NSAI’s 24th Song Contest launches August 1st
by Preshias Harris
The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) along with presenting sponsors The Bluebird Cafe and CMT have announced additional details for the 24th annual NSAI Song Contest. (Scroll down to see how to enter.)
Launching August 1 at 12:00pm Central, this year’s contest will award over $20,000 worth of prizes including: two cash prizes ($5,000 and $2,500), $1,500 towards a Guitar Center purchase, two 417e guitars from Taylor Guitar, a mentor session with either Ingrid Andress or David Hodges, a one-year single-song publishing contract with Anthem Entertainment, a tour of the CMT Headquarters and 2 pairs of tickets to 2024 CMT Music Awards, an experience at The Bluebird Cafe and more.
Songwriters of all genres are invited to submit their songs and/or lyrics here www.nsaisongcontest.com to be evaluated by industry professionals for valuable feedback and for their chance to win big. Up to 22 entries will place in the contest after several phases of judging, including a live final judging where the Lyric Category winner will be announced and the Song Category Top 10 finalists will be judged once more before revealing the Grand Prize Song Category Winner. Judging will take place no later than January 2024.
If you are a songwriter, this is an opportunity not to be ignored. The Grand Prize Song Category Winner will collect $5,000 cash, a one-on-one mentor session with 4x Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and 2020 NSAI ‘Song of the Year’ honoree Ingrid Andress, and will be offered a one-year single-song contract with Anthem Entertainment. In addition, they will receive: a brand new 417e Taylor Guitar, $1,500 towards a purchase at Guitar Center (courtesy of the Guitar Center Music Foundation), a tour of CMT Headquarters and tickets to the 2024 CMT Music Awards, the opportunity to play The Bluebird Cafe and 2024 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, industry meetings, a roundtrip flight via Southwest® Airlines, a 2-night stay in Nashville, Tenn., $250 gift card and Nashville swag courtesy of Visit Music City, and more.
The Lyric Category Winner will receive $2,500 CASH, a mentoring session with David Hodges, multi-platinum, Grammy and BMI award-winning songwriter and record producer who has sold over 100 million records, as well as a brand new 417e Taylor Guitar. They will also win: two tickets to the 2024 CMT Music Awards, a roundtrip flight via Southwest®, a $250 gift card and Nashville swag from Visit Music City, two tickets to a show at The Bluebird Cafe as well as $1,500 towards a Guitar Center purchase (courtesy of the Guitar Center Music Foundation).
For the judging process, all eligible submissions received by NSAI between August 1, 2023 at 12:00pm Central through September 30, 2023 at 5:00pm Central, will be judged in their respective categories by music industry professionals with a 10 question scorecard evaluation. Highest scoring entries will advance to the second round for another review, and in the third round of judging, up to ten (10) finalists and up to ten (10) honorable mentions will be determined for the Song Category, and the Lyric Category winner and runner-up will be selected. By January 2024, the top finalists for the Song Category will be scored during a live-streamed event where a panel of elite music industry professionals will score each submission from 1-10, with the highest combined score receiving the Song Category Grand Prize!
Here’s how to enter:
Entries can be submitted online here 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 (no cash accepted), printed lyric sheet, and one audio CD (unless a Lyric Category entry). Entry fees are $39 per song or lyric entry for current NSAI members and $49 per song or lyric entry for non-NSAI members. There is no limit to the number of songs or lyrics that songwriters can submit, and all submissions must be submitted or post-marked by September 30, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Central.
For further details, including additional information on submitting songs, an official full list of prizes, the Terms and Conditions and contest updates, visit www.nsaisongcontest.com. Updates will also be posted at NSAI’s website and on NSAI’s official Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter pages (@NSAIOfficial).
- NSAI is thanking their partners that make this contest possible: The Bluebird Cafe, CMT, Anthem Entertainment, Taylor Guitars, Guitar Center Music Foundation, Southwest Airlines®, Visit Music City, ASCAP, BMI, Lamar Advertising, We Make Tapes & Discs.
About NSAI
Established in 1967, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization and has a membership of more than 5,000 spanning the United States and several foreign countries. Consisting of a body of creative minds, including songwriters from all genres of music, professional and aspiring, for over 52 years, NSAI has been committed to protecting the rights and future of the profession of songwriting, as well as carrying a commitment to educate, elevate and celebrate the songwriter, acting as a unifying force within the music community and the community at large. For more information, visit www.nashvillesongwriters.com.
Preshias Harris is an advocate for songwriters and a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com #PreshiasHarris