Sam Smith Residency & BBC Introducing Talent Search - Terms & Conditions

28 July 2026

Eligibility

1. The BBC is the organiser of this talent search.

2. The talent search is not open to employees, agents or contractors of the BBC or any of its subsidiaries, their immediate families or any other person connected or involved with the talent search. Entrants must be aged 18 or over at the closing date of the 5th August 2026

3. To enter the talent search you must reside and have the right to work in the United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man). Overseas entries will not be considered.

4. The opportunity is subject to checks including eligibility to work and the BBC isn't responsible for failure to obtain any permissions.

To help the judges understand more of your current position, if you are shortlisted you will be asked about the support you already have, if any, and if you have an established team around you. The following information will be asked for.

Do you have one of the following and if so, who are they;

a. Radio Plugger

b. Manager

c. Label

d. Distributor

e. Publisher

If you have one or more of the above this will not necessarily mean you are ineligible. However, we need this information to properly consider your entry.

6. You must be available to perform at Sam Smith's residency dates from the 3rd -19th September 2026.

How to enter

7. The talent search opens at 00:01 Wednesday 29th July 2026. Entries received before this date will not be considered.

8. The closing time for entries is on 23:59:59 on Wednesday 5th August 2026. Submissions received after this time will not be considered.

9. To enter, you must upload a track to the BBC Introducing Uploader. Your track should be one that you'd play in your set and represents you the best as an artist.

9.1. It must be an original composition to the BBC Introducing Uploader. Your original composition should be with you as the lead composer, either as an individual or as part of a group. If composed as part of a group, all relevant members of the group must give their consent for the original composition to be used for the purposes of this talent search and agree to be bound by these T&Cs.

9.2. It's important to note that when uploading the track you will need to tag your original composition 'Sam Smith' in the Introducing Uploader. Tracks will only be considered if they are tagged as 'Sam Smith' using the tag functionality during the dates above. If you have already uploaded to Introducing, you can tag an existing track with this tag provided that it complies with these terms and conditions.

10. The BBC may request use of the visual recordings to share on its platforms and you must be able to provide the original footage if requested.

11. Only one entry per artist is permitted. If you submit more than one entry, only the first entry received will be considered.

12. Entries must not contain any defamatory, offensive or any other unsuitable language or material. Entries must be suitable to be broadcast by the BBC according to its guidelines.

13. Unsuccessful candidates will not be contacted to inform them that they were unsuccessful.

14. Entries cannot be returned so please retain a copy.

Judging Process

15. The uploaded entries will be judged through the following process: All submitted entries will be reviewing by the local BBC Introducing shows to create a longlist of artists.

16. A panel from BBC Music HQ will review entries longlisted by the local BBC Introducing Shows, who will then pass on a shortlist to Sam Smith to then select the final artists. The selected artists will be contacted no later than Friday 28th August (date subject to change). You will not be contacted if you don't make it. The selected artists will be required to answer a number of questions including confirmation that they are available for one of the dates required to open for one of Sam Smith's residency shows.

17. If the selected artists cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts have been made or is not available on the required days for performing, the BBC reserves the right to select an alternative entrant to be one of the chosen artists.

18. A selection of entrants may also be interviewed by the BBC as part of the Talent Search and asked to help promote or market the Talent Search. Please note, if you are one of the shortlisted artists, you may be contacted by various members of the industry, it is important to do your research before signing up to anything. The BBC will not be responsible for your actions during or after the experience. Duty of care during this process is extremely important to the BBC and we have a plan in place to support the artists throughout.

The Opportunity

19. The chosen acts will have the opportunity to open at one of the dates of Sam Smith's upcoming UK residency from the 3rd - 19th September. There is no cash alternative, and the opportunity cannot be deferred or transferred in any circumstances. The BBC is not responsible for any element or change to the opportunity that is outside of its control.

20. Travel and accommodation will not be covered by the BBC. No other expenses shall be covered unless expressly agreed by the BBC.

21. The selected artists may be asked to do promotion on BBC radio stations, the wider BBC channels and social media promotion.

22. The performance may be shared across BBC channels to promote the talent search event.

23. The opportunity is to open one of the 10-night Sam Smith residency shows in Manchester and London. There is no cash alternative, and the opportunity cannot be deferred or transferred in any circumstances. The BBC is not responsible for any element or change that is outside of its control.

