Aloe Blacc Opens Songwriting Contest for Pro Athletes

Aloe Blacc has recorded the melody and hook for a new song and is now inviting members of Pro Athlete Community to compete for the chance to finish it with him. The track, titled 'First Round,' will pair the Grammy-nominated artist's original chorus with a verse from one of PAC's members, an organization that supports professional athletes transitioning beyond their sports careers.

Triumphant trumpets and sports anthem DNA

Blacc told OffBall Newsletter the concept came after seeing a commercial about an upcoming draft, which sparked thoughts about the phrase "first-round draft pick." He built the track around triumphant trumpets to match that energy, drawing on the same sound that powered his 2014 hit 'The Man,' a song that became a sports anthem on TV and in arenas. Blacc is also known for singing and co-writing Avicii's 'Wake Me Up,' which recently crossed 3 billion streams on Spotify.

Revenue split and co-primary credit

The selected collaborator will retain 40% of the song's gross revenue, with another 10% directed to a charitable fund. The release will credit the winner as a co-primary artist alongside Blacc rather than in a featured role. 13 entries are currently live on the voting page, including submissions from Olympic pole vault silver medalist Sandi Morris and former NBA guard Troy Hudson.

Fan metrics inform, Blacc decides

Public voting helps narrow the field, though Blacc retains final decision power. "We're going to use a little bit of the fans," Blacc said. "So when an athlete records and uploads their recording to their social media, there's going to be some follows, some shares, some likes. We're gonna use all those metrics, but that won't be the final decision factor." He raised the possibility of selecting more than one winner if several verses stand out.

Voting runs through September 25, with one vote per person every 24 hours. The collaboration will be presented at Zeta Live on October 8 at David Geffen Hall in New York, where Blacc is scheduled to host a 'First Round' masterclass.