1. What is the “16 For 16” charity digital EP/album?
The “16 For 16” digital EP/album is an annual Music For Pixels initiative designed to work in tandem with The Pixel Project’s 16 For 16 blogging campaign in honour of the annual global “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence” campaign which kicks off on International Elimination of Violence Against Women Day (25 November 2013).
The “16 for 16″ digital EP project was also created as a platform for non-YouTube artistes to get on board the Music For Pixels campaign and use YouTube and digital downloads to raise awareness and funds for our cause. It is our response to a steady stream of requests from up-and-coming non-YouTube artistes to join the campaign.
2. Violence Against Women is a grim subject. Is this reflected in the type of songs are featured on the “16 For 16″ digital EP?
The songs on the EP are specially selected or written to boost the spirits of women and girls who have experienced and survived VAW and to bring a little hope in their lives. To ensure this is achieved, participating artistes are required to write/perform/cover female-friendly songs which have positive, uplifting messages conveying hope, strength and courage even while they cover subjects ranging from escaping domestic violence to gaining freedom from slavery to girl power.
3. How does the “16 For 16” charity digital EP/album support the cause to end violence against women?
The EP/album is created as an annual project under the Music For Pixels campaign to:
- Raise awareness about violence against women using music.
- Raise the spirits of women, girls and survivors of violence against women worldwide through songs with positive and empowering lyrics.
- Raise funds for the cause via digital downloads of the EP/album.
The EP/album will be available for a limited time of approximately 6 months from 25 November 2013 to 31 May 2014
4. Who will the funds raised benefit?
5. When will the digital EP/album be available?
Every year, the EP/album will be available for download from all major online music stores including iTunes and Amazon for a limited period of approximately 3 months to help raise both awareness and funds for the cause. The release dates will run from 25 November to 31 May to cover:
- The year-end holiday season (November – December) during which domestic violence is known to spike and when it is Female Genital Mutilation season begins in a number of African countries.
- The Valentine season (February) during which relationship violence is known to rise.
- International Women’s Day (March) which celebrates women and girls and examines women’s issues.
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April) which aims to educate people about the issues related to preventing and stopping sexual assault.
- Mother’s Day (May) which honours the most important woman in our lives.
6. I am a music artiste and I would like to take part in the coming year’s “16 For 16″ digital EP. How can I do so?
Thank you for your interested in joining the “16 For 16″ digital EP initiative. To be eligible, you must fulfil the following requirements:
- You must have no personal history of violence towards anybody.
- Are able to (or have resources to) record, produce and edit your own music tracks and music videos.
- Already written or are prepared to write or cover a suitable song.
- Are prepared to work together with The Pixel Project and other participating artistes to promote the digital EP during the campaign.
To be eligible for consideration for the next “16 For 16″ digital EP, your song must have the following attributes:
- Lyrics that carry positive messages and themes of surviving violence against women, peace, doing good and empowerment (particularly for women).
- Sung in English.
- We are G-rated and family-friendly: No foul language, nudity or violent imagery/symbols (e.g. knives, guns etc)
Please note that we get a steady stream of submissions and so your song may be considered but there is no guarantee of selection.
For more details on how to submit your song, please visit our Submissions Guidelines page.
7. Who is eligible for contributing to the “16 For 16” charity digital EP/album?
Music artistes worldwide are welcome to submit their music video as long as they adhere to our submission guidelines.
8. Why use YouTube as a platform? Why not Vimeo or another video-based social networking site?
Because the overall Music For Pixels campaign is a YouTube-based campaign.
In addition, YouTube is currently the second largest search engine in the world, making it easier for us and participating artistes to spread the word about saying NO to violence against women
9. How do I submit my song?
All you have to do is send us a submission email with your song attached as an MP3 or .WAV file together with the song lyrics.
For exact details on what needs to be included in your submission email, go to our Submissions Guidelines page.
10. What is the submission period?
You have 8 entire months to submit your song for consideration for the 2013 EP/album: 1 January – 31 August 2013.
11. May I submit my song as a music video instead of an MP3 or .WAV file?
Yes, you may. Just include the YouTube link to it in your submission email.
However, should your song be selected, you will still have to submit your song as a .WAV file for the EP/album.
12. May I submit a song in a language other than English?
We encourage all participating artistes to submit their songs and covers in English as English is currently the most widely understood language.
You can, however, submit a bi-lingual song in English and one additional language. You will, however, need to provide the English translation of lyrics that are in other languages for us.
13. If I have previously released the song before submitting it for the “16 For 16” digital EP/album, may I still submit it?
Yes, you may still submit your song. However, you may need to ensure that the song will be exclusively released under the “16 For 16” EP/album during the period in which the EP/album is available for download.
14. Is there anything else artistes need to keep in mind?
Please remember that due to the anti-violence work The Pixel Project does, all submitted videos must be family-friendly: No foul language, nudity or violent imagery/symbols (e.g. knives, guns, gore, blood etc) that may trigger PTSD in survivors of violence.
Any submitted video that contains any of the attributes listed above will be automatically disqualified.
Do also familiarise yourself with the submission guidelines before you create your submission.
