Come back One Shot Gamethe contest of Honiro Label now in its tenth edition, scheduled for Saturday September 12th at the Hacienda in Rome. A recording contract with the label is up for grabs, and the jury includes the team of Honiro, the multi-platinum producer 3D and representatives of Atlantic Recordsdivision of Warner Music Italia. Registrations are open.
How we read the notices. When All Music Italia deals with a music contest, it reads the official regulations and summarizes the operational points: costs, requirements, required material, prizes and conditions. We do this so that those who participate can decide with complete information in hand, without having to search for it between the lines.
What is One Shot Game: the contest in summary
One Shot Game is a music contest organized by Honiro Labelindependent Roman label. According to data from the official website, it has reached ten editions, with over a thousand artists taking to the stage and ten thousand spectators in total. They appear in the contest's Hall of Fame Last, Shiva, Cape Plaza, Vegas Jones, The Three And Stray Skullpassed by Honiro in the early stages of his career.
The 2026 edition is open to rap, pop, songwriting, indie and rock. The format is that of a live audition on a single day: you don't send material from home, you play in front of the jury.
What to know before signing up for One Shot Game
These are the points that emerge from the ten articles of the official regulation, useful to have clear before applying.
- Registration is free, participation is not. Article 3 specifies that to be registered and access the selections you need to purchase the entrance ticket, which costs 18 euroson DICE or at the venue ticket office. To this must be added the travel, which remains the responsibility of the artist.
- Three unreleased songs are needed. Not one: article 4 requires three, because the contest develops over three phases and at each step a different piece is performed.
- The first minute is what counts. In the first phase all participants perform a piece lasting a maximum of one minute. From there the jury selects 12 artists for the second phase, and then 6 finalists. It's best to choose the piece thinking about that minute, not about the song you prefer.
- Bases on USB stick. They must be numbered and named with the title of the piece. Alternatively, acoustic performances with guitar alone are permitted.
- No age or musical genre limits. Article 2 is open to all emerging artists, soloists or groups.
- The jury's decisions are unquestionable (Article 6) and the regulation does not publish evaluation criteria. It's the standard formula for live contests.
- There are no transfers of rights. The regulation does not provide for the transfer of copyright on the songs, nor exclusivity or pre-emption restrictions for those who participate and do not win. Those who register do not sign anything regarding their catalogue.
- There is no deadline indicated. Neither the regulations nor the website indicate a closing date for registrations. Better not wait until the last moment.
The One Shot Game 2026 rewards
Article 7 of the regulation provides three prizes:
- First place: recording contract with Honiro Label, inclusion in the roster and dedicated artistic development path
- Runner up: production of a professional video clip with digital distribution of the single and promotional activities
- Third place: digital distribution of a single with promotional support and visibility on streaming platforms
The regulation does not go into detail about the contract up for grabs: duration, number of expected outings and economic conditions are not indicated. These are the elements that need to be explained in case you reach the final, as with any recording proposal.
Who should participate?
The format rewards those who already have ready material and a certain familiarity with the stage: three unreleased songs that can be performed, a piece that works in the first sixty seconds and the availability to be in Rome on 12 September.
The main value, net of prizes, lies in those who listen. Playing in front of the team of a structured label and representatives of Atlantic Records is a type of audience that is difficult to obtain by sending emails, and it also applies to those who don't reach the final. The investment required remains low: 18 euros plus travel.
