MS NOW is tying its recently launched Membership subscription offering to a chance at attending the sold-out inaugural Power to the People Festival, a one-day event set for Saturday, October 3, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.

The opportunity is a contest rather than a conventional ticket sale. Eligible entrants are asked to answer one prompt: What song from the past feels newly meaningful in America today, and why? The question fits a festival built around a notably broad group of artists whose work spans rock, hip-hop, punk and politically minded music. It also asks for more than naming a favorite track: a strong response needs to connect an older song to the present moment and explain that connection clearly.

Entries open Thursday, September 24, and must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, September 26. Terms and conditions apply. Winners are scheduled to be announced Monday, September 28, during The Beat with Ari Melber, airing at 6 p.m. Eastern on MS NOW, ms.now and the MS NOW app.

A contest for a sold-out show

The distinction matters. Power to the People is already sold out, meaning the Membership contest is positioned as a possible route to the event for subscribers rather than an add-on for people who have already purchased admission. The supplied details do not state the number of winners, the number of tickets available, or other eligibility requirements, so prospective entrants should read the contest terms before participating.

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The entry page is listed as ms.now/power-to-the-people-contest. Since the window is only a few days long, the practical priority is straightforward: confirm the Membership requirement, submit before the Eastern-time deadline and keep an eye on the September 28 broadcast for the stated winner announcement.

Short-answer promotions are often judged differently from random drawings. Here, the prompt itself suggests that relevance and explanation are central to an entry. That does not establish a specific judging rubric—none is provided—but it does mean an answer that addresses both halves of the question is likely more complete than one that only identifies a song. Entrants should avoid assuming that length alone equals quality; a direct explanation of why a past work resonates now is a more natural fit for the request.

Tom Morello curates a cross-genre lineup

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist and songwriter Tom Morello is curating the first Power to the People Festival. The announced performer list includes Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Joan Baez, Public Enemy, Brittany Howard, Killer Mike, Cypress Hill, The Linda Lindas, Dropkick Murphys, Serj Tankian, Jack Black, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Taylor Momsen, Matt Cameron and Bruce Springsteen.

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That list makes the contest prompt feel like a programming statement rather than a detached marketing question. The artists represent several eras and styles, from folk and classic rock to rap, alternative music, punk and heavy rock. A participant does not need to choose a song by an artist on the bill based on the available information, but the lineup provides useful context for the event’s interest in songs that retain, gain or change cultural meaning over time.

“Curated” in this setting means Morello is identified as the creative organizer of the festival lineup. It does not necessarily mean he is the sole booking decision-maker, nor does the information provided confirm a performance by Morello himself. Similarly, “slated to perform” indicates the announced plan; it should not be read as a guarantee that every listed performer will appear, particularly since no schedule or set times have been supplied.

Watching remotely: MS NOW’s exclusive livestream

People unable to attend will have a free online viewing option. MS NOW is the exclusive livestream destination for Power to the People, with the event set to stream live on its YouTube channel. The livestream is being produced by Tenth Planet Productions and directed by Joel Gallen.

An exclusive livestream destination means MS NOW is the named place for the live broadcast, not that the festival itself is limited to app subscribers. The event’s YouTube destination is specifically identified, while no paid livestream access requirement is stated in the available details. Viewers should nevertheless check the channel closer to the event for any stream page, start-time information or platform-specific viewing guidance, none of which has been detailed here.

The plan extends beyond a single feed. Ari Melber is expected to report from the festival grounds throughout the day, connecting with artists across MS NOW’s television, digital and social platforms. That language indicates festival coverage may take several forms beyond the YouTube performance stream. It does not confirm which artist conversations will happen, when they will air or whether every segment will appear on every platform.

For a media brand, a live festival is also a way to connect an audience that normally encounters it through scheduled programming, clips and streaming interfaces with a shared in-person event. Music festivals are particularly suited to this approach because they offer distinct layers of participation: the physical show, live video for remote viewers, short-form social coverage and potentially interview-driven programming around the performances.

That broader mix mirrors a growing interest in making subscription products feel less like a simple paywall and more like a membership package. The evidence here is modest but clear: MS NOW is pairing its Membership offering with contest access and an on-site Members Lounge. The company is not claiming that Membership creates access to all festival programming or guarantees tickets. Instead, it is offering a chance to win tickets and a dedicated space for members who are at the venue.

The Members Lounge and what it is for

MS NOW will operate a Members Lounge at Merriweather Post Pavilion. It is described as a pop-up space where members can meet other people, connect and recharge between performances. The lounge previously debuted in Dallas alongside a live telecast of The Weeknight.

In event language, a “pop-up” is a temporary installation rather than a permanent venue amenity. “Recharge” may reasonably refer to taking a break during a long day of performances; the supplied details do not specify whether device charging stations, food, merchandise, artist appearances or other services will be available. Those are the kinds of details members should not infer without official confirmation.

The lounge does, however, illustrate why on-site benefits can be meaningful even when they are not a ticket substitute. Festivals require movement between stages, crowds and periods of downtime. A designated meeting point can make the Membership feel tangible for people who are already attending, while the ticket contest reaches people who have not secured entry to a sold-out event.

How to approach the entry prompt

The contest question is open-ended, but it sets a helpful structure. A focused response can be thought of in three parts:

  • Name the song: Identify the older track plainly so the response has a clear subject.
  • Describe the renewed meaning: Explain the particular lyric, theme, feeling or public context that now stands out.
  • Make the case personal but specific: Connect the song’s significance to life in America today without drifting into unrelated background.

This is practical writing advice, not a published set of contest criteria. The terms and conditions, rather than this structure, govern participation. Still, the prompt explicitly asks both what song and why it feels meaningful now, so a response that covers both questions is the safest way to engage with it.

There is also no stated requirement to pick a politically explicit song. The festival’s title and curated lineup may invite that reading, but the actual question leaves room for many interpretations of renewed meaning: solidarity, grief, hope, community, frustration or another connection an entrant can explain. The important boundary is not to present personal interpretation as objective fact. A concise answer can say what a song means to the writer today while acknowledging that musical meaning can vary from listener to listener.

What prospective members and viewers should know

The festival’s participation options are easy to separate. Membership subscribers may enter the ticket contest within the stated window. Ticket holders who are members can use the Members Lounge, as described. Anyone not attending in person can look to the MS NOW YouTube channel for the live broadcast. These are related parts of the same event, but they are not interchangeable benefits.

There is no supplied information on Membership pricing, ticket-transfer rules, travel, lodging, age restrictions, contest geography, number of winners or a complete schedule. The event is at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, and takes place on Saturday, October 3; beyond that, attendees should rely on the contest terms and venue or event guidance for logistical decisions.

The festival’s mix of sold-out attendance, a live YouTube broadcast and programming across television, digital and social channels gives it a hybrid footprint: an event rooted in a physical venue but designed to reach far beyond it. For viewers, that means the day can be followed remotely. For members, it means the new subscription product is being used to offer both a possible path into the crowd and a place to gather once there.