Grand Prize Award includes $5,000 Cash, a Martin Guitar, Mentoring Session
with Legendary Songwriter Craig Wiseman, Single Song Contract with ole and More!
Contest Begins Friday, August 31 at 12:00pm CDST
Nashville, Tennessee – The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), CMT, and newest partner, C. F. Martin & Co. (Martin Guitar & Strings) are proud to present the 19th Annual NSAI Song Contest!
Kicking off Friday August 31, 2018 at 12:00pm CDST, entries will be accepted online or by mail through October 31, 2018 at 12:00pm CDST. With two categories, SONG and LYRIC-ONLY, the contest provides an opportunity for songwriters of all genres to have their song(s) judged by an all-star music industry panel for a chance at winning one of the twenty-three prizes available.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive $5,000 CASH, a mentoring session with legendary hit songwriter CRAIG WISEMAN, a MARTIN GUITAR and Strings (winner’s choice of either a stage-ready Martin D-42 or 000-42 Reimagined Standard Series guitar),a one-year SINGLE SONG CONTRACT WITH ole, and many additional prizes, including: two (2) tickets to the 2019 CMT Music Awards show, a three (3) day trip to Nashville including two (2) nights of hotel accommodations and round trip flight, (excluding predetermined blackout dates and limited to travel within the 48 contiguous states anywhere Southwest Airlines® flies), a live performance opportunity at the 2019 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival as well as a performance slot at The Bluebird Cafe in 2019, a NSAI residency package including a membership (one year), access to one (1) NSAI premium event, winning song inclusion in one (1) of the quarterly Pitch to Publisher meetings, and more! 10 Grand Prize Runners-Up will also each receive a prize pack including a Martin Dreadnought Junior Acoustic Electric guitar, Martin Acoustic Strings, and more.
The Lyric-Only winner will receive a mentoring session with hit songwriter LORI McKENNA, a Martin Sustainable Wood OME cherry Acoustic Electric guitar and strings, access to one (1) NSAI premium event, a pass to the 2019 Music Biz Conference in Nashville, TN, along with additional prizes. All entrants will receive a personalized score sheet.
To determine the winner for the Grand Prize, all eligible submissions received by NSAI will be judged by music industry professionals, who in Round three (3) judging, will select the top eleven (11) finalists and ten (10) honorable mentions. In February of 2019, the finalist submissions will be judged during a live-streamed event where an elite music industry-based panel will score each submission, with the highest score receiving the Grand Prize, and the other ten (10) finalist submissions will receive Runners-Up awards. The Lyric-Only judging will follow the same process until Round three (3) judging where two (2) submissions will be selected, one as the Lyric-Only award recipient and the other as the Lyric-Only Runner-Up.
Beginning August 31, 2018 at 12:00pm CDST, entries can be submitted online at nsai.cmt.com or they can be mailed to the NSAI office (NSAI–ATTN: Song Contest, 1710 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, TN 37203). All entries mailed in must include the submission form, entry fee, printed lyric sheet, and one (1) audio CD (unless a Lyric-Only entry). Entry fees are $35 per song for current NSAI members and $45 per song for non-NSAI members. There is no limit to the number of songs that songwriters can submit, and all submissions must be post-marked by 12:00pm CDST on October 31, 2018.
For further details, including additional information on submitting songs, an official list of prizes, the Terms and Conditions and contest updates, visit nsai.cmt.com beginning August 31. Updates will also be posted periodically at www.nashvillesongwriters.
Sponsors: Special thanks to ASCAP, BMI, CMT, Martin Guitar and Strings, ole, SESAC, Southwest Airlines®, and We Make Tapes & Discs.
• This contest is open to amateur songwriters only.
• All genres of music are accepted and encouraged.
• The entry cost is $35 per song for NSAI members and $45 per song for all non-NSAI members.
• Multiple entries are accepted.
• All entries must be postmarked by the CONTEST DEADLINE: 12:00 pm CDST October 31, 2018(6:00pm UK time on October 31, 2018).
• Judges are comprised of Music Industry Professionals and Professional Songwriters. Songs are judged based on lyrics, melody and composition. Performance and production will not be evaluated on Song category submissions.
• Prizes are awarded to one (1 Grand Prize Winner, one (1) Lyric-Only Winner, one (1) Lyric-Only Runner Up, ten (10) Runners-Up, and ten (10) Honorable Mentions. All songs entered receive a personalized score sheet.