Mixcloud is all about the community. Which is why we like to support each and everyone of our members, whether small or big. Competitions are a great chance for bedroom DJs to stand out and kickstart their careers with some of the biggest names in the music industry.

We know and support a heap of these initiatives however it’s pretty much impossible to add them all to the Competitions page. But that shouldn’t stop you from putting together a competition and host it on Mixcloud. So we’ve put together a little HowTo that will show you how to set up one:

1. Getting started

It’s up to you how you run your competition so it’s important to put in place some simple house rules and include your own Terms and Conditions, keep them in line with Mixcloud’s guidelines.

2. Competition guidelines

Introduce yourselves, explain what the competition is about and let them know what you’re looking for. Here are a couple of pointers:

• Content: decide and state what kind of genre entrants have to mix
• Judging: judge entrants on factors like originality, creativity, number of plays/ favourites, positive feedback, technical ability and honest opinion.

Make sure you clearly outline the logistical details needed to submit an entry, provide details of:

• Deadline
• Length of mix
• Title e.g. ‘Mixcloud DJ Competition’
• Tag it e.g. ‘Mixcloud Competition’ - If you fail to tag it correctly, your entry may be missed.
• Provide your own artwork
• Tracklist
• State eligible country(s)

It’s important that you create a unique tag (e.g. ‘Mixcloud Competition’); this will enable you to easily filter the entrant’s mixes when they’re submitted on the site.

3. Selecting the winner(s)

Thanks to our tagging system it’s really easy to collect all entries under one page (example here). This is why it’s really important to pick a unique tag for your competition – it will ensure that all the contestants using it are unique to your competition.

From the contestants you whittle down, it’s a good idea to either hand pick your winner(s) or have a panel of judges to decide (rather than just relying on number of plays/ favourites). It’s also a good idea to keep entrants up-to-date with the competition once the deadline has passed. Send them an email thanking them for their mixes and explain when the winner(s) will be announced.

4. Promoting your competition

We’re here to help host the contest as a platform, but we can’t promote all contests that take place. Create a page specifically linked to your contest (on your website/through Facebook) and include all the above details regarding deadlines, prizes and other general info about your competition. To really help promote it and to achieve a wide-spread outcome make sure to push it out on all your social media!

Good luck! For some inspiration on how to set out your profile, check out the DJcity Link Up competition which was hosted through the Mixcloud blog.

We are delighted to announce a media partnership for 2013 with our friends London Warehouse Events. LWE have rapidly established themselves as one of the biggest cross genre promoters in London.

As part of this partnership they are curating a fresh and innovative mix series on Mixcloud, showcasing cutting edge mixes across a broad spectrum of electronic genres. The partnership will also include a number of high profile DJ contests and lots of ticket giveaways for the Mixcloud community! A match made in heaven.

This weekend we are giving away tickets for the following LWE shows:

Friday 7th June – Skepta & Joker

Saturday 8th June – Cocoon

To get yourselves onto the Mixcloud guestlist for these shows, email competitions@mixcloud.com with the subject line “Mixcloud LWE Friday” or “Mixcloud LWE Saturday” and include all names for the list in your email.

Also a final reminder – we’re running a DJ comp with them to win a set at their massive 3rd birthday celebration. The competition closes tomorrow – go here for more information and to check out the entries so far.

And we wouldn’t leave you without some listening recommendations for this weekend – check out this Playlist of DJ sets and radio shows from artists playing at the Joker vs Skepta takeover on Saturday!

Joker vs Skepta 8th June 2013 on Mixcloud

In the second of our Classic Cloudcasts series, we’ve decided to call in the experts…

Southern Hospitality are a DJ collective, label, website, and are London’s foremost purveyors of upfront party rap. Rob Pursey is the DJ and man behind London’s legendary weekly party “Hip Hop Karaoke”, the monthly mayhem that is” Players Ball” and also “Rated R”. Check out Southern Hospitality on Mixcloud HERE. Learn more about their essential blog and follow them on Twitter.

We asked Rob to trawl through our extensive archive and pick out some of his favourites… the only surprise is that he managed to limit himself to 25….

A Guru tribute mixed by Premier here, a classic Pharcyde collection there, through classic 80′s cuts, all Ghostface Killa…. Mixes from the likes of Stretch ‘n’ Bobbito, Cosmo Baker, Scratch Bastid, DJ Shadow…Dang we’ve even got Cutmaster Swift in there. Get amongst the goodness.

Classic Cloudcasts #2: Hip Hop on Mixcloud

1. Keith ‘Guru’ Elam Tribute Mix – DJ Premier

Mixed live from HeadQCourterz by DJ Premier himself. This is THE Guru tribute.

2. Hip Hop, Breaks & Funk 45s, Picture & Flexi Discs – Kenny Dope

Despite his influence on club culture in general – never forget that Kenny Dope has his foundation in hip-hop. This mix here is the reminder.

3. Diamond D (With The Dope Sound) – Cosmo Baker

 Your favourite DJ’s favourite DJ Cosmo Baker compiles and mixes your favourite producer’s favourite producer Diamond D and the results are unsurprisingly dope.

4. Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Show – June 10th 1993

Any Stretch and Bob show is the definition of classic – but this is a true snapshot of the time just before the major releases at the end of 1993 (Wu, Snoop etc.) changed the rap landscape. Raw innocence.

5. 80s Rap Special – Breakin Bread

You want to know what rap sounded like in the 80s – Breakin Bread have given you the exact answer with this mix. Perfection.

6. Skratch Bastid – 110%

When it comes to Skratch Bastid, basically “on the two turntables you could say he’s nice”!

7. DJ MK & Shortee Blitz – 90s East Coast/West Coast Mix

Few people have wrecked more clubs, festivals and stadiums than DJ MK and Shortee Blitz, and this set taking on the age old coastal battle shows exactly why.

8. Ratchet World – Mixed By Rob Pursey & Davey Boy Smith

Spin Magazine included this in their Top 40 Hip-Hop Albums of 2012 as Southern Hospitality brought you the defining sound of hip-hop in 2013…a year early.

9. Phill Most Chill – Most Of My Heroes Don’t Appear On No Stamp

Phill Most Chill was almost a lost hip-hop legend himself so who better to give this lesson in those records that are the foundation, including some incredible exclusives!

10. Topman Ctrl. Mixtape Vol. 2 – The 2 Bears – The Nod Factor

Best known for their festival anthem making and festival slaying antics – the 2 Bears’ Raf Daddy goes back to his hip-hop roots for this impeccable mix of well-known and slept on gems.

11. Westwood – 2013 Year Of The Big Dawg

Pretty much every year since the mid-80s has been the year of the Big Dawg, but Westwood shows he hasn’t missed a beat with the run of DJ Mustard/League Of Starz bangers that start this mix the definition of cutting edge.

12. Best Of The Bay – DJ Eleven

Originally from Oakland himself, NYC and The Rub’s DJ Eleven takes it back home for a celebration of the locale that creates all the new rap styles with nothing but West Coast classics to ride out to.

13. DJ Shadow at KCRW Radio USA 2002-04-19

You’ve got to love it when Shadow goes back to his hip-hop roots dropping all his Soleside crew cuts alongside early N.O. bounce classics from Juvenile!

14. Terry Urban Presents: Nas x Amy Winehouse – Mr. & Mrs. Jones

Terry Urban is one of the most creative club DJs out there and shows this one more time by fully realising one of the most natural collaborations in rap and soul music.

15. Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde: Official 20th Anniversary Mixtape – Chris Read

The 20 year anniversary of one of the most loved albums of all time, was marked by this typically impeccable mix from one of the UK’s finest Chris Read.

16. Live From Sound Museum Vision In Tokyo, Japan 8/31/12 – DJ Evil Dee

Evil Dee brings that classic NYC grimy, diggin vibe to the Japanese public.

17. Cutmaster Swift The 4th Imperial Mixer (1987 – A Forgotten Mixtape)

Time-capsule alert! 100% certifed UK DJ legend Cutmaster Swift lets go a classic mix from the days when Hip-Hop was initially exploding in London.

