Key Highlights:
- First Rule, NVIDIA, and ONCE present a six-day music competition running March 23–28, 2026, where artists build a song from scratch and perform it live in Nashville
- Four competition tracks separate emerging from established artists and traditional from AI-integrated workflows
- Grand prizes include cash, physical products, and software subscriptions for finalists who attend the live finale
“I am sponsoring this event. But I did not do it for the logo placement. This competition draws a line in the sand that the industry ignores. Scroll to the end to see why I backed it:“
Build a song. perform it live. win big.
First Rule, NVIDIA, and ONCE invite you to the Music City Make-A-Thon The challenge runs March 23–28, 2026. You will write, produce, and perform an original single in under a week.
Here is how it works:
- Application: You apply as a solo artist or band through the Music City Make-A-Thon site.
- The Schedule: Days 1–5 run remotely. Day 6 brings four finalists to a Nashville stage for a live performance.
- The Tracks: You compete in one of four lanes based on your career stage and whether you use AI or traditional methods.
- The Rule: Active creation only. Prompt-only generation is banned.
- The Vote: On March 27, a global livestream showcases the top entries. The field is narrowed to the final four via a high-stakes, real-time vote split between a panel of expert judges and the live audience.
- The Prize: Finalists compete for cash, gear, and software. Remote runners-up earn digital tool subscriptions. You also get a feature in The AI Musicpreneur, reaching 35,000+ music pros.
This is your chance to stress-test your workflow. The event positions Nashville as a testing ground for responsible AI music tools in professional workflows.
How to apply: STRM Assessment Matche/is Artists to Tracks
Competitors enter one of four tracks based on career stage and AI usage. A proprietary STRM Assessment determines placement. Tracks range from “Humans L1–L2” for emerging traditional artists to “Hybrid L3–L5” for established creators using AI.
- Humans L1–L2: Emerging artists, traditional methods
- Humans L3–L5: Established artists, traditional methods
- Hybrid L1–L2: Emerging artists using AI in their workflow
- Hybrid L3–L5: Established artists using AI in their workflow
One group is excluded: artists who rely entirely on generators like Suno. The competition requires active creation, not prompt-only output. This mirrors the ethical stance seen in the AI Song Contest partnership with Musical AI.
Online voting on March 27 narrows the field. The four finalists then compete live on March 28. Those who apply but cannot travel receive virtual runner-up prizes including a feature in The AI Musicpreneur’s 35,000+ member community.
Real-Time Voting Rewards In-Person Attendance
Grand prizes go only to finalists present in Nashville. First Rule, the event’s production lead, structured the competition to reward creators who commit to the live experience.
Brands interested in sponsoring gain access to emerging talent and visibility within Nashville’s music-tech ecosystem. The event aligns with the Principles for Music Creation with AI, emphasizing transparency and artist rights.
Your Chance to Test AI Workflows Under Pressure
This format forces you to build fast and ship faster. If you want to stress-test your production process or showcase hybrid workflows to industry leaders, the March deadline is your target. Similar competitions like the Future Sound Awards have drawn thousands of entries. Nashville’s version adds a live performance layer that raises the stakes.
Why I am sponsoring the Music City Make-A-Thon:
I toured the US coast-to-coast in my 20s. I know the sweat equity of traditional music.
I also spent a decade in product strategy for major corporations. I know the leverage of technology.
Most discussions pit these two worlds against each other. This event brings them together.
I support the Music City Make-A-Thon because it centers human intent. The competition focuses on artists who integrate AI into their production workflow, using it alongside traditional methods to create something bigger than either approach alone.
The structure respects the traditional artist in the “Human” tracks. It challenges the modern creator in the “Hybrid” tracks. Both must end up on a stage. Both must perform live.
This aligns with my mission at The AI Musicpreneur. I help both artists and creators use AI to make their music production workflow more effective, more enriching, and more sustainable. The goal is always to enhance the creative process, never to skip it entirely.
Technology is an instrument. Nashville is the stage.
I am proud to back the creators who show up to play.
— Christopher Wieduwilt, Founder of The AI Musicpreneur
