American Songwriter 2025 Song Contest Semi-Finalists Announced

American Songwriter is pleased to announce the long-awaited Official 2025 Song Contest Semi-Finalists. Congratulations to the talented songwriters listed below on this achievement.

In the coming weeks, we will announce the Finalists, the Top 25 Songs, and the Overall Winner along with the Category Winners from the 2025 contest. Please stay tuned for those updates.

Please Note: Semi-Finalists are sorted alphabetically by Song Title.

“SONG TITLE” BY SONGWRITER(S) (ARTIST NAME)

“16 candles” By Talia Hilmi

“17 De Abril” By Dani Labbé and Rodolfo Castillo

“202020” By Lucy Ellis

“70 in December” By Luke Olson and Kaylee Olson

“A Bad Day of Fishing” By Grable Howie and Gabe Israel

“A Matter of Time” By Billy Bellino

“A Mighty Thanks” By Josh Grove

“A Pretty Woman’s Like A Rainbow Trout” By Eli Fox

“Abriendo Latidos” By Diego Laroze

“Adelaide” By Brenna MacMillan

“Adida$” By Napalm Nash

“Al menos por hoy” By Angie Sánchez

“Alaska” By J Savannah

“All Dressed Up For The End of The World” By Ryan Yingst

“All I Need” By Jermaine Fleur and Leon Sherman

“All In” By Itz Jaleel

“All That I Had And More” By Elijah Neeley, Johnathan Nathalang and Judah Sloane

“All The Time” By Oren Yoel, Julián Garza, Ryan Gordon and Brennan Shrestha (Luna Luna)

“Already Yours” By Saint Mary’s Street

“Always Be My Friend” By Teacher Peter, John Gomez and Stephen Gomez

“An Older But Wiser Kind of Guy” By Steve Bryant

“Anamnisi / Memory” By Yiannis Koukounitsas

“Angels Praising Almighty God” By Rick Oli

“April doesn’t hurt here” By Sanna Antonia

“Aria di primavera” By Fedor Music Factory

“AS OLD AS I CAN” By Derek James, Aron Rosing and Carin Fradin

“AsLongAs” By Jonah Roth

“Autumn Innocence” By Andie Mackenzie

“Awake (Orchestrated)” By Levi Gangi and Abby Gundersen

“Back in a Few” By Jess Meilman

“Barrel of a gun” By Mat McCouat

“Beasts of the Earth” By Kipp Wilde

“Beer Budget” By Angela Morano

“Believer” By Alex Schofield and Trey Lewis

“Best Friends (Wanted 2 Say)” By Oliver Forest

“Better Luck Tomorrow” By Shane Weisman

“Black Powder Smoke” By Lydia Kaseta, Nate Sander and Dylan Owen

“Bliss” By Maddie Ettrich, Ryan Wright and Todd Wright

“Blue Ridge Mountain Magic” By Ethan Nathaniel

“Bones” By Sonny Luca

“Broken By You” By Alyssa Flaherty, Adam Hambrick and Grant Gilbert

“Bruissements” By Marie-Véronique Bourque et Christine Tassan and Christine Tassan

“CADILLAC BATTLEDRESS” By JWADI

“Can’t Get Away” By Kara S Hesse

“Chances” By Middlechild

“Changed Somehow” By Jeff Dayton and Mandy Braun

“Changes in the Scenery” By Brett Vaughn

“Charlie’s Angels” By Pink Jagg and Austin Spacy

“CHARTREUSE” By Kane Acosta, Connor Scheff and Danny Shyman (Ashes to Amber)

“Choo Choo” By Greg Stare

“Circling The Moon” By Jeff Dayton

“Crazy Love” By Jesse Lovelock

“Day (Remix)” By Rafael Montecruz

“Death Grip” By Tinsley

“Diamond Girls” By Zenith and Lewis Allan , George Gimblett , Billy Gimblett , Dylan Hornby

“Different Shoes” By Tanya Reed and Fred Jackson

“Don’t Quit Your Daydream” By James Sinclair-Stott and Adam Wheeler (Karli & James)

“Doubts” By Luke Hill

“Dreamin’” By Rachel Lee Roberts

“Driving Back To Georgia” By Jeff Baker

“Drowning” By Soph Vandlen

“Dumb Luck” By Stephen Babcock

“Easier Said Than Felt” By Maddi Overy, Cole Fryar and Justin Frech (daughter)

