Annual Song Contest Terms and Conditions - American Songwriter

Annual Song Contest Terms and Conditions

How To Enter

An entry fee of $25 payable digitally to American Songwriter is required with each entry. By entering, you agree that this entry fee is necessary to cover the processing and administration of the contest. You may enter as many songs as you’d like, and each entry requires a $25 fee. Only valid and public URL links will be accepted. Please double-check URL links before entering. American Songwriter is not responsible for issuing refunds based on broken or otherwise invalid links. We are not accepting MP3 files. You may enter a variety of recording styles, including demos, worktapes and finished masters. We require the song to be clearly audible in the recording. This is a song contest, based on lyrical and melodic values, not a singing contest. Songs will be evaluated based on lyrics, melody, and various other musical considerations. Songs WILL NOT be evaluated on recording quality, vocal prowess, or other similar values. We simply require that the recording clearly presents the song in its fullest light. There must be musical accompaniment to the lyric and melody. A cappella recordings are prohibited. You may enter online only, via americansongwriter.com. Refunds WILL NOT be issued under any circumstances. 

Eligibility

The Contest is open to any amateur songwriter or band. American Songwriter broadly defines an amateur songwriter or band as an individual or entity whose personal income is not primarily from music-related sources (i.e. songwriting royalties, artist royalties, merchandise sales, live performances, synchronization licenses, record label advances, etc.). Employees of and independent contractors of American Songwriter and their immediate families or employees of sponsors (see section below) are not eligible. By submitting, you are agreeing that you are an amateur as described above and that you are not employed by or affiliated with any of the contest sponsors and that you have not received a W-2 or 1099 from Savage Music, LLC, ForASong Media, LLC, American Songwriter Magazine, LLC, American Songspace LLC, or Songspace, Inc. in the past two years. You represent and warrant that (a) all registration information you submit is truthful and accurate; (b) you will maintain the accuracy of such information; (c) you are 13 years of age or older; and (d) your entry to the Contest does not violate any applicable law or regulation. If you are under 18 years of age, however, you must have permission and clearance to enter the Contest from your parent or legal guardian. Entry of the Contest is void where prohibited. First, second, and third place contest winners are notified by email address or phone number. If the chosen winners do not respond to American Songwriter’s notifications within seven (7) days, American Songwriter reserves the right to contact runner-ups and/or honorable mentions for the receipt of the First Place prize. International winners must pay any and all customs fees for delivery of prizes. All entrants will receive a three (3) month LiveXLive Plus subscription – valued at $11.97. Limited to one (1) subscription per person.

Judging Process & Winners Announcements

This Contest is a talent and skill-based business event. All entries are judged based on the merit of the overall songs (lyric & melody). All entries will be first screened by multiple professional songwriters contracted by American Songwriter, in conjunction with employees of American Songwriter. All contest entrants shall stay informed of the selection process via AmericanSongwriter.com site updates and via the daily e-newsletter, The Daily Co-Write. The Top 25 finalists will be announced on AmericanSongwriter.com and via e-news on December 10. The Top 25 finalists are turned over to a group of top music industry professionals and accomplished songwriting peers (see Judges Panel) who then narrow the finalists down to the Top 3 Winners and 10 Honorable Mentions. The Top 3 will be notified via e-mail and phone, Honorable Mentions will be notified via email, and all results will be posted on AmericanSongwriter.com and announced via The Daily Co-Write on December 15. If the chosen winners do not respond to American Songwriter’s notifications within seven (7) days, American Songwriter reserves the right to contact runner-ups and/or honorable mentions for the receipt of the First Place prize. International winners must pay any and all customs fees for delivery of prizes. Entrants who did not place in the Top 3 or 10 Honorable Mentions will not receive individual notifications but will be notified via e-newsletter. The always popular annual Holiday Bonus: “100+ More Songs We Absolutely Love” from the Song Contest, will roll out on December 20. 

 

Prizes

1st Place:

  • $10,000 Cash Prize
  •  LiveXLive Publishing Deal (with terms determined by LiveXLive in its sole discretion)
  • Career Consultation with a reputable record label
  • 2 page spread in the January/February 2022 American Songwriter issue
  • Lifetime American Songwriter Membership

2nd Place:

  • $1,000 cash
  • One page feature in March/April 2022 issue
  • Lifetime American Songwriter Membership

3rd Place:

  • $500 cash
  • One page feature in March/April 2022 issue
  • Lifetime American Songwriter Membership

Content

We do NOT claim ownership in the materials you submit in conjunction with the Contest. Such materials include written text, files, images, photos, video, songs, lyrics, poetry, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, remarks, suggestions, ideas, graphics, tags, hashtags, genres, splits, ownership splits, identifiable numbers, identifiable codes, songwriter name, personal identifiable information, copyright registration information, affiliated companies or individuals, rights holder, administrator, publisher, or any other materials (collectively, “Content”) that you display, upload, transfer, publish, or post to AmericanSongwriter.com, whether public or private. By submitting any Content through the Contest, whether public or private, you hereby grant to us a limited, non-exclusive license to use, stream, transmit, beam, store, publicly display, translate, reproduce, and distribute such Content, in any format, whether known or unknown, including the limited right to use your likeness, persona, logo, trademark, and right(s) of publicity ONLY for purposes of the Contest. By entering the Contest, you represent and warrant that your entry is an original work and that the content does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, trademarks, contract rights or any other rights of any person or business. You further agree to indemnify and hold American Songwriter, contest judges and screeners, and all contest sponsors, their subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their respective officers, agents, partners and employees, harmless from any loss, liability, claim, or demand, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of any breach of your representations and warranties set forth above and/or if any part of the entry causes American Songwriter to be liable to another.

Other Rules & Regulations

By entering the contest through AmericanSongwriter.com, you expressly agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy listed on the American Songwriter website, the contractual terms of which are incorporated herein by reference. To the extent that the terms of this Contest conflict with any other agreement, the terms of this Contest shall take priority. American Songwriter reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the rules herein outlined with no obligation to return any entry fee. We expressly disclaim any warranty and we cannot guarantee and do not promise any specific results. In no event shall we be liable to you or any third party for any indirect, consequential, exemplary, incidental, statutory, special or punitive damages, including lost profit damages arising from your entry into the Contest. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, our liability to you for any cause whatsoever and regardless of the form of the action, will at all times be limited to the amount paid, if any, by you. By entering you also understand that your email address will be shared with contest sponsors.

Conflict Resolution

The parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement promptly by negotiation between persons who have authority to settle the controversy. Any party may give the other party written notice of any dispute not resolved in the normal course of business. If not resolved, any dispute, claim or controversy (i.e., contractual, tort, and/or statutory) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity thereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, shall be determined EXCLUSIVELY by arbitration in Nashville, Tennessee before one arbitrator. The arbitration shall be administered by either AAA or JAMS. This Agreement and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, exclusive of conflict or choice of law rules. Void where prohibited.

Prize Deliveries

The $10,000 1st Place cash prize, the $1,000 2nd Place cash prize, and the $500 3rd Place cash prize will be delivered via physical check by January 15, 2022. Video consultation calls with selected record label and music publisher will take place before March 31, 2022. Contact with music publisher will take place before March 31, 2022. All additional prizes will be fulfilled by January 31, 2022. 

Deadline

The deadline is December 1, 2021, at 11:59:59 (CST)

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