The American Songwriter Song Contest

The American Songwriter Song Contest

2025 Song Contest Open Now with New Judges, Categories & More!
ENTER SONGS NOW

The American Songwriter Song Contest

Win $10k in cash, receive A&R mentorship, be featured in American Songwriter Magazine & More!

ENTER songs NOW

We are giving artists the chance to attend SXSW 2026 with exclusive VIP access.

South by Southwest (SXSW) 2026 is the 40th edition of the iconic Austin, Texas–based festival and conference, running March 12–18, 2026, where music, film & TV, and innovation/tech converge into a single, high-energy week of programming. 

ENTER SONG CONTEST & PROMOTION
Days
Hours
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Promotion Deadline: March 2, 2026, 11:59 CST US

GRAND PRIZE WINNER WILL RECEIVE

2026 Official Judges & Prizes announced soon

2025 Song Contest Prizes
  • $10,000 USD in Cash
  • Mentorship with Leslie Fram
  • 2-page Feature in American Songwriter Magazine
  • Brand New Custom Premium Acoustic Guitar
  • International Promotion of Your Album + Radio Tracking Provided by:  Play MPE and MTR.
  • Social Media Collab Post on American Songwriter’s socials
  • Premium Studio Recording Time
  • Publishing Deal Opportunity with Savage Music
  • Publishing Deal Opportunity
  • American Songwriter Membership
  • And more to be announced!
  • $1,000 USD in Cash
  • Feature in American Songwriter Magazine
  • International Promotion of Your Single + Radio Tracking Provided By Play MPE and MTR 
  • Dedicated Social Media Post on American Songwriter’s socials
  • American Songwriter Membership
  • And more to be announced!
  • $500 USD in Cash
  • Feature on American Songwriter
  • American Songwriter Membership
  • And More to be announced!
ENTER SONGS NOW
Meet the 2025 Song Contest Judges
Old Dominion, a Multi-Platinum country band, blends clever lyrics with an infectious sound, earning nine No. 1 singles and over five billion streams.
Dylan Scott, a multi-Platinum Curb Records artist with five No. 1 hits, is headlining the Country Till I Die Tour and releasing Livin' My Best Life (Still).
Toronto-born JP Saxe, a multi-platinum singer-songwriter with 3 billion streams, returns with Articulate Excuses, his most personal project, solidifying his place in introspective pop.
Dayglow (Sloan Struble), a multi-platinum indie pop artist, has billions of streams and viral hits across albums like Fuzzybrain, Harmony House, People In Motion, and DAYGLOW.
GRAMMY®-nominated producer and multi-instrumentalist ALISSIA, known for her unique sound, has collaborated with Anderson .Paak, Bruno Mars, and others.
Nate Smith, a country vocal powerhouse with 2.2 billion streams, three platinum No. 1s, and major awards, including ACM New Male Artist, is a breakout star.
Bear Rinehart, frontman of NEEDTOBREATHE and solo artist Wilder Woods, has sold millions of albums, raised $12M for causes, and blends rock, soul, and R&B.
Dasha, known for her introspective style, earned praise for her song “Austin” and sold out her Dashville, U.S.A tour. She is also opening for Thomas Rhett and Kane Brown.
Alana Springsteen, a rising country star with 340 million streams, gained acclaim with TWENTY SOMETHING and joins Keith Urban on his 2024 HIGH AND ALIVE tour.
Beach Bunny, known for viral hits like “Prom Queen” and “Sports,” has earned over a billion streams and critical acclaim.
GRAMMY-nominated Ryan Ellis blends worship, Pop, and R&B. Known for hits like "I Thank God," his latest album Real Love explores empathy and faith, with notable collaborations.
Lanie Gardner, a CMT Next Up Artist from the Appalachian Mountains, blends rock and country. She is currently touring with Corey Kent and debuting at Stagecoach in 2025.
Kenyon Dixon, a 3X GRAMMY-nominated artist, redefines R&B with smooth vocals. A sought-after collaborator, Dixon’s work spans legends like Mary J. Blige and Justin Timberlake.
