THE YAMAHA SIX STRING THEORY GUITAR COMPETITION

OFFICIAL RULES

Effective Sept 1, 2009

NO PURCHASE OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

1. SPONSOR: The Yamaha Six String Theory Guitar Competition (the "Contest") is sponsored by Six String Theory, LLC, Concord Records, Yamaha Corporation, Berklee College of Music, Monster Cable, D'Addario String Company, and Captain Fingers Productions (collectively, the "Sponsors"), subject to the following terms and conditions.
2. ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open to non-professional guitarists of all nationalities.  Entrants may not be professional guitarists and may not be signed to any labels or management.  Entrants must be sixteen (16) years of age or older at the time of entry, and possess a valid form of identification.  Entrants under the age of eighteen (18) shall require parental consent to participate.  Invalid or ineligible entries shall be excluded from consideration. Employees of Sponsors, their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, and agents, and foregoing employees' household or immediate family members (defined as parent, spouse, child, sibling, or grandparent) are NOT eligible to enter Contest.  By their submission of entry, Entrants warrant they are legally entitled and authorized to make such submission on their own behalf. In the event of a dispute as to the winner's identity, entries will be deemed made by the holder of the email account associated with the entry.  Void where prohibited by law or restricted.  Subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
3. TIMING: TIMING: Contest begins at 12:00 a.m. PST on October 1, 2009 and continues until 12:00 a.m. PST on February 1, 2010.  Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. PST on February 1, 2010 to be eligible.  Late entries will not be considered.
4. HOW TO ENTER:  Entrants must submit an unedited video (with no camera stops) of themselves playing the guitar by embedding it via  HYPERLINK "http://www.sixstringtheory.com".  Entries may be comprised of original songs or covers, and may be solo performances or accompanied by others, but may not be longer than five minutes per song, with no more than two songs per entry.  It is acceptable to submit a non-original composition; provided that it will not be accepted if it is found that an entrant is "copying" the performance of another guitarist or artist.  In all entries, the interpretation of the melody and solo of that song must be original in flavor and content.  Only one submission allowed per applicant.  If multiple entries are submitted, only the first submission will be considered, and all entries subsequent to the original submission will be void.  The following must accompany each video submission in order for your entry to be complete: 1) Applicant's address, email, telephone number, and age; and 2) a non-refundable application fee of USD $25.00, submitted via credit card through "SixStringTheory.com."  Incomplete entries will not be considered.  Applicants should retain copies of all materials sent with their entries.  Sponsors will accept no responsibility for lost entries.  No submissions will be returned. All entries (video and audio submissions) will become the property of Six String Theory LLC. 
5. CONCORD RIGHTS: Concord shall have the exclusive right (but not the obligation) for a period of six (6) months beginning February 15, 2010 to enter into an exclusive recording agreement with any of the Six Finalists.  In the event that Concord exercises its right to enter into an exclusive recording agreement with any of the Six Finalists, the exclusive recording agreement shall contain terms and provisions which are customarily included in agreements of this nature, subject to good faith negotiations between the parties. 
   
   Concord shall also have the right (but not the obligation) to commercially release and to authorize others to release throughout the world, both digitally and physically, an audio version of the Six Finalists' videos as an E.P.  Concord's right to release the audio E.P. shall include the right to release the E.P. on Concord's website www.concordmusicgroup.com and/or any other websites (e.g., www.sixstringtheory.com) as Concord shall determine in its sole discretion.  Each of the Six Finalists shall receive a royalty for the sale of the E.P., which shall be subject to good faith negotiations between Concord, Six String Theory LLC and the Six Finalists. 
6. CATEGORIES AND JUDGING:  A panel of professional guitarists will evaluate the videos on the basis of technique, interpretation, and artistry in each of the following six categories: Rock, Blues, Jazz/Fusion, Country, Acoustic, and Classical/Flamenco. The top entrant in each category, as selected by the judges, will be contacted by email and/or phone no later than February 15, 2010.  The six winners will be asked to attend and perform live before the public and panel in a final competition (the "Final Event") to determine the order of the prize winners and to receive the various awards.  The Final Event will take place at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California on March 22, 2010.  By entering the Contest, all Entrants represent that in the event they are selected as a winner, they will be able and available to attend and perform in the Final Event. (If you are an Entrant residing outside of the United States, please be reminded that you may require a visa.  The Sponsors are not responsible for processing visas or other travel documentation.)  Based on each entrant's performance at the Final Event, the judges will rank the six winners for purposes of the awarding the prizes described below.  The six winners shall be responsible for arranging and paying for their own transportation and accommodations.  Sponsors reserve the right to reject any entry that they deem in their sole discretion to be vulgar, profane, offensive, or inappropriate.  All decisions of the judges are final.
7. PRIZES AND ODDS:

   Grand Prize: The Grand Prize will be awarded to the top-ranked performer out of the 6 finalists at the Final Event on March 22, 2010.

   Grand prize winner:

   1. The Grand Prize winner will have the opportunity to be featured as a special guest on the Concord Records superstar guitar album, "String Theory".  He or She will record one selection with one of the superstar guitarists participating on the album.
   2. Berklee College of Music will provide a four-year, full tuition scholarship. Please see Berklee's eligibility requirements for this award.
   3. The winner can participate in some events and key concerts organized by Yamaha and Lee Ritenour.
   4. One Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric guitar from the list below (valued at $2,000 or more):
      -Electric Acoustic Guitar: LLX26C
      -Electric Guitar: SG1000 or equivalent
      -Electric Nylon Strings Guitar: NCX2000R
      -Classical Guitar: GC31
   5. Yamaha guitar endorsement (details determined at conclusion of contest)
   6. 2 year string endorsement worth $1,000 from D'Addario String Company.
   7. Monster Cable endorsement.

   1st runner up: 

   1. One Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric guitar from the list below (valued at $2,000 or more):
      -Electric Acoustic Guitar: LLX26C
      -Electric Guitar: SG1000 or equivalent
      -Electric Nylon Strings Guitar: NCX2000R
      -Classical Guitar: GC31
   2. Yamaha guitar endorsement (details determined at conclusion of contest)
   3. $100 worth of D'Addario strings
   4. a special selection of Monster guitar cables

   2nd runner up:

   1. One Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric guitar from the list below (valued at $2,000 or more):
      -Electric Acoustic Guitar: LLX26C
      -Electric Guitar: SG1000 or equivalent
      -Electric Nylon Strings Guitar: NCX2000R
   2. Yamaha guitar endorsement (details determined at conclusion of contest)
   3. $100 worth of D'Addario strings
   4. a special selection of Monster guitar cables

   3rd runner up:

   1. One Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric guitar from the list below (valued at $1,000 or more):
      -Electric Acoustic Guitar: LLX16C or APX900
      -Electric Guitar: PAC1511MS
      -Electric Nylon Strings Guitar: NCX1200 or NTX1200
   2. $100 worth of D'Addario strings
   3. a special selection of Monster guitar cables

   4th runner up:

   1. One Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric guitar from the list below (valued at $1,000 or more):
      -Electric Acoustic Guitar: LLX16C or APX900
      -Electric Guitar: PAC1511MS
      -Electric Nylon Strings Guitar: NCX1200 or NTX1200
   2. $100 worth of D'Addario strings
   3. a special selection of Monster guitar cables

   5th runner up:

   1. One Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric guitar from the list below (valued at $1,000 or more):
      -Electric Acoustic Guitar: LLX16C or APX900
      -Electric Guitar: PAC1511MS
      -Electric Nylon Strings Guitar: NCX1200 or NTX1200
   2. $100 worth of D'Addario strings
   3. a special selection of Monster guitar cables

   [Regarding Yamaha product awards]

   The winner can choose one guitar from the designated awards. The way to choose the guitar will be subject to the award ranks, starting from the grand prize winner choosing the guitar he/she wishes. If several winners choose the same guitar, the winner with the higher rank retains the right to choose first.

   All prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the Final Event.  If any winner is deemed a minor in the state or country of his/her residence, prize may be awarded to his/her parent/legal guardian. All federal, state and local taxes on prizes are solely the responsibility of winners. All prizes shall be awarded. The odds of winning depend on the number of Entrants.

8. Berklee College of Music eligibility requirements:

   Eligible Students:

   • Outstanding guitar performance abilities demonstrated through initial submission of video/audio material to the Six String Theory Website. Six finalists will be selected and invited to perform at a final concert. The Berklee scholarship recipient will be selected by a panel of judges from this final group. A Berklee representative will participate as one of the final judges.
   • Ideal candidates will be high school seniors or recent high school graduates. Recipients must apply and be admitted by Berklee's Board of Admissions in order to use the award. Enrolled Berklee students are not eligible to receive this award.
   • All candidates must be eligible for undergraduate study in the United States and have completed secondary school prior to July 1, 2010.
   • If the selected grand prize winner does not meet the above requirements, Berklee College of Music reserves the right to offer this award to one of the other five eligible finalists.
9. NOTIFICATION: Within ten (10) days of winner notification, and prior to the Final Event, all winners must complete, execute and return the provided Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release (plus any additional documents required at the discretion of Sponsors). Failure to comply with the requirements of this paragraph (or the return of any prize or prize notification as non-deliverable) may result in disqualification and in the forfeiture of any right to a prize, in which case prize will be awarded to an alternate entrant chosen by the judges.  The names of the winners will be available for one (1) year after award of prizes by sending a self-addressed envelope with sufficient prepaid postage to:

   Six String Theory LLC 
   280 S. Beverly Dr.
   Suite 409
   Beverly Hills, CA  90212
   Attn: Winners' List

10. RELEASE: By participating in the Contest and/or accepting a prize, the Entrants (or Entrant's parent/legal guardian if any Entrant is deemed a minor in the state or country of his/her residence) agree to defend, release and hold harmless the Sponsors and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, advertising and promotion agencies, and the foregoing companies' officers, directors, shareholders, employees, representatives and agents (collectively "Releasees") from and against any actions, claims and/or liability for injury, loss or damage of any kind, (including the violation or infringement of any proprietary or personal right of any individual or entity) resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation in the Contest, and/or the use, acceptance, or possession of a Contest prize, and/or participation in a Contest prize-related activity, including any action, claim or liability arising from the unauthorized submission of any information.

    By participating in the Contest and/or accepting a prize, Entrants (or Entrant's parent/legal guardian if any entrant is deemed a minor in the state or country of his/her residence) consent to and give the Sponsors the right to use, publish, and display a winner's (and where applicable an entrant's) name, likeness, video submission, city and state, and prize awarded, for the purpose of advertising, trade, publicity and promotional purposes in any media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide, and on the Web, without review, notification or approval, all without additional consideration, unless prohibited by law.

11. CONDITIONS: Neither the Sponsors nor their respective agencies or affiliates are responsible for lost, late, damaged, destroyed, delayed, stolen, misdirected, incomplete entries, or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server or other connections, miscommunications, failed telephone or computer hardware or software or other technical failures, unauthorized human intervention, garbled or jumbled transmissions or other errors of any kind, whether human, mechanical or electronic, including without limitation, the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry information online regardless of cause.  Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to cancel, suspend, or modify the Contest if it becomes corrupted in any manner such that it cannot be conducted as originally planned and, in such event, to select winners from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Sponsors.  In such event, Sponsors shall have no liability to any Entrant who is disqualified due to such an action. ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR ONLINE ENTRY SYSTEM, OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND IF SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

    Sponsors reserve the right to modify these Official Rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the term and conditions of the Contest.  Failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

12. LAW: The Contest is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of Entrants or Sponsor in connection with any award, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of, the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any cause of action by you with respect to the offer (and/or any information, products or services related thereto) must be instituted within one (1) year after the cause of action arose or be forever waived and barred. All actions shall be subject to the limitations set forth above. The language in these Official Rules shall be interpreted as in accordance with its fair meaning and not strictly for or against either party. All legal proceedings arising out of or in connection with the Contest or these Official Rules shall be brought solely in Los Angeles County, California. You expressly submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of said courts and consent to extraterritorial service of process.
13. LANGUAGE: English is the primary language of the Contest.