Song Contests and Music Competitions

Evolution Garden Music Award 2012 (EGMA 2012) – Worldwide Music Competition, Entry Deadline is January 31, 2012. Evolution Garden and Tom Newman (Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells producer / Virgin Records co founder) are looking for original global talent! Entrants must submit their original song/composition on mp3 format. Registration fee is £10 per song, Prize worth £100,000.

Discovered: The Unsigned Artist Competition – Season 2 kicks off with Submission Round November 1, 2011 to February 1, 2012. Then several Voting Rounds. Top 10 vote getters will perform live on April 28, 2012. Discovered is designed to help discover and promote up-and-coming artists from across the country, by providing them with a stream-lined avenue for getting their music professionally produced.

Do you want your Spanish music to be used in commercials or movies? – Submissions until 17th of December, 2011. Online music community Tribe of Noise teamed up with Getty Images Music and together they're looking for popular Spanish and Latin American music. This is your chance to get your music heard by thousands of people in the creative industry! Getty Images Music's global sales force will pitch the winning artists and music to their clients: music supervisors, producers, content creators and music programming people around the world. Think of the sounds you hear on the radio, in clubs or in your favorite television programs – does your music have what it takes? Don't be afraid to give it a try!

Great American Song Contest – Annual. Submission Deadline was October 28, 2011. $10,000 in prizes. Plus ALL categories offer awards to the Top 5 songwriters – for a total of 45 awards in 9 different songwriting categories. All participating songwriters receive written evaluations of their songs from contest judges who are experienced music-industry pros.

ParamountSong Nashville International Songwriting Competition – Multiple contests throughout the year with "Over $125,000 cash & prizes awarded (every year). We reward all kinds of songs and lyrics equally... including Traditional Country, Today's Hot Country, Contemporary Christian, Gospel, Pop, Rock, AAA, Alternative, Jazz, Blues. The Nashville Songwriting Connection for songwriters all over the world."

International Songwriting Competition 2011 – Submission Deadline is November 1, 2011. All Genres Accepted. "Over $150,000 in cash and prizes shared by 68 winners. The ISC is an annual song contest whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. Amateur and professional songwriters and musicians are invited to participate. ISC has the most prestigious panel of judges of all the songwriting and music contests in the world, offering exposure and the opportunity to have your songs heard by the most influential decision-makers in the music industry."  facebook

John Lennon Songwriting Contest and Maxell Song of the Year – Annual, two sessions each year.
Session I begins in January, Deadline in June.
Session II begins in June, Deadline in December.
International contest with over $275,000 in cash and prizes. The JLSC is open year-round, open to amateur and professional songwriters, and features two Sessions. Each Session has 12 Grand Prize Winners (one in each category) and 36 Finalists (three in each category). Your songs may be entered in any of the following 12 categories: Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, World, Rhythm & Blues, Hip Hop, Gospel/Inspirational, Latin, Electronic, Folk, and Children's. Grand Prize Winners of Session I and Session II will compete head-to-head in an online voting battle to become the Lennon Award Winner in their respective category. 12 Award Winners will compete for the Maxell Song of the Year.

Show Me the Music Songwriting Contest – 2011 contest ended, next one starts in October with $10,000 cash prize offered to the winner. Multiple categories.

I'm A Holloywood Star International Live Music Competition and Online Song Competition – for unsigned bands and singers, original music, thousands of dollars worth of prizes.

The Next Holiday Classic – Annual. Entry Deadline is in November. Beginning in late November, online voters will determine which songs will advance to the final.

OurStage – ongoing monthly contest. upload your music and videos, fans vote, win prizes. OurStage is where music fans can discover, enjoy and reward the best emerging artists – and where the world's artists come to find their fans, get amazing gigs and launch their careers.

2012 International Blues Challenge (28th) is January 31 – February 4, 2012. in Memphis, TN. "The IBC represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations (mostly blues societies) for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to perform on a national stage, but just need that extra break." It's the largest gathering of blues bands in the world.

Song of the Year Annual Song & Lyric Competition – usually starts in late March. $100,000 cash and prizes, 600 monthly songwriting contest winners. A contest whose "primary focus is to find great songwriters while helping them network with professionals in the music industry. Monthly winners and finalists throughout the year will get their music sent to Record Labels, Music Publishers, management and more. Judges include numerous Grammy Award Winners, Major Record Labels, individuals from Rolling Stone Magazine, professional songwriters and individuals.

