NJ Teens Invited to Shout Down Drugs in Statewide Music and Songwriting Competition

Millburn, NJ -- The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s (PDFNJ) Shout Down Drugs music competition deadline is February 1, 2016.

The New Jersey Shout Down Drugs contest challenges high school students to create original music with lyrics that contain powerful peer-to-peer drug prevention messages. The finalists, selected through an online vote and judging panel, represent students from across the state, and will compete for music contracts valued at $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000. The contest is open to all New Jersey high school students.

The program’s website, www.ShoutDownDrugs.com, features finalist’s profiles and allows the public to cast votes for their favorite songs. These results will be factored into the finalists’ scores on the night of the concert. The first round of online voting runs from February 12-26, 2016 to select an automatic finalist. All finalists will be announced on March 1, 2016. Ticket reservations will begin on March 1st, all tickets are free of charge, but must be reserved at www.ShoutDownDrugs.com or 973-467-2100 x19.

“Over the last 12 years, PDFNJ has witnessed enormous enthusiasm for this program from high school students from across New Jersey looking for a way to share a drug-free message,” noted PDFNJ executive director, Angelo M. Valente. “In 2016, we look forward to hearing from students from all over the state – whether you’re a rocker, a hip hop artist, a gospel or ballad singer, all music genres are welcome.”

All entries must be received by February 1, 2016. Finalists will perform at the statewide Prevention Concert on May 25, 2016, at the Rutgers University Nicholas Music Center in New Brunswick. For entry forms and other information visit www.ShoutDownDrugs.com or call Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, at 973-467-2100, ext. 19. The music of past contestants and winners can be found on www.ShoutDownDrugs.com.

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Best known for its statewide anti-drug 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 $70 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 127 advertising and Public Relations Awards from National, Regional & Statewide Media Organizations.