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This is where the journey begins.
Artists submit their music, and ACE nominates 20+ artists to officially enter Heat Check. This stage is about recognition and visibility before bracket play starts.
What to Expect:
Curated nominations selected by ACE
Official Heat Check contender announcements
No eliminations
Prizes & Perks:
Heat Check Nominee status
Website feature
Social media spotlight

Public & Supporter Votes Driven
The competition officially heats up.
From the nominees, 16 artists are selected and placed into 8 virtual 1v1 matchups. Public and fan virtual votes decide who advances in every round.
What to Expect:
Head-to-head virtual battles
Supporters vote to determine winners
First eliminations of the competition
Prizes & Perks:
Magazine feature
Advancement to the Blazing 8

Public & Supporter Votes Driven
This is where momentum matters most.
The remaining 8 artists compete in 4 rounds, with fan votes fully determining who moves forward.
What to Expect:
Increased fan engagement
High-pressure matchups
Artists rally their supporters
Prizes & Perks:
Exclusive Heat Check Cypher invite
Live performance at the finale
Expanded promo and exposure

Public & Supporter Votes Driven
Only the strongest survive.
The final 4 artists battle through 2 semifinal rounds, with public/fan votes selecting the final two artists who advance to the live finale.
What to Expect:
Exclusive Interview (Announcing each semifinalists w their interview clips)
Final virtual matchups
Heavy supporter involvement
Selection of the top 2 finalists
Prizes & Perks:
Exclusive interviews on Slim TV Network
Finale Event Headliner consideration

Panel Decision
This is the peak of Heat Check.
The final 2 artists compete live at the in-person Heat Check event, performing in front of a live audience. The panel votes to crown the champion.
What to Expect:
Live championship performances
Panel-based judging
Full Heat Check experience
Prizes & Perks:
Heat Check Champ 2026 title
Trophy
Cash prizes
Collaboration deals
Other event performance opportunities
Voting is active during the following rounds:
• First Flame: Top 16 (March)
• The Blazing 8 (April)
• The Semifinals (May)
Each round features head-to-head matchups, and the artist with the most votes moves forward.
Each matchup has a same-day voting window:
• 🕗 Voting opens at 8:00 AM
• 🕗 Voting closes at 8:00 PM
• 📅 Voting is only available on the scheduled round date
• Votes submitted outside the window will not count
Once voting closes, results are finalized and will be announced.
Each round will be posted as a dedicated Instagram Reel on @aceentertainn
• The Reel will showcase both competing artists, featuring 30 seconds of music from each artist
• Supporters can listen to both artists directly in the Reel before voting
• Voting takes place in a poll in the comments section of the Reel
• Supporters vote by selecting the artist they want to advance in the poll
• Each account is limited to one vote per round
Artists are encouraged to share the Reel during the voting window to rally supporters and increase engagement.
All votes are counted directly from Instagram poll results
• Any attempt to manipulate voting, use bots, or abuse the system may result in disqualification
• ACE reserves the right to review voting activity to ensure fairness
The Inferno Finals (Live) are not fan-voted
• The winner is selected by a panel based on live performance, stage presence, and overall competition impact
Celebrate the best of arts and culture with our festivals, featuring music, dance, theater, and more from around the world.
Heat Check is a multi-round music competition spotlighting emerging artists. The competition runs from February through June, with fan-voted rounds leading up to a live Inferno Finals where a panel crowns the champion.
Heat Check is open to independent artists of all genres. Whether you’re new or already building momentum, if you’ve got heat — this is your lane.
Artists are nominated during the February nomination phase from submissions.
Heat Check has 15 total rounds across five months:
March: Top 16 (8 1v1 virtual rounds)
April: Blazing 8 (4 1v1 virtual rounds)
May: Semifinals (2 1v1 virtual rounds)
June: Inferno Finals (1 last final round)
Yes — voting is 100% free. Supporters just need an active Instagram account to participate.
Prizes increase each round and can include:
Artists can compete from anywhere. However, the Inferno Finals take place live in June 2026, so The Blazing 8 and Finalists should be available to attend in person in Richmond, VA.
All entries are free!
All updates, matchups, and announcements are posted on @aceentertainn and emailed to competing artists.
For additional questions, artists can reach out via DM or admin@aceentertain.com

The Heat Check Music Competition 2025 was a whole vibe from start to finish. With 4 total stages, the journey kicked off with the Blazing 8, running through four competitive virtual rounds that really set the tone and tested consistency, creativity, and hunger. From there, things heated up in the Semi Finals, featuring two intense virtual rounds that narrowed the field and separated the contenders from the crowd.
The energy hit its peak at the Live Final Round, which featured a “Welcome to the Jungle” theme that took the experience to another level. The decor was lit, setting the scene for an unforgettable night and bringing the competition to life in a bold, immersive way. The event brought together artists, supporters, and the community for a night full of great music, good food, and unmatched vibes. While there were a few heated moments along the way — because passion runs deep — the overall turnout and energy made it clear: Heat Check is growing, and the culture is locked in.
It’s also been great collaborating with the champ, adding another layer of excitement and unity to the entire experience. From the virtual stages to the live finale, Heat Check 2025 delivered, proving once again that it’s more than a competition — it’s a movement.
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