Tigirlily Gold, a sister duo from North Dakota, blends empowering anthems in their debut album Blonde (2024). Nominated for CMT and People’s Choice, they’re set for 2025 success.
Alt-pop trio Nightly, featured on Alt Nation and SiriusXM, is hailed by Square One Magazine as top-tier modern alt and named a HITS Daily Double Artist to Watch.
Leland, a Golden Globe-nominated artist and producer, has written hits for Troye Sivan, Cher, BTS, and more. He’s also a composer and mentor for RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Noah Rinker, a self-taught musician from California’s mountains, blends raw lyricism with heartfelt storytelling in songs like “Save My Soul” and “I Hope It Hurts.”
Irish trio Amble, blending folk and intimate storytelling, has 100 million streams and sold-out shows. Signed to Warner Records, their debut LP Reverie drops in 2025.
Mexican-American artist MŌRIAH blends Latin Country and mariachi in her debut single "Hasta Mañana," celebrating diversity and uplifting women of color through her heritage and family stories.
Nashville’s Lauren Watkins debuted The Heartbroken Record (2024), opened for Morgan Wallen, and will tour with Riley Green, Lainey Wilson, and more while releasing new music.
Patrick Droney, artist and producer, has millions of streams, collaborated with Kygo and Billy Gibbons, toured with Sheryl Crow, and is working on his third album.
Twinnie, blending country and pop, made her Opry debut in 2023, was named one of CMT's Next Women of Country in 2024.
Latin GRAMMY-winning Puerto Rican artist GALE is a bilingual singer-songwriter known for blending pop, punk, and raw emotion with fearless, genre-defying Latin music.
Fantastic Negrito overcame adversity to win NPR’s first Tiny Desk Contest, earn 3 GRAMMYs, collaborate with stars, and founded Revolution Plantation for youth empowerment through urban farming.
Mackenzie Carpenter, a Georgia native and songwriter, has penned hits like “Villain” (Lily Rose) and “I’m Not Pretty” (Megan Moroney).
Christian Lee Hutson, known for his raw lyrics, follows Quitters (2022) with Paradise Pop. 10 (produced by Phoebe Bridgers), exploring memory, pain, and healing through his music.
Lucky Diaz, Latin Grammy winner and GRAMMY-nominated songwriter, creates vibrant, bilingual family music. He’s praised by NPR, Billboard, and NYT for celebrating culture and joy.
EMMY and multi-GRAMMY winner Narada Michael Walden produced hits for icons like Aretha, Whitney, Mariah, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Beck, and more across decades.
The Baylor Project, an 8x GRAMMY-nominated duo, blends jazz, gospel, blues, and soul—celebrating love, faith, and culture with deep church roots and a commitment to community.
As a 20-year veteran of BMI, Cox has been a critical force in the songwriter community, and has helped shape the careers of songwriters, including Lady Gaga, Halsey, My Chemical Romance, and many others.
Kohli joined the Warner Music Nashville A&R team in 2017, working extensively with GRAMMY® Award-winning duo Dan + Shay and 3x GRAMMY®-nominee Ingrid Andress.
Joe Ferrari, founder of FMG, is a veteran music executive focused on talent development, strategic growth, and authentic industry and community engagement worldwide.
Sam Hollander is a multi-platinum songwriter/producer behind hits like Panic! At The Disco’s “High Hopes,” with 23 Top 40 hits and credits spanning One Direction, Ringo Starr, and more.
Leslie Fram, FEMco Founder & CEO, is a veteran music executive and advocate empowering artists through strategic development, talent booking, and industry connection in Nashville.
David Ryan Harris is a versatile singer, songwriter, and producer whose collaborations span genres, working with icons like John Mayer, Mariah Carey, and Alicia Keys.
Jeff Cohen is a 6x BMI Award winning, Grammy and CMT Award Nominated Songwriter/Producer/Publisher whose songs have appeared on over 25 million albums sold, over 100 placements in TV/Film and over 10 million video games.

