The CMT NSAI Song Contest provides the best avenue for emerging songwriters to open doors to industry contacts and have their songs pitched to record labels and top publishing executives. Since his winning song was announced earlier this spring, last year’s Grand Prize Winner, Jesse Terry, has been offered a publishing deal as a staff songwriter and is currently co-writing with top Pro songwriters in Nashville. Our 2002 Grand Prize song contest winner Tracey Naples signed a label development deal with DreamWorks Records shortly after her winning song was selected.
The 2004 song contest Grand Prize winner, along with 5 finalists, will be offered a single-song publishing contract from one of six major publishers, including BMG, Sony/ATV, Curb, EMI, Warner/Chappell and Cal IV.
“By offering the top six winning songs single-song contracts with major publishers, we don’t just get an amateur songwriter’s foot in the door - we rip the door off it hinges and create an opportunity for the aspiring songwriter to build relationships with top-notch songwriters, publishers and music industry executives that would normally take years to establish,” said NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison.
Along with a single-song contract, the Grand Prize Winner will receive entrance into the NSAI Songwriter Protégé program, which includes one full year of mentoring, educational sessions and career path development with members of the NSAI staff; a series of one-on-one sessions with professional songwriters, major publishers and teachers; a full course on how a songwriter can generate income; and appointments with music publishers and record label A&R reps.
“We strive to jump-start our winners’ careers and give them opportunities that they would not have had otherwise,” said Herbison. “Providing our winners with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get their songs in front of Music Row decision-makers is something that NSAI is proud to be able to do.”
Prizes will be awarded to 1 Grand Prize Winner, 5 Finalists, 10 Runners-Up and 40 Honorable Mentions. The contest is open to all genres of music. Each entry will receive a Judging Report identifying areas of strength and areas for improvement. Like last year’s song contest, songs will be judged on lyrics, melody and composition. Performance and production will not be evaluated.
Songwriters entering before Sept. 30, 2004, will receive $5 off the entry fee, and will be entered into the Early Entry Raffle for an opportunity to win a Gibson Guitar, MasterWriter songwriter software, one-year SongU.com tuition and a one-year SongRamp.com pro membership.
All entries must be postmarked by the FINAL CONTEST DEADLINE: Nov. 30, 2004.
The 5th Annual CMT
NSAI Song Contest is presented by CMT and sponsored by the following companies:
Bluebird Café,
BMI,
DiscMakers,
Elixir Strings,
MasterWriter,
Nashville Scene,
Gibson Guitars,
Singer Magazine,
American Songwriter Magazine,
SongRamp.com,
SongU.com,
WSM AM/FM,
Country Music Today Magazine,
Sonicbids,
Taxi and
Americana Music Association.
All proceeds from the 5th Annual CMT NSAI Song Contest will benefit NSAI’s legislative efforts to protect the rights of songwriters.
Enter Now! (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader which may be downloaded free on the Internet.)
Alternate Entry Form
A single-song publishing contract by a major publisher
Official Rules
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