Official Rules: La Zic × Fankee ADE Contest 2026

1. What It Is

The La Zic × Fankee ADE Contest is an artist discovery contest that puts emerging producers on a real release, chosen by the people who listen to them.

Artists submit their tracks on the dedicated contest page. La Zic then curates in two ways: six tracks are selected directly, and the remaining entries are narrowed down to a Top 20 shortlist that goes to a public vote. Our network of artists, DJs and music fans picks six winners from that shortlist.

Those twelve tracks, six curated and six voted by the community, one for every zodiac sign, are officially released on the album Zodiac Circus – ADE Special Edition on 16 October 2026, timed to Amsterdam Dance Event week and celebrated with a party at Beursplein, Amsterdam.

ADE Party: Friday 23 October, 18:00–22:00, at Cut Throat, Beursplein, Amsterdam.

2. How It Works

One page, three phases. The entire contest runs on a single URL that changes as the campaign moves forward.

3. Who Can Enter

Submissions are open to everyone. There is no genre gate, no follower requirement, and no entry fee.

Incomplete submissions cannot be considered for the shortlist.

Every entry is reviewed by Cristina & Antonio of La Zic, who select the six curated tracks and cut the remaining field down to the Top 20.

4. How The 12 Tracks Are Chosen

The release is built from two separate selections.

5. Voting Rules

• A Fankee account is required to vote. Registration is free and takes under a minute. Accounts prevent duplicate voting and keep the result clean.
• Each account gets one vote for the whole contest. Choose the track you most want on the release and spend it there. One account per person.
• All 20 shortlisted tracks are displayed with artist name and track name.
• Vote counts stay hidden for the entire voting window. No live leaderboard, no bandwagon effect: nobody sees the standings until the winners are announced.
• Votes decide everything. There is no social media engagement score, no streaming multiplier, and no jury override on the community six. The six most voted tracks win.
• Voting closes on 29 September. Winners are announced on 30 September and contacted directly by phone, with email as a backup.

6. What Winners Get

Each of the six community-voted winners receives:

• A place on the album Zodiac Circus – ADE Special Edition, out 16 October 2026 and distributed to all major DSPs.
• Mastering by Fankee, at no cost to the artist.
• A feature in both newsletters, La Zic and Fankee.
• A 1:1 mentorship session with Cristina & Antonio.
• Access to the ADE party at Beursplein, Amsterdam on Friday 23 October. Entry only: travel and accommodation are not included.

7. Release & Distribution Terms

• All 12 tracks are released on La Zic.
• Fankee masters the winning tracks and handles distribution to all Digital Streaming Platforms.
• The release opens with a window of roughly two weeks exclusive to Fankee, after which the tracks go out everywhere else, including Beatport. That is expected around 30 October 2026.
• Winning artists sign a standard release agreement with La Zic before distribution. That agreement sets out royalties and ownership for the release.
• The turnaround is tight, so artists must have their pre-master and final artwork ready at submission. If a winning artist cannot clear their track for release or deliver final assets in time, their place may pass to the next highest voted track.
• If a track has more than one artist, whoever submits it is responsible for having every collaborator's agreement, and is the person we work with for the release.

8. Timeline At A Glance

9. Purpose

Most emerging artists never get past the demo inbox. This contest replaces that inbox with an audience.

For artists, it is a route onto a real ADE-week release, chosen on the strength of the music rather than the size of a following. For our network of artists, DJs and fans, it is the chance to actually decide what gets released: not to comment on a decision already made, but to make it. And for Fankee, it is the full platform working end to end in public, from submissions and community voting to DSP distribution and stream tracking, all in front of La Zic's audience.

10. Legal Notes and Transparency

• The La Zic × Fankee ADE Contest 2026 is organised and managed by Fankee, a brand owned by Makehit S.r.l., headquartered in Milan, in partnership with La Zic.
• Participation is free. Submissions are open to all artists aged 18 or over. Voting is open to all registered users on www.fankee.com who fully accept these rules.
• Attendance at the ADE party is subject to the venue's own age and admission policy.
• By submitting a track, the artist confirms they hold all rights to the recording and to any samples or contributions it contains, and that the track is unreleased and free of existing distribution agreements. Where more than one artist is involved, the person submitting confirms they do so with the agreement of everyone credited.
• One account per voter. Makehit S.r.l. reserves the right to verify account and vote validity and to disqualify any participant using non-compliant tools or methods, such as bots, duplicate or purchased accounts and vote manipulation.
• Curatorial selection of both the Top 20 shortlist and the six directly chosen tracks rests with La Zic and is final.
• Prizes are personal and non-transferable, and cannot be exchanged for a cash alternative.
• Personal data submitted during the contest, including the phone number used to reach the winners, is processed by Makehit S.r.l. in line with the Fankee Privacy Policy.
• For technical or organisational reasons, Makehit S.r.l. may modify or update these rules by publishing the latest version on www.fankee.com.
• Participation in the contest implies full acceptance of these rules and any subsequent amendments.