As sponsor of the contest, I respectfully and vigorously disagree with your opinion that this is a "fad" for "suckers."
As I said at the site, this competition is not about making money, but about making art. We're selling an experience here…offering artists an opportunity to help explore a new Artform (the Lyrical Concept Album). We are offering the venue (a virtual online gallery) and the context (an international competition, with a chance for prize money.)

While our contest is open to everyone, professionals and amateurs alike, it is targeted toward college kids and aspiring graphic artists in the US, Canada and the UK. I am first and foremost an artist, not a capitalist: it is not my intention to undermine anyone's labor force.

I started the contest as a way to bring my song lyrics to the public eye, by using multimedia IT. If you go to the website, you will see a pristine cyber environment, free of ANY AND ALL advertising…at least at this point. So we must make enough money off entry fees to float the business. If we don't receive enough submissions, then you will probably see flash and banner advertising at the site in the future. As I am dealing with artists from around the world, I would, of course, prefer to keep the site aesthetically pleasing. But without the nominal entry fee, this would be impossible.

As stated at the site, Phase 2 will be a call to illustrate individual song lyric sheets and Phase 3 will be a call for original music. Both depend on the reception to this initial attempt to establish the Artform.

Again, for 10 bucks, we feel this is an inexpensive opportunity for artists to combine their talent with mine and share it with the world. If this artform is as potentially exciting as we think, then we will be commissioning artists and paying them a percentage of LCA's sold, thus providing an economic opportunity that didn't previously exist.

Thanks, and good luck to all!
Jim Fielding