Upcoming 2025 Lyric Contest Deadlines:
Session One: Deadline is November 15th at 11:59 P.M. (CST) – Winners announced via email and e-news (January 5)
Session Two: Deadline is January 15th at 11:59 P.M. (CST) – Winners announced via email and e-news (March 5)
Session Three: Deadline is March 15th at 11:59 P.M. (CST) – Winners announced via email and e-news (May 5)
Session Four: Deadline is May 15th at 11:59 P.M. (CST) – Winners announced via email and e-news (July 5)
Session Five: Deadline is July 15th at 11:59 P.M. (CST) – Winners announced via email and e-news (September 5)
Session Six: Deadline is September 15th at 11:59 P.M. (CST) – Winners announced via email and e-news (November 5)
Official Rules:
1. How to Enter. An entry fee of $15 payable 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 entries as you like but each entry requires a $15 fee. Songs that have placed in the Top 4 Finalists positions in previous contests may not be entered again. Honorable Mention positions from previous contests can be entered again. You may enter online via https://americansongwriter.com/lyric-contest/. We no longer accept mail-in entries. Refunds WILL NOT be issued under any circumstances.
2. Eligibility. The Contest is open to any songwriter or band from anywhere in the world. Employees and independent contractors of American Songwriter and their immediate families, as well as the judges panel, employees of sponsors and their immediate families, are not eligible to enter. In addition, immediate families of employees, contractors, sponsors, judges and the “Dream Co-Writer” cannot be a co-writer on a song submitted, or a producer on a recorded version of the song. If a song is found to be in violation, American Songwriter will refund the submission fee to the original entrant. By submitting, you are agreeing 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 ForASong Media, LLC or Savage Music, LLC 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. Contest winners are notified by email address or phone number. If the chosen First Place winner does not respond to American Songwriter’s notifications within seven (7) days, American Songwriter reserves the right to contact the runner-up for the receipt of First Place. International winners must pay any and all customs fees for delivery of prizes.
3. Judging. This Contest is a talent and skilled-based business event. All entries are judged based on the quality of the lyrics and their suitability for musical composition. All entries will be first screened by one or more professional songwriters and/or employees of American Songwriter. The best lyrics among all entries will then be turned over to a group of industry professionals who will choose one first place winner and three other finalists. Winners will be notified via email and results will be posted on the website. Entrants that did not place in the contest will not receive individual notification.
4. Prizes. The winning lyric, along with three (3) additional runners-up and ten (10) honorable mentions from each contest, will be published in the issue of American Songwriter that follows the deadline of each contest. The winner of each contest will also receive a one-page Q&A feature in the print issue and online. This First Place winner receives a high-end guitar and more in prizes. Each year, one of the bi-monthly First Place winners will be chosen as the Grand Prize winner. The Grand Prize winner will receive a round-trip domestic flight to Nashville from any city in the continental U.S. where they will take part in a “Dream Co-writing Session” with a to-be-determined hit songwriter.* The Grand Prize winner will also receive a full band demo recording session at a premiere studio and a two-night stay at a premier hotel in downtown Nashville. Where applicable, prizes that require booking and coordination must be redeemed within 180 days of the official winner announcement. If said prizes are not redeemed within 180 days, American Songwriter can no longer guarantee prize fulfillment.
*If the songwriter chosen for the co-writing session has to cancel for reasons outside our control, American Songwriter will provide an equal caliber replacement.
5. 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 American Songwriter or Songspace, 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 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.
6. 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.
7. Contest Special Promotions: American Songwriter offers limited-time special promotions in conjunction with our contests. By entering a contest during an active promotion period, you agree to all regular contest terms and conditions, as well as the following promotion terms:
Eligibility and Entry
If you submit your lyrics to an eligible contest during a promotion period, your entry is automatically included in the promotion—no additional steps are required. Please note that promotional entries will not be itemized on your receipt, but rest assured that they are tracked internally.
How Promotions Differ from Regular Contests
Promotions are special, short-term opportunities to win additional prizes beyond those offered in the standard contest. By submitting your song during a promotional period, your entry will be considered for both the promotional prizes and the regular contest prizes.
Judging
All entries submitted during a promotion period are reviewed and evaluated by multiple professional songwriters who are contracted by American Songwriter. These industry experts use their experience and knowledge to fairly assess all eligible submissions.
Right to Modify
American Songwriter reserves the right to change promotion deadlines, entry fees, prize packages, or any other contest details at any time and for any reason.
2026 Lyric Contest Special Promotion Schedule
Promotion: Next On Deck Promotion
Deadline: 1/5/2026-1/19/2026
Note: Entrants must be 21+ in order to win the grand prize in this promotion.
Promotion: March Promotion TBA
Deadline: 3/9/2026-3/23/2026
Promotion: Spring Breakup Promotion
Deadline: 4/22/2026-5/6/2026
Promotion: Sounds Like Summer Promotion
Deadline: 6/1/2026-6/15/2026
Promotion: Red, Write & Blue Promotion
Deadline: 6/29/2026-7/6/2026
Promotion: Highway Hits Promotion
Deadline: 7/22/2026-8/5/2026
Promotion: Heart Toppers Promotion
Deadline: 8/10/2026-8/24/2026
Promotion: Make Some WAVs Promotion
Deadline: 8/31/2026-9/11/2026
Promotion: Home Sweet Home Promotion
Deadline: 9/16/2026-9/30/2026
Promotion: It’s A Wonderful Write Promotion
Deadline: 12/21/2026-1/4/2027
Terms & Conditions – Next On Deck Promotion
1. Sixthman Contest/Auction Terms and Conditions must be agreed to before a cabin, or any
other prize giveaway/purchase will be honored by Sixthman, LTD (“Sixthman”). It is requested
that Contest/Auctions end no later than 30 days prior to sailing.
2. Sixthman Will Provide: One (1) Ocean View cabin for two (2) on Boots on the Water Cruise
sailing February 13,
-18, 2026 (the “Cruise”); admission to all onboard concerts (all shows are
general admission/non-ticketed); all onboard meals at open seating dining areas; entrance to the
ship hot spots like the casino and disco; use of ship pools and hot tubs; use of ship health and
fitness center; children’s facilities (excluding babysitting); prepaid port taxes and ticketing fees.
Total approximate retail value of prize: $4,004.00. The Contest/Auction winner will be issued an
IRS Form 1099 by the Contest/Auction Sponsor (if applicable) for the fair market value of the prize
inclusive of sales or other transaction taxes (or in the case of auctions for the excess of the fair
market value over any price paid by the winner if applicable).
3. Sixthman Will NOT Provide: Airfare, hotel accommodations, travel insurance, any tax
payments based on prize value, ground transportation, any expenses incurred while in port, any
meet and greets with artists or other VIP events onboard (unless open to the public), VIP seating
or check in, backstage or all access passes. Sixthman does not cover any of the following costs
on board: gambling, spa and beauty services, the purchase of alcoholic or carbonated (soda)
beverages, the purchase of upgraded paid dining options, shore excursions and babysitting
services.
4. Promoters may not advertise this prize as “all inclusive” or as a “VIP Experience” due to the
exclusions listed above. The aforementioned costs will be the responsibility of the passenger(s).
In addition, promoters may not promise “meet and greets” or priority seating of any kind. Please
contact Elise Joyce at Sixthman if there is any question regarding talking/presentation
points.
5. Contest/Auction winner’s FULL LEGAL NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, MAILING ADDRESS and
PHONE NUMBER must be submitted to Sixthman within 3 – 4 weeks after the close of
Contest/Auction. Failure to do so may result in an inability to book the passenger in time for the
cruise, resale or reassignment of cabin donation.
6. Upon receiving Contest/Auction winner information, Sixthman will make effort to contact the
Contest/Auction winner by phone and email. Upon claiming the prize, Sixthman will send the
Contest/Auction winner a Passenger Prize Confirmation, asking for a signature, which will confirm
that they understand and accept the Terms and Conditions associated with their prize. Failure to
return the signed document may result in resale or reassignment of cabin.
7. Contest/Auction winners must be 21 years of age or older.
8. The sponsoring organization may not award this cabin as a prize for resale or re-auction unless
specifically approved in writing by Jeff Cuellar at Sixthman.
866156-29. No cash equivalent and all prizes are non-transferable, and no substitution will be made except
as provided herein in Sixthman’s sole discretion. Cabins are nontransferable from cruise to
cruise, or person to person. Cabins are not redeemable for cash or other prizes with the following
exception: In the event that a currently booked Cruise passenger wins this prize, they will have
the opportunity to award this prize to another person, chose another Sixthman cruise or receive
a refund of monies paid (minus taxes and fees). This exception will ONLY be made for currently
booked guests of the Cruise and will not, under any circumstances, be afforded to new guests or
a guest of other Sixthman cruises who win this prize. In the unlikely event that the cruise is
postponed or canceled, the Contest/Auction winner will be provided a future credit to use on the
rescheduled event or on a future Sixthman event.
10. Any monies paid in connection with this prize are nonrefundable. Should the sponsoring
organization be unable to award this prize no refunds will be issued for monies paid toward either
the cabin or taxes and fees. The sponsoring organization will have 10 business days from the
end of this promotion to award the prize to another Contest/Auction winner or find a representative
to sail. All inclusions/exclusions will still apply.
11. By participating in the Contest/Auction, participants agree to be bound by these Terms &
Conditions and the decisions or interpretation of Sixthman regarding the Terms & Conