--- title: "\"What Is the Gospel?\" Song and Video Contest" --- ![tgc-logo-green-outline](https://pages.thegospelcoalition.org/hubfs/tgc-logo-green-outline.svg "tgc-logo-green-outline") # "What Is the Gospel?" **Earn cash prizes and have your original creative work featured by The Gospel Coalition online and at TGC’s 2025 Conference.** In anticipation of TGC’s 20th anniversary in 2025, we want to mobilize creatives to make fresh, artistically excellent, effective gospel presentations in two powerful artforms: music and video. TWO WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY × ### Contract Terms for Prize Winners of the Songwriting Contest By submitting a song to The Gospel Coalition (TGC) and accepting any prize money, the artist agrees to the following terms: 1. **Recording Ownership (Master Recording)** - Upon receiving prize money, the artist grants TGC an **Exclusive License** to the master recording of the submitted song through **April 22, 2025**. - TGC may release and distribute the song indefinitely on streaming platforms, with both "The Gospel Coalition" and "\[Artist Name\]" listed as credited artists. - The prize money awarded will be considered full payment for the use of the submitted recording. Should the profits from the song exceed the amount of the prize money, any additional profits will be shared equally between TGC and the artist (50/50).   2. **Songwriting Ownership** - The artist retains full copyright ownership of the song (lyrics, melody, composition). - The artist grants TGC a **Non-Exclusive License** to use, re-use, re-record, or re-package the song for any future projects or formats, without requiring further permissions. - Any profits generated from the use of the song in future formats, mediums, or recordings will be shared equally between TGC and the artist (50/50). - The artist agrees not to publish a new master recording of the song until after **April 22, 2025**. Any future recordings made after this date will remain the sole property of the artist.   3. **Moral Rights and Attribution** - TGC will ensure the artist receives proper credit for their work in all public communications, recordings, and performances. Song Contest Video Contest #### **Song Contest Details**   ###### **OVERVIEW** We’re inviting talented Christian musicians to write and record an original song, in any musical genre, that communicates [the gospel](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/foundation-documents/#confessional-statement) in a creative, beautiful, way. Up to 8 winners will be selected and awarded cash prizes, in addition to their song being included in a TGC-produced compilation album. ###### **WHAT TYPES OF SONGS?** - Beyond the basic prompt mentioned above, we’re open to a diverse range of song genres and styles. Be creative! - It can be a “singable” song for corporate worship, but it can also be a more personal, devotional song.  - We want songs to be theologically sound and biblically informed, but also artful and lyrically creative—incorporating poetry, metaphor, allusions, etc.  - Try to create a song a non-believer would find compelling rather than corny; a song that piques their interest about the biblical gospel. - Song entries should be original works newly created for this contest, unreleased/unpublished elsewhere. - Submitted songs should be release-ready, recorded and mixed with the highest level of professional quality you can access.   ###### **HOW TO ENTER** Songs should be submitted by December 1, 2024 **December 15, 2024 (deadline extended!) **via this online form. In addition to filling out the various fields in the form, you will need to include a dropbox link to your song in WAV format.  ###### **PRIZES** Up to 8 winning song recordings will be included on a TGC-produced compilation album that will be published on streaming sites and our website in Spring 2025. Each of these winners will also receive: - $2,500 - Assortment of free books - Two free registrations to TGC25 conference - Invitation to participate in “album release” listening event and discussion at TGC25 Up to 50 additional runners-up will be included on a TGC-curated playlist that is published with the announcement of the winners. *Note: Monetary prizes can only be awarded to U.S. residents, but contestants from any country are welcome to submit a song to be considered for inclusion on the TGC-curated playlist.  [Click here for details on contract terms for prize winners.](https://pages.thegospelcoalition.org/songwriting-contest-terms?hsLang=en) *   ###### **JUDGING** Songs will be evaluated and winners chosen by a committee including TGC staff members, Christian recording artists, and music industry professionals.  ###### **ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS** Winners will be informed in February 2025 and announced publicly soon thereafter. ###### **QUESTIONS?** Send your contest-related questions to us at``[contest@thegospelcoalition.org](mailto:contest@thegospelcoalition.org) #### **Video Contest Details**   ###### **OVERVIEW** We’re inviting talented Christian filmmakers and video content creators to create a short video (under 5 minutes) that communicates [the gospel](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/about/foundation-documents/#confessional-statement) in a creative, beautiful, way. The winner will receive a cash prize and have their video featured on TGC’s website and social media. ###### **WHAT TYPES OF VIDEOS?** - Beyond the basic prompt mentioned above, we’re open to a diverse range of visual styles, genres, or narrative approaches, as long as the gospel is conveyed and its power felt, utilizing the distinct possibilities of the video format.  - The video can be animated, live action, or some combination therein.  - The video should be theologically sound and biblically informed, but artistically creative and unexpected. - Try to create a video a non-believer would find compelling rather than corny; something that piques a viewer’s interest about the biblical gospel. - Video entries should be original works newly created for this contest, unreleased/unpublished elsewhere.   ###### **HOW TO ENTER** Videos should be submitted by December 1, 2024 **December 15, 2024 (deadline extended!) **via this online form. In addition to filling out the various fields in the form, you will need to include a dropbox or Google Drive link to your video in MP4, WMV, or MOV format. ###### **PRIZES** The maker of the winning video will be awarded: - $5,000 - Publication of the video on TGC’s website, YouTube channel, and social media - Potential airing of the video from the main stage at TGC25 conference - Two free registrations to TGC25 conference - Assortment of free books Up to 10 runners-up will also be awarded: - $500 - Publication of the video on TGC’s website, YouTube channel, and social media - Free registration to TGC25 conference - Assortment of free books *Note: Contest entries limited to U.S. residents.* ###### **JUDGING** Videos will be evaluated and winners chosen by a committee including TGC staff members and professionals in the film/video industry. ###### **ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS** Winners will be informed in February 2025 and announced publicly soon thereafter. ###### **QUESTIONS?** Send your contest-related questions to us at [contest@thegospelcoalition.org](mailto:contest@thegospelcoalition.org) # Application Form © 2026 The Gospel Coalition, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "contentUrl" : "https://40099644.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/40099644/what-is-the-gospel-promo.mov", "dateModified" : "2025-06-24T15:35:36.070Z", "duration" : "PT1M58.679S", "height" : 1080, "name" : "what-is-the-gospel-promo", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://40099644.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/40099644/what-is-the-gospel-promo.mov/medium.jpg?t=1750779336070", "uploadDate" : "2024-07-30T20:06:17.899Z", "width" : 1920 } ```