Contests - American Songwriter

The American Songwriter Contests

Find the Right Contest for Your Music

Explore American Songwriter’s official contests—win cash, gain exposure, and take the next step in your career.

Song Contest

American Songwriter’s flagship contest and the world’s largest online platform dedicated to recognizing songwriters and their songs from across the globe.

Lyric Contest

Founded in 1984 in American Songwriter’s very first issue, the Lyric Contest spotlights the craft of songwriting and the stories that stick.

Road Ready Talent Contest

Talent discovery platform looking for the full package: talent, performance, presence, and brand. Top 3 complete in front of VIP audience for the overall Grand Prize.

Psalms To Songs Contest

InspireMore’s Christian Music contest that provides a powerful platform for emerging songwriters of faith. Contest is in partnership with American Songwriter.

WOC Song Contest

Wide Open Country's signature competition for original country songs, built to amplify standout songwriters. Contest is in partnership with American Songwriter.

Latest Contest Updates

Get The Recognition You Deserve

Past Winners

Song Contest

Grand Prize Winner:
“Black Powder Smoke” By Lydia Kaseta, Nate Sander and Dylan Owen

ALL CATEGORY WINNERS

Grand Prize Winner:
“This Is Where” By Drew Schueler, Nell Maynard, Claire Flynt

ALL CATEGORY WINNERS

Grand Prize Winner:
“What’s It All Mean?” By Christian Gates-Bahlhorn (The Philharmonik)

ALL CATEGORY WINNERS

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)

ALL WINNERS + HONORABLE MENTIONS

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

ALL WINNERS + HONORABLE MENTIONS

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

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:

November/December 2024 Lyric Contest Winners: Learn More

September/October 2024 Lyric Contest Winners: Learn More

July/August 2024 Lyric Contest Winners: Learn More

May/June 2024 Lyric Contest Winners: Learn More

March/April 2024 Lyric Contest Winners: Learn More

January/February 2024 Lyric Contest Winners: Learn More

Grand Prize Winner:

2023 Grand-Prize Winner: “Painting Pickets” By Christine Merritt, Gregory Becker, Michelle Creber

Session Winners:

November/December 2023 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

September/October 2023 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

July/August 2023 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

May/June 2023 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

March/April 2023 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

January/February 2023 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

Grand Prize Winner:

2022 Grand Prize Winner: “Long Line of Cars” By Mason Caviness, Emily Rose

Session Winners:

November/December 2022 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

September/October 2022 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

July/August 2022 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

May/June 2022 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

March/April 2022 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

January/February 2022 Lyric Contest Winners: Click Here

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

Road Ready

Grand Prize Winner:

Moga Family Band

Runner Ups:

Gabe Baker
Ava Valianti

Grand Prize Winner:

Beachmont

Runner Ups:

Joe Jenneman
SmithField

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