Tiny Desk Seeks Big Talent
Got a big dream of playing the Tiny Desk?
Send us a video of you playing one song behind a desk of your choosing. If you win, you'll get to play your very own Tiny Desk concert and go on tour with NPR Music.
Enter now
Are you eligible?
Only eligible entries can win the Contest. Does your entry have what it takes? We’ve got a quick and easy way to help you find out!
Take the quiz
Make your video
When you enter the 2023 Tiny Desk Contest, you join a nationwide community of music-makers and creators. Get started on your video now! Entries close on March 13.
Here's what you do:
- Create a new video that shows you playing one song you've written.
- Do it the way you'd perform a Tiny Desk concert: at a desk. (Any desk!)
- Upload your video to YouTube.
- Fill out our entry formbefore 11:59 p.m. ET on March 13, 2023.
The winner will:
- Play a Tiny Desk concert at NPR in Washington, D.C.
- Be featured on NPR’s All Things Considered
- Headline NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour
Keep these things in mind:
- We're looking for undiscovered talent; you can't have a current recording contract.
- You must be at least 18 years old and live in the U.S., U.S.V.I. or Puerto Ricoto enter.
- Our panel of judges — including members of NPR Music, DJs from NPR Member stations and Tiny Desk alums — will choose our winner.
- Check our Official Rules for all the requirements. Take this quiz to see if you're eligible.
Questions? Contact us.
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Enter 2023 Tiny Desk Contest
When you enter the 2023 Tiny Desk Contest, you join a nationwide community of music-makers and creators.
Enter now through11:59 p.m. ET on March 13, 2023.
Meet The Past Winners
2022:
Alisa Amador
Hailing from Boston, Mass., Alisa Amador is a singer-songwriter with a powerful voice whose music explores jazz, funk and folk styles, all rooted in the spirit of the Latin music she grew up with. Amador impressed the Tiny Desk Contest judges with her tender performance of “Milonga accidental,” which she calls “an ode to in-between-ness – to having several identities at once, to feeling split between cultures and languages.”
2021:
NEFFY
NEFFYis a singer-songwriter from Arlington, Va., with a stunning, singular voice whose songs combine influences from folk, soul and R&B. Her entry video for “Wait Up,” which reflects on the healing power of nature, is a testament to her honest, emotional songwriting. Since teaching herself guitar as a teenager, NEFFY has played hundreds of shows in New York and Washington, D.C., and says she considers live performances as the best part of her creative process.
2020:
Linda Diaz
Hailing from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Linda Diaz is a singer-songwriter —and former scholastic chess champion —with a sparkling stage presence. Her euphoric and calming music swirls R&B hooks with soulful melodies, often wrapping powerful, self-affirming messages in a warm yet refreshing sound.
2019:
Quinn Christopherson
Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Quinn Christopherson is an Athabaskan and Inupiaq songwriter who combines thoughtful songwriting with a powerful sense of perspective. His music is warm and vulnerable; in it, he reflects on his childhood, honors the relationships in his life and addresses his role as a transgender individual navigating Alaska's social landscape.
2018:
Naia Izumi
Naia Izumi's entry video for "Soft Spoken,"recorded in his home studio in Los Angeles, showcases his virtuoistic talent and the gentle spirit he brings to his music.
2017:
Tank and the Bangas
New Orleans’Tank and the Bangasconveys its freewheeling spirit through a sound that combines pop, hip-hop, funk, spoken word and musical theater. The band’s entry video won over our judges with its undeniable, joyful energy.
Since winning the Contest, Tank and the Bangas has played to sold-out crowds across the United States and Europe, including performing at Coachella and headlining NPR Music's 10th birthday party.
2016:
Gaelynn Lea
Gaelynn Leahas been playing violin for more than 20 years. She builds on a repertoire of traditional Celtic and American fiddle music, writing original songs that incorporate folk-rock influences, looping tracks and an inventive style.
Since winning the Contest, Gaelynn has toured the world and played at renowned venues including The Kennedy Center and House of Blues Chicago. She is also an advocate for people with disabilities.
2015:
Fantastic Negrito
Fantastic Negrito’s winning entry in the 2015 Tiny Desk Contest was a raw, soulful performance captured at a makeshift desk in a freight elevator.
Since winning the Tiny Desk Contest, Fantastic Negrito has played at a number of major music festivals and at Madison Square Garden, and has won three Grammy awards.
Watch more entries
Nominate An Unsigned Musician!
Have a talented friend or up-and-coming musician whom you’ve been rooting for? Nominate them to enter the Tiny Desk Contest!
Steps to nominate:
- Download this nomination card.
