USA Songwriting Competition
This is your chance to be discovered by the biggest names in the music business!
UPDATE: Submission has been extended to June 30th!
Since 1995, the USA Songwriting Competition®, the world’s leading international songwriting event, has been honoring songwriters, composers, bands, and recording artists everywhere. This opportunity is open to all, regardless of nationality or country origin. This is not American Idol, this is a songwriting competition that gives you the clout it takes to make it!
Winners are selected by a Blue Ribbon committee of music industry judges including record label publishers, producers from Universal Music, Warner, EMI, Sony/BMG Music and other distinguished professionals.
This year’s prizes include::
- Grand Prize: over US $50,000 in cash, merchandise and more
- Overall Second prize: $9,000 worth of merchandise
- Overall Third prize: $6,500 worth of merchandise
- 15 Category First Prizes: $2,200 worth of merchandise
- 20 Honorable Mentions: $350 worth of merchandise
Past winners have gotten recording contracts, getting their songs on film, TV as well as getting cuts with major artists. USA Songwriting Competition 2010 winner won a Grammy. The 2009 winner was signed to Universal Records. The 2007 winner hit Top 10 on the Billboard Charts with his winning song. The 2005 Winner of the Country category had his winning song cut by Country Superstar Faith Hill. The 2005 winner of the Pop category was signed by Interscope Records. The 2008 winner appeared on David Letterman TV show and got signed to a record label!
And the Top 3 winners of 2011′s contest were ReverbNation artists!
Overall Grand Prize Winner: Nenna Yvonne
Overall Second Prize Winner: Alexander Cardinale & Morgan Taylor
Overal Third Prize Winner: Molly Hunt
Submit to your category (you can submit to multiple categories):
Pop
Rock/Alternative
Country
R&B
Gospel/Inspirational
Folk
Latin
Jazz
Hip Hop/Rap
Dance/Electronica
Novelty/Comedy
World
Childrens
Got questions? Go to USA Songwriting FAQ page!
Happy submitting!
Just A Number
http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/song_details/12131370
Big prize on this one.
I notice that the winner Nenna Yvonne has actually been running remix contests of her own recently.
So, you are having a contest but I have to pay you to enter…….Hmmmm…
no thanx. this is a sham.
Sounds like a fun way to share a little music!
Http://www.jeannerosemusic.com
Hi Gary — some promoters (such as USA Songwriting Competition) charge entrance fee in order to keep the competition running (they give over $50,000 in prizes after all!). You should know, though, that ReverbNation doesn’t make a dime out of these fees. Also, major labels and big artists are involved in this competition — we guarantee it’s not sham. Thanks for expressing your concern and let us know if you have any questions.
Yeah! Im In !
I’ll be entering this thing, and probably winning it. I have 3-4 songs right now that are better than what won last year. Just saying.
Hey, got an email back saying “congrats you’re in the contest, we need your name and address’
So……where do you enter that? Thought i just did all that and coughed up $35.00
rut..row
finally a way to express maself musically.is thea an entry fee.
Why is there not a Blues category in this competition? There are tens of thousands ..probably more..all over the world who play blues in all its forms.. from Traditional Delta, to Chicago style, Piedmont style, Texas style, West Coast style.. both traditional and modern contemporary.
These artists, myself included, would not fit into the R&B category..unless it is classic R&B. But I think it probably isn’t. What the industry calls R&B today is not relevant to classic styles a la Aretha Franklin, Al Green, etc..
So you need to have a Blues category. Just sayin’.
Think of all the extra $$ you could generate in entry fees and prizes.
Respectfully…GG Amos
How many are accepted? Most? Selective?
Also, if you are…Where do you send your contact information?
Hi Nick – The promoters from USA Songwriting should not be reaching out to you, the artist, unless you are being nominated. If you are “ACCEPTED”, then the promoter can see your email and phone #.
Hi Garrett – There’s no set amount per category that are accepted. Sometimes USA Songwriting Competition nominates 3 for a category and sometimes they find 15 for a category. Then it goes down to the big name judges to determine the winners of each category. If they are accepted, the promoter gets their email and phone #. Hope this helps!
I agree with Gary, why always pay for contests? Aren’t these there to help us get out there?.. sorry guys.
Thanks for the response. So when do I find out if the material was accepted or rejected ?
how do u kno if your songs was submitted??
@D.WEST
You can always check your submissions in Control Room — Opportunities — Your Submissions. Hope that helps!
How can i hear what won last year?
Ameen – Right here: http://www.songwriting.net/winners/
I have to say,although i appreciate a good pop song…This whole auto tuning generation makes me cringe!! The format seems to be write catchy,deliberate generic subject matter to feed it to the mass market..Where are the alternative music prizewinners?? judged on their originality and raw talent and song writing credibility..not their funky hairstyle and wardrobe accessories..
I’m not so sure my $30 bucks will be a good investment…
Do I retain the rights to my music.
I’d like to submit one of my songs (lyrics and music) but have someone else sing the lyrics. Is that allowed?
Does anyone know if instrumentals are accepted for this or do there have to be vocals?
Hi Tomas – Yes, you may enter the the “Instrumental Category”, by selecting the song category section of the entry form. Please visit http://www.songwriting.net/usa-songwriting-competition-faq/ if you have more questions!
Hi Jeff – Yes, you will retain all rights to all your songs. Please visit http://www.songwriting.net/usa-songwriting-competition-faq/ if you have more questions!
Hi Kevin – Yes, that should be fine. If you have more questions, please contact USA Songwriting here: http://www.songwriting.net/usa-songwriting-competition-faq/
Hope this helps!
Can I summit a song that is not recorded in a studio? I have many songs but I just have them recorded with my cellphone singing with my guitar, if I can, would I be in disadvantage because i don’t have the music ready to sound on the radio?
Hi Rosemary – it’s all about the song and there are no rules about the quality of the recording, but sometimes judges tend to pick professional sounding recordings.
Hello,
Is there a winner for each category ?
When and where will the winners be announced ?
LUG P
Hi LUG P! Yes, there’s one winner for each category, plus Overall Grand Winner, 2nd and 3rd. The winners will be announced November 15, 2012. Please refer to their website for more info: http://www.songwriting.net/usa-songwriting-competition-rules/
This is great for encouraging songwriters to promote their music, especially when you have the competition of American Idol and X Factor. The prize up for grabs is superb, not just the money, but for what it can lead to.
However, I do agree with one of the posts above that there should be a ‘blues’ category. I am not from the US, but the blues is such an important genre of music, and should surely be recognized.