Contest Rules

OFFICIAL GENERAL CONTEST RULES

Any individual who enters, attempts to enter or in any way participates or attempts to participate in any contest, sweepstakes or giveaway (“Contest”) conducted by MediaCo Holding, Inc. d/b/a WBLS-FM (“WBLS” or “MediaCo”) (each such individual is hereinafter referred to as a “Participant”) agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions provided in these Official General Contest Rules (“General Rules”), as well as by MediaCo’s interpretations of these General Rules which are final and binding in all matters relating to any Contest.  Some Contests will have specific rules developed for them (“Specific Contest Rules”).  In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between these General Rules and the Specific Contest Rules, the Specific Contest Rules shall control. 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY:  

Unless otherwise noted, no purchase is necessary to enter or win a prize. A purchase will also not improve your chances of winning. 

  APPLICABLE LAW (VOID WHERE PROHIBITED):  

All Contests are subject to and governed by applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.  Participation in this Contest is void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. 

CONTEST CANCELLATION, SUSPENSION OR MODIFICATION: 

MediaCo reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend any Contest if the Contest is not capable of being completed as planned for any reason, including, but not limited to, infection by computer virus, “bugs,” tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or technical failures of any kind or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of any such Contest.  The decision of MediaCo to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend any Contest shall be final in all respects. 

 CONTEST DESCRIPTIONS: 

All MediaCo Contests will be described through electronic, print or on-air advertising or promotion and governed by these General Rules unless the Contest has Specific Contest Rules developed for it. 

 ELIGIBILITY: 

Geographical, Age and Parental Consent Requirements:  Unless otherwise specified, each Contest is open to legal residents of the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut who are at least 18 years of age or older at time of entry.  MediaCo reserves the right to refuse to award a prize to or on behalf of a minor. 

Contest Entity and Immediate Family Member Disqualification:  The officers, directors, employees, contractors, and agents of MediaCo , and any entity involved in the sponsorship, development, production, implementation and distribution of any Contest as well as their respective parents, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries and successor companies (the “Contest Entities”), and their immediate family members (and those living in the same household, whether or not related), are prohibited from participating in any Contest and do not qualify as Participants.  “Immediate family members” shall include spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren, whether as “in-laws”, or by current or past marriage, remarriage, adoption, co-habitation or other familial extension. 

Past Prize Winners:  Participants may only win a Contest once every seven (7) days. An individual may not win more than three (3) times in one month. However, if a Participant has won prizes with an aggregate, approximate retail value of over $5000, then the Participant is ineligible to win another prize for a period of twelve (12) months.  For clarity, this limitation only applies on MediaCo’s radio station WBLS, and does not include HOT 97, which has independent contest rules and limitations on prize winnings. 

Employer Restrictions:  Participant is solely responsible for reviewing and understanding Participant’s employer’s policies regarding Participant’s eligibility to participate in Contests.  Participant may be disqualified from entering into a Contest or receiving prizes if Participant is participating in a Contest in violation of his or her employer’s policies. 

 HOW TO ENTER:  

Methods:  Contest entries may be submitted as advertised or otherwise prescribed by MediaCo for the Contest.  Generally, these will involve all or some of the following entry methods: (1) toll-free telephone; (2) postal mail; (3) electronic mail; (4) drop box; (5) web entry; or (6) text entry to short code 75759.  Where entry is available via electronic mail, web or texting, participation is limited to Participants who had access to electronic mail, the internet, and/or text messaging (as applicable) prior to the beginning of the Contest. 

Entry Period:  Entries must be made during the time periods advertised or otherwise prescribed for each Contest (the “Entry Period”) and, unless otherwise stated, will require at a minimum the Participant’s name, address, daytime telephone numbers and age. 

Entries Are the Sole and Exclusive Property of MediaCo:  All Contest entries and/or related submissions become the sole and exclusive property of MediaCo upon transmission.  Contest entries will not be returned and may be used by any Contest Entity for any purpose whatsoever related to any Contest, without additional compensation to the Participant or any other individual or entity. 

