"April in the D" Contest Tops 100,000 Votes

• FOX Sports Detroit's Annual Song Contest Drawing to a Close

• Detroit Native Kid Rock Heads List of Guest Judges

• Team Partners Help Get Out the Vote

One sure sign that the cold and snowy Michigan winter will soon end is the arrival of FOX Sports Detroit's APRIL IN THE D Song Contest, a prelude to the network's annual month-long celebration of the local sports scene and the welcome arrival of springtime.


A call-for-entry period in January resulted in 50 song submissions from Michigan bands or solo acts vying to author the anthem for APRIL IN THE D that will be used in and around FOX Sports Detroit's schedule of approximately 40 Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons games throughout the month.


FOX Sports Detroit personnel narrowed the overall field down to 20 in early February, after which an all-star panel of judges (including Detroit native and entertainment superstar Kid Rock) determined the 10 semifinalists.

Now, it's up to fans to cast their vote at Foxsportsdetroit.com through March 6 to determine the three finalists.  As of March 2, more than 100,000 votes have been received.  While on the APRIL IN THE D page, visitors can enter the Fan Experience Sweepstakes or take on the role of music critic in the lively Fan Forum.

The contest and semifinalists also are receiving attention from media outlets (MLive, Grosse Ile Camera) and fan blogs (SideLionReport, Motor City Bengals).

'Get Out the Vote' messages are being delivered in several ways, including:  in-arena presentation during Red Wings and Pistons home games (pictured: Pistons dance team wearing "Vote APRIL IN THE D" shirts); messaging on FOX Sports Detroit's Facebook/Twitter pages; e-mail blast to approximately 35,000 consumers; and an on-air promo (below)

Another round of online voting March 14-20 will decide the winner and two runners-up.  The grand prize-winner receives $5,000, a live performance at a WRIF Radio/FOX Sports Detroit party on Tigers opening day, a pregame concert later in the season at Comerica Park, and a month long of exposure as the official theme for April in the D.  All three finalists receive a professional recording session valued at $1,000. 

So what do you think?  Even if you're not in FOX Sports Detroit territory, take one more look at the semifinalists and cast a vote of your own!

See how this year's entries stack up with the previous two APRIL IN THE D Song Contest winners:  Victorious Secrets in 2010 and Good Luck Joes in '09.  Also take a look at the theme song from 2008, commissioned by FSN and performed by the L.A.-based Blacklist Union.