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Rules - Italian

“SAN MARINO SONG CONTEST”

THE MUSIC COMPETITION LINKED TO THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST EDITION 2025/2026

WHEREAS:

  1. The Secretariat of State for Tourism of the Republic of San Marino (hereinafter referred to for brevity, Secretariat of State), the Radio and Television of the Republic of San Marino (hereinafter referred to for brevity, San Marino RTV) e Media Evolution S.r.l. with registered office at Via III Settembre n. 99, Republic of San Marino, SM 47890, C.O.E. SM 29275 (hereinafter, for brevity, ME) agreed on the realisation of a competition of a musical nature, developed in several stages, using digital channels for pre-selection purposes and in-person moments in the Republic of San Marino in order to identify the Winner to be entered on behalf of San Marino RTV to the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

San Marino RTV, as a member of the EBU, has the right to register an artist to the’Eurovision Song Contest, representing the Republic of San Marino.

  1. La Secretariat of State, In agreement with San Marino RTV, entrusts ME the organisation of the first phases of the San Marino Song Contest called “A Voice for San Marino”(eligibility check/enrolment, casting, internship & live academy), while San Marino RTV organises and produces the two semi-finals and the final called “San Marino Song Contest”, also taking care of the TV broadcast and the entry of the Winner in the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
  2. ME expressed its willingness to continue with the design, organisation and implementation of the first phases of the San Marino Song Contest (named “Dreaming San Marino Song Contest”). ME's task is to draw up, for the first stages of the San Marino Song Contest referred to as “A Voice for San Marino”General Rules and Regulations, in line with the Eurovision Song Contest Rules and Regulations, which will set out and regulate the general conditions of entry, the selection conditions and all the provisions necessary to ensure the regularity of the Contest phases: the Winner's Prize San Marino Song Contest (or of the next runner-up if he/she drops out) will be the entry to the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026, which will be carried out by San Marino RTV.

San Marino RTV will provide in particular - in accordance with the public-private synergy contract - technical-artistic direction, production, organisation, administrative management, logistics and dissemination:

    1. from No. 2 (two) Semi-finals with the orientational participation of 20 (twenty) competitors each (up to 40 overall);
    2. of the San Marino Song Contest Final (with television broadcast).
  2. La Secretariat of State And San Marino RTV, together with ME, intend to develop a competition that will allow any citizen of any nationality and any language in the world to participate and win and access to the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

San Marino RTV operates through its single television channel 550 (Digital Terrestrial - Tivùsat - Sky), as well as through radio and its official digital and social platforms, guaranteeing comprehensive, multi-channel coverage of the San Marino Song Contest.
The route for identifying the competitor who will access the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026 is divided into two phases: the first called “Dreaming San Marino Song Contest” and the next named “San Marino Song Contest”, with a television angle, under the aegis and organisation of San Marino RTV, which includes two Semifinals and the Final with the announcement of the Winner.

  1. ME, with these Regulations for the edition 2025/2026, governs the registration-access-selection procedures for the stages called “Dreaming San Marino Song Contest” aimed at the realisation of the San Marino Song Contest, the winner of which will be entitled to access, upon presentation of San Marino RTV, to the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026.
    These Rules concern in particular the first phases of the Contest called “A Voice for San Marino”organised by ME, which determine the choice of the 40 (forty) contestants admitted to the two Semi-finals of the San Marino Song Contest, organised and produced by San Marino RTV. The Semifinals will select no. 10 (ten) competitors (no. 5 for each Semifinal) who will access the Final of the San Marino Song Contest, in which the competitors, as identified above, will compete publicly together with any artists invited by San Marino RTV. A qualified jury, appointed by San Marino RTV, will designate the Winner of the San Marino Song Contest, who will have the authority to represent the Republic of San Marino at the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

All of the above,

MEDIA EVOLUTION S.R.L.

in accordance with the aforementioned agreements and in full harmony with the aforementioned bodies, undertakes, for the edition 2025/2026 of San Marino Song Contest, the following

RULES

Art. 1 - THE COMPETITORS

They can now apply to join the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest all natural persons, having at 30/09/2025 completed the 16 (sixteen) years of age, and this by submitting the relevant application (henceforth Competitors) to participate either as individual performers or as a musical group with performer (e.g. duo, band etc.). Registrations will end on 20/01/2026.
For minors, the consent and signature of the registration by the parents exercising parental authority will be required, who undertake as of now to cooperate actively in the issuance of the prescribed authorisation for the performance of minors in the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest, to this end, signing the consent form and any necessary documents and/or requests: the granting of the authorisation by the competent office is a condition for participating in all phases of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest.

The parents (and also one of them if only one of them is present) and/or the guardian if appointed by the competent judicial authority (hereinafter also referred to as parent) shall be solely responsible for any presence, acts and/or behaviour of their children within the scope of the activities of the San Marino Song Contest, raising ME, San Marino RTV and Secretariat of State.

Art. 1 BIS - Wild Card for competitors resident in San Marino

All artists resident in the Republic of San Marino may register for the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest and participate in the selections, provided for in Article 2 below, on an equal footing with the other competitors.
If no San Marino competitor is selected for the San Marino Song Contest Final referred to in Article 2(e) below, ME shall award, to the best classified among the excluded San Marino competitors, a Wild Card, which will give him direct access to the San Marino Song Contest Final.

Art. 2 - THE SAN MARINO SONG CONTEST COURSE

In order to proclaim the Winner of the San Marino Song Contest, Competitors shall take the following route:

A) “Dreaming San Marino Song Contest” stage” (of competence ME)

  1. Online eligibility check/registration on the https://dreamingsanmarinosongcontest.com/ (hereinafter referred to for brevity, Website) with a request for Verification of Suitability;
  2. Casting to be carried out within one day;
  3. Internship & Live Academytraining and selection phase of the 40 (forty) Competitors entering the No. 2 (two) Semi-finals (20 for each Semifinal).

B) “San Marino Song Contest” stage” (of competence San Marino RTV)

  1. Selection semifinals No. 2 (two), produced and transmitted by San Marino RTV, as a result of which No. 5 (five) Competitors for each semi-final will enter the Final;
  2. San Marino Song Contest Final, organised and broadcast by San Marino RTV, during which the Winner will be proclaimed who, with the piece performed in the Final, will be entered by San Marino RTV to the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026, after verification of all eligibility.

All documentation pertaining to the phase A Voice for San Marino (of competence ME) will remain on file for 3 (three) months from the end of the Final.

a) IDENTITY CHECK - ONLINE ENROLLMENT (ME)

The Eligibility Verification is free and is aimed solely at verifying the suitability for competition of each competitor through an evaluation carried out by an expert in the field, chosen in an unquestionable manner by ME, expressing a positive or negative judgement. It is understood that even in the event of a negative result, the competitor may register for the Casting.

The Suitability Check will start today, will end on 17/01/2026 and will take place online by sending to ME of a special form in the Website to the section “Eligibility check: online form”, with which the requested material (video links and/or mp3 files) can be sent as specified in the same section.

b) CASTING (ME)

This phase will be held in San Marino at a location to be indicated by ME, approximately in the Event Hall of the San Marino Outlet Experience in Falciano, Str. degli Angariari no. 41, and will indicatively consist of several sessions of duration equal to 1 (one) day.
The sessions will be published in the Website officer of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest and will serve as the final communication to the Competitors.

The Casting consists of a selection phase through private hearing, on a live basis (half playback), and evaluation by the Jury accredited and decided by ME, which will admit to the next phase Internship & Live Academy indicatively 240 (two hundred and forty) or more Competitors, it being understood that ME reserves the right to decide on the exact number: Meeting to be recorded by ME.

The decision of the Jury è unquestionable. In particular, the Competitor, also at the time of Casting, must formally notify ME, any fact, element, event, relationship or other that may in whole or in part, constitute even indirectly the cause and alteration by the Jury, or its member or anyone from the ME organisation, of the Jury's vote, which must be free and based on meritocratic artistic evaluations on the basis of the personal conviction of the judge. The participation of the Competitor and/or Jury member and/or member of the organisation in other contests/festivals must be highlighted by both the Competitor and the Juror in order for the Juror to be replaced, given the trend of Competitors participating in multiple contests/festivals. The above must be applied for all stages of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest.

Only for Competitors residing in countries not bordering Italy, the Casting may be carried out, at the request of the Competitor himself, by remote connection according to the modalities and dates that will be decided at the sole discretion of ME and which will be communicated to the applicant by e-mail.