“Easy” By Ethan Tarasov

“Easy Love” By Parris Mitchell, Ryder Stuart and Andy Tongren

“El aire que respiras” By Nina Rodriguez and Mateo Lewis

“Embrace” By Maddie Richards

“Ese Recuerdo” By Alberto Mora Amigo, Edgardo Noé Chávez Paz, Jorge Angel Calvet Díaz, María de Paco Flores and Nassim Alcaide Plais (Gynebra)

“Existential” By Summer Brennan

“Faint Line” By Andrew Camp (The January Lanterns)

“Family Is Sharing” By Matt Steinhauer and Emaline Elizabeth Hatcher

“fear of heights” By Camille Cano

“Feel it too” By Christine Ekeberg and Bjørn Saltskog

“Feel It Yet” By Maura Streppa, Becca Rae Greene and Robyn Collins

“Fight With Love” By Dylan Matthews

“Fighting another day” By Thyra and Goran Eriksson

“Flicker” By Ronen and Josh Ronen

“Florecer (to bloom)” By Ale Aguirre

“Fly Away” By Dan Redfeld, Christina Harding and John Koladziej 

“fool” By savesomeone

“For Jesus (She Left Me For Jesus)” By Perry Danos and Mason Douglas

“Fragile Leaf in Blue” By Koji Shugyo

“Friday the 13th” By Cassidy Spencer

“Garden Green (Things Are Happening)” By Galleon

“Gettin’ Tired of You” By Terry Blade, Jason Shaw and Larry D. Robertson

“Ghost of the Past” By Alban Ramosaj

“girl on the train” By Anjali Daswani

“God Talkin’” By Carter Pinholster, Chris Gurrola, Hunter Dickey and Jake Pinholster

“Godzilla” By Hunter Healy, Matt Forget and Travis Brook (Polluted)

“Going Well” By Jordan Caruso, Mark Maxwell and Cali Caruso

“Gold (Under the Sun)” By Teleportation

“Gold In The Golden Years” By David Leask

“Gone” By Dude Lagoon and Max Johnson

“Good Days” By Phoebe Katis

“Good Juju” By Jessica Manalo

“Good Things Take Time” By Luke Uzzell

“Gorilla Grip” By Greg Shilling

“Got Away” By Ted Moock, Theo Kandel and Casey Smith (Van Buren)

“Grassfire” By Mike McKenna Jr. and Makayla Lynn Parry

“Grey” By Madison Steinbruck and Leve

“Grinchy Me” By Jon Cornwall

“Grow – Acoustic” By Pippa Cleary

“Grown Ups” By Nick Gerard

“Hang On (Never Take These Hands of Mine)” By Jake Wildhorn

“Hang Up Move On” By Parker and Naomi Jane 

“Hard Love” By Piper Butcher

“Harder Stuff” By Davis Nix

“Hate That I Care” By Adeline Hill, Tommy Oakley and Trent Bilodeau

“He madd right now” By My Name Mitchy

“HEAL ME” By Miles Jeppson, Edrick Miles and Darren Sher

“Healing” By Hope Harding, Dan Bremnes and Carrie Carpinen

“Heartbreak, Thank You” By Alyssa Flaherty, Sara Brice, Tana Matz and Caleb Oczkowski

“HERstory (Anthem)” By Flor Bromley

“Hindsight” By Ted Moock, Theo Kandel and Casey Smith (Van Buren)

“Hit Play” By Royal Drue and Sean Riley Donehue

“Hockey Town” By Stephen Babcock

“Hot Mess” By Ava Valianti

“How do I choose” By Emma Walker, Jolie Harvey and Josh Kerr (Emma & Jolie)

“Hypocrite” By Jenna Kay

“I Ain’t” By Cole Quest and The City Pickers

“I Am A Snake” By Trees of Dreams

“I Can’t Remember Anything” By Maddie Lenhart, Dakota Striplin and Aubrey Toone

“I Do” By Tony Deng

“I Love A Cowboy” By Megan Knight, James LeBlanc and Jimmy Nutt

“I MISS MY FRIEND” By Maxwell Luke

“I WANT YOU” By Bobby Uncle and Andrew Hopkins 

“I Wouldn’t Know” By Daphne Browdy and Robyn Dell’Unto

“I’m Just Brendan” By Ashley Gordon, Tomas Costanza and Justin Honard

“If You Don’t Love Country Then You Can’t Love Me” By Liz Tay, Joseph Wandass IV and Norm McDonald

“Image” By Hope Harding, Carter Frodge and Ryhan Shirley

“In Another Life” By Beth Whitney

“In Dreams” By Agustín Amigó

“In My Heart” By Stav McAllister

“In the Garden” By Ike Kanakanui

“Insomniac” By HoneyBree

“INTO THE SUN” By Ben Righter

“Into the Wild” By Shylah Ray Sunshine

“Isabelle” By Glenn Pendell

“It Don’t Work Like That” By Kenny Foster and Melissa Fuller

“It’s Over Now” By Danny Kenny

“I’m Gonna Name a Record After You” By Kennedy Wilde, Sara Bares and Reid Sorel

“james 1:17” By moses

“Jane Doe” By Acelia

“june” By Erin Lacey

“June” By EJ Michels

“Just How Much” By DS Hill

“King Parade (Take Me Back)” By Noah Vernon and Ethan Reginato

“kiss me on my mouth again” By Bobby Uncle

“Left in the Dark” By Max Boyle, Noah Gibbings and Brian Sour

“Less is More” By Meghan Curtin

“Let Go” By Ayala 

“Liar” By Bobby Uncle

“Life In Yo Hands” By T.Latrell

“Like No One’s Watching” By FLAVIA

“Lips of a Lover” By Max Boyle and Colton Parker

“Liquidation Sale” By Jaimi Faulkner

“Living In The Future” By Rita Nelson

“Long Gone Train” By Jesse Lovelock

“Long Way to Fall” By Gabriel Thomas Broussard

“Look At Her” By Allie Lamb, Jerome Goosman and Alex Schofield

“losing my interest” By HAUMEA

“Love Me Sober” By Lizzie Holt and Caroline Darling

“Love Remains” By Justin Koolik and Brett Koolik

“Love You ’til I’m Gone” By Luke Olson and Aaron Patrick

“Loving You Always” By Jackie Evans

“Made Up Mine” By Jimbo Stokes and Phil Barton

“Made Your Escape” By Lynn Patrick

“MAGNETIC” By Makena Shlens, Becca Packer, Henry Patterson, and Dušan Mitric (Makena Tate)

“Marry Mississippi” By Olivia Barnes and Ethan Zales

“Meteor” By Eliza Harrison Smith, Kaitlin Stark and Tyler Skye

“Milkshake” By Jordan Waters and D.B. Moments

“Miss Missouri” By Josh Howerton, AJ Mather and Josiah Schools

“Most of the Time” By Jackie Evans

“Moth Holes” By Franc & I, Carl-Henrik Wahl and Pieter Rietkerk

“Moving On” By Hunter Blalock

“MUSEUM” By Jordan Curls

“My Hometown” By Maura Streppa and Claire Kelly

“My Kind of Beautiful” By Brad McKinney, Jake Arthur and David Madras

“Near You” By Sonny Luca

“Neutral” By Eva Ricci

“Never Let You Go” By Nick Wagen

“Next To You” By Sunflower Forum and Alyssa Jane Richardson

“Nobody Has To Know” By Zed Charles

“Nobody’s Fool” By Erika Mae, Lauren McLamb and Chris Rafetto

“NormaJean” By Ellery Bonham

“Nostalgia” By Cole & The Thornes

“Nostalgia” By Vivendo do Ócio

“Not Going Anywhere” By Makena Hartlin

“Not You, Not Me” By Elizabeth Moen

“Nowhere” By Brando de Luca and Karlie Cupani

“obviously” By Ashlyn Uribe

“Office Christmas Party” By Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, Carsie Blanton and Joe Plowman

“Old (Bartender)” By Sam Opoku

“One Big Beautiful Bill” By Peter Masri

“Oopsie Daisy” By Stephanie Nhan and Will Stroet

“Ordinary Face” By Matt Grandbois and Steven Avelar De Oliveira

“OVER” By Myles Lanyé

“Parallel” By Brielle

“Partay” By Ainae Nielsen

“Party Favor” By Elaina Christina

“Past Life Cowgirl” By Katie Rigby

“Payday” By Remi Baker

“Peacemaker” By Brendan James

“Pity Party” By Aimee Hollcraft and Jessy Blackman

“Piña Colada” By Fran Castelo, Angela Dávalos and Roberto Segura

“Please Don’t Dance With Me” By Steve Womack

“Please Don’t Say You Miss Me” By ADAEZE

“Plus One (Otro Nivel)” By MALDO and Leonardo Baudin Serrano

“Poison Ivy” By Andie Mackenzie

“Possess Me” By Miguel Owls

“Pretty on Paper” By Alyson Young

“Pretty Please” By PENG PENG

“Quiet Hour” By Benjamin Hazlewood, Austin Myles Grant and Lauren Little

“Quit Again” By Matt Jordan and Jarrett Hartness

“Ragamuffin” By Autumn Leigh Cooper

“Real Life” By Andy Ruddy

“Rebecca” By Maia Luna

“Right Where You Want Me” By Shane Weisman

“Road Song” By Mallory Chipman

“Rust” By Oh Jeremiah and Erin Stricklin

“RUST” By John Long

“Salsa Hasta Que Amanezca” By Lucía Jirau

“Scared to Call” By Marcus Ugo

“Se Supone” By Enniel

“Seventeen” By Madisyn Gifford and Jared Manierka

“Shattered” By Jenna Kay

“She Needs Romance” By Robby Burns

“Should’ve Known” By Talia Rae

“Should’ve Known Better” By Logan Chalk 

“Shut Up and Kiss Me” By Windser

“Sincronizados” By Vetz

“Skeletons” By Marcello Greco

“Smile” By Kevin Rabemanisa

“so you wanted a feeling” By Märkus

“Sol de Hoy” By Sofia Cordoba

“Somebody Else” By Oliver Forest

“Somehow, Someway” By Chad Price and Matthew Johnston

“Something” By PATTYJEAN

“Something In The Water” By Brick Fields and Rachel Fields

“Something To Climb” By Tom Oliver

“Somewhere to Land” By Ben Flournoy and Lee Anna James

“spaceman” By Jordan Frye

“Spent Sunday” By Alexis Harte

“Standing Strong” By Brad Mckinney, Derrick Breaux and Elizabeth Eckert

“Steady As She Goes” By Rob Alley and Andrew Dolan

“Stick And Poke Tattoo” By AC Sapphire

“Strawberry, CA” By Abbie Callahan

“Sugar Babe” By Joleen Brown

“Sundance Kid” By Belle Shea

“SUNNY DAYS” By Serenity

“Surrender” By Julian Kalel

“Sweet Surrender” By Meredith Aguirre, Justin Tweito, Caroline Mason and Katie Carr

“Swing” By Rob Weimann

“Take Tallahassee” By McCall Chapin

“Taking Off” By Soul of Waves and Philip Cousson

“Talk” By Sugar Soap

“Tator Tots” By Spencer Brewer

“Te Prometo” By César Pinzón, Ela Taubert and Kevin Aguirre

“Tears of an Albatross” By South for Winter

“Tengo un Lio” By Josean Jacobo

“The Birds Will Chirp Again” By Lydia Dall, Morgan Johnston and Nicole Alexis

“The Fighter” By Mark Shiiba

“The Girl I’m Waiting For” By JIUZ

“The Old Me” By Angus Robb and Alana Wilkinson

“The View From Rock Creek” By Nick Hornbuckle

“The Wheel” By Barry Carroll

“Tiempo” By Dasiel Mustelier

“Tiki Taka” By Rayvila and Joaquín Ramos

“Time Traveler” By Maddie Lenhart, Brianna Nelson and Julie Eddy

“Titi Lailai” By Dolapo Omidire

“To Go Home” By Ash Morse

“To Love Somebody” By Lucy Cloud and Jacob Yim

“Travelin’ Troubador” By Tyler-James Kelly

“Trust and Just Believe” By Naomie Celeste 

“Truth of the Matter” By Stephen Babcock

“Tsushima” By TSAVO

“Turning The Tables” By Sammi Accola, Anaka Grace and Summerlyn Powers

“Underflow” By waywørd wønder

“Understand (feat. Elena Hirsch) (Remix)” By Niick P and Elena Hirsch

“Unglued” By Jenny Kern and Rich Tuorto

“Vintage” By Daniel Crane and Robert Counts

“Waiting” By BLINDwheelchair

“WAITIN’ ON YOU” By LAYNA and Rick Katz

“Wake Up” By ERLY and Steve Mostyn

“Water, Glass and Time” By Peter Masri

“Watersheds” By Matt Skerk

“What God Does” By Ray Kayanek

“whatever it is” By Lucy Clearwater

“WHEN YOU’RE IN ‘EM” By Mason Douglas

“Where The Ferns Glow” By Stav McAllister

“wildflower” By Jordan Frye and Derek Fuhrmann

“Wiley” By Gus Benson

“With Emma” By Kadyn Lilliana

“Wonder Woman” By Abby Rose, Chloe Copoloff and Wilson Mcbeath

“Worst of The World” By Brennan Villines

“Worst Thing” By Cece Benz and Luca Alexandru

“You Can Try” By Morgan Keller

“You Changed Me” By Mark Pelli and Jordan Benjamin

“You Still Got It” By Seth Hall, Phil Barton, Jared Keim and Maks Gabriel

“Yours Forevermore” By Barbara Jean