Texaco Country Showdown – Annual. Country Music Talent Search begins each Spring with over 450 local talent contests sponsored by country music radio stations throughout the US. Winners advance to their respective State competitions held at leading fairs and expositions. Acts then compete for a $1,000 prize, the State Title and the opportunity to advance to one of five Regional Finals. It’s the last step before the prestigious National Final held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The audience cheers on the Regional Winners, as they compete for the Grand Prize of $100,000 and the National Title. A uniform judging system is used at all levels of competition to ensure fairness.

American Idol TV Show – usually has auditions from late June through mid September before each upcoming season. Sometimes they allow last minute video autions submitted online in late September.

The X Factor (USA) – Simon Cowell's new Music Competition TV Show. Show started airing in fall of 2011. It has been renewed for 2012 (season 2). click link to get complete information including audition info.

Best Buy Music Gear Battle of the Bands – Submission Deadlines are from August 5, 2011 to September 23, 2011, depending on city. Contest ends October 14, 2011. Must be your own original photo, song and/or video. Each band submission will be available for fan voting. Grand Prize includes $10,000 of gear at Best Buy Musical Instruments, EP produced by Jay Baumgardner at NRG Studios in North Hollywood, CA, plus A coveted spot to play live on the entire 2012 Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival, and more.

RiffRumble 16 – Entries accepted May 26 – June 8, 2011. RiffRumble 16 challenges RiffWorks users to write their best "Heroes" themed songs for a chance to win over $4,000 in prizes. Fire up RiffWorks and record a prize-fighting song with a "Heroes" theme. Record an entry on your own, or with up to 4 friends worldwide using the RiffLink online song collaboration features built into RiffWorks. No purchase necessary. No contest entry fee.

M@dAbout Music Video Competition – March 1 through May 1, 2011. They're looking for musicians to write original songs and submit them as 90 second to three minute videos on topics that are important to teens. Think SNL meets School House Rock. Bands can submit as many different music videos as they like. Winners get $1,000 for each song selected plus the song will air nationally on the M@dAbout nationally syndicated sketch comedy television show.

Festival4StarsLive International Songwriting Competition – There are 4 genres to submit to: Pop/Rock/R&B, Singer/Songwriter, Country, Wild Card (for songs that do not fit into any of these i.e. folk, world, new age, etc). All submissions receive written feedback from judges. 4 overall Grand Prize winners chosen in November, 2010 will win an all expense paid invitation to attend the International Songwriting Camp in London in January, 2011. Camp will be headed by John McGloughlin and other top credited hit songwriters.

Explore Talent Urban Music Contest – Enter by June 30, 2011. website had way too many pop-ups for me to get more information.

The Next Country Classic Song Contest – Annual. Entry Deadline is in early October. A free to enter, online song contest where voters will determine which songs will advance to the final. Cash prize and the opportunity to be presented to major label recording artists for inclusion on their future projects. Other contests are The Next Wedding Classic, The Next Children's Classic and The Next Holiday Classic Song Contests.

Ernie Ball Vans Warped Tour Battle of the Bands – "Free to Enter, sign up deadline varies for each particular Vans Warped Tour date (dates listed on website). The Top 100 vote getting bands for each venue will be eligible to win a slot to play live on the Vans Warped Tour. Four bands will be chosen to perform live on the Ernie Ball Stage for each date of the 2010 Vans Warped Tour. The winning artists earn the opportunity to perform on the Ernie Ball Stage at the Summer's largest music festival, The 2010 Vans Warped Tour. The winning bands will play live in their hometown venue in front of thousands of fans alongside main stage headliners and Ernie Ball headlining artists. One band will be eligible to win the Grand Prize consisting of $15,000 Guitar Center Shopping Spree, All Expenses Paid Trip to Hollywood to play live at the Vans Warped Tour After-Party, 2 Week Slot on the 2011 Vans Warped Tour", and more.

FreeCreditScore.com - Next Band for Commercials – Annual, usually ends in August. Experian chooses a new band to be in their nation-wide TV and cable commercials. Winner gets a $10,000 check and over $12,000 in gear and perks.

