American Songwriter Past Contest Winners
Song Contest
The world’s largest online platform dedicated to recognizing songwriters and their songs.
Videos by American Songwriter
Grand Prize Winner:
“Black Powder Smoke” By Lydia Kaseta, Nate Sander and Dylan Owen
Grand Prize Winner:
“This Is Where” By Drew Schueler, Nell Maynard, Claire Flynt
First Place:
“Somebody” By Harper O’Neill, Meg McRee
Second Place:
“American Spirits” By Austin Sawyer (Drumming Bird)
Third Place:
“Milky Way” By Nathalie Nedeljkovic (Nouel)
First Place:
“Walk” By Lauryn Marie
Second Place:
“This Could Be My Last Song” By Frank Watkinson
Third Place:
“Right At The Wrong Time” By Jade Steg
1st Place: 2020 “We Need More” By Taylor Fagins
2nd Place: “Still Life” By Ryan Dilmore
3rd Place: “Two Hearts and a Diamond” By Ava Suppelsa, Jesse Labelle
Lyric Contest
Founded in 1984, the Lyric Contest spotlights the craft of songwriting and the stories that stick.
2026 Grand Prize Winner:
2026 Grand Prize Winner: TBA
Session Winners:
2026 Session One Winners: Learn More
2026 Session Two Winners: Learn More
2026 Session Three Winners: TBA
2026 Session Four Winners: TBA
2026 Session Five Winners: TBA
2026 Session Six Winners: TBA
2025 Grand Prize Winner:
2025 Grand Prize Winner: “Marble and Stone” By Coco Zhai
Session Winners:
2025 Session One Winners: Learn More
2025 Session Two Winners: Learn More
2025 Session Three Winners: Learn More
2025 Session Four Winners: Learn More
2025 Session Five Winners: Learn More
2025 Session Six Winners: Learn More
Grand Prize Winner:
2024 Grand-Prize Winner: “Love Washes Off” By Michael R.J. Roth
Session Winners:
2024 Session One Winners: Learn More
2024 Session Two Winners: Learn More
2024 Session Three Winners: Learn More
2024 Session Four Winners: Learn More
2024 Session Five Winners: Learn More
2024 Session Six Winners: Learn More
Grand Prize Winner:
2023 Grand-Prize Winner: “Painting Pickets” By Christine Merritt, Gregory Becker, Michelle Creber
Session Winners:
2023 Session One Winners: Click Here
2023 Session Two Winners: Click Here
2023 Session Three Winners: Click Here
2023 Session Four Winners: Click Here
2023 Session Five Winners: Click Here
2023 Session Six Winners: Click Here
Grand Prize Winner:
2022 Grand Prize Winner: “Long Line of Cars” By Mason Caviness, Emily Rose
Session Winners:
2022 Session One Winners: Click Here
2022 Session Two Winners: Click Here
2022 Session Three Winners: Click Here
2022 Session Four Winners: Click Here
2022 Session Five Winners: Click Here
2022 Session Six Winners: Click Here
Grand Prize Winner:
“Road That Coal Made Black” By Ryan T. Miller
Session Winners:
Session One: “Some Boys Grow Up To Be Soldiers” By Brian Estes
Session Two: “Angels” By Diane Smith
Session Three: “Remembered” By Cameron Burleson
Session Four: “Anymore” By Chelsea McWilliams, Tim Allard
Session Five: “Road That Coal Made Black” By Ryan T. Miller
Session Six: “Don’t Waste the Rain” By Chuck Thomas
Grand Prize Winner:
“Love Was Just a Word” By Shawn Byrne
Session Winners:
Session One: “Asking For A Friend” By Ryan T. Miller
Session Two: “Aphrodite Wire and Wood” By Joe Black
Session Three: “Echo” By Matt Dunn
Session Four: “Love Was Just a Word” By Shawn Byrne
Session Five: “This Long Life” By Mark Miller
Session Six: “The Blindness Excuse” By William Simons
Grand Prize Winner:
“Changing (While Staying The Same)” By Mike Guiney
Session Winners:
Session One: “Evangeline” By Jeremy Dion
Session Two: “Mary Dyer” By Todd Hearon
Session Three: “Changing (While Staying The Same)” By Mike Guiney
Session Four: “Cradle Of The Moon” By Lucy LeBlanc
Session Five: “Where The River Runs Clear” By Scott D. Smith
Session Six: “Parallel Universes” By Larry E. Black
Grand Prize Winner:
“Every Drink Tells A Story (For Merle)” By Gary Hale
Session Winners:
Session One: “Every Drink Tells A Story (For Merle)” By Gary Hale
Session Two: “Be Good To Your Woman” By Thurston Wilkes
Session Three: “Country Boy” By Gospel Colten Lyke
Session Four: “Which Way Is Home?” By Brett Gurzick
Session Five: “If I Were A Bottle” By Samantha Elin
Session Six: “The Captain’s Son” By Ryan T. Miller
Grand Prize Winner:
“Highway Sky” By Adrian Gronseth
Session Winners:
Session One: “Language Of The Broken-hearted” By Mike Guiney
Session Two: “Come And Go Town” By Don Owens
Session Three: “My Prayin’ Knees ” By Patrycya Hill
Session Four: “Highway Sky” By Adrian Gronseth
Session Five: “If It Mattered” By Jane Fallon
Session Six: “Old Habits” By Eryn Michel
Grand Prize Winner:
“Billy (Off The Line)” By Mark Rostenko
Session Winners:
Session One: “Outlaws” By Lizzie Quinlan
Session Two: “War Stories” By Kevin Dudley
Session Three: “Billy (Off The Line)” By Mark Rostenko
Session Four: “Set In Her Ways” By Rick Leather
Session Five: “Get-Away Car” By Kerann Christopherson
Session Six: “You Make Sense” By Jay Madera
Grand Prize Winner:
“Tomorrow’s Just A Promise” By Mike Guiney
Session Winners:
Session One: “Lost And Found” By Kristen Sullivan
Session Two: “No Such Thing (As You And Me)” By Owen Danoff
Session Three: “Marriage Ain’t The End of Being Lonely” By Emily Scott Robinson
Session Four: “She Only Loves Me When She Lies” By Heath Johnson
Session Five: “Running Out Of Texas” By Greg Stielstra
Session Six: “Tomorrow’s Just A Promise” By Mike Guiney
Grand Prize Winner:
“Lonely Pretty Things” By Blair Bodine
Session Winners:
Session One: “Songs I’d Never Sing” By John William Carlson
Session Two: “Fields Of My Heart” By Kyle Cox
Session Three: “Lonely Pretty Things” By Blair Bodine
Session Four: “Smoke” By Matt Jordan
Session Five: “Reasons To Run” By Brittany Hadley
Session Six: “Riptide” By Dave DeWhitt
Road Ready Talent Contest
This is your shot to get discovered by industry professionals and take the next step in your music career.
"Black Powder Smoke"
Written by Lydia Kaseta, Nate Sander, and Dylan Owen
"This Is Where"
Drew Schueler
Written by Drew Schueler, Nell Maynard, Claire Flynt
“What’s It All Mean?”
The Philharmonik
Written by The Philharmonik
Song Contest Winners
Harper O’Neill
Grand Prize
What’s It All Mean? By Christian Gates-Bahlhorn
Americana:
1st Place – “Stardust” By Meg McRee
2nd Place – “Ain’t My First Rodeo” By India Ramey
Blues:
1st Place – “Won’t Be Around” By Bobby Cole, Larry D. Robertson, Terry Blade
2nd Place – “My Strength is Gone” By Solomon Brown (Lord Solomon)
Christian:
1st Place – “Joy In The Battle” By Major Johnson Finley, Joaquin Bynum (MAJOR.)