Disclaimer of Responsibility for Entries:  MediaCo is not responsible for problems with Contest entries, including but not limited to, entries which are lost, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete, illegible, or cannot be completed due to electronic or technical difficulties, even if the problem is the result of the sole or partial negligence of MediaCo. 

Multiple Entries:  Unless otherwise limited by MediaCo, multiple entries are permitted.  However, for text-message entry Contests, unless otherwise stated, multiple entries are prohibited, and participation is expressly limited to one text per Participant and per wireless account. 

False Fraudulent or Deceptive Entries or Acts:  Participants who, in the view of MediaCo, provide false, fraudulent or deceptive entries or who engage in false, fraudulent or deceptive acts in connection with the Contest will be disqualified and subject to criminal prosecution. 

  SPECIFIC ENTRY-METHOD RULES: 

Telephone Entry Contests:  If a Contest accepts telephone entries, all calls must be made to the call-in number(s) as designated on-air. Generally, this number will be 1-800-223-9797.  The criteria for winning will generally also be given at that time.  Only completed calls that are answered by a live person and are made to the designated number during the designated time period will be eligible to win or qualify to win. 

MediaCo may record and/or broadcast a Participant’s name, voice and the substance of all or any portion of the call.  Except where prohibited by law, any call-in Participant acknowledges that such recording and use may occur and grants MediaCo permission to record and use such recording without any additional communication with and compensation to Participant.  

Postal Mail and Electronic Mail Entries:  If a Contest accepts postal mail or electronic mail entries, all entries must be received by MediaCo by the Entry Period deadline, unless otherwise stated. 

Unless otherwise stated, mail-in entries should be sent via first class United States mail only (overnight mail and courier are not permitted) addressed to WBLS, Contest Entry (include the name of the Contest), 48 W. 25th St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10010; and electronic mail entries should be sent to the email address designated during the Contest advertisement or announcement, with a copy to promotions@wbls.com.  The electronic mail account holder will be deemed the Participant for any electronic mail entries. 

Only one Contest entry is permitted per envelope for a mail-in entry. 

Drop Box Entries:  If a Contest accepts entry forms by deposit in an entry box, entries must be deposited in an official entry box by the announced deadline.  Unless otherwise stated, no purchase is necessary in order to deposit an entry in the official entry box.  Only official entry forms will be considered, and entries on reproduced forms will be disqualified. 

Web Entries:  If a Contest accepts web entries, Participants must accurately complete all required fields, or the entry will be deemed incomplete and will not qualify. 

Text Message Entries:  If a Contest accepts text-message entries, unless otherwise stated, text-message entries should be sent to short code 75759. Proof of texting is not considered proof of entry. MediaCo cannot guarantee this program will be available via all wireless carriers.  The text-message portion of any Contest will be available on participating wireless carriers only and requires a two-way text-message capable wireless device. Wireless device carrier’s instructions for text-messaging may vary. 

Unless otherwise limited by MediaCo, multiple text-message entries are prohibited for any Contest and participation is expressly limited to one text per Participant and per wireless account.  If more than one text-message entry is received from a wireless account, only the first entry received will be considered. 

Unless otherwise noted, standard text messaging rates will apply to any text-message entry.  Each Participant’s wireless service provider may charge such Participant for each text message sent and received by such Participant in entering into any Contest.  Participants should avoid participating in any Contest where their wireless service provider charges any fee for such participation. 

  PROVISION OF WIRELESS NUMBERS TO THE STATION: 

A Participant who signs up to receive text messages from MediaCo: 

  1. authorizes MediaCo to deliver or cause to be delivered, to the wireless number that the Participant provided, telemarketing messages using an automatic telephone dialing system; 
  1. understands that he or she is not required to enter into this agreement or agree to enter into such an agreement as a condition of purchasing any property, goods, or services; and 
  1. agrees that, if the wireless number provided to MediaCo is reassigned to another person, the Participant will promptly notify MediaCo that such reassignment has occurred. 

Message and data rates may apply. MediaCo is not responsible for any fees incurred by a Participant who provides a wireless number in connection with the Contest. 