To clarify the above, countries bordering Italy include: Switzerland, France, Austria and Slovenia.

c) STAGE & LIVE ACADEMY (ME)

Lo Internship & Live Academy (also “LA”) will be held in four sessions starting with February 2026 according to an unquestionable timetable published in the Website of A Voice for San Marino; the last session will end on 25/02/2026; It is reiterated that everything will take place according to a timetable to be decided at the sole discretion of ME and will be communicated to Competitors by publication in the Website in the appropriate section “Stage & Live Academy”.

Le LA are aimed at the performance, after the Academy, of the Competitor before the Jury unchallengeably chosen by ME, who will judge and evaluate the participants and their song.

Le LA will be No. 8 (eight) of about No. 30 (thirty) Competitors each; from each No. 5 (five) Competitors will enter the Semifinals. The total competitors admitted to the two Semifinals referred to in (d) below will be 40 (forty), namely 20 (twenty) for each Semifinal.

d) SEMIFINALS (San Marino RTV)

Stage reserved for Competitors chosen by the Jury as a result of the LA.

Le Semifinals will be held in San Marino on 03/03/2026 and the 04/03/2026.

Competitors will compete against each other, on a live basis (half playback) in front of the audience and a Qualified Jury composed of experts in the field unchallengeably chosen by San Marino RTV, which produces and disseminates the two Semifinals.

The evaluation of the Jury è unquestionable, and publicly motivated at the end of the performance, based on criteria of artistic validity, originality and interpretative/executive capacity of each individual competitor.
The semi-finals are 2 (two).

La Jury will decree the admitted to the Final

Competitors selected by the Semifinals will participate in the Final, during which they will compete with each other and with artists invited and chosen by San Marino RTV. The Jury will admit to the Final approximately 10 (ten) Competitors, i.e. no. 5 (five) Competitors for each of the two Semifinals.

It is however understood, and all parties acknowledge, that minors may not perform either in the Semifinals, nor in the Final after 24.00 hours; therefore, in the event that the Competitor passes the first scheduled selection stages, he/she will not be able to participate in the subsequent selection stages if after the aforementioned 24.00 hours; in this event, audio-video recordings of the Competitor will be used.

e) FINAL OF THE SAN MARINO SONG CONTEST (San Marino RTV)

La Final will take place on 07/03/2026 at New Customs Theatre or other place decided by San Marino RTV in agreement with ME.

The date of the Final may be modified for unquestionable requirements of San Marino RTV programme schedule.
They enter the Final No. 10 (ten) Competitors (n. 5 for each Semifinal), in addition to the San Marino competitor, if any, referred to in Article 1 BIS.

(f) COMPETITORS INDIVIDUED BY SAN MARINO RTV

San Marino RTV reserves the right to identify, at its sole discretion, up to a maximum of no.9 (nine) Competitors for projects of particular artistic and musical relevance and interest, one of which was chosen by NO NAME RADIO Powered by RAI.

In the event that, at the discretion of San Marino RTV, one or more of the above-mentioned competitors are identified, they will be eligible for the Final - in addition to the 10 (ten) Finalists as identified in paragraph e) above, in addition to the San Marino Competitor, if any, referred to in Article 1 BIS, and this without the need to participate in the previous phases of the San Marino Song Contest, subject to registration and full acceptance of these Rules.

Essential condition to access the Final is full subscription, non-negotiable, and non-debatable, within 3 (three) days since the conclusion of the Semifinals, of all warranty statements about solvency and project capability (in case of victory) for participation in the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026; Competitors must demonstrate adequate financial capabilities and availability of phonographic and publishing company quality, or, for own production, quality design conditions and concrete feasibility, as agreed between San Marino RTV And Secretariat of State.

Competitor not deemed eligible not will have access to the Final.

ME may make a contractual proposal to the competitor (conditional on winning) aimed at guaranteeing solvency and project quality for the proper participation in the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026; such proposal must be accepted and signed by the competitor and/or authors of the competing song and/or producers and/or any rights holder, no later than 28/02/2026, under penalty of forfeiting participation in the Final.

In Final Competitors must submit the same unreleased track performed in the Semifinals.
The Winner will be proclaimed by a Jury of experts composed of No. 5 (five) members unchallengeably chosen by San Marino RTV (one of them acting as chairman).

The Winner of San Marino Song Contest, with the piece performed at the Final, will be, by San Marino RTV, registered at’Eurovision Song Contest 2026, after verification of all eligibility.

The Winner of San Marino Song Contest undertakes also by the third party, as of now, to sign and cause to be signed any and all documents required for participation in the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026, by way of full acceptance and knowledge with obligation of full and complete performance, such as the 2026 licence agreement between the holder of the rights to the audio-video recording of the song performed at the Final and the phonographic company decided by the’Eurovision Song Contest, which will be published at the same time in the Website for the full knowledge of the Applicants, who, in any case, hereby confirm that they have read and understood the 2025 licence, which, on an indicative basis, will be valid for the year 2026, and whose signature shall constitute an obligation for participation in the Final of San Marino Song Contest.

The Winner of San Marino Song Contest undertakes, also by the fact of the third party, now for the time being, to abide by all the rules, commitments and conditions laid down in the Rules of the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

Art. 3 - REGISTRATION TO THE DREAMING SAN MARINO SONG CONTEST

All those who meet the requirements set out in Article 1 may register for the San Marino Song Contest from today until 20/01/2026, regardless of having carried out the (non-binding) suitability check.
All registration forms are published in the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest website to the section “Inscriptions/Registration”.

Incomplete/unsigned applications or applications without proof of payment of fees will not be accepted.
For minors, the signature of their parents exercising parental authority is required in addition to their registration.

3.1 CASTING (ME)

All those who wish to register for the Casting, (in person, or via remote connection if the conditions set out in Article 1 above are met), must submit the relevant application form, subject to payment of the registration fee set at:

  • Euro 150.00 (Euro one hundred and fifty/00), VAT included, for both individuals and groups;

Payment of the registration fees, which is an essential condition of registration, may be made by bank transfer to the account of the Media Evolution S.r.l. with registered office in Via III Settembre n. 99, Republic of San Marino, SM 47890, C.O.E. SM 29275, in the person of the Sole Administrator Mr. Denny Montesi, at the following coordinates

Wire transfer
Holder: MEDIA EVOLUTION S.R.L.
IBAN: SM97V0328709801000010314343
SWIFT / BIC: BSDISMSDXXX

Note for those making transfers from the SEPA area (European Union):
San Marino is part of the SEPA area, so the credit transfer can be made as a standard SEPA transfer, with no additional international charges, by selecting San Marino (SM) as the country.

3.2 STAGE & LIVE ACADEMY (ME)

All those who were successful from the Casting may register for the next phase of Stage & Live ACADEMY, no later than 3 (three) days after the aforementioned evaluation and by paying the fee of Euro 150.00 (Euro one hundred and fifty/00), VAT included.

In the event of failure to register within the aforementioned period of 3 (three) days, the competitor shall forfeit the possibility of registering for the Stage & Live ACADEMY.

For citizens/groups from San Marino, registration is one-off and is set at Euro 50.00 (Euro fifty/00) provided that it takes place within the deadline of the 20/01/2026.

The application for entry to the Stage & Live ACADEMY is published on the Contest website and payment of the fee, which is a condition of validity, must be made to the bank account of ME.

3.3 SEMI-FINALS / FINAL (San Marino RTV)

There is no registration fee for the Semifinals and nothing for the Final.

Art. 4 - MUSICAL BRANCHES

The Contestant, upon participation in each phase of the Contest, shall deliver 2 (two) pieces and for each of them the backing tracks (instrumental part only) and, for the same pieces, also 2 (two) complete backing tracks (music and vocals) of a maximum duration of 3 (three) minutes.

The backing tracks (half-playback) must be delivered in WAVE file format of adequate quality, where the name and surname of the competitor must be specified, as well as the title of the pieces presented and the order in which they are to be performed.

By signing this regulation, the Competitor agrees that the backing tracks delivered to ME are not returned and may be deleted and/or sent to rubbish after the Contest has ended.

It is understood that, as the purpose of the Contest is to identify the Winner who will represent San Marino RTV to the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026, the above-mentioned tracks must be in line with this purpose.

4.1 CASTING

There may be 2 (two) pieces, in the language of the competitor's free choice, on a half-playback basis.

The duration of each song on a half-playback basis may not exceed 3 (three) minutes and if longer may be faded out during the audition.

4.2 STAGE & LIVE ACADEMY

The song will be only one, in the language of the competitor's free choice, and must be the

unreleased track (Art. 5) that they intend to present at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.

