Frequently Asked Questions

Insta Music League by TSC Academy (IML) 2025 is India's first digital reality music competition organized by TSC Academy. It's an online competition where you can showcase your original musical talent through Instagram Reels, get judged by industry experts like Sandesh Shandilya, Prasad Khaparde, and Rohit Sobti, and win cash prizes worth ₹10 Lakh plus exclusive scholarships to TSC Academy.

December 7, 2025 at 11:59 PM is the last date to submit your entries. All submissions must be completed by this deadline to be considered for judging.

The competition is open worldwide to individuals aged 18 years or older. You can participate with your original song as:

• Solo singer-songwriters
• Music producers
• Bands
• Song creator groups

Note: Employees of TSC Academy, its affiliates, judges, and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate.

One person can submit up to 5 different entries and one original song per entry. Each entry must be an original composition and should be submitted following the complete submission process outlined in the competition guidelines.

1. Step -1 Record: Record your voice in a calm, quiet setup. Phone recordings work - we want raw talent!
2. Step -2 Upload: Upload as a Reel on Instagram, and send collab request to @The_Shakti_Collective and use hashtag #IMLbyTSC
3. Step -3 Apply: Fill the application form to officially enter the competition

No! Professional studio recordings are not required. You can record your performance on a mobile phone. The focus is on raw, clean talent rather than expensive equipment. Just make sure to record in a calm, quiet setup for clear audio quality.

We accept: Scratch, Premix, and final mix versions - all are acceptable as long as they showcase your raw talent.

• Your Instagram profile must be set to Public for the duration of the contest
• You must be following @The_Shakti_Collective
• In your Reel caption, you MUST tag @The_Shakti_Collective
• You MUST use the hashtag #IMLbyTSC
• Entries from private accounts are ineligible

Your submission must be completely original work. This means:

• The composition, lyrics, and melody must be your original creation
• It must not be a copy, modification, or cover of any existing work
• It must not have been previously published, licensed, or submitted elsewhere
• You must own all rights, title, and interest in the work
• It must not infringe upon or violate any third-party intellectual property rights

Important: Covers, remixes, or modifications of existing songs are NOT considered original work and will result in disqualification.

AI Usage Prohibited: NO AI generated Composition, Lyrics or Singing is allowed. If AI usage is found, you will be disqualified immediately.

No. Cover songs, remixes, modifications, or adaptations of existing work are not allowed. Only completely original compositions are eligible. Submissions that are copies, modifications, or covers of existing work will be automatically disqualified.

Entries are judged on the following criteria:

• Originality - The work must be completely original
• Artistic Merit - Quality and creativity of the composition
• Emotional Depth - The ability to connect with listeners
• Musicality - Technical skill and musical ability
• Lyrical Content - Quality and originality of lyrics
• Overall Impact - The overall impression and memorability

The decisions of the judges are final and binding.

The competition has three rounds:

1. Round One - Entry Submission: All valid entries are reviewed by a preliminary panel
2. Round Two - Shortlisting: Top 500 entries are shortlisted
3. Round Three - Final Round: Up to 200 finalists are evaluated by our expert judges: Sandesh Shandilya, Prasad Khaparde, and Rohit Sobti

The total prize pool is ₹10 Lakh + Exclusive Scholarships. The prizes include:

• Grand Prize Winner (1): ₹5,00,000 + Full Academy Access (until 31st Dec 2026) + Music Video Creation on the winning entry
• 1st Runner Up (1): ₹1,00,000 + 100% TSC Academy Scholarship (until 31st Dec 2026)
• 2nd Runner Up (1): ₹50,000 + 100% TSC Academy Scholarship (until 31st Dec 2026)
• X-Factor Awards (2): ₹25,000 each + 100% TSC Academy Scholarship for one course of their choice (until 31st Dec 2026)
• Special Mention (10): ₹10,000 each + 50% TSC Academy Scholarship for one course of their choice (until 31st Dec 2026)
• Top 50: 50% Scholarship for One Course (until 31st Dec 2026)
• Top 106: 25% Scholarship for One Course (until 31st Dec 2026)

Winners will be notified via Instagram Direct Message on the account they used to submit their entry. You must respond within 72 hours to claim your prize. Make sure your Instagram account remains active and accessible.

All prizes will be given post publishing the content. This means prizes (cash rewards and scholarships) will be distributed after the winner's content has been officially published by TSC Academy. Winners will be notified of the exact timeline for prize distribution during the winner notification process.

By submitting your entry, you grant TSC Academy (Shakti Collective LLP) a non-exclusive license to use your work for promotional purposes. However, if you are selected as a winner (any of the top 15), you will assign all worldwide rights to TSC Academy (Shakti Collective LLP). This includes the right to adapt, modify, commercialize, and exploit the work. The Organizer will enter into a separate agreement with winners regarding this. Please read the full Terms & Conditions for complete details.

For additional questions or support, please:

• Follow @The_Shakti_Collective on Instagram for updates and announcements
• Read the complete Competition Terms & Guidelines
• Check the Competition Rules page