24. The selected artists may be asked to do promotion on BBC radio stations, the wider BBC channels and social media promotion.

25. The performances may be shared across BBC channels post broadcast to promote the talent search event.

General

27. The BBC has a policy of inclusion and it's important this Talent Search is accessible to all. If you are shortlisted, we will ask for any mental or physical health conditions temporary or permanent so we can provide adequate support if you progress through the competition.

28. You irrevocably and in perpetuity grant all consents and waive all rights necessary for the BBC to film and record your contribution and to use recordings featuring the track and your image and/or voice and to exploit the same in any and all media now known or in future invented throughout the world in perpetuity without further liability to you.

29. In respect of the BBC's filming and recording of your contribution, you hereby with full title guarantee irrevocably assign to the BBC all rights in your contribution for the BBC to use it throughout the universe in all languages in perpetuity.

30. Entrants retain all rights in their entries but grant to the BBC a non-exclusive licence to broadcast their entry across all media (including use in all media now known or which may hereafter become known) including use on any online platforms. Any visual recordings provided for the shortlisting stage will be subject to the same licence conditions.

31. Entrants warrant that they have obtained all rights necessary to grant the BBC the licence, and that their entry does not infringe the rights of any other party. The BBC accepts no liability if entrants ignore these rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify the BBC against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these rules.

32. Entrants permit the BBC to edit or change entries in any way it may in its sole discretion consider necessary for the purposes of use in the talent search and the uses set out in these rules.

33. By entering the talent search, entrants warrant that they have the legal capacity to enter the talent search and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. The BBC aims always to be inclusive to do so we require some information so that we can assess how best to support you throughout the process.

34. The BBC Introducing team may undertake social media checks of entrants to the Sam Smith Residency BBC Introducing Talent Search. Entrants warrant they have not acted or omitted to act in a manner that will bring the BBC or themselves into disrepute. Where it deems appropriate, the BBC may require shortlisted entrants to undertake DBS checks, specifics of which will be agreed between the BBC and the entrant if required. Information discovered or that may have been disclosed by the entrants themselves will inform the decision as to the selection of the finalists. Disqualification will not be automatic but the decision is in the sole discretion of the BBC. Information will be shared with the BBC's editorial policy advisor for the talent search and be handled in the strictest confidence and as with all personal data, in accordance with the BBC's Privacy Notice.

35. The BBC's Privacy Notice and the BBC's Terms of Use applies to all entries in this talent search. For the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of the Terms of Use entries to the talent search are not considered a creation.

36. To the extent there is any inconsistency between the BBC Terms of Use and these Terms and Conditions, these Terms and Conditions shall take precedence.

37. You are reminded that your participation in this BBC talent search (including the successful candidates) cannot be used in commercial advertising or promotions, to attract external funding, to lobby or campaign, or to attract donations.

38. The BBC's decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

39. The BBC reserves the right to disqualify any entry which breaches any of these Terms and Conditions, who has acted fraudulently in any way, or who (in the BBC's sole discretion) brings or could bring the BBC into disrepute.

40. The BBC reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions or cancel this talent search at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside its control. In this event, a notice will be posted on the Introducing website www.bbc.co.uk/introducing

41. The BBC does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem with any server, Internet access system, programme software or otherwise which may result in any entry being late or not being properly registered or recorded.

42. To the extent permitted by law, the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage (whether such damage or losses were foreseen, foreseeable, known or otherwise) including financial, reputational loss or disappointment.

38. These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

1. The BBC is committed to keeping your personal data secure. It is important that you read this notice so that you are aware of how and why we are using such information.

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

3. You can find additional information here. Find out more about information and privacy.

What information we will collect and our lawful basis

4. The BBC will process the personal information that you provide to us when you submit an application, including your name, email address, telephone number, social media handle, and your audio/ visual submission.

5. We have a legitimate interest in this information: to increase audience interaction with the BBC and ensure that we can consider your application and deliver our talent search. We will not process your personal information where your rights override our interests.

6. The BBC will also verify the selected artists' right to work and live in the UK at which point we have a legal obligation to do so.

7. The BBC is the controller of your personal information. This means that the BBC decides how your personal data is collected and processed.