QUALIFIER
OVERVIEW
The SvS US OPEN is an annual national tournament conducted under the rules and regulations of Music-Performance Sports (MPS) and the Song vs Song Sports League (SvS). The tournament features 32 independent artists (MPS-Athletes) competing in a single-elimination bracket for the prestigious US OPEN title, championship recognition, prize money, and an automatic qualification into the 2027 SvS–U.S. Championship. The SvS US OPEN serves as one of the premier qualifying events within the MPS competitive calendar and provides artists with an opportunity to earn national exposure through head-to-head song competition.
GAME INFORMATION
Tournament Name: SvS US OPEN
Sanctioning Body: Music-Performance Sports League (MPSL)
Platform: Music-Performance Sports (MPS)
League: Song vs Song Sports League (SvS)
Competition Format: Single-Elimination Tournament
Field Size: 32 Players
Division: Solo Division
Competition Platform: Online
SUBMISSIONS
Submission Period
August 1 – August 30
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility Requirements
Participants must:
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Be at least 18 years of age.
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Own or control rights to submitted music.
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Submit one original song.
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Provide a radio-edited version if selected.
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Have music available through Spotify, Apple Music, or another approved streaming platform.
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Agree to all MPS rules, regulations, and scoring procedures.
SONG SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
SONGS POWERED BY:
All songs submitted for gameplay in the SvS US OPEN must comply with the following standards:
Song Eligibility
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All competing songs must be submitted as radio-edited (clean) versions.
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Songs containing explicit language or content requiring an explicit designation are not eligible.
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Songs must be commercially available and actively listed on Spotify and/or Apple Music.
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Songs may not contain featured artists, guest performers, collaborative credits, or co-billed performers.
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The competing artist must be the sole credited performer on the submitted recording.
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Artists may submit only one song for tournament consideration.
Music Registration & Royalty Compliance
Music-Performance Sports League strongly encourages all participants to properly register their music to ensure they receive all royalties generated through streaming and public performance activity.
Artists should register their works with:
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ASCAP (www.ascap.com)
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BMI (www.bmi.com)
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SoundExchange (www.soundexchange.com)
Proper registration helps artists collect:
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Performance Royalties
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Mechanical Royalties
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Digital Performance Royalties
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Neighboring Rights Royalties
Streaming & Royalty Disclaimer
The Music-Performance Sports League (MPSL), Song vs Song Sports League (SvS), and their affiliates do not collect, administer, distribute, or guarantee royalty payments associated with music streams.
All streaming royalties generated through Spotify, Apple Music, or any other Digital Service Provider (DSP) remain the sole responsibility of the DSP, distributor, publisher, performing rights organization, and rights holder.
MPSL assumes no responsibility for tracking, collecting, auditing, or distributing royalties resulting from tournament participation.
Artists are solely responsible for ensuring their recordings, publishing, and royalty registrations are properly established before entering competition.
ENTRY FEES
Registered Players
Artists currently registered with Music-Performance Sports are eligible for the discounted registration rate.
Entry Fee: $25
Non-Registered Players
Artists who are not currently registered with Music-Performance Sports must pay the standard tournament entry fee.
Entry Fee: $50
Payment Terms
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Entry fees are non-refundable unless the tournament is canceled by the League.
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Submission materials will not be reviewed until payment is received.
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Entry fees must be paid before the August 30 submission deadline.
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Registration does not guarantee tournament selection if the field exceeds 32 entrants.
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The League reserves the right to close registration once the tournament field reaches capacity.
PLAYER SELECTION
If more than 32 eligible entries are received, the SvS Selection Committee will determine the final tournament field based on:
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Song Quality
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Competitive Readiness
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Compliance with Submission Requirements
Selected participants will be notified following the conclusion of the submission period.
GAME FORMAT
32-PLAYER SINGLE-ELIMINATION
A total of 32 players will be selected and placed into the game bracket.
Each matchup is a head-to-head competition.
The winner advances to the next round while the losing artist is eliminated.
Tournament Rounds
Round: Dates: Players: 1st Sept 16 - 19 32
2nd Sept 23 - 26 16
Quarterfinal Oct 1 8
Semifinal Oct 2 4
Championship Oct 3 2
OFFICIAL SCORING SYSTEM
All games utilize the official Music-Performance Sports (MPS) Standard Scoring System.
Performance Points (PPs)
Official judges score songs in three categories:
Category Score Range
Delivery 1–10
Song Quality 1–10
Radio Readiness 1–10
Combined Maximum Judge Score
30 Performance Points
Public Voting Points (PvPs)
Fans score songs through the official voting platform.
Public ratings are converted into Public Voting Points (PvPs) and combined with Performance Points.
Final Match Score
Performance Points (PPs) + Public Voting Points (PvPs) = Final Match Score
The artist with the highest combined score advances.
Final Match Score
Performance Points (PPs) + Public Voting Points (PvPs) = Final Match Score
The artist with the highest combined score advances.
The SvS US OPEN Champion will receive:
Champion Prize Package
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$500 Cash Prize
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Official SvS US OPEN Championship Title
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SvS US OPEN Champion Digital Trading Card
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Automatic Bid into the 2027 SvS–U.S. Championship
The champion receives the 1st slot in the SvS-US Championship game in January.
Click on the logo below to learn more about the SvS-U.S. Championship.
