The American Songwriter Song Contest

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The American Songwriter Song Contest

New 2025 Categories, Judges, Prizes Announced Soon!
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Grand Prize Winners Include

Click here to read about Past Winners and Success Stories!

2024 Song Contest Prizes
  • $10,000 USD in Cash
  • Mentorship with Major Label A&R Executive – Joe Ferrari (Head of A&R, Sony Music Canada)
  • 2-page Feature in American Songwriter Magazine
  • Brand New Custom Premium McNally Acoustic Guitar
  • International Promotion of Your Album + Radio Tracking Provided by:  Play MPE and MTR.
  • Social Media Collab Post on American Songwriter’s socials
  • American Songwriter Membership
  • $1,000 USD in Cash
  • Feature in American Songwriter Magazine
  • International Promotion of Your Single + Radio Tracking Provided By Play MPE and MTR 
  • Social Media Collab Post on American Songwriter’s socials
  • American Songwriter Membership
  • $500 USD in Cash
  • Feature on American Songwriter
  • American Songwriter Membership
Meet the 2024 Song Contest Judges
Jason Mraz is living full spiral. It’s not full circle, exactly, because he’s changed and his experiences have changed, but on his eighth album, Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride, the musician has found himself returning to a familiar junction in space.
Quinn XCII (pronounced Ninety-Two) has accumulated over 3.5 billion global streams across his catalogue and earned successive Platinum singles, including “Straitjacket,” “Kings of Summer”, and “Love Me Less”.
Katie Gavin (she/they) is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocalist best known as a member of the critically acclaimed LA-based band MUNA. MUNA have spent the last two years playing sold out shows and festivals all over the world, as well as supporting Taylor Swift on The Eras stadium tour.
You already know AJ McLean as 1/5 of the Backstreet Boys, one of the most successful groups in music history. Now it's time to experience Alexander James, a pop enigma making a name for himself solo.
Latour began writing songs at 15 and released her first EP, Starsick, in 2019. Her ever-evolving catalog includes the viral lockdown-era hit “One More Weekend” plus four infectious EPs, which have won over critics from The New York Times to NPR.
Restless Road has accumulated over 235 million cumulative career streams and was named as one of Spotify’s Hot Country Artists To Watch.
Brandon Lake is a GRAMMY® and GMA Dove Award-winning artist and songwriter. Having spent a number of years releasing songs with Elevation Worship, he has taken home five GRAMMY® awards over the course of his professional music career, and he has been nominated for a total of ten.
The Kernersville, NC, native has 2.2+ BILLION total career streams, three #1s – 2X PLATINUM “Big, Big Plans,” 3X PLATINUM “I Don’t Know About You,” and PLATINUM “Fix” – and five certified singles including 2X PLATINUM “Take Back Home Girl” with Tori Kelly.
Just 23 years old and already a seasoned veteran of Nashville’s elite songwriting community, Conner Smith has emerged as one of Country’s most hotly-anticipated artists with GOLD-certified “Take It Slow”.
He’s attained over one billion streams with over 300 million video views worldwide, released four studio albums, and is the only male Albanian artist to chart on Billboard multiple times.
Taylor Cain Matz is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, performing artist, and a member of the award-winning trio CAIN. In 2019, CAIN signed with Sony Music/Provident Label Group and in just two years, they earned multiple No. 1 hits at radio.
River House Artists/Warner Music Nashville’s Austin Snell is an emerging country tralent with 160 million global career streams to his credit, plus a rare SiriusXM Highway Find accolade – the same one bestowed on now-superstars like Maren Morris and Luke Combs.
His breakout single, “Sunroof,” solidified itself as one of 2022’s songs of the summer by catapulting its way into the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 11 consecutive weeks (peaked at #4).
Landing on several of 2022's most impressive Artist to Watch Lists, including CMT's Listen Up, MusicRow's Next Big Thing and Pandora's Country Artist to Watch, Tiera took her songs on the road, opening for artists including Kelsea Ballerini and Danielle Bradbery.
Uncle Kracker is a MULTI-PLATINUM artist, with #1 hits like “Follow Me,” “Smile,” and Kenny Chesney collaboration “When The Sun Goes Down. The former member of Kid Rock’s band embraced his Country side with 2012’s acclaimed album Midnight Special.
Cory Henry, Grammy-winning artist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, is a beacon of innovation in music. With nine solo studio albums, Cory's magnetic performances captivate audiences globally as he tours worldwide.
With the arrival of his breakthrough smash “I Like Me Better”—a worldwide hit with over 2 billion streams and Certified RIAA Sextuple-Platinum -- Lauv’s music has received praise from outlets such as Rolling Stone, Vogue, V Magazine, PAPER, with Billboard calling him “one of pop’s premier songwriters.”
The Los Angeles trio—Michelle Joy [vocals], Ryan Clapham [lead guitar], and Paul Davis [drums keys]—elevate alternative / electro-pop to a neon stratosphere. “Fire For You” reached RIAA gold status, generated nearly a quarter-of-a-billion streams, topped Alternative Radio, and landed massive syncs.
From hopping on the tour bus with his grandparents, country icons Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, to back home in the Nations with his mother, he developed a love for both the gangster rap of the '80s and '90s that he heard in the streets and the outlaw country that runs in his veins.
Two decades and more than 4,000 shows into his career, Wade Bowen has become synonymous with country music, songwriting, and captivating live performances. Bowen scored Male Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year at the 2024 T3R Awards.
Marcus "MarcLo'' Lomax, a member of The Monsters & Strangerz, is a producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and artist. Most notably, MarcLo co-wrote and produced “The Middle'' by Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, “Prisoner” by Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus, and “Hate Me” by Ellie Goulding & Juice WRLD.
With more than 100 million streams and notable viral traction for her 2023 hit “Heart On Fire In Mexico,” Abby Anderson is poised to be country music’s next big star. She’s shared the stage with Stevie Nicks, Brett Eldredge, Tim McGraw and Hunter Hayes, winning over fans night after night.
With over half a billion streams to his name, Alexander Stewart’s skyscraping pop sound and heartbreaking anthems have made him one of Spotify’s Pop Rising Artists to Watch this year and 2023’s second most viewed artist on TikTok in Canada.
Yorn has released nine critically-acclaimed albums across his career. Yorn performed songs on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Ellen.
Born with a deep passion for country music, Erin's journey led her from the heart of Texas to Music City, where she took a major step forward with her signing to RECORDS Nashville, a prominent joint venture with Sony Music in October 2021.
Charlie Sexton, raised in Austin, Texas, made his debut with Pictures For Pleasure in 1985 at age 16. He found himself an in-demand session player while still in his late teens, and he had the opportunity to record with Ron Wood, Keith Richards and Bob Dylan.
Artur has secured a placeamong the front-runners of the new breed of blues guitar heroes and was recently named one of the “Top 25 Best New Blues Guitarists” by GuitarPlayer Magazine.
Fish’s talent has been recognized by none other than Eric Clapton, who invited her to perform at his Crossroads 2023 in Los Angeles. This summer, Fish is set to embark on a thrilling journey, first joining SLASH on his S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour, then taking part in the Experience Hendrix Tour.
Sherry helped establish his own music festival, performed on national television, and garnered millions of streams. In 2022, after writing music for seventeen years, Griffin began work on his first solo record, taking a defiant step in a new direction.
Tano Jones, Detroit-born and well-traveled singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, and leader of the Tano Jones Revelry distills the ups and downs of each day into an intoxicating brew of rhythm, life, melodies, tales, harmony, love.
Hailing from the heart of Texas, Silverada (formerly Mike and the Moonpies), have curated a bold sound that’s distinct for its blend of honky tonk, swelling atmospherics, and autobiographical sketches.
Creating the soundtracks of our lives, Adam Anders and Anders Media Inc. have sold more than 100 million albums and created the music for some of the most successful major motion pictures and television shows in history.
Brady Blade is a drummer, producer, and composer best known for collaborating with artists such as Dave Matthews Band, Emmylou Harris, Jewel, and Indigo Girls. His exceptional drumming abilities made him an extremely sought-after studio musician.
As a 20-year veteran of BMI, Cox has been a critical force in the songwriter community, and has been instrumental in shaping the careers of numerous BMI songwriters, including Lady Gaga, Halsey, My Chemical Romance, and many others.
Seasoned A&R professional with companies like Universal Music Group, Arthouse Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment, and Atlantic Records. Currently, managing Jon Bellion and is an executive at Beautiful Mind Publishing.
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 is the Head of A&R at Sony Music Canada where he has led the development of an exciting and diverse roster. Prior to leading the A&R team, Ferrari was responsible for implementing successful marketing campaigns for artists such as One Direction, Hozier, Sia and Odd Future.
ushar Apte is an Australian writer/producer/composer based in Los Angeles. Apte has had successful releases with some of the world’s biggest artists, including Demi Lovato, Blackpink, BTS, Zayn, Nicki Minaj, Noah Cyrus, Chris Brown, Benson Boone and many more.
Categories
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.
FAQ

Deadline is December 8, 2025 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: SoundCloud, 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.

Our judges do not give individual feedback. If you are interested in having your lyrics reviewed, we have a lyric critique benefit that is included in our Diamond Memberships.

The winners of the 2024 Song Contest will be announced via email and on our website in the Spring 2025.

Click here to see all Contest Rules

Thanks To The Song Contest Sponsors

© 2025 American Songwriter

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