Tidal Offers $100,000 to 10 Direct-Uploading Indie Artists Under ‘Upload Headliners Contest’ — But the Fine Print’s Worth a Close Read

Photo Credit: Igor Rodrigues

Tidal has kicked off its Upload Headliners contest, which will pay out a total of $1 million to 10 direct-uploading indie artists. But prospective entrants should carefully read the fine print before taking a stab at the prize money.

That’s more general advice than a warning about Tidal Upload Headliners, which technically started last week. However, the recommendation is valuable specifically when it comes to the contest; the winners, each of whom is expected to receive $100,000, are certainly signing away some rights.

According to the contest’s terms, winning indies will grant Tidal a far-reaching license – one that’s “royalty-free, fully-paid up, transferable, sublicensable,” and covering the world – to use their selected tracks. On the marketing side, an adjacent right extends to the winners’ names, addresses, likenesses, photos, social posts, and “any statements made” about Tidal.

In short, then, post-win Tidal royalties will seemingly be off the table for the chosen songs, and the platform can utilize the appropriate talent’s above-described IP “for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or additional compensation” if so inclined.

“Where applicable and to the extent permitted under applicable law,” reads perhaps the most noteworthy terms section, “you also agree to waive, and not to enforce, any ‘moral rights’ or equivalent rights, such as your right to be identified as the author of your Submission, and your right to object to derogatory treatment of such Submission.”

Regarding deadlines, indies (who, of course, need to own entered works) have until 9 PM PT this coming Thursday to upload for a chance to win an initial $100,000 prize; the cash will hit the winner’s account on or around Friday the 21st, the terms show.

(Here, “account” refers to Cash App, which, like Tidal itself, belongs to Block. The fine print emphasizes that each winner must have a Cash App account “in good standing” and linked to Tidal. Furthermore, the contest will double as a test for group members’ relationships; multi-person acts are compelled to choose one individual to receive the whole prize.)

From there, Tidal will settle on the nine other winners in the new year, with the $900,000 in cumulative payments going out on or around January 15th, the text indicates.

As mentioned, artists need to upload directly to Tidal to participate in the aptly named Upload Headliners contest. And those who uploaded music before the contest’s November 13th start – and wish to enter said music – have to fill out a dedicated form.

In terms of the evaluation criteria, a panel of Tidal editorial team members “will review the Submissions on a rolling basis” for quality and for “suitability on a Tidal playlist or editorial placement opportunity,” per the terms.

AI outputs “are not eligible,” and just in case you were considering the questionable strategy of insulting Tidal in a song, the service confirmed that submissions “must not disparage” it “or any other person or party.”

Finally, while the outcome appears unlikely and definitely wouldn’t be a good look for the DSP, Tidal does have an option to “cancel or modify” the Upload Headliners contest “in the event an insufficient number of entries are received that meet the minimum judging criteria.”

Link to the source article – https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/11/17/tidal-upload-headliners-contest/