CMT/NSAI Song Contest Offers Publishing Contract Grand Prize
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has announced the launch of the 5th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest. Co-sponsored by BMI, the song contest provides the best avenue for emerging songwriters to open doors to industry contacts and have their song pitched to record labels and publishers. Last year's Grand Prize Winner, Jesse Terry, has been offered a publishing deal as a staff songwriter on Music Row and 2002 winner Tracey Naples signed a development deal with DreamWorks Records. The 2004 song contest grand prize winner, along with five finalists, will automatically be offered a single-song publishing contract from one of six publishers, including BMG, Sony, Curb, EMI, Warner/Chappell and Cal IV Music.
Along with the single-song contract offer, the grand prize winner will also receive entrance into the NSAI Songwriter Prodigy 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 mentoring sessions with award-winning 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 representatives.
The winner also receives a trip to Nashville including airfare and accommodations, as well as invitations to perform at the Bluebird Cafe during NSAI's Tin Pan South, on a WSM radio program and on a broadcast of "Words and Music" songwriters show on Nashville's local CBS affiliate. The winner will also be invited to appear on the CMT Mobile Marketing stage at the 2005 CMA Music Festival/Fan Fair. NSAI will also produce a professional demo of the winning song and pitch it to publishers and A&R record label executives for one year. Five finalists will also receive a professional demo and song pitching for a year.
Industry contacts, single-song contract offers, professional demo production and personal service may set the CMT/NSAI Song Contest apart from other song contests, but top winners also win great prizes. The grand prize winner receives a Gibson guitar, a one-year supply of Elixir Strings and tuition for one-year to SongU.com. Five finalists win a Gibson guitar and tuition for six-months to SongU.com. The grand prize winner and the five finalists also receive MasterWriter songwriter software, a one-year SongRamp.com pro membership, a free registration to NSAI Songwriter's Symposium or Song Camp 101 or 102, and a one-year NSAI membership.
Prizes are awarded to one (1) Grand Prize winner, five (5) Finalists, ten (10) Runners-up and forty (40) Honorable Mentions. The contest is open to all genres of music. All songs entered receive a judging report. Music industry executives, professional songwriters and NSAI board members judge songs based 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 a chance to win a Gibson guitar, MasterWriter songwriter software, tuition for one-year SongU.com, and a one-year SongRamp.com pro membership. Also, all current NSAI members receive an additional $5 off their total entry fee.
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 Cafe, BMI, Disc Makers, Elixir Strings, MasterWriter, Musesmuse, Nashville Scene, GIBSON Guitars, Singer Magazine, Sonicbids, American Songwriter Magazine, SongRamp.com, SongU.com, and WSM AM/FM.
The following music companies are participating in the 5th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest: Sony, BMG, Curb, EMI, Warner/Chappell, and Cal IV.
All proceeds from the 5th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest will benefit NSAI's legislative efforts to protect the rights of songwriters. NSAI is the world's largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization.
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