- Post the card to your Instagram story, tag your nominee and @nprmusic.
- Remind your nominee to enter the Contest before March 13!
GET THE CARD
Meet The Judges
Bobby Carter
Bobby is series producer for Tiny Desk concerts at NPR Music.
Albina Cabrera
Albina Cabrera is a radio host at NPR Member station KEXP in Seattle. She believes in the power of music to connect people regardless of borders, visas or languages.
Sudan Archives
Sudan Archives is a gifted singer and violinist whose sound pulls from R&B, hip-hop and experimental electronic music.
Sharon Van Etten
Through her cathartic, vulnerable, powerful music, singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten has a special way of connecting with listeners.
Baby Rose
Tiny Desk alum Baby Rose is an artist whose R&B music exudes warmth and empathy and showcases her incredible voice.
See The Latest
Tiny Desk Contest
Watch the first entry to the 2023 Tiny Desk Contest
February 8, 2023 • The first entry to the 2023 Contest is "Break Me Down" by Illinois artist Karen Bridges. If you want to perform your own Tiny Desk concert, submit to the Contest by March 13.
YouTube
Tiny Desk Contest
Want to play your own Tiny Desk concert? The 2023 Contest is now open for entries
February 8, 2023 • Unsigned artists can submit their original music to the Contest until March 13.
NPR
Tiny Desk Contest
Life after Desk: Catching up with 2015 Tiny Desk Contest winner Fantastic Negrito
August 30, 2022 • Since being named the first Tiny Desk Contest winner, Fantastic Negrito has gone on to tour the world, win Grammys and more. NPR's video team recently caught up with him to hear about his journey.
NPR
Tiny Desk Contest
On the road with Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador
August 2, 2022 • NPR's video team recently caught up with Amador in Brooklyn to hear how her life has changed since finding out she'd won our Tiny Desk Contest. This is her journey.
NPR
Tiny Desk Contest
Retro soul shines in Micah Edwards' Tiny Desk Contest entry 'Jean Leon'
July 25, 2022 • Ayesha Rascoe speaks with Texas soul musician Micah Edwards about his standout entry to this year's Tiny Desk Contest entry.
Courtesy of the artist
Read more on the contest blog
Keep in touch
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FAQs
Who won the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk concert? ›
On the road with Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador
August 2, 2022 • NPR's video team recently caught up with Amador in Brooklyn to hear how her life has changed since finding out she'd won our Tiny Desk Contest. This is her journey.
If you're ready to submit:
Email your pitch to nprmusicpitches@npr.org. * Our editors will review it and, if we're interested or have questions, contact you within a week or two.
Tiny Desk Concerts is a video series of live concerts hosted by NPR Music at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen in Washington, D.C.
Why are they called Tiny Desk Concerts? ›The name “Tiny Desk Concert” is a double entendre that references Boilen's old psychedelic band the Tiny Desk Unit, and that artists literally play at his desk. The series was a success from that first video.
Who won the NPR Tiny Desk concert? ›And the winner is...
Thousands of entries. One winner. We're excited to name Neffy as the winner of the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest.
Since its inception in 2014, the Tiny Desk Contest has amassed nearly 35,000 entries from thousands of musicians across the country. Now, NPR is once again calling for unsigned bands and musicians to submit their entries at NPR.org/tinydeskcontest. NPR is currently accepting entries through March 13, 2023.
Does Tiny Desk use autotune? ›NPR music's Tiny Desk concerts are where musicians/artists go to show that they can actually sing. There's no autotune, filters, or corrections of any sort involved.
Which Tiny Desk has the most views? ›Paak & The Free Nationals. This is what I like to call a generational performance from Paak. This is the most-watched Tiny Desk and the best individual performance that we have seen in the series history.
Where is the NPR tiny desk located? ›Tiny Desk Concerts is a video series of live concerts hosted by NPR Music at the desk of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen in Washington, D.C.
How many tiny desk submissions? ›Since its inception in 2014, the Tiny Desk Contest has amassed nearly 35,000 entries from thousands of musicians across the country. Now, NPR is once again calling for unsigned bands and musicians to submit their entries at NPR.org/tinydeskcontest. NPR is currently accepting entries through March 13, 2023.
Who won the tiny desk contest? ›
Tiny Desk Contest Winners : NPR. Tiny Desk Contest Winners Tank and the Bangas, Quinn Christopherson, Naia Izumi, Gaelynn Lea and Fantastic Negrito have all won the Tiny Desk Contest.
Who runs tiny desk? ›All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson conceived of the Tiny Desk Concert after leaving a bar show, frustrated they couldn't hear the music over the crowd noise.