General Contest Rules
WMGK CONTEST RULES
WMGK HOUSE BAND CONTEST 2026
These rules apply to WMGK HOUSE BAND Contest (“Contest”) conducted by Beasley Media Group, LLC d/b/a WMGK (“Station”). In addition, the General Contest Rules posted at wmgk.com apply to this Contest. If there is a conflict between the General Contest Rules and the Rules for this Contest, the Rules for this Contest shall control.
- HOW TO ENTER
The Contest will begin January 8, 2026 and end on January 22, 2026 at 10am.
- To enter online, entrant must complete the online entry form including name, email address, phone number, date of birth, address, and include an upload of one (1) Mp3 of the entrant’s band (“Band”) playing one (1) classic rock cover song (“Song Entry”), or a web url with a link to their cover band performing live beginning on January 8, 2026 at 6:00am Eastern Time (“ET”) and ending on January 22, 2026 at 10:00am ET (“Online Entry Period”). In addition, the Entrant’s (who will act as primary contact for the Band) first and last name, phone number, email address, Band name, and Band’s hometown must also be submitted as part of the form. Online entrants are subject to all notices posted online including but not limited to the Station's Privacy Policy. Limit one (1) entry per Band during the Online Entry Period regardless if entrant has more than one email address. Multiple entrants are not permitted to share the same email address. Entries submitted may not be acknowledged or returned. Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by the Contest administrator.
- Entrant must have the right to submit the Song Entry. If more than one song is submitted as part of the Song Entry, the Station will only review and judge the first track submitted.
- The Station, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any entrant if such entrant’s associated Song Entry or other content contains illegal, indecent, pornographic or sexually explicit content or otherwise offensive material such as graphic violence or if such Song Entry or other content contains any nudity or content deemed at the Station’s discretion to be unsuitable for public display or posting on the Station’s website. Entries that do not comply with these rules will not be eligible for the Contest. Station reserves the right to disqualify any entrant if it believes the Song Entry violates the rights of any third party or is otherwise inappropriate for public viewing.
- Entrants may submit only one (1) Song Entry per Band during the Online Entry Period. Incomplete, multiple and/or duplicate entries by the same Band will be disqualified. Valid entries must contain all information requested. Entrant further understands that the use and exploitation of the Song Entry link may subject him/her to risk of notoriety, publicity, ridicule, scorn and/or indignity.
- There will be up to a total of one (1) winning Band selected in the Contest.
- ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS (APPLIES TO ALL BAND MEMBERS)
- This Contest is open to all Station listeners who are 21 years of age or older as of the date of entry into the Contest, who are legal US residents and reside in a PA, NJ, or DE, except where prohibited by law. Winners must possess a valid, government-issued ID and show proof of residency to verify eligibility. Winning restrictions do not apply to this Contest.
- Any Band that has been named the Official ‘MGK House Band in a past Contest is ineligible to compete in this year’s Contest. Band must consist of at least two (2) actively participating members. No member of any Band may be represented by an agent or talent agency unless the Station receives written confirmation that such agency and any associated commissions are being waived for all purposes of this Contest, including for any performances at Station appearances. Under no circumstances will the Station be responsible for any fee or commission to any agent or representative of any Band.
- No member of any Band may be signed to a fully executed major record label contract that guarantees the release of one (1) or more albums/CDs. If the right of the entrant to submit the Song Entry or the right of the Station to link to the website containing the song is contested by a third party claiming infringement of their rights, Station reserves the right to remove the Band from its site and disqualify the Band from further participation in the Contest in the Station’s sole and absolute discretion.
- PRIZES
Up to one (1) Prize will be awarded. The Prize consists of the following: (i) the opportunity to be designated as the “WMGK House Band” and to play Station promotional appearances between March 1, 2026 and January 31, 2027 for a set fee of one thousand dollars ($1000) per appearance; (ii) Gift Certificate valid for 8 Hours of audio and 8 hours of video recording/production at The SoundPlex®: Music & Arts Multiplex (expires November 30, 2026); and (iii) Promotional support on air and online with WMGK for the same term as above (35 recorded promos per month to promote upcoming Band gigs, and a custom landing page describing the band and linking out to the Band’s social media page with their event calendar). Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of Prize is $2,000.
- The Station reserves the right to not use the House Band for any reason in their sole and absolute discretion. Winning Band members will not be considered employees of the Station at any point. Any financial checks associated will be awarded in the name of the Band representative listed in the official entry form. No check will be awarded, processed or mailed until winner has claimed the prize at the Station, presented all required documentation, and signed all required releases and tax forms. Checks will then be processed within approximately four (4) to six (6) weeks following confirmation of eligibility and completion of all requisite releases and IRS forms.
False or misleading information regarding Band members may lead to disqualification and PERMANENT disbarment from any future Station contests. Station must be notified promptly in writing of any changes in Band personnel. Station will determine if a substitution of a Band member is permitted. The gift certificate will be subject to the terms and conditions as set forth by the issuer of the gift certificate. Gift certificates are not refundable or transferable and may not be substituted or exchanged for cash or credit at any time, nor will gift certificates be replaced if lost or stolen.
- Prizes or prize certificates must be claimed at the office of the Station located at One Bala Plaza, Suite 401, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, Monday-Friday, during regular business hours. Prize or prize certificate must be claimed within thirty (30) days of winning. Failure to claim Prize by the specified time will result in forfeiture of the prize. It is the winner’s sole responsibility to claim the Prize or prize certificate within the timeline provided in these Official Rules.
