High School Students Can Showcase Their Musical Talent in the Your Song! Your Voice! New Jersey Shout Down Drugs Music Competition

November 19, 2020

   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 2020
Contacts: Natalie Golub, 973-382-4560, natalie@drugfreenj.org

 

MILLBURN — New Jersey high school students, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) wants to hear Your Song! Your Voice!  

High school students are invited to enter their substance use prevention messages through their original music as part of the music and song writing competition, “Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey.”, sponsored by New Jersey Broadcasters and 959.9-FM WRAT.

 “Music is a powerful tool that can be used to influence, inspire and sway people,’ said Angelo Valente, Executive Director at PDFNJ. “These peer-to-peer messages about substance use prevention could have an impact on other teens. It is an opportunity for young people to really be peer leaders, and to send an important message to their peers.”

The competition is designed to challenge New Jersey high school students to create original music and lyrics with powerful peer-to-peer substance use, misuse and prevention messages.  Entries are accepted through Friday, February 1, 2021. All music genres are welcomed from students interested in sharing their talent and inspiring messages about shouting down drugs and raising up their voices to inspire their peers.

It’s a privilege for the Rat to be involved in this musical endeavor with the very talented youth of our state,” said Jimmy Steal, Creative Services Director at WRAT. “Furthermore, we are proud to stand with the NJ Broadcasters Association and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey to Shout Down Drugs!”

The winner of the New Jersey Shout Down Drugs competition, as decided by judges and announced at the end of the Prevention Concert, will receive a $5,000 music contract. The second- and third-place performers will receive $3,000 and $2,000 music contracts, respectively, with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

“One of the best ways to reach teens and engage them in sharing a drug prevention message is through music. This competition not only gives entrants a chance to demonstrate the importance of living a drug-free lifestyle, but also lets them showcase their talent in the process.” Conclude Valente.

Formerly known as New Jersey Shout Down Drugssince 2005, Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey,has been rebranded with a new name that fully encompasses what the competition is about – challenging teens to deliver peer-to-peer original music, songs and lyrics in their original style, whether it be rap, hip-hop or any other genre.

For rules and information on how to enter the Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey music competition, contact Diane Higgins at 973-275-7985.

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Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $100 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 174 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations