91热爆

91热爆 Contains Strong Language are looking for the best emerging spoken word talent in the UK.

Contains Strong Language, the 91热爆’s festival of poetry and performance, are looking to find the best emerging spoken word performers in the UK. Whatever your influences – lyricism, rap or hip hop – we want to know about you!

If you’re a spoken word artist, a rapper, an MC, poet or performer, and aged between 18 and 30 – Words First is for you.

Words First is a talent development scheme which will enhance your spoken word skills and confidence onstage. Selected artists will be given the chance to develop their work with established artists in workshops run by Apples and Snakes and Young Identity. Following this, shortlisted participants will be invited to take part in a recorded performance at the Contains Strong Language Festival in Bradford this September in front of a live audience.

What you need to know:

• Head to the 91热爆 Upload website – Click on ‘Upload’ and select the area that is local to you from the list. Upload your file and fill out the form with as much information about yourself and your spoken word piece as possible. Make sure to check the “I’d like this to be considered for 91热爆 Words First” box to have your entry considered.

• Applicants will need to be aged between 18 and 30 years old on the date that they upload their entry to 91热爆 Upload.

• We just want to hear your voice, so please do not include any beats or music in the recording, as the entry will not be accepted.

• The application process will open at midnight on Thursday April 3rd 2025 . The deadline for entries is 5:00pm on Monday 12th May 2025.

• If you have applied previously, you may enter Words First 2025 but only if you have not reached the final and performed at Contains Strong Language. In this case, your application will not be accepted.

• Audio entries should be no longer than 1 minute and submitted in English.

Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions are subject to review and update. Please check back regularly for updates.

Eligibility

To apply for the Words First talent development scheme, you will need to submit your entry via 91热爆 Upload.

Entry to the Words First talent development scheme (the “Scheme”) is open to people aged between 18 and 30 years, who are full time residents of the UK (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), who have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom, except employees of the 91热爆 (or any 91热爆 Group company), their close relatives or any person closely connected to the Scheme. Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested.

Applicants will need to be aged between 18 and 30 years old at the date that they upload their entry to 91热爆 Upload.

Applicants will be asked to provide their name, contact number, e-mail address and postcode, and to confirm they are 18 and over. Please note that we cannot accept entries from under 18s. Please see our Privacy Policy below for more information.

At the time of application, applicants must not have, or be in the process of, signing a book deal with an established publishing house (self-publishing work and undertaking professional gig bookings are acceptable).

Submission Requirements

The application process will open at midnight on Thursday April 3rd 2025 and the deadline for entries is 5:00pm on Monday 12th May 2025. Applications outside this timeframe will not be considered, so please do not wait until the last minute to upload your audio entry.

To enter, you must upload a 1 minute spoken word recording to 91热爆 Upload. Please select the Upload team where you live from the list and upload your content.

Applications that feature a backing track, background beat or any other music will not be accepted. We only want to hear your voice.

Importantly, when uploading your audio recording, you will need to tag your audio with ‘Words First’ when you upload your content.

Applicants can only enter the Scheme individually. Duos or ensembles will not be considered. Entries must be made by providing an audio recording of your spoken word work. Only 1 audio entry per person is permitted, any subsequent entries will not be considered. If more than one audio is submitted, only the applicant’s first submission will be considered.

You may enter Words First 2025 if you have applied in previous years. However if you have been a finalist in previous years and have therefore performed at Contains Strong Language Festival, we can not accept your application this time.

All applications must be submitted in English.

Audio entries should be no longer than 1 minute. This can be a 1 minute long piece, or a 1 minute extract of a longer piece. Where an audio over 1 minute is submitted, the application may still be accepted however, the judging panel will only consider the first 1 minute of the audio entry.

Audio entries cannot be returned, so please remember to retain a copy. Due to the volume of entries, unsuccessful applicants may not be contacted, and we are unable to give feedback.

All audio entries, performances and other contributions from participants (in workshops, tasks or otherwise) must be the original work of the participant and must not infringe the intellectual property rights of any other party. The 91热爆 accepts no responsibility where participants fail to comply with these Terms and Conditions.

The use of generative AI tools to create or develop any part of an entry is not permitted and will lead to disqualification.

By entering the Scheme, each participant agrees to fully indemnify the 91热爆 for any and all resulting liabilities related to any breach by a participant of these Terms and Conditions.