- SELECTION OF WINNERS
- On Thursday, January 22, 2026 at approximately 1:00pm ET, up to twelve (12) “Qualifying Bands” will be selected by the Station based on judging during one or more Station staff listening sessions in which staff members will score and rate each entrant’s Song Entry based on quality and musical performance as determined in the reviewer’s sole discretion.
Qualifying Bands will be notified by Friday, January 23, 2026 of selection and to confirm participation. Qualifying Bands must be available to perform at one or more events as follows: (i) the Qualifying Round appearance that they’ve been assigned, as described below and (ii) if selected as a Finalist, Qualifying Bands must also be able to play at the MGK House Band Finals on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Parx Casino, located at 2999 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19020.
The primary band contact (the person who submitted the online entry form) must confirm participation via email or phone by no later than 10:00am ET on Monday, January 26, 2026 or the Qualifying Band will risk disqualification. If a Qualifying Band is disqualified, an alternate Qualifying Band may be selected (time permitting) from all remaining Bands, at the sole discretion of the Station.
- Qualifying Rounds:
Each Qualifying Band must be available to perform on the dates/times stated below as established by the Station. Equipment will be provided as specified below. However, the Station may not be able to accommodate scheduling requests and the Qualifying Band may face disqualification if it cannot play on the date/time it has been assigned. Each Qualifying Band will be assigned one (1) of the following dates/times/locations:
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 – Parx Casino
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 - Parx Casino
Wednesday , February 18, 2026 – Parx Casino
Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Up to four (4) Qualifying Bands will perform on each date. All Qualifying Bands must be present and checked in with Station staff by 6:30pm ET. Failure to attend the assigned performance and/or check in with Station staff by 6:30pm ET may result in disqualification. The performances will begin at approximately 7:30pm ET. The order that the bands perform will be determined in a random drawing of all Qualifying Bands performing on that date.
Each Qualifying Band’s performance will be judged by a panel of Station judges based on stage presence, musicianship, crowd response, vocals, adherence to Classic Rock set list (meaning song and/or bands that are regularly played on the Station), and who would best fit the personality of the House Band. Each judge will pick their favorite Qualifying Band performing that given date, and the Qualifying Band who receives the most votes from the judges on that performance date will win advance to the next round of the Contest. Up to three (3) “Finalist Bands” will advance to the next round of the Contest (one (1) Finalist Band per performance date). Finalist Bands will be announced at the end of each performance event.
- Final Round:
The three (3) Finalist Bands will advance to the Final Round and must perform on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Parx Casino. There may be a different panel of judges present at the Final Round. Members of the judging panel will be revealed and introduced to the Bands and crowd the evening of the performance.
All selected Finalist Bands must be able to participate in the Final Round in order to be eligible to be selected as the winning Band. If a Finalist Band is not able to attend the Final Round, the Station reserves the right to hold the Final Round with fewer bands OR select an alternate Finalist Band in the Station’s sole discretion to participate in the Final Round from the remaining Qualifying Bands. All Finalist Bands must be present and checked in with Station staff by 6:30pm ET. Failure to attend the assigned performance and/or check in with Station staff by 6:30pm ET may result in disqualification. The performances will begin at approximately 7:25pm ET. The order that the bands perform will be chronological based on what date they qualified for the Finals (earliest qualifier to go first). Station reserves the right to also do the order by random drawing in its sole discretion.
In the Final Round, the same scoring system and criteria will apply, and the Finalist Band with the highest total score will be named the official ‘MGK House Band Contest Winner.
- There will be up to three (3) judges per Qualifying Round and at the Final Round. All performing bands in the Qualifying Rounds and Final Round must play a minimum of two (2) songs. Set time may not exceed twenty (20) minutes in length. The Station has the right to end a performing band’s set if they go over the time limit. The Station may subtract points from a band’s score, in the stage presence category, if they go over the time limit. In addition, all performing bands in the Qualifying Rounds and Final Round will be required to play one (1) predetermined classic rock cover song, as selected by the Station in advance that all performing bands that evening must play. All performing bands must play a minimum of the one (1) predetermined classic rock cover song and at least one (1) other song of their choosing in their set. The same predetermined classic rock cover song will be selected for the three (3) Qualifying Rounds, and the Final Round.
- EQUIPMENT PROVIDED: The Station will email performers a list of venue provided equipment prior to their performance (subject to change). All performers must use equipment provided by the venue only. All performers must use their own guitars, guitar amps, keyboard, keyboard amps, bass, bass amps, cymbals, drum sticks, and drum pedal.
- Winning Band must confirm acceptance of prize within two (2) days of winning, or risk disqualification and selection of an alternate winning Band (time permitting) from all remaining Finalist Bands using the judging criteria described above.
- Decisions of Station management with respect to the Contest are final.
- CONDITIONS
- The Station reserves the right to end any contest or amend these rules upon announcement on air and by publication at wmgk.com.
- For website contests: By use of the Station’s website and by entering this Contest, entrants agree to the Station’s Terms of Service Agreement and to the use of Personal Information as stated in the Privacy Policy located at wmgk.com.
- Copies of the written Contest rules and a list of all winners are available during regular business hours at the main studio of the Station, One Bala Plaza, Suite 401, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Station.
