This structured approach provides a sense of trust and security, knowing that each milestone is designed to build the artist’s visibility and credibility within the industry. It removes the grey area and provides the necessary stepping stones to reach the ultimate goal—getting signed—while fostering a belief in the process and confidence in their potential.
- A tiered system with competitive yet attainable milestones taps into key psychological motivators that drive consistent engagement and progress.
- The structure of clear, incremental goals appeals to the human desire for progress, a fundamental motivator for persistence.
Click the ‘Backed By SCIENCE’ tab above to learn more.
As artists achieve each milestone, they experience a feeling of accomplishment, which is scientifically proven to boost dopamine levels—reinforcing positive behavior and keeping them motivated.
The concept of progression itself is highly motivating. When individuals can see the tangible steps they need to take to reach a bigger goal, they feel a sense of control and momentum. This sense of control helps reduce feelings of overwhelm and anxiety, making tasks feel more achievable. And as each milestone comes with valuable rewards, artists feel their efforts are not only being recognized, but also that they are gaining real, tangible assets that benefit their career. This builds a positive feedback loop—artists get rewarded for their efforts, which motivates them to push further.
By spacing out the milestones in terms of increasing difficulty, we hit on the psychological principle of scaffolding, where skills and achievements build on one another. Early milestones provide quick wins, reinforcing a sense of progress, while later milestones challenge the user to grow and refine their skills. This layered challenge provides just the right balance of achievement and growth.
Moreover, the competitive aspect of the milestones introduces a sense of healthy rivalry. Competition triggers the desire to excel and can heighten engagement. Seeing other artists reach higher milestones, while working toward their own, adds a layer of urgency and desire to succeed.
Finally, the ultimate goal—the coveted record deal—serves as an aspirational target. When the reward is significant enough (a record deal in this case), artists are likely to push through even the hardest challenges. This ties into the psychological concept of delayed gratification, where the promise of a future, larger reward motivates individuals to work harder over time, knowing that their patience and effort will eventually pay off.
In essence, this system is designed to maintain user motivation through a blend of achievable goals, valuable rewards, incremental progression, and healthy competition, all while keeping the end goal—landing a record deal—within reach.
An example of milestone prizes could be:
Fresh Start
1000pts
Prize: Personalized Artist Branding Session
Details: This prize could provide a tailored branding session designed to help an artist define their unique identity and build a professional image from the ground up.
Songwriter’s Spark
2000pts
Prize: Exclusive Songwriting Workshop
Details: A private songwriting workshop led by an experienced professional could allow an artist to refine their craft, with a focus on lyric writing and melody development.
Studio Ready
3000pts
Prize: Custom Beatmaking & Production Course
Details: Offering a premium production course could help aspiring artists learn how to create their own beats and tracks, giving them the tools to take full control of their sound.
Sound Engineer
4000pts
Prize: Mixing & Mastering Tutorial Pack from Industry Professionals
Details: An in-depth tutorial package focused on mixing and mastering could help artists elevate the quality of their tracks, providing valuable industry tips and techniques.
Indie Artist
5000pts
Prize: Spotify & Apple Music Promotion Credits
Details: Providing promotion credits for Spotify and Apple Music could offer artists a valuable opportunity to boost their exposure by getting their tracks featured on major streaming platforms.
Tour Ready
6000pts
Prize: Exclusive Online Q&A with a Top Producer
Details: A Q&A session with a leading producer could offer aspiring artists priceless industry insights, helping them navigate the production process and elevate their sound.
Breakthrough
7000pts
Prize: Feature on spotd’s Official Playlists
Details:Featuring an artist’s music on spotd’s official playlists could significantly increase their visibility and give them exposure to a broader, engaged audience.
Headliner
8000pts
Prize: Exclusive Music Gear Package
Details: Providing an exclusive music gear package, including essential equipment like a microphone, pop filter, and audio interface, could help an artist level up their home studio and performances.
Chart Contender
9000pts
Prize: Studio Session Voucher at a Professional Recording Studio
Details: A free 10-hour recording session at a professional studio could offer artists the opportunity to refine their music with top-tier equipment and expert guidance.
Legend Status
10,000pts
Prize: VIP Access to an Exclusive Music Industry Event
Details: VIP access to an exclusive industry event could give aspiring artists the chance to network with influential figures in music, creating valuable opportunities for future collaborations or deals.
The Website
Core Mobile App Features:
App Feature: VIP Views & Feedback
Ingrained throughout the spotd platform lays a clear breadcrumb trail showing exactly which labels, industry pros, and celebrities have viewed your profile.
A revolutionary approach that transforms how artists connect with industry gatekeepers.
This built-in visibility tool allows artists to track exactly who’s viewing their profile, from record labels to A&R managers, celebrity influencers, and top producers.
Think of it as a live performance where the audience is constantly changing, and you can see who’s in the front row. With intuitive badges, charts, and icons marking when a label or industry professional engages with their profile, artists are no longer left in the dark.
This level of transparency empowers creators, providing real-time feedback that keeps them motivated and focused.
It’s a game-changer for artist confidence and career growth, ensuring they know exactly when they’re being noticed by the right people.
App Feature: Shoutouts
Introducing Shoutouts Music Bubble Battle – a dynamic, gamified feature designed to supercharge user engagement and elevate unsigned artists. In this innovative section, artists upload short, attention-grabbing content that lasts 24 hours, displayed as interactive bubbles.
The magic happens as these bubbles compete for dominance: the more likes and engagement a story receives, the bigger it grows, eventually bursting smaller bubbles and securing a prime spot on the screen.
This creates a thrilling, viral battle where content gets the visibility it deserves based on popularity, driving both artist exposure and user interaction. It’s not just a platform for discovery; it’s an ecosystem where the strongest content rises to the top, ensuring the most engaging artists stay front and center.
App Feature: StreamX
Introducing StreamX – the ultimate live performance platform that brings unsigned artists face-to-face with industry powerhouses.
When you go live on StreamX, it’s not just another performance – it’s your chance to be seen in real-time by record labels, agents, A&R managers, and more. Unlike pre-recorded uploads, this live showcase guarantees instant notifications to key industry players, ensuring your talent is seen when it counts.
You get 1 minute to captivate your audience, and if they miss it? No problem – the performance is automatically saved and sent straight to their inbox, making it an audition in your pocket.
StreamX takes the guesswork out of exposure, putting your music directly into the hands of those who matter most, all with zero barriers to entry.
App Feature: Hotline
Imagine being able to pick up the phone and speak directly with the celebrities, agents, record labels, producers, and industry giants you’ve always dreamed of connecting with. With Hotline, this once-impossible dream becomes a reality. For the first time ever, spotd members can instantly book video calls with some of the most sought-after figures in showbiz—people who can offer career advice, insight, feedback, and even life-changing opportunities.
Hotline – your direct connection to the stars and industry heavyweights. Whether you’re looking for career advice, an audition, or just a personal chat, Hotline gives you access to celebrities, top-tier record labels, and industry professionals right at your fingertips. No more waiting for an email response or chasing down opportunities – simply request a video call or 1-on-1 chat, and take control of your career.
These influencers and experts charge for their time and spotd provides the bridge, making high-level guidance and insider access available to anyone who’s serious about their craft.
It’s your chance to get one-on-one attention from the people who can change your future, all through a seamless, user-friendly platform.
App Feature: Beat Briefs
Through the Beat Brief Section, industry professionals can submit upcoming briefs for music projects they are working on, giving unsigned artists the unique chance to compete for real-world opportunities.
For instance, if a production studio is tasked with creating a music video for a major film or a brand is looking for an original track for a commercial, they can use Spotted to submit that project brief directly to the app.
This gives unsigned artists the chance to apply, showcase their talent, and compete for the job—whether it’s writing the perfect song for a movie scene or producing a track that becomes the next chart-topper.
This is a win-win situation for both sides: record labels and production studios get access to a pool of talented, hungry artists, while unsigned musicians gain the kind of exposure and real-world opportunities that typically remain out of reach.
By opening up these briefs to the spotd community, studios and labels can cut through the noise and connect with artists who are not only talented but also eager and ready to work.
The Beat Brief Section is where collaboration, creativity, and opportunity collide, making it easier for both unsigned talent and industry professionals to find the perfect match for their next project.
App Feature: Artists Fund
The Artist Fund – We know how difficult it is to break into the industry—financing lessons, studio time, or even a simple music video can be a huge barrier.
That’s why spotd offers an Artist Fund, where members can apply for grants to help cover these costs. This is not a loan, and it doesn’t need to be repaid.
It’s a funding resource designed to help you level up—whether it’s for vocal coaching, studio sessions, acting classes, or anything else that can advance your career.
Funding will be made available to our members as a percentage of the revenue generated from membership fees and in-app payments – so the more members, the higher the % value will go back into this fund.
Write Me A Song
Unlock Songwriting Potential with spotd
spotd is more than just a platform for singers—it’s a game-changer for aspiring songwriters looking to break into the music industry. By uploading your original songs, you gain direct exposure to top producers and labels actively searching for new music. Our matchmaking system helps connect you with artists, producers, and industry professionals who might be the perfect fit for your music.