18. Spin Doctor: Breaks, Beats, Rhymes & Life – A Tribute To Tribe

Who better to do this tribute to ATCQ than one of the main men keeping their legacy alive throughout the world with his many Tribe related events.

19. Radio Vah-Deem – Hot Sh*t For Hot Days – DJ Vadim

DJ Vadim proves one again that his unique take on hip-hop and associated beats will always be welcomed.

20. Mixcloud ‘History Of UK Hip-Hop’ Live Set’ – Disorda (Suspect Packages)

No-one has represented UK Hip-Hop like Disorda and this special live set of the foundations of the scene is the greatest trip down memory lane.

21. The Cut – Vol. 1 Episode 1. Pt. 1 – DJ Revolution

You miss that boom-bap? There’s no need to with this series from one of the undisputed best out there – DJ Revolution.

22. DJ Jazzy Jeff & Mick Boogie – Summertime Mixtape Vol. 1

Jazzy Jeff is everyone’s favourite DJ and Mick Boogie is the master of the mixtape. This is their first ode to summer. Nuff said.

23. Ghostface (Chamber Music) – Mixed by DJ Ayes & DJ Soul

Over 70 minutes of raw Tony Starks goodness? DJ Ayres and DJ Soul we salute you!

24. DJ Cable – Valentine’s 2013 Mix

Cable shows that hip-hop needs love too on this butter smooth mix.

25. 7″ Mix Vol. 1 – DJ Matman

All 7″ pressings? Check. All pure dopeness? Check. Respect to Matman.

Tempted yet? Hold on, we can help. For a chance to win 2 x 2 tickets to the festival plus 8 vinyl records from the Concrete label email joe+weatherfestival@mixcloud.com with the subject line ‘Weather Festival WIN’ and tell us why we should give them to you. Feel free to let your French go wild!

Latest Weather Festival’s Cloudcasts on Mixcloud

The crew chose 3 very special places to illustrate the Weather Festival in which 4 huge parties will take place during the three days. Eight official events in total will take place during the festival and the other places.

1. “Palais des Congrès de Montreuil”

The highlight of Weather Festival is a unique gathering, something never seen in Paris and surroundings. Over 13 000 people are expected at the Palais des Congrès of Montreuil (right outside Paris – metro access) to celebrate for 18 hours non-stop on two floors artists such as Marcel Dettman, Chris Liebing, Len Faki, Robert Hood, Nina Kraviz, Margaret Dygas…

Particular attention will be paid to design and decoration, installations or mapping, Vj’ing and lights will combine around a unique scenography thought for the occasion. For this event, more than 70 tons of technical equipment and over 300 speakers will be necessary to equip, inspire and transform this industrial palace into an electro cathedral.

 2. Concrete

Friday 17th and Sunday 19th, Weather Festival is welcoming you in a very special place in the heart of Paris on the Quaker. Board aboard the European largest barge for two amazing musicals sessions on two floor !

3. SIRA

SIRA is a former printing house that became a huge 4000 m2 phalanx in Asnières sur Seine (Paris suburb). Since the end of 2011, it has hosted numerous artists from different backgrounds and offers 2 floors of work, creation, performance and life space. Its warehouse style makes it an atypical place which indoor and outdoor spaces come to life to the rhythm of day and night. “

Group stages

“From over 600 DJs submitting a 30 min mix, my mix secured me a place in North England’s top 10 and the heat was held at Joshua Brooks, Manchester. 10 DJs played that night in an intense 15-minute mix off; I played my set 2nd and got an amazing reaction from the crowd. The winner was announced 3rd and 2nd and then my name was called out.”

After winning the heat in Manchester Andy flew to Ministry of Sound in London to take on 5 of the top DJs from each region in the UK for a place in the Grand Final in Stockholm, Sweden. He impressed judges with his technical ability and energy behind decks to win the final: “I’m very open minded about dance playing anything from House, Tech House, Progressive, Techno and Trance. I guess my versatility as a DJ came through, but ultimately, it’s the connection you make with crowed is what makes a great DJ and once you master that it’s a whole new level.”