The total duration of the performance, in half-playback, shall be no longer than 3 (three) minutes maximum (expected duration of the Eurovision Song Contest songs) and, if longer, shall result in the exclusion of the Contestant.

4.3 SEMI-FINALS/FINAL

The song will be only one and must be the unreleased track presented at the Stage & Live ACADEMY.

The duration of the live performance shall be no longer than 3 (three) minutes maximum (expected duration of the Eurovision Song Contest songs) and, if longer, shall result in the exclusion of the Competitor.

Art. 5 - DEFINITION OF COVER AND INEDITED

With reference to the songs to be submitted to the Contest, that is:

A) For cover song a piece of music previously performed and published by another well-known artist who is the original performer. Published means a piece submitted and used in any form and/or manner, including making it available to the public, also free of charge (e.g. internet), and/or use in another competition.

B) For unreleased track must be understood to mean a song that, as of 01 September 2025, has never been interpreted and/or performed and/or used by the same Competitor and/or other Artist, in any form and/or manner, and that has not already been published, duplicated, put on the market and/or broadcast on radio and/or TV and/or used in another competition, nor that is available as a recording in shops and/or on the web (YouTube) and/or on any website and/or in digital form and/or streaming in line with the Rules of the’Eurovision Song Contest established by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and approved by the governing body of the competition, the Reference GroupIt is hereby acknowledged that should the EBU Rules establish a date, for the definition of an unpublished song, later than 01/09/2025, this shall be the binding date and, as such, imperatively incorporated and valid in these Rules.

Art. 6 - BEHAVIOUR

The contestants of the event take note of the relevant importance of the Contest involving the Secretariat of State and San Marino RTV, as well as the access function of the’Eurovision Song Contest and, therefore, they guarantee their personal obligation and undertake, for the duration of the Contest, to behave and behave in a disciplinary manner at all times and to refrain from infringing the rights of third parties in any way through their performance.

In particular, the competitor shall report, before or during each performance, but before its end, any or all incompatibility and/or conflict of interest with one of the Jurors, so that ME, perhaps by questioning RTV and/or the Secretariat of State, may consider changing the Juror in order to have a totally aseptic, transparent and purely meritocratic evaluation, according to the free and independent artistic assessment of the Jurors.

Failure to do so constitutes a serious breach of the rules of conduct resulting in the exclusion/removal of the competitor.

A competitor who arrives late to a convocation will be eliminated.

During the performances, subject to art. 2 letter b, competitors may not adopt attitudes and movements or use clothing and hairstyles in conflict with the principles of morality or in violation of the law (of the Republic of San Marino), and in particular on the protection of the Coat of Arms of the Republic, or of the rights even of third parties, nor may they utter sentences, make gestures, use objects or wear items of clothing having even indirectly advertising and/or promotional references or harmful to the image of the Republic of San Marino.

On the final TV night, ME may, at its sole discretion, alter clothing, accessories, hairstyles, gestures and anything else it deems in conflict with the values contained in the Code of Ethics of San Marino RTV (https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/chi-siamo/azienda/codice-etico-c195/codice-etico-a182741) to which ME refers.

ME also reserves the right to exclude competitors from the various stages of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest if they do not comply with the rules of these Rules or if they engage in conduct contrary to the principles of fairness and good faith and/or conduct disrespectful of public decency and morals.

Competitors must pay particular attention to, acknowledge and fully accept the Code of Ethics and the Organisational Model of the broadcaster that will air the live broadcast.

In particular, it is strictly forbidden for anyone to be able to move on to the next stage or even access the Final on the basis of agreements with anyone since, in order to reach the Final, the stages provided for in these Rules must be passed, and this on the basis of the merit of each competitor. For the purposes of the correct and smooth running of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest, Competitors, and for minors their parents and/or guardians, hereby undertake and oblige to report to ME the presence of braggers who, posing as employees and/or collaborators of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest, ask for money or offer services of any kind or type, or propose illegitimate agreements to pass the assessment and/or selection stages and/or to go directly to the Final. Competitors are therefore requested to be wary of those who are not on the list of Official Collaborators, reporting any abuse to ME.