Original Content; Ownership: Each Participant, by participating in the Contest, represents and warrants that they are the exclusive owner of any copyright and any other proprietary rights in any submission by Participant in the Contest (the “Submission”).  Participant further represents and warrants that they have the right to grant to any third party the right to use, reproduce, distribute, perform and display the Submission.  All Submissions must have all appropriate clearances, permissions and releases PRIOR to uploading or may be eliminated from the Contest.  Any song submissions must be original material.  Any unauthorized samples or performances of another artist’s material could be subject to fines, royalty fees, and/or legal action for which Participant agrees to indemnify, defend and hold MediaCo and any other Contest sponsors harmless.  MediaCo and any other Contest sponsors may stream any Submissions on-demand on MediaCo’s or their affiliates’ websites.  MediaCo and any other Contest sponsors are not responsible for paying any internet or other music royalties on any Submission. 

  PARTICIPATION PROBLEM DISCLAIMER:  

Even if alleged to be caused by the sole or partial negligence of MediaCo or other Contest Entity, MediaCo and the other Contest Entities are not responsible for any problems which affect, or result from, Participation or attempted Participation in the Contest.  This includes, but is not limited to, the following problems: 

  1. Incorrect, incomplete or inaccurate entry information; 
  1. Human errors; 
  1. Failures, omissions, interruptions, deletions or defects of any wireless network, telephone network, internet service, computer systems, servers, utility providers, or software; 
  1. Inability to send a text message; 
  1. Identity theft; 
  1. Tampering, destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries or computer data; 
  1. Network hackers or other unauthorized access to MediaCo’s computer network; 
  1. Data that is processed late or incorrectly or is incomplete or lost due to wireless network, telephone network, computer or electronic malfunction or traffic congestion on wireless or telephone networks; 
  1. Printing errors; 
  1. Equipment malfunctions; and 
  1. Late, misdirected, lost, misplaced, illegible, mutilated or postage-due entries. 

 RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION:  

As consideration for entering a Contest, all Participants agree to RELEASE, DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE MediaCo Holding Inc., SG Broadcasting LLC, the other Contest Entities (as described above) and each of their respective direct and indirect affiliates, divisions, parent and subsidiary companies, officers, employees, disc-jockeys, on-air personalities, shareholders, representatives, managers, members, directors, owners, agents, insurers, attorneys, predecessors, successors, and assigns thereof (collectively, the Released Parties), from and against all claims, damages, charges, injuries, losses, proceedings, suits, actions (including but not limited to tort actions, product liability actions, wrongful death actions, warranty actions, breach of contract actions, privacy and defamation actions, misappropriation of likeness actions, identity theft, loss of consortium claims), expenses and attorney fees that they or anyone on their behalf (including but not limited to their heirs, representatives or next of kin) have or might have for any death, injury, damage or claimed injury or damage arising out of, involving or relating to their participation in the Contest, including, but not limited to, any claim that the act or omission complained of was caused in whole or in part by the strict liability or negligence in any form of the Released Parties. 

Additionally, as consideration for entering the Contest, all Participants agree to INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND the Released Parties in any action or proceeding from and against all claims, damages, charges, injuries, losses, proceedings, suits, actions (including but not limited to tort actions, product liability actions, wrongful death actions, warranty actions, breach of contract actions, privacy and defamation actions, misappropriation of likeness actions, identity theft, loss of consortium claims), expenses and attorney fees that they or anyone on their behalf (including but not limited to their heirs, representatives or next of kin) have or might have for any death, injury, damage or claimed injury or damage arising out of, involving or relating to their participation in the Contest or for their failure to comply with the terms of the above release provision.  This agreement to indemnify, hold harmless and defend applies even if the act or omission complained of was allegedly caused in whole or in part by the strict liability or negligence in any form of the Released Parties. 

This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram or any other social media platform.  By submission of an entry, Participant releases Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and all social media platforms from any responsibility or liability for the Contest’s administration, prizes or promotion. You are providing entry information to MediaCo or another Contest sponsor and not to Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram or any other social media platforms. 

  ODDS OF WINNING: 

The odds of winning any Contest and/or prize will depend upon the number of Contest Participants. 

  PRIZES: 

The actual prizes and value of each prize will vary for each Contest.  Descriptions of prizes will be announced for each Contest separately.  No transfer, assignment or substitution of a prize is permitted, except MediaCo reserves the right to substitute a prize for an item of equal or greater value in the event that an advertised prize is unavailable.  Any difference between the actual value and the approximate retail value of any prize will not be awarded.  No substitution or cash equivalent will be made. 

MediaCo reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the awarded prize is unavailable for any reason.  If tickets to an event are awarded as a prize, MediaCo is not responsible for any cancellation or rescheduling of the event for any reason and has no obligation to reimburse, refund or otherwise substitute the tickets for another prize should the event not be rescheduled or vouchers not issued.  Should travel be part of the prize, MediaCo is not responsible for cancellations or delays in travel accommodations and has no obligation to reimburse, refund or otherwise substitute any tickets awarded as a part of a travel prize due to such cancellations or delays. 

  TAXES:  

The Participant prize-winner is solely responsible for determining and paying all federal, state and local taxes (including any sales taxes).  Any person winning over $600 in prizes from MediaCo Holding Inc. during any one-year period will receive an IRS Form 1099 at the end of the calendar year, and a copy of such form will be filed with the IRS. 

  Winner Selection: 

Prize winners will be selected per the criteria announced for the Contest.  If the Contest requires Participants to answer trivia, provide information or otherwise perform in some manner to participate and qualify to win, the decisions of MediaCo and/or the other judges will be final as to all matters including the accuracy and/or completeness of the answer, as well as the quality of the information or other performance.  If a winner is unable to be notified for any reason for any amount of time, the applicable prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. 

 HOW TO CLAIM PRIZE:  

Claiming the Prize:  The Participant prize-winner must pick up their prize at MediaCo’s business office located at 48 W. 25th St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10010. The prize may be picked up any time between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.  From time to time, in its sole discretion, MediaCo may agree to mail the prize.  In the event that a prize is mailed to the winner, the winner will initially be sent any required releases and prize claim forms along with a return, pre-paid overnight delivery air bill.  Failure by the winner to return completed forms within five (5) business days may lead to forfeiture of the prize.  In the event the prize is mailed to the winner, the winner assumes the risk of the prize’s safe arrival. 

Prerequisites to Prize Award:  Prior to being awarded a prize, winners are required to provide (1) a valid government-issued photo identification depicting proof of age and (2) a valid taxpayer identification number or social security number. The social security number will be used for tax-reporting purposes. MediaCo reserves the right to deny awarding the prize if the winner fails to provide satisfactory identification, as determined in MediaCo’s sole discretion. 

Winners, and, if the winner is a minor then their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) as well, may be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability, a completed IRS W-9 (that must pass a TIN check) and a Publicity Release (the “Required Forms”) before any prize is awarded.  By entering a Contest, Participant agrees to execute these documents if selected as a winner in order to receive their prize.  If the prize is event tickets, then the properly Required Forms must be completed by the winner and received by MediaCo within three (3) business days of the winner being notified of their selection. Failure to provide the properly completed Required Forms as detailed above will result in forfeiture of the prize. If the prize is travel tickets involving travel partners, the travel partners will be required to meet minimum age eligibility requirements and to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability prior to receiving the companion travel ticket.  Except where prohibited by law, failure to execute any of these documents or comply with any of these terms will result in forfeiture of the prize. 

Prize Forfeiture:  Unless otherwise stated, winners shall have thirty (30) days from the date of selection to claim and pick up their prize.  Failure to claim and pick up prize within this time for any reason will result in forfeiture of the prize.  MediaCo reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to award unclaimed prizes to alternate contestants or not to award the unclaimed prizes. 

Additional Costs:  Any costs relating to the prizes are the sole responsibility of the winner. 

 WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS: 

By entering and participating in the Contest, and in consideration thereof, each Participant individually warrants and represents to MediaCo and any other Contest sponsors that:  (i) they meet the residency and age requirements at the time of entry; (ii) they will be bound by these General Rules and any Specific Contest Rules, if any, and by all applicable laws and regulations, and the decisions of MediaCo and any other Contest sponsors; (iii) they waive any rights to claim ambiguity with respect to these General Rules and the Specific Rules, if any; (iv) they are the sole creator and owner of their Submission, including any creative content, such as music, a music video, and/or photography included therein, and they have the full legal right, power and authority to grant to MediaCo and any other Contest sponsors the license provided for in these General Rules; and (v) they own or control the complete exhibition and other rights to the Submission for the purposes contemplated in the license. 

 PUBLICITY RELEASE:  

Unless prohibited by applicable law, Participant authorizes and irrevocably grants to MediaCo and the other Released Parties (as defined above) permission to, from time to time, reference and discuss Participant and their participation in the Contest on-air and/or on their website(s) in photographs, video recordings, digital images, audio recordings, as well as in publications, newsletters, news releases, other printed materials, and in materials made available on the Internet or in other media now known or hereafter developed for any purpose that MediaCo and/or the Released Parties deem proper.  Such reference and discussion may involve Participant’s name and voice, and other personal/biographical material or their participation on-air. 

  LICENSE: 

By participating in this Contest, Participant irrevocably grants to MediaCo and any other Contest sponsors the perpetual right, without liability to any person or entity, to reproduce, adapt, transmit, distribute, communicate, make available or otherwise use any Submission, or any portion thereof, throughout the universe in any medium and in any manner, now or hereafter known, including, without limitation, if applicable, radio and television broadcasts, and cable and satellite transmissions, without payment of any compensation to Participant or any third party in connection with the Contest. 

  DISQUALIFICATION:  

All participants agree to be bound by these General Rules.  Non-compliance with any of these General Rules will result in disqualification and all privileges as a Participant will be immediately terminated.  MediaCo, in its sole discretion, further reserves the right to disqualify any person for: (i) tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest; (ii) gaining an unfair advantage in participating in the Contest; (iii) obtaining winner status using false, fraudulent or deceptive means; or (iv) engaging in otherwise unsportsmanlike, disruptive, annoying, harassing, or threatening behavior. 

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PARTICIPANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY CIRCUMVENT, DISRUPT OR DAMAGE THE ORDINARY AND NORMAL OPERATION OF ANY CONTEST, TELEPHONE SYSTEMS OR WEBSITE, OR TO UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF ANY CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, MEDIACO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. 

 RULES CHANGES AND INTERPRETATIONS:  

MediaCo reserves the right in its sole discretion to supplement or make changes to these General Rules as well as the rules of any contest at any time without notice. MediaCo reserves the right in its sole discretion to interpret the rules of any contest, and such interpretation shall be binding upon all participants. 

 AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE: 

To the fullest extent permitted by law, by participating in the Contest, a Participant understands and agrees that: 

  1. the Federal Arbitration Act applies to this agreement, and if the parties are unable to resolve their dispute amicably, it shall be resolved by means of binding arbitration (not in a court of law); 
  1. any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action (even if the rules and procedures of the arbitration tribunal allow class arbitrations); 
  1. any and all claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest, but in no event and under no circumstances will Participants be permitted to obtain awards for attorneys’ fees, and Participants hereby waive all rights to claim punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, or any other form of damages, other than actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased; 
  1. any claim or dispute regarding the Contest or these General Rules will be resolved pursuant to the laws of the state of New York, without regard to its choice of laws or conflicts of laws provisions; 
  1. any claim or dispute regarding the Contest or these General Rules will be resolved in a tribunal within the state of New York, and Participants submit to the jurisdiction of, and waive all objections to the jurisdiction or venue of, such tribunal; and 
  1. if for any reason a claim or dispute regarding the Contest or these General Rules proceeds in court rather than through arbitration, there will not be a jury trial. 

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these General Rules, including but not limited to the agreement to arbitrate, shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.  If any such provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these rules shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained herein. 

 GENERAL RULES/LIST OF WINNERS:  

Copies of these General Rules (as well as any Specific Contest Rules) may be obtained by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to:  WBLS Official Contest General Contest Rules (or the Specific Contest Rules), 48 W. 25th St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10010. These General Rules may also be found at www.wbls.com. 

For a list of any Contest winners send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:  WBLS [insert specific contest name] “Winners List”, 48 W. 25th St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10010.