Since winning

“ I’ve just been made one of the new residents at the Mighty Lush, Portrush, which is one the biggest clubs in the UK. I played alongside Above & Beyond on the 6th of April at Lush and will be warming up for Dash Berlin on the 25th May. I’ve played throughout different clubs in Northern Ireland and Ibiza is looking good for this year too, with dates at Bora Bora. I also have other gigs with Ministry of Sound for later in the year…Before the competition I was asking promoters to play in clubs now they are asking me!”

Tips

“Movida Corona provided me with an opportunity to show off my talent as a DJ and I have thrived on it. I have met DJs from all over the UK and Europe and would class them now as friends; we all still keep in touch. I would recommend every DJ enter the Movida Corona, what’s the worst that could happen? If anything, you will gain experience and that all helps to becoming a better DJ.”

 Well done to Andy! Here with his winning mix from last year.

Movida Corona International DJ Contest by Andy Condie on Mixcloud

Reckon you’ve got what it takes to become the next Movida Corona DJ champion? Don’t forget to enter this year’s competition here: http://bit.ly/YEg3U8

OptiSonic is an uplifting immersive multisensory playground featuring spectacular lighting, sound and visuals.

The submission phase is now open for 10 days to play the OptiSonic party, part of the Art of the Moment multimedia Festival taking place in London in May.

We’re looking for one fresh, outstanding set showcasing plenty of personal style and a creative approach to electronica and experimental sounds.

The winner will be chosen to perform a one hour set alongside Ninja Tune and other juicy UK-based artists on 11th May.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make your mark and to meet other live VJs producers and DJs.

How to enter:

>Submit a thirty-minute mix

>Entrants must be 18 years of age or older and reside in the United Kingdom

>Title the mix OptiSonic and add an accurate tracklist

>Tag it with OptiSonic. If you fail to tag it correctly, your entry may be missed

>Include the competition cover-art, provided here

>We’re not going to judge it on the amount of hits it gets only. We’re going to judge it by style, originality and our honest personal opinion.

OptiSonic is the Art of the Moment festival Saturday night after party. Ninja Tune’s Matt Black, Mr Faff, Evil Zed, Alphabets Heaven, Fabrizio D’Amico, the London VJ Group and more juicy DJs and VJs on the current UK scene will make live A/V shows and offer up creative approaches to electronica, glitch and dub.

Just like last year’s event, this year’s link up was a great opportunity for UK DJs to network, put faces to names, discuss their local scenes, and other topics. Check out what went down.

DJing will always to a great passion of mine so to have it as my full time job is pretty awesome. I am touring, making music and enjoying my life of music based here in Ibiza.

I have been playing for 20 years now and at the moment I am more excited about DJing than I was when I started. The music is great, the vibe fresh, and there is a barrage of innovative technology that allows me to get much more creative with my mixing. Electronic music is the headlining act on the world stage  and I’m happy to be involved!

Our MAINroom Ibiza party was launched at Pacha Ibiza in 2011 and now tours internationally. Our agency which formed early this year promotes the best Ibiza talent and a few hot new producers with party dates around Ibiza and beyond. MAINroom music will be launched at the beginning of the summer and will feature music from myself and our MAINroom agency DJ’s. Things are looking hot for 2013! Its a very rewarding time for me and the MAINroom team.

Latest Sarah Main’s Cloudcasts on Mixcloud

Record Store Day is something worth celebrating. It all started when 700 independent stores in 2007 in the U.S. came together to share their cultural significance, the U.K. followed suit the following year and the event has grown ever since. Special vinyl and CD releases are offered exclusively on the day from a wide variety of record labels, while one-off performances and other festivities are happening across the country’s finest record stores today. We’ve compiled a list of relevant Cloudcasts to get you in the mood, but make sure you get out there and support your favourite local record store too!

Music writer for God Is In The TV, The Needle Magazine and his own blog, the mighty Mr Scott has complied a mixtape featuring some of the finest Record Store Day releases this year.

Record Store Day 2013 Preview Mix by Mrscottcompilations on Mixcloud

The mysterious DJHighPrrr’s debut Cloudcast is “is intended to encourage you to go to your local record store (and other shops if you can) more than one day per year’. That’s good enough for us.

The ‘Record Store Day’ MixCD for April 20th, 2013 by Djhighprrr on Mixcloud

Of course it’s not just in the U.K. and U.S. that Record Store Day is celebrated, Diggin in the Crates from Germany have put together a fine show. Caballo introduces an interview with RSD Germany coordinator Jan Kopke, while Frahm shines the spotlight on vinyl imprint Andre Michelle Records and the music is dedicated to the day’s limited editions.

Sendung 26 – Record Store Day (RSD) by Diggininthecrates on Mixcloud

Dresden’s Uncanny Valley label have uploaded an old mix they made for Record Store Day in 2011, featuring an in-store gig at Berlin’s OYE Records, a chat with the shop’s head honcho Markus Linder and exclusive music from labels like Retreat, Kann and Clapz II Dogz.

UV Funk 001: Record Store Day Special by Uncanny Valley on Mixcloud

Meanwhile, Italy’s Championship Vinyl marks the day with a show full of its usual brand of alternative rock on Versus Radio.

Championship Vinyl – Puntata 15 – 15/04/2013 by Championship Vinyl on Mixcloud

It’s not just the independent’s supporting RSD though, with the esteemed Guardian Music Weekly podcast dedicating their Singles Club feature to the exclusive tracks made available on Saturday.

Music Weekly podcast: Coachella festival and Houndmouth by Guardian Music Weekly on Mixcloud

While the weather may not be cooperating, us here at Mixcloud towers are adamant that Spring has sprung. So much so, that we’ve compiled a playlist to soundtrack an April day of rejuvenation, re-invigoration and revitalisation. Here’s a Cloudcast for every hour of the day:

Mixcloud Spring Playlist 2013 on Mixcloud

8am: up an at em’ with a fresh blast of news from the Beeb

BBC World Update: 10 Apr 13 Dan Damon from Korean Border

9am: some Spring funk’n’soul to get you out of bed, courtesy of the Qdup Foundation and Fort Knox Recordings

Fort Knox: Qdup presents Spring Selection Mix 2013

10am: time for a morning workout, sound-tracked by fitmix’s full on cheesy-gym-house Ready, Set, Sweat! Vol. 8

fitmix.fm: fitmix.fm – Ready, Set, Sweat! Vol. 8

11am: you’ve earned an hour off, so lose yourself in Beethoven’s Third Symphony

Classical Masterpieces: Beethoven’s Symphony Nr.3, the “Eroica”

12pm: lunchtime is here, so let The Splendid Table team inspire you with a range of culinary delights

The Splendid Table 506: Seasonal Seafood

1pm: into the afternoon with some Spring cleaning. Ease yourself into the chores with Pixel Grease’s early jazz and swing mix

Pixel Grease: Spring Cleaning Crackle & Hiss Vol.2

2pm: then fuel your elbow grease with Kozmo’s heavy-hitting drum’n’bass selections

Kozmo: Spring Cleaning

3pm: and relax… vicariously get back to nature with the Nature Podcast

Nature Podcast: 04 April 2013

4pm: expand your mind with an hour of Alec Baldwin chatting to Thom Yorke

Here’s the Thing: Thom Yorke

5pm: rather than sticking on the telly, why not listen to NPR welcome the sixth season of Mad Men

NPR Fresh Air: This Spring, Rejoice At Rebirth Of ‘Mad Men’

6pm: assuming there hasn’t been a miraculous meteorological change, you’ll be needing some tropical flavas; let Mixtape Riot head honcho Charlie B Wilder take you on a trip

Brooklyn Radio: Mixtape Riot #008

7pm: from Hawaii to Tallinn now, with Oh So Retro’s Spring mixtape of what DJ Madis Aija has been playing in the Estonian boutique

Oh So Retro: Spring 2013 by DJ Madis Aija

8pm: last, but definitely not least, Mixcloud co-founder Nico Perez presents a mix for the night-times

Nico ‘Rez’ Perez: Mystics and Moonlight