With features like Write Me A Song, you can team up with singers who need original material, while our Live Audition Rooms give you the chance to showcase your songwriting in front of industry pros.
One of spotd’s most powerful features is Access to Exclusive Briefs—labels, producers, and brands post specific song requests, and you can submit tailored tracks that fit their needs. If your song is chosen, you’ll have the opportunity to negotiate terms directly and secure placements with top-tier artists or commercial projects.
The Podcast
The spotd Podcast is a dynamic platform that puts trending spotd members in the spotlight. Curated daily and weekly, top industry pros—from producers to label execs—discuss and showcase the hottest content. This isn’t just talk; it’s valuable feedback straight from the decision-makers shaping the music scene.
Artists featured on the podcast get expert insights that help elevate their careers. Each mention or critique is instant validation, showing that their work is being recognized by the right people, and every piece of feedback is a chance to improve and grow.
For listeners, the spotd Podcast offers a front-row seat to industry trends and insider knowledge, helping artists understand what works and adapt to rise to the top.
By highlighting up-and-coming talent, the podcast gives them a unique opportunity to be heard by those who can take their careers to the next level. Every episode is more than a discussion—it’s a career milestone with actionable insights that lead to real industry opportunities.
Gamification & Leaderboards for user retention
Why it works:
Gamification is a powerful strategy for boosting user retention, as it taps into people’s natural instincts for competition, rewards, and achievement. It’s all about making the experience more engaging, fun, and rewarding, which encourages users to return regularly.
Gamification taps into key psychological triggers like instant gratification, progression, and competition, which are proven to keep users engaged. Reward systems (points, badges) activate the brain's dopamine pathways, offering a sense of achievement and reinforcing continued behavior. Variable rewards, such as surprise achievements or random leaderboards, create a "slot-machine" effect, heightening anticipation and reinforcing addictive patterns.
Additionally, social comparison through leaderboards or achievements fosters a sense of competition and belonging, which further boosts user motivation and retention.
Music themed competitions throughout.
spotd offers exciting, music-themed competitions each designed to bring artists’ talents to the forefront in unique, high-energy challenges.
These competitions not only award bonus points but also unlock exclusive in-app perks, such as appearing in special sections that maximize an artist’s exposure.
Every competition is strategically crafted to boost an artist’s visibility, ensuring their work gets in front of the right eyes and increases their chances of gaining recognition.
With each competition, artists get a step closer to their end goal, gaining the attention they deserve and a real opportunity to stand out in the music scene.
Weekly prizes awarded to users based on streaks & activity.
spotd offers real-world prizes that fuel an artist’s journey, rewarding their activity and streaks on the app with tangible, music industry essentials.
From high-quality microphones and studio time to exclusive gear and more, these prizes are designed to directly support an artist’s craft.
The more active and dedicated they are, the greater their chances of winning, creating an addictive cycle of continuous engagement.
Each prize isn’t just a reward—it’s a step forward in their career, giving them the tools and opportunities to keep improving and making a name for themselves in the music world.
How we've woven it into every fibre of spotd...
Points and Levels:
Artists earn points for uploading tracks, engaging with fans, and completing challenges. Points unlock higher levels, granting more visibility and features.
Badges and Achievements:
Artists earn badges for milestones like hitting play count goals, receiving positive feedback, or achieving trending status. These badges boost their profile’s credibility.
Challenges and Quests:
Daily and weekly challenges encourage artists to upload new content, collaborate, or engage with fans. Completing these quests results in rewards like featured spots.
Leaderboards:
spotd’s leaderboards rank artists by play count, engagement, and achievements, fostering friendly competition for more exposure.
Rewards and Incentives:
Artists earn virtual rewards, discounts on premium features, or exclusive promotional opportunities when they hit milestones or top leaderboards.
Progress Bars:
Artists can track progress toward rewards, like achieving a certain number of plays or engagement, motivating them to keep uploading and interacting.
Social Sharing and Collaboration:
Artists can share achievements or new releases on social media directly from spotd, gaining additional exposure and fostering collaboration with others.
Push Notifications:
spotd sends notifications to remind artists of upcoming challenges, achievements, or milestones, creating a sense of urgency to engage.
Personalization:
The app tailors challenges and rewards to each artist based on their activity, ensuring a personalized and motivating experience.
Feedback and Progress Tracking:
Artists receive instant feedback on uploads, with clear tracking of plays, likes, and comments. This encourages continuous improvement and engagement.