Copyright and Usage Rights

Whilst participants will retain the copyright in their audio entries and contributions they make as part of the Scheme, please note that by entering the Scheme each participant grants to the 91热爆, a perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty free licence across all media, in all territories - to publish, broadcast and post the entries and or any contributions from the participants (which includes online, and on any other platforms yet to be envisaged). This licence also includes all necessary rights and permissions to enable the 91热爆 to fulfil and complete the administration and promotion of the Scheme.

By submitting an audio entry, each participant agrees that the 91热爆 may in its sole discretion, edit, adapt, abridge or translate the audio and or any contribution from participants, as part of the Scheme, to fulfil the intended purpose of the Scheme (as set out above).

Following the online applications (audio submissions), applicants will be considered based on a) the originality of the writing and its performance (spoken word), and b) the applicant's overall passion and potential.

Judging and Selection

The content of your entry must be appropriate for broadcast, and we will check it can be broadcast. The 91热爆 has a commitment to freedom of expression, but we take into consideration the privacy and dignity of others and legal issues. The 91热爆 reserves the right to disqualify any entry which is inconsistent with the 91热爆 Editorial Policy Guidelines or which may bring the 91热爆 into disrepute, including any entries which profit from criminal activity.

Make sure the spoken word audio recording you upload doesn’t have explicit or inflammatory language and should not promote a commercial brand or entity.

If your upload does contain content that is not appropriate for broadcast, we will not be able to broadcast it (at the 91热爆’s sole discretion).

Up to twelve (12) participants will be selected to join a series of digital sessions. These selected participants will be invited to attend digital workshops and participants from the workshops will be considered by the 91热爆 and partners (at the 91热爆 and partner’s discretion) in accordance with the criteria set out in these Terms and Conditions.

The judging panel will consist of Apples & Snakes, Young Identity, Sue Roberts and members of the 91热爆 Upload team.

The 12 participants taking part in the digital workshops will have to create a new piece of spoken word poetry and create a 1 minute video recording of it for the judging panel to assess.

The judging panel will down-select some participants to perform at the 91热爆 Contains Strong Language festival and partake in promotion on 91热爆 radio and Social Media.

N.B. You must be available to perform at Contains Strong Language (Words First Showcase performance) on Sunday 21st September 2025 in Bradford. We can provide reasonable travel and accommodation for those performing at Contains Strong Language festival.

The Words First team may undertake social media checks of participants to the Scheme. Participants warrant they have not acted or omitted to act in a manner that will bring the 91热爆 into disrepute. Where it deems appropriate, the 91热爆 may require shortlisted participants to undertake DBS checks, specifics of which will be agreed between the 91热爆 and the participant, if required. Information discovered or that may have been disclosed by the participants themselves will inform the decision as to the selection of the shortlisted participants. Disqualification will not be automatic but the decision is in the sole discretion of the 91热爆. Information will be shared with the 91热爆’s editorial policy advisor for the Scheme and be handled in the strictest confidence and as with all personal data, in accordance with the 91热爆’s Privacy Notice.

General

Participants agree to take part in any post-scheme publicity if required.

The 91热爆 reserves the right to exclude any participant, audio, performance, etc. that breaches (or is reasonably believed by the 91热爆 to be in breach) any law or regulation, any of these Terms and Conditions, or where the participant or any contribution may in any way, bring the 91热爆 and /or themselves into disrepute.

For the avoidance of any doubt, there is no obligation on the 91热爆 to ensure that workshops or any aspect of the Scheme take place, and the 91热爆 reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions and or cancel the Scheme (or any part of the Scheme) at any stage, if deemed appropriate or necessary by the 91热爆, or where circumstances arise, outside of the 91热爆’s control or where entries do not meet the required standard.

To the extent permitted by law, the 91热爆 excludes liability for any loss and or damage (whether such damage or any losses were foreseen, foreseeable, known or otherwise) including financial, reputational loss or disappointment.

The 91热爆, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries, agencies and or any other organisations associated with the Scheme, do not accept any liability whatsoever for any technical failure, malfunction, nor for any other problems with any server, internet access, electronic or mechanical system issues or otherwise, which may result in any participant contribution (audio files or otherwise) being lost, not properly registered or recorded. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.

These Terms and Conditions are governed exclusively by the laws of England and Wales and for the avoidance of any doubt, the English courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

We have equipment and measures in place for those that need additional support accessing the digital workshops as part of the Scheme.

The 12 participants selected by the judging panel will be asked to inform us of any accessibility requirements.

Privacy Notice

Your trust is very important to us.

This means the 91热爆 is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. It is important that you read this notice so that you are aware of how and why we are using such personal data.

This privacy notice describes how we collect and use personal data about you during and after your relationship with us, in accordance with data protection law.