2nd Place – “For Such A Time As This” By Amanda Nolan, Kayliann Lowe, Doug Lowe
Country:
1st Place – “Comeback Kid” By Joey Hendricks, Andy Albert, Zach Abend
2nd Place – “If I Die Today” By Brett Matthews, Classified
Folk/Singer-Songwriter:
1st Place – “i’m not in love with you” By Lydia Frutig, Alex Nobile, Nate Sander, Wesley Henry
2nd Place – “Billy” By Daniel Herr
Hip-Hop/Rap:
1st Place – “Drama” By Leshaun Nash
2nd Place – “Flee Steppa” By Jamal Hall (Willy Flee)
Indie:
1st Place – “Sad Bird Still Sings” By Eloise Alterman, Dan Henig
2nd Place – “Permanent Resident” By Skyler Mayes
Pop:
1st Place – “All My Exes’ Moms” By Brooke Alexx, Will Jay, Jxndren, De’La
2nd Place – “Another Kind of Love” By Madilyn Paige, Aaron Kellim, Jay Denton, Ariel Lask
Rock:
1st Place – “Matador” By Micah Smith, Nadia Vaeh (Empty Atlas)
2nd Place – “i was a virgin (on drugs)” By Halo Kitsch
Teen:
1st Place – “Sweet Talker” By Kaiya Gamble, Spencer Cheyne, Justin Kudding
2nd Place – “Whisper” By Asher Hinton, Lars Jensen
1st Place: “Somebody” By Harper O’Neill, Meg McRee
2nd Place: “American Spirits” By Austin Sawyer (Drumming Bird)
3rd Place: “Milky Way” By Nathalie Nedeljkovic (Nouel)
Honorable Mentions (sorted by song title):
“8 billion people” By Kiran and Nivi Saishankar, supperclub
“Changing Lanes” By Nina Lee, Ethan Mentzer
“Driving Home To You” By Kaston Guffey
“Ghost” By Jolie (pka L.i.E) Waterhouse
“Got Away With It” By Eliza Harrison Smith
“May Flowers” By Charlie Brennan, Theo Kandel
“Memories Make Us” By Hayden Cain, Eric Dodd, Moriah Domby
“Someone’s Woman” By Hannah Bethel
“White” By Gabrielle Boyle, Blessing Offor
“You & I” By Danielle Juhre
Songs That Sync Promotion Winner:
“You Lied” By Caitlynne Curtis
1st Place: “Walk” By Lauryn Marie
2nd Place: “This Could Be My Last Song” By Frank Watkinson
3rd Place: “Right At The Wrong Time” By Jade Steg
1st Place: 2020 “We Need More” By Taylor Fagins
2nd Place: “Still Life” By Ryan Dilmore
3rd Place: “Two Hearts and a Diamond” By Ava Suppelsa, Jesse Labelle
Lyric Contest Winners
Grand Prize: “Love Washes Off” By Michael R.J. Roth
Session One: “Remind Me of Me” By Brenda Cay, Mitch Collins
Session Two: “Love Washes Off” By Michael R.J. Roth
Session Three: “Look Before You Leave” By Susan Rose Simms
Session Four: “She Pours” By Paul Ivy, Elizabeth Eckert
Session Five: “We’ll Always Have Main Street” By Richard-Yves Sitoski
Session Six: “Jack Daniels or King James” By Darren Wiedman
Grand Prize: “Painting Pickets” By Christine Merritt, Gregory Becker, Michelle Creber
Session One: “The Woman in Black” By Tracy Richardson
Session Two: “Christine” By Lacy Green
Session Three: “The Neon in Her Eyes” By Craig Hendricks
Session Four: “Painting Pickets” By Christine Merritt, Gregory Becker, Michelle Creber
Session Five: “Wine Well Spent” By Eryn Michel, Kimberly Shires
Session Six: “Who I’m From” By Trent Fisher, Terri Jo Box, Russell Sutton
Grand Prize: “Long Line of Cars” By Mason Caviness, Emily Rose
Session One: “Blue September Morn” By Rich Deans
Session Two: “Out Where The Wind Blows Free” By Dan Edwards
Session Three: “Ain’t No Wrong Way” By Rachel Gore, Thomm Jutz
Session Four: “These Two Hands” By Jim Chalker
Session Five: “Even the House Misses You” By Laura Lemons
Session Six: “Long Line of Cars” By Mason Caviness, Emily Rose
Grand Prize: “Road That Coal Made Black” By Ryan T. Miller
Session One: “Some Boys Grow Up To Be Soldiers” By Brian Estes
Session Two: “Angels” By Diane Smith
Session Three: “Remembered” By Cameron Burleson
Session Four: “Anymore” By Chelsea McWilliams, Tim Allard
Session Five: “Road That Coal Made Black” By Ryan T. Miller
Session Six: “Don’t Waste the Rain” By Chuck Thomas
Grand Prize:“Love Was Just a Word” By Shawn Byrne
Session One: “Asking For A Friend” By Ryan T. Miller
Session Two: “Aphrodite Wire and Wood” By Joe Black
Session Three: “Echo” By Matt Dunn
Session Four: “Love Was Just a Word” By Shawn Byrne
Session Five: “This Long Life” By Mark Miller
Session Six: “The Blindness Excuse” By William Simons
Grand Prize: “Changing (While Staying The Same)” By Mike Guiney
Session One: “Evangeline” By Jeremy Dion
Session Two: “Mary Dyer” By Todd Hearon
Session Three: “Changing (While Staying The Same)” By Mike Guiney
Session Four: “Cradle Of The Moon” By Lucy LeBlanc
Session Five: “Where The River Runs Clear” By Scott D. Smith
Session Six: “Parallel Universes” By Larry E. Black
Grand Prize:“Every Drink Tells A Story (For Merle)” By Gary Hale
Session One: “Every Drink Tells A Story (For Merle)” By Gary Hale
Session Two: “Be Good To Your Woman” By Thurston Wilkes
Session Three: “Country Boy” By Gospel Colten Lyke
Session Four: “Which Way Is Home?” By Brett Gurzick
Session Five: “If I Were A Bottle” By Samantha Elin
Session Six: “The Captain’s Son” By Ryan T. Miller
Grand Prize: “Highway Sky” By Adrian Gronseth
Session One: “Language Of The Broken-hearted” By Mike Guiney
Session Two: “Come And Go Town” By Don Owens
Session Three: “My Prayin’ Knees ” By Patrycya Hill
Session Four: “Highway Sky” By Adrian Gronseth
Session Five: “If It Mattered” By Jane Fallon
Session Six: “Old Habits” By Eryn Michel
Grand Prize: “Billy (Off The Line)” By Mark Rostenko
Session One: “Outlaws” By Lizzie Quinlan
Session Two: “War Stories” By Kevin Dudley
Session Three: “Billy (Off The Line)” By Mark Rostenko
Session Four: “Set In Her Ways” By Rick Leather
Session Five: “Get-Away Car” By Kerann Christopherson
Session Six: “You Make Sense” By Jay Madera
Grand Prize: “Tomorrow’s Just A Promise” By Mike Guiney
Session One: “Lost And Found” By Kristen Sullivan
Session Two: “No Such Thing (As You And Me)” By Owen Danoff
Session Three: “Marriage Ain’t The End of Being Lonely” By Emily Scott Robinson
Session Four: “She Only Loves Me When She Lies” By Heath Johnson
Session Five: “Running Out Of Texas” By Greg Stielstra
Session Six: “Tomorrow’s Just A Promise” By Mike Guiney
Grand Prize: “Lonely Pretty Things” By Blair Bodine
Session One: “Songs I’d Never Sing” By John William Carlson
Session Two: “Fields Of My Heart” By Kyle Cox
Session Three: “Lonely Pretty Things” By Blair Bodine
Session Four: “Smoke” By Matt Jordan
Session Five: “Reasons To Run” By Brittany Hadley
Session Six: “Riptide” By Dave DeWhitt
