Official Rules

Entries must be post marked by October 31, 2012 (CST).

1) Each song submitted must be entrant's original work. Songs must not exceed five minutes. Entrant may submit as many songs as he/she wishes. Each song requires a separate entry form, CD and lyric sheet. {Entry fee is non-refundable. The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, misappropriated, postage due or stolen entries.

2) Entries may have multiple co-writers, but only one name should be designated as the entrant. Prizes will be awarded to the entrant and division of the prizes among the co-writers is the responsibility of the entrant. Void where prohibited. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

3) Contest is only open to amateur songwriters. Any entrant or co-writer who derives the majority of their income from songwriting or has ever had a staff writing deal with a publishing company is not eligible. No songs under a professional contract may be entered. Employees of NSAI or Country Music Television, Inc., their families, subsidiaries and affiliates are not eligible. Any entrant who is a minor in his/her jurisdiction of legal residence will be required to obtain the permission of a parent or legal guardian to participate in this contest.

4) A judging committee comprised of music industry professionals, award-winning songwriters, NSAI pro songwriters and NSAI Board Members will select winning songs. Songs will be judged based on melody, composition and lyrics.

5) Winners will be notified and must sign and return an affidavit of eligibility/recording rights/publicity release within 14 days of notification date. The affidavit will state that the winning song is their original work and the writer(s) holds all rights to the song. Failure to sign and return affidavit or provision of false/inaccurate information will result in immediate disqualification and an alternate song will be selected. Affidavits of winners under 18 years of age at time of entry must be countersigned by parent or legal guardian. Affidavits subject to verification by NSAI and its agents. Entry constitutes permission to use name, likeness and voice for future advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation.

6) Results will be announced on or before April 1, 2013, after which a complete list of winners will be posted at nashvillesongwriters.com and http://nsai.cmt.com. CDs and lyric sheets will not be returned.

7) Submission constitutes entrant's agreement to release, indemnify and hold harmless NSAI, Country Music Television Inc. and Viacom Media Networks (collectively, "MTVN")and their respective affilliates, licensees, successors and assigns, and the officers director, employees, contractors, partners, shareholders, representatives, members and agents from and against any claim, including, without limitation, of copyright infringement or other misappropriation, arising from any acts or omissions in connection with the contest or its operation. Each entrant must sign (i) an affidavit of eligibility and release of Country Music Television, Inc., and Viacom Media Networks, and any other sponsors from any and all liability, claims, demands and causes of action for personal injury and/or damage, theft or loss suffered in connection with this promotion or the use or acceptance of the prize or any portion thereof to be eligible for the prizes; and (ii) except where prohibited, a promotional release granting the right to use name and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes by MTVN and on CMT.com without additional compensation. Entry into this contest constitutes entrants agreement to sign such releases.

8) Grand Prize Winner and CMT Listeners' Choice Award Winner notification: In regards to CMT's portion of the prizes awarded to the Grand Prize Winner and to the CMT Listeners' Choice Award Winner, CMT will make reasonable attempts to make contact. Winners must respond to CMT within 30 days.

9) CMT will post - and stream live - contest winning songs on nsai.cmt.com. The aforementioned affidavit stating that the winner's song is their original work and the writer(s) holds all rights to the song, will include language to allow this streaming.

10) Winners are responsible for any and all taxes derived from and/or through the competition and their winnings if applicable.

11) Scheduling for all mentoring sessions will be based on the mentor's availability. Mentoring sessions can be in person, over the phone or through video conferencing. NSAI reserves the right to change the mentor should there be a scheduling conflict. All mentoring sessions are strictly informational and educational. This is NOT a co-writing session.

