Few people can truly be called music icons, but the late John Lennon is more than that: he’s the quintessential rock legend. What better way to honor one of the world’s greatest musicians than to show how his music lives on?
As part of our celebration of his 70th birthday on Oct. 9, Billboard.com went looking for a new working class hero who could truly rock a Lennon tune. Fans everywhere tuned up and turned in some inspired covers of Lennon’s tunes. Last week we narrowed the field to four finalists and opening it up to a Billboard.com poll. Over 22,000 folks watched the cover artists’ videos and voted, and we’ve now tallied them all up: The winner is Estee Maria Hadzikostas & Danny Borg‘s heartfelt rendition of Lennon’s “Don’t Let Me Down,” released in 1969 by the Beatles.
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THE WINNERS
Estee Maria Hadzikostas & Danny Borg – “Don’t Let Me Down.”
Hadzikostas and Borg explain that the inspiration to enter the cover song contest came from their, “respect and admiration for John Lennon. To consistently write popular music that has a message while reaching a broad audience decade after decade is a true gift and one we aspire to earn.”
Singer/songwriter Estee Maria Hadzikostas, from Long Island, NY, honed her musical talents at the Berklee College of Music and is currently performing around New York City. More of her music can be found at Myspace.com/esteemaria. The other half of the pair, New York drummer Danny Borg is also a trained pianist and songwriter. Over the past 6 years, he has shared the stage and studio with musicians including Carlton Holmes, Lukas Haas, Chris Theberge and former New York Yankee Bernie Williams opening for Diana Ross and Patti LaBelle at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. More of his music can be found at Myspace.com/dannyborgdrums.
The pair, who have been playing and writing music together in New York, will debut their new collaboration, The Estee Maria Project, in a performance at the Bitter End in Manhattan on Oct. 26. They hope to record an album soon.
In winning the contest, the New York duo, who were also voted the Facebook fan-favorite in the first round, score a John Lennon prize package that includes reissues of all of Lennon’s solo albums, a Lennon Box of Vision, a set of Lennon t-shirts, and more.
Thanks again to all of our four finalists: winners Hadzikostas & Borg, plus the three runner ups Robert Beavers from Dekalb, IL, The Canon Logic from Brooklyn, NY, and the Jacob Jeffries Band from Plantation, FL. Everyone did a great job.
JOHN LENNON COVER SONG CONTEST PRIZES
The winner of the John Lennon cover song contest will receive the following prizes:
Eight remastered John Lennon albums: “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band,” “Imagine,” “Some Time In New York City,” “Mind Games,” “Walls And Bridges,” “Rock ‘N’ Roll,” “Double Fantasy,” “Milk And Honey.” More info here.
“Power To The People: The Hits” CD/DVD
The John Lennon Box of Vision, which includes a book of LP artwork, and another discussing the Lennon catalog, a box to hold 32 cds, and more.
Five t-shirts from Worn Free that are replicas of shirts worn by Lennon himself.
JOHN LENNON VIDEO COVER SONG CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES
SPONSOR
Sponsor of the John Lennon Cover Song Contest is Billboard.com. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to Billboard.com and not to Facebook.
ENTRY PERIOD
The submission period begins Friday, September 17, 2010 and ends on Friday, October 1, 2010 at 11:59pm ET. Finalists will be announced by Billboard.com on Monday, October 4, 2010. Finalist voting period will begin on Monday, Octover 4, 2010 and ends Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 11:59pm ET.
WHO MAY ENTER
Employees of Sponsors and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or persons living in the same households of such individuals, whether or not related, and parent companies, affiliates and agents of Sponsors are not eligible to enter or win a prize. Entrants must be at least 13 years of age as of the date of entry.
HOW TO ENTER
Entrants must “Like” Billboard’s official fan page. Entrants must then post their video of them performing a cover of a John Lennon song to the wall of the Billboard fan page.
Entrants are encouraged to ask friends to “Like” their video to increase their chances to achieve the one “Fan Favorite” finalist spot. The other finalists will be chosen by Billboard.com staff after the submission period ends.
Each submitted video, in its entirety, must be a single work of material performed by the Contest entrant. By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges, covenants and warrants that the submitted video is a video created solely by the entrant, that the video does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the video.
The video must not, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsors, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content. Videos deemed inappropriate will be disqualified.
If the video includes other people, you must be prepared to provide a signed written personal release from all persons who appear in the video submitted, authorizing use of the video as provided below in “Third Party Releases/Licenses.” If you are unable to provide all required personal releases, upon request by Sponsor and in the form provided by Sponsor, then your entry may be disqualified. You do not need to send the release with your entry. If you win, we will contact you if personal releases are needed.
The entries will be judged in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as defined below.
Online entries must be posted by the authorized holder of the social account submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to a social account by an Internet access provider, online service provider, internet domain owner, or other person or organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.
CONTEST PRIZE
Prize: ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE: Winner will receive a fan pack of John Lennon albums and t-shirts and promotion of his or her video as a part of the John Lennon 70th Birthday feature on Billboard.com. Winner will also receive a mention in Billboard Magazine. The maximum retail value (“MRV”) of the prize will not exceed $750. Prize is non-transferable and no substitution will be made except as provided herein in Administrator’s sole discretion. Administrator reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the designated prize should become unavailable for any reason. Winner is responsible for all federal, state, local, and any other carrier-related taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use and activation charges of the phone including any initial set up or other fees. Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received during the Promotion Period.
PUBLICITY
Except where prohibited by law, participation in the Contest constitutes winner’s irrevocable consent to the use of winner’s name, likeness, video, voice, opinions and/or biographical information including without limitation, hometown and state by Sponsor, Administrator and their agents or assignees for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.
JUDGING
Contest consists of two (2) rounds of evaluation. In Round One, a panel of Billboard.com editors and (the “Judges”) will each review all entries and select a group entries to proceed to the final round on the basis of creativity, style and the performance of a John Lennon song. One (1) entry will be chosen based on the largest amount of ‘Likes’ from fans on the Billboard fan page. In Round Two, visitors of Billboard.com will be asked to vote for their favorite submission of the chosen finalists.
Round One of evaluation will take place September 16 – October 1, 2010 at 11:59pm ET.
Round Two of evaluation will take place October 4 – October 7, 2010 at 11:59 ET.
Winner will be announced on Friday, October 8th,
Decisions of the Users and Judges are final and binding.
Sponsors reserve the right not to award the prize in the event an insufficient number of eligible entries meeting the minimum judging criteria are received, as determined by Sponsors and Judges in their sole discretion.
ENTRANT LICENSES/RELEASES
If the video contains any material or elements that are not owned by the entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, and/or if any persons appear in the video, the entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the video, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the video in the manner set forth in these Official Rules without additional compensation. If any persons appearing in any video is a minor in their state/province/territory of residence the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on each release.
Some restrictions apply. Each prize is subject to availability. No prize transfer, assignment or substitution by winners permitted. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute prizes.
By receipt of any prize, winner irrevocably agrees to defend, release and hold harmless Sponsor, Administrator, and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies, and prize suppliers, and each of their respective parent companies and each company’s officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of any and all liability for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, (i) preparation for, travel to, or participation in the Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Contest-related activity, (ii) any claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy and merchandise delivery, and (iii) any unauthorized use or misuse of or modification to the Grand Prize. Entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules, or who attempt to interfere with the Contest in any way shall be disqualified.
THIRD PARTY RELEASES/LICENSES
Upon Sponsor’s request, each entrant must be prepared to provide a signed written personal release from all persons who appear in the photograph submitted, authorizing Authorized Parties to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the video entry in connection with John Lennon Cover Song Contest, in any media now or hereafter known, including but not limited to: publication in Billboard magazines showcasing the winners; The John Lennon Cover Song Contest on Billboard.com; the John Lennon Cover Song Contest on billboard.com; and in exhibits and promotions related to the John Lennon Cover Song Contest. In addition, upon Sponsor’s request, each entrant must be prepared to provide a signed written license from the copyright owner of any sculpture, artwork or other copyrighted material that appears in the video entry, authorizing Authorized Parties to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the video in connection with John Lennon Cover Contest promotion of John Lennon Cover Contest, in any media now or hereafter known, including but not limited to: publication in Billboard magazines showcasing the winner of our John Lennon Cover Song Contest, the contest web page on billboard.com; and in exhibits and promotions related to the John Lennon Cover Song Contest.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
By participating, entrants release, discharge, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Sponsors and each of their respective partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in this Contest or any Contest-related activities and the acceptance and use, misuse, or possession of any prize awarded hereunder.
Sponsors assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; theft or destruction of or unauthorized access to Contest entries or entry forms; or alteration of entries or entry forms. Sponsors are not responsible for any problems with or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, human errors of any kind, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrants’ or any other persons’ computers related to or resulting from participation, uploading or downloading of any materials related to this Contest.
CONDITIONS
This contest is void where prohibited. This Contest is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Certain restrictions may apply. Sponsors are not responsible for late, lost, stolen, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, or postage-due mail. Entries void if Sponsors determine the entry to not be an original, or if the entries are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error or obtained through fraud or theft.
Participants shall (a) be bound by these Official Rules; (b) accept that the decisions of the Judges are final on all matters relating to the Contest; and (c) if he/she wins, consent that Sponsor may use each winner’s name, photograph, likeness, and/or voice in any publicity or advertising relating to the Contest or future promotions without compensation or approval (except in Tennessee and where prohibited by law). All federal, state and local taxes, fees and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize winners. In the event that the selected winner(s) of any prize are/is ineligible or refuses the prize, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsors, in their sole discretion, may choose whether to award the prize to another entrant.
RIGHT TO CANCEL OR SUSPEND CONTEST
If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, due to infection by computer virus, bugs, worms, trojan horses, denial of service attacks, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Sponsors that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual(s) who tamper with the entry process, and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. If Sponsors elect to cancel or terminate the Contest, Sponsors will not retain any rights in the submitted videos and will return the entry fees.
Know the Rules Before You Enter
Review the official rules before you enter, and only submit images that are eligible for judging. Images are subject to disqualification if they do not meet the terms outlined above.
Click here if you are ready to submit to the John Lennon Cover Song Contest.