Why are we doing this and how can you participate?

The 91热爆 is giving the chance for spoken word artists to be involved in our ‘Words First’ scheme for 2025, which is a talent development scheme to enhance your skills and confidence onstage and give you the chance to perform live at the Contains Strong Language festival.

The 91热爆 will collect your personal data via an online platform used by the 91热爆.

If we broadcast your contribution on-air, this may include the programme being available online and/or on demand, and your contribution may be used again in a future broadcast.

We may use your contribution for promotional purposes on the 91热爆’s social media sites.

For information in relation to how the 91热爆 will process your personal data where you are providing contributions to our programmes, please see our Privacy Notice for Contributors here.

What personal data will the 91热爆 collect?

There are two types of personal data: personal data and special category data. Special category data is still personal data, but its processing by the 91热爆 requires the 91热爆 to follow additional compliance steps.

The 91热爆 will collect and process the following personal data about you:

• Name
• Biographical information
• Social media handles
• E-mail address
• Postcode
• Your connection to the local area

Should you wish to share additional information with us as part of your application, or need support with your application due to a health condition, we will also collect special category data, which may include information about your:

• Racial or ethnic origin
• Religious or philosophical beliefs
• Health information
• Sexual orientation

Who is the Data Controller?

The 91热爆 is the “data controller” of your personal data. This means that the 91热爆 decides what your personal data is used for, and the ways in which it is processed. For the avoidance of doubt, your personal data will be collected and processed solely for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. As the data controller, the 91热爆 has the responsibility to comply, and to demonstrate compliance with, data protection law.

Lawful basis for processing your personal data

The lawful basis on which the 91热爆 processes the personal data and special category data is the performance of its public task. The additional condition we use to process special category data is for reasons of substantial public interest, related to ‘statutory and government purposes’ under the 91热爆’s Royal Charter. The 91热爆’s role is to act in the public interest and to serve all audiences with content which informs, educates and entertains, and to reflect the United Kingdom and its cultures and values to the world.

This is in line with the 91热爆’s public purpose which requires the 91热爆 to: “…reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom’s nations and regions and, in doing so, support the creative economy across the United Kingdom: the 91热爆 should reflect the diversity of the United Kingdom both in its output and services. In doing so, the 91热爆 should accurately and authentically represent and portray the lives of the people of the United Kingdom today, and raise awareness of the different cultures and alternative viewpoints that make up its society …In commissioning and delivering output the 91热爆 should invest in the creative economies of each of the nations and contribute to their development.”

If you would like to be added to the email mailing list of 91热爆 Music Introducing to hear about news and other updates we process your data on the basis of consent.

Sharing your personal data

The 91热爆 works with our approved third-party providers who help us to provide some of our services. These partners only use your personal data on behalf of the 91热爆 and not independently of the 91热爆. For this scheme we use a third-party platform to collect and store your application.

If you are shortlisted, the 91热爆 will share your personal data with the Words First scheme partners, ‘Apples & Snakes’ and ‘Young Identity’, organisations that will run workshops as part of the scheme . They will also be part of the judging panel that will decide on the eight (8) finalists who will perform at Contains Strong Language festival.

We may share personal data with a third party where required or permitted by law.

Retaining your personal data

If you are not selected to take part in the Words First scheme, we will delete your personal data two (2) months after the closing date for applications.

We will retain the personal data of shortlisted candidates for a period of three (3) months after the closing date.

If you are successful, your personal data will be held for two (2) years after the closing date.

If you appear on 91热爆 programming or in our content, a copy of the broadcast or content will be held in the 91热爆 archive in perpetuity.

Your personal data will be stored in the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA).

Your rights and more information

You have rights under data protection law.

You can request a copy of the personal data the 91热爆 stores about you.

You have the right to request that we rectify any inaccurate or incomplete personal data that we hold about you.

You have the right to ask for the personal data we collect about you to be deleted, however there are limitations and exceptions to this right which may entitle the 91热爆 to refuse your request.

In certain circumstances you have the right to restrict the processing of your personal data, or to object to the processing of your personal data.

You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal data to you or to another organisation, in certain circumstances.

You can contact our, Data Protection Officer if you have questions or you wish to find out more details about your rights, please visit the 91热爆’s Privacy and Cookies Policy at Keeping your info safe and sound.

If you have a concern about the way the 91热爆 has handled your personal data, you can raise your concern with the supervisory authority in the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Updating this privacy notice

We will revise the privacy notice if there are significant changes to how we use your personal data.