QUESTIONS: Visit www.nashvillesongwriters.com or call 800-321-6008. For additional updates, visit www.nsai.cmt.com; www.twitter.com/NSAIOfficial.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER:

• •Sixty minute mentoring session with legendary songwriter and artist Lionel Richie.
• •Your song pitched to music industry executives through our winners' compilation CD for one year.
• •NSAI Songwriter Networking Program, which includes one-on-one mentoring session opportunities with award-winning professional songwriters; expert advice on how songwriters can generate income and appointments with major music publishers, record label A&R reps and more.
• •One hour mentoring session and career consultation with Kim Copeland Productions.
• •Three-day trip to Nashville, TN including accommodations by Renaissance Hotel Nashville - depending on availability - (limited to US travel within the 50 continental states and only in cities serviced by American Airlines). If the winner's legal residence is within 250 miles of Nashville, TN, only hotel accommodations will be awarded.
• •Professional single-song demo of winning song recorded and produced at Parlor Studios on Music Row with professional singers, musicians and producers.
• •Invitation to perform your winning song on stage before a live audience during Tin Pan South (TBD).
• •Opportunity to perform at the Bluebird Café.
• •Tickets for two (2) to the 2013 CMT Music Awards or something equivalent*.
• •Private tour of CMT studios in Nashville, TN*.
• •CMT Prize Pack.
• •An acoustic Gibson guitar.
• •One high end recording SHURE microphone.
• •One PitchTubes video session with Parlor Productions.
• •One Olympus audio recording device.
• •NSAI event gift certificate.
• •One-year NSAI membership.
• •One-year subscription to American Songwriter magazine.
• •One Sprint smartphone or other device of your choice with 10 percent off your monthly service.
• •One Sonicbids 6-month subscription.
• •Certificate of Achievement.

CMT LISTENERS' CHOICE AWARD WINNER RECEIVES:

• •Offered a mentoring session with a major music publisher.
• •Your song pitched to music industry execs through winners compilation CD for one year.
• •Your song pitched to music industry executives through our winners' compilation CD for one year.
• •Three-day trip to Nashville, TN, including accommodations by Renaissance Hotel Nashville - depending on availability - (limited to US travel within the 50 continental states and only in cities serviced by American Airlines). If the winner's legal residence is within 250 miles of Nashville, TN, only hotel accommodations will be Nashville, TN, only hotel accommodations will be awarded.
• •Professional single-song demo of winning song recorded and produced at Parlor Studios on Music Row with professional singers, musicians and producers.
• •Sixty-minute consultation with Evan Farmer and autographed copy of his book Breaking In: The Formula For Success In Entertainment as well as a attending a taping of CMT's Top 20 Countdown (date TBD).
• •Tickets for two (2) to the 2013 CMT Music Awards or something equivalent*.
• •Private tour of CMT studios in Nashville, TN*.
• •CMT Prize Pack.
• •One high end recording SHURE microphone.
• •NSAI event gift certificate.
• •One-year NSAI membership.
• •One-year subscription to American Songwriter magazine.
• •One Sprint smartphone or other device of your choice with 10 percent off your monthly service.
• •One Sonicbids 6-month subscription.
• •Certificate of Achievement.

LYRIC-ONLY WINNER:

• •Mentoring session with Tom Douglas ("I Run To You", "Hello World" recorded by Lady Antebellum; "The House That Built Me" recorded by Miranda Lambert; "Grown Men Don't Cry" recorded by Tim McGraw. See Rules and Regulations #11. Mentoring sessions can be in person or via Skype.
• •NSAI event gift certificate.
• •One-year NSAI membership.
• •Discount on American Songwriter magazine (for one year).
• •One Sprint smartphone or other device of your choice with 10 percent off your monthly service.
• •Interview with American Songwriter and article posted on their website.

TEN RUNNERS-UP:

• •Offered a meeting with a major music publisher.
• •Your song pitched to music industry executives through our winners' compilation CD for one year.
• •One high end recording SHURE microphone.
• •NSAI event gift certificate.
• •One-year NSAI membership.
• •Discount on American Songwriter magazine (for one year).
• •One Sonicbids 6-month subscription.
• •Certificate of Achievement.

TEN HONORABLE MENTIONS to receive a Certificate of Achievement.

ALL ENTRANTS receive a complimentary personalized judging report.

*Airfare, transportation, hotel not included.

SPONSORS:

American Airlines
American Songwriter magazine
ASCAP
Bluebird Cafe
BMI
Gibson Guitar
Kim Copeland Productions
Olympus
The Parlor Studio
Renaissance Hotel Nashville
SESAC
SHURE Microphones
Sonicbids
Sprint
We Make Tapes and Discs

Publishing Sponsors:
Best Built Songs
Black River Entertainment
Cotton Valley Records
ole Music Publishing
Platinum Pen Publishing
Roots Three Music

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