Winning isn’t everything

More reasons to enter [View this email online]( [NPR Tiny Desk Contest]( You might enter the Tiny Desk Contest because you want to win it all – and you could! But, according to a survey we sent out to thousands of artists who entered last year’s Contest, there are a lot of other reasons to enter. Here are some of the motivations you shared with us: Pursue a new creative challenge. If you’ve wanted to write a new song, record your music or share your talents with friends – but maybe just need a little push to make it happen – this Contest is for you! Your entry might help you achieve a personal goal, and it could also be a nice way to celebrate your growth as an artist. “Each video acts as a marker for where I'm at in my career and path as a songwriter,” shares Aubrey Hays, an artist who has [entered the Contest five times now](. “This Contest inspires me to create emotionally and unabashedly.” Take your music career to the next level and get noticed by NPR Music. You have great music; we have a great platform. NPR Music is a channel for music discovery, and there are many ways we uplift up-and-coming artists like you. We add all eligible entries to the [browser on the Contest site]( where anyone can sift through entries and filter by year, genre, location and more. We also share your entries on NPR Music’s [Twitter]( and [Instagram]( where we hope our followers will become your fans. Soon, we’ll share more entries on the [Contest blog](. And before we announce this year’s winner, some of our judges will share favorite entries as part of our [Top Shelf series on YouTube](. Join a supportive community of fellow musicians. While you might be a solo artist recording your entry, you're never alone in the Tiny Desk Contest – you become part of a nationwide community of passionate musicians and Tiny Desk fans. We encourage you to connect with each other by introducing yourself in the [Contest community Facebook group]( or by simply commenting on another entrant’s YouTube video to show your support. You’ll also have an opportunity to meet one another in real life at stops on our Tiny Desk Contest On the Road tour this summer, where Contest artists will open for our winner – and all artists are invited to attend! --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- A couple years ago, [Haley Heynderickx]( explained how [the Contest changed her life despite never winning it](. She said that after submitting her entry, she “felt over the moon; the imaginary ceiling had cracked and I began to meet various musicians online who had also entered. This is one of the greatest reasons to join this Contest: to embrace the community of musicians pursuing their craft.” From our own tiny desks, NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest team --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [tinydeskcontest@npr.org](mailto:tinydeskcontest@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Interested in connecting with music-lovers and music-makers across the Contest community? Join our Tiny Desk Contest Community [Facebook Group]( Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on [Spotify]( and [Apple Music]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Books, Pop Culture and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Tiny Desk Contest emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]