Click Here to Read More About the 2025 Song Contest Judges Panel

Categories To Enter
Specifically for songwriters 50 years of age or older in any style of music.
Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance.
Comedy/Novelty songs are humorous, unique and original, sounding different from everything else being played in the media.
A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes.
World music is a genre that encompasses a vast array of traditional and contemporary musical styles from cultures around the globe.
Accepting all genres and styles of music by artists who are 18 years or younger as of December 31, 2024.
Rock music is a genre characterized by its energetic, amplified sound driven by electric guitars, bass, and drums.
R&B/Soul music is characterized by its smooth, emotive vocals, often showcasing impressive vocal ranges and nuanced expressions.
Pop music is a genre that is characterized by its mass appeal, catchy melodies, and accessibility. It typically emphasizes memorable hooks, polished production, and relatable lyrics.
Latin music is a diverse and vibrant genre that encompasses a wide range of styles originating from Latin American countries and the Iberian Peninsula.
Jazz music is characterized by its spontaneous and improvisational nature, often featuring intricate melodies, complex harmonies, and rhythmic syncopation.
Instrumental music is a genre characterized by the absence of vocal elements, relying solely on musical instruments to convey artistic expression and emotion.
Indie music is characterized by its emphasis on artistic freedom, experimentation, and a DIY (do-it-yourself) approach.
Hip-hop/rap music is characterized by rhythmic beats, spoken rhymes, and expressive lyrical flow.
Folk/Singer-Songwriter music is typically characterized by the use of acoustic guitars, simple melodies, and heartfelt vocals.
EDM is a genre of music characterized by its use of electronic technology to create rhythmic and danceable soundscapes.
Americana music is a genre that encompasses various styles of American roots music. It draws influence from folk, country, blues, rock, and other traditional American genres.
Blues music typically features a 12-bar or 8-bar musical structure and expresses deep emotions through its soulful vocals, expressive instrumentation, and lyrical themes.
Children's music is specifically tailored to entertain and educate young audiences, often featuring catchy melodies, simple lyrics, and playful themes designed to engage and stimulate young minds.
Christian music refers to music that is created and performed with a focus on Christian faith and themes.
Country Music is characterized by its storytelling lyrics, often centered around themes of love, heartbreak, rural life, and working-class struggles.
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Meet Past Song Contest Winners

2024 Song Contest Winner | "This is Where" By Drew Schueler
2023 Song Contest Winner | "What's It All Mean?" By Christian Gates-Bahlhorn
2022 Song Contest Winner |
"Somebody" By Harper O'Neill, Meg Mcree
2021 Song Contest Winner |
"Walk" By Lauryn Marie
2020 Song Contest Winner |
We Need More" By Taylor Fagins

Click to View Past Winners and Success Stories!

Frequently asked questions

If you’re still deciding whether to enter, you’re probably wondering how it all works. Here’s everything you need to know before beginning your entry process.

Have an additional question? Reach out to us directly below. 

CONTACT US

Deadline is December 7, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM (CT)

Yes! We do NOT claim any rights to the songs entered into the contest.

Yes! Submissions from any country are allowed.

No, production quality is NOT a factor in the review.

Copy and paste a public link to your songs into the form at checkout. They can be hosted on any streaming platform: Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Drive, YouTube, etc.

To edit your entry please email our Customer Relations team at [email protected] with your Order ID and the edit you need to make.

*Note: We cannot guarantee that we will be able to edit your entry if you contact us more than 2 weeks after your entry date.

Per our rules, American Songwriter does not provide feedback on song contest entries.

If you are interested in having your lyrics or song reviewed, we offer a critiques benefit included in our Diamond Memberships.

The winners of the 2025 Song Contest will be announced via email and on our website in the Spring 2026.

Note: Promotion winners are announced throughout the contest. 

Click here to see all Contest Rules

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