Lyric Check Songwriting Contest – all genres and song categories are included, all entries must be original songs. Entry Fee is $29.99 for one song and $49.99 for 2 songs. There is no limit to the number of songs you may enter. The Lyric Check Contest and all affiliate contests are open to both amateur and professional songwriters. A panel of Music Business Professionals will select the winners. Songs will be judged based on composition, lyrics, melody, and originality. The quality of performance and production will not be a consideration. Visit website for information, complete prize lists, and to enter your song! Winners will be announced February 14, 2011.

Cocoroko Rock 2010 Music Video Contest – Entry Deadline is 15th of December, 2010. Original Music Only. Music videos will be published on Cocoroko Blog and Facebook in order to help the bands to be known in the whole world.

NSAI/CMT Song Contest – Annual. Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and Country Music Television (CMT). Submissions accepted August 1st through November 30th, voting starts February 1st and lasts till early March. No cash prizes. Prizes include 2 tickets to CMT Awards, private tour of CMT studios, one single-song publishing contract by a major publisher, Three-day trip to Nashville for one including airfare and hotel, etc.

Billboard World Songwriting Contest – Annual. Winners receive non-cash prizes.

American Accordionists' Association Competition and Festival – July 14-18, 2010 in Harrisburg, PA. Contestants from the U.S., China, Russia, Canada, Mexico, France and Italy compete for cash prizes and a grand prize. Annual event.

Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Baku – link is to official website which has current and upcoming information, original Eurovision TV Song Contest clips, backstage materials, exclusive interviews, updates, press centre, and more.

uPlaya Music Contests – various contest added throughout the year. non-cash prizes plus promotion through uPlaya.

Music Industry Artists Looking For Songs – ongoing, submit songs.

The Jimmie Rodgers Society 2010 Echo Award Video Song Contest – Submissions Deadline: October 15, 2010. Contest is designed to showcase the talents of a wide variety of performers, covering a diverse series of musical genres, each stamping their own unique imprint on a Jimmie Rodgers song. We're looking for great performances, not great video editing. 3 age categories. One winner, along with 2nd and 3rd place finishers, will be chosen in each category. Non-cash prizes: award, memberships, videos posted.

Contests Listed in YouTube – check for DIY Home-Style Music Videos singing contests to Full Production Music Videos competitions to short commercials you make with your music in the background. New contests get added, see past winners.

ISSA Song Contest – no info for 2010. Annual international songwriting competition, 9 categories. Independent Singer Songwriters Association (ISSA).

Briggs & Stratton Battle of the Bands Contest – Ended April 16, 2010. upload a song for users to vote on. If they win, we'll pay their way to come party with us in Milwaukee. We'll fly the winning band out to Summerfest - the world's largest music festival held June 26, 2010, put em in a hotel and let em play their set on stage. Plus give them photos, video and a CD of their performance.

America's Got Talent – Annual NBC TV show & Talent Search.

MTV Making The Band

Annual SXSW Showcase (South by Southwest Music Conference) - held in March. South by Southwest Music and Media Conference (SXSW), Austin Music Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas. This is HUGE. "Over 1400 acts showcased last year before more than 8000 registrants from all over the world. Pop, jazz, country, blues, reggae, hip hop, electronica - every imaginable style of music, from nearly every continent - is represented each night at over 50 of Austin's premier stages, many within walking distance of one another."

Fast Track To Fame TV – Internet Music Television for aspiring singers and bands.

Cover vs. Original – online voting site pitting original version songs against various cover versions.

Trance Awards – Featuring 13 categories voted for by the public on this site. The highlight every year is the star-studded ceremony and full-on party (in November) which celebrates the diversity of trance music and culture.

100% Music Songwriting Contest – former annual contest, last in 2010. Had several thousand dollars worth of music prizes. A songwriting competition open to all bands, musicians and songwriters, from any part of the world, amateurs or professionals. [last checked on Sept 27, 2011]

How Sweet The Sound – Verizon's Search for the Best Church Choir in America (2010) – National Choir Competition. Support your community and church choir, or just view choir videos, and vote for your favorite. Vote by August 1st to help your favorite choir advance to regional events.

Unisong International Songwriting Contest – former annual contest, last entry deadline was in 2008. checked in March 2010, no new info.

Music City Music Records Song Contest – this contest has no dates, might be over. checked in March 2010, no new info.

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