Failure to do so, as well as any agreement with such braggers on the part of the competitor and/or parents exercising parental authority and/or anyone on behalf of and in the interest of the competitor and/or such parents, shall entitle the competitor and/or such parents to the full right to ME to exclude and eliminate the Competitor ex officio from the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest, in view also of the breach of fiduciary relationship, reserving ME, also an action for compensation for the material and non-material damage suffered.

Article 7 - RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF COMPETITORS

7.1. FEES AND/OR REIMBURSEMENTS

Competitors in the event commit themselves unconditionally, without claiming any compensation. Travel and subsistence and/or other expenses shall be borne by the Competitors, as well as the musical bases (masters).

In the event that the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest due to force majeure (e.g. COVID), competitors shall only be entitled, if requested, to a refund of the amounts corresponding to the registration fees already paid; no other refunds shall be made.

Any further claims and/or reasons against ME and the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest and the subjects mentioned above.

7.2. RENUNCIATIONS OR WITHDRAWALS

By signing the application form, the Applicants expressly accept and sign the non-terminable contractual obligation to reimburse ME for image damage suffered in the event of unjustified non-participation in the Final if selected among the Finalists, including possible participation in the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026 and, in the latter case, also the damages suffered by San Marino RTV competent to register with the’Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Competitors who have withdrawn from the previous stages shall in any case not be entitled to claim any reimbursement.

7.3 DISQUALIFICATIONS/RADIATION

In the case of disqualification, in the prudent appreciation of ME with respect to the Rules in general, the competitor ranked immediately after shall take over the rights and faculties of the disqualified competitor, and so on and so forth, all subject to the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest and at the sole discretion of ME.

The acts referred to in Arts. 2(b) et 6) constitute a serious breach of these Rules, resulting in the right to ME, at its sole discretion, to disqualify/remove the Competitor.

7.4. COMMITMENTS

By signing this regulation and participating in the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest the Applicants hereby undertake, as of now, free of charge and without charge and/or costs of any kind and nature, to assign to ME the right to film and/or photograph and/or record, also by means of authorised third parties, by means of television, film, photographic and phonographic media on film, tape or any other current or future medium of invention, one's own image, voice, name and the artistic performances rendered by the same throughout the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest, with the full right to reproduce, disseminate, transmit, make available, duplicate, process, couple, synchronise, print, publish and project the footage and/or photographs and/or recordings, either in their entirety or in part, together with the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest or separately, by any means currently known (by way of example only: terrestrial TV, satellite, cable, radio, web radio, web TV, social networks, internet, downloading, streaming, analogue and/or digital systems, DVB-T, DVB-H, DVB-X, online and offline, fixed and mobile telephony, UMTS, GPRS, HSDPA etc.), or that will be invented in the future, in any form and manner, without any time and/or space limitation, through internet sites, web radio, web TV, social networks etc, even through total and/or partial transfer to third parties.

It is understood that the above assignments are essential for participation in the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest and this was also taken into account when determining the entry fees (including the free phase), also to remunerate the Competitors on a lump-sum basis.

7.5. CONDITIONS FOR ACCESS TO THE SEMI-FINALS

To complete and supplement the provisions of art. 7.4 above (Undertakings) to be borne by the Competitors, it is specified that the Competitors selected for the Semifinals undertake, as of now, to:

I)  give in to ME the master of the musical bases to be used by the Competitors, which shall be their full and exclusive property, free from any and all rights (except for the SIAE for the performance of the pieces protected by the latter) for the so-called related rights of both the phonographic producer and the performers (with specific indemnity on the part of the Competitor, which shall bear these costs exclusively), acknowledging that the Competitor has these rights on its own and that, by participating in the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest, waiver of any and all indemnity/reimbursement/fee or other compensation, also by way of fair compensation, this having been taken into account in the determination of the registration fee for the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest including assignment to ME and in view of the gratuitousness of Suitability checks for that synallagma as well.

In particular, the Competitors, with said assignment, free of charge and without charges and/or costs of any kind and nature, and with the right to transfer to third parties, of the master of the musical bases of the songs submitted to the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest under art. 5 above, undertake to assign the so-called related rights both of the phonographic producer and of the performers (with specific indemnity on the part of the Competitor, who shall bear these costs exclusively) and the Competitor, as of now, assuming full responsibility, declares that he/she will deliver the bases/tracks suitable for duplication directly to the production, declaring and guaranteeing to be the sole sole and exclusive owner and proprietor of all phonographic rights to them, to have acquired the rights from any and all collaborators and right-holders, and to be able, freely and without prejudice or limitation, to transfer the rights of use, including in fact the diffusion in any form and manner, the making available to the public, the recording and all secondary rights in general, to ME, which it receives, and this is an integral part of participation in the Competition, given the determination of the fee, which also took into account this essential and non-exclusive assignment for the period from the delivery of the tracks (audio master) until the 31/12/2026;

II)  deliver to ME, before the date of the Semifinal, the master of the complete backing tracks (music and vocals) of the songs submitted to the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest referred to in Article 5 above (cover song and unreleased song), in WAVE file format of adequate phonographic quality;

III) participate in promotional live activities and/or concerts organised in the Republic of San Marino against reimbursement of expenses only, and that until 31/12/2026.

The aforementioned obligations and assignments have been taken into account for all of ME in the organisation of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest and are an essential condition for access to the San Marino Song Contest.

Art. 8 - OBLIGATIONS OF THE ORGANISATION

8.1. PROMOTIONAL AND ADVERTISING ACTIONS BY THE ORGANISER AND THE PARTIES MENTIONED ABOVE

It is the right of ME And RTV that of combining the San Marino Song Contest and/or the television and/or radio broadcasting of the same, one or more initiatives of a promotional/advertising nature, including but not limited to: patronage operations, telepromotions, sponsorships, merchandising, without any of the Competitors having any claim whatsoever.

By signing this Regulation, the Competitors hereby undertake to grant to ME, free of charge, the right to use its image for the promotional and advertising initiatives referred to above, all for the duration of four years from the signing of these Rules, and this has been taken into account in determining the registration fees referred to in Article 4 above.

8.2. TV FILMING, AUDIO, PHOTOS

It is the right of ME And RTV recording and/or filming and/or having one or more phases of the San Marino Song Contest, television, audiovisual, photographic and phonographic exploitation. Each competitor authorises, by signing the release form attached to the application form, such photographs, recordings and filming, granting the exploitation of his or her image rights related to his or her public performance and presence at the San Marino Song Contest, including for the purposes of any promotional/advertising operations referred to in the preceding point, without any limitation of time and/or space and without having anything to claim from either ME than by third parties.

It is also entitled to ME to use the aforementioned photographs for the possible production of a photographic book on the San Marino Song Contest, as well as to publish and disseminate the aforementioned photographs, recordings and footage through Internet sites, web radio, web TV and social networks.

ME, In particular, it shall be entitled to sub-license rights to third parties especially to the Secretariat of State.

Art. 9 - AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATION

During the period of validity of these Rules, ME, may, at its sole discretion, make additions and changes to the same for requirements indisputably assessed by ME for organisational and functional purposes. ME may also, due to unforeseen or unforeseen events, including any problems related to Covid, introduce changes and additions to protect and safeguard the artistic level of the event, without prejudice to the spirit of the premises and the organisation of the event.

The aforementioned additions and amendments shall be considered fully valid and effective at the time they are published in the Website internet of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest and therefore all competitors are required to consult the said Website.

Article 10 - COMMUNICATIONS

All communications, of any kind and type, provided for in these Rules shall be validly made by publication in the Website internet of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest or by telematic service to the e-mail addresses indicated by the Competitors in the application form.

Competitors are therefore required to consult the Website internet of the Dreaming San Marino Song Contest And ME accepts no liability whatsoever for any misunderstandings, delays or non-delivery.

Article 11 - ARBITRATION

Any dispute concerning the interpretation and execution of these Rules shall be settled by appeal to the Board of Arbitration.

The interested party must first send ME a specific letter of objection within a peremptory term of 10 (ten) days from the moment the event that the party intends to contest occurred. If ME declares the objections raised by the party concerned to be unfounded, the latter shall lodge an appeal with the Arbitration Committee, at the seat specified below, within a peremptory term of 5 (five) days from receipt of the letter of rejection from the Arbitration Committee. ME.

The seat of the Arbitration Board is in San Marino. The Arbitration Board, which shall decide, as friendly composer, without procedural formalities and in the shortest possible time, shall be composed of three members: one appointed by ME, one by the applicant and one, acting as President, by the Secretariat of State.

The decision of the Arbitration Board shall be final and irrevocable.

By accepting these Rules, the competitor submits to the decision made.

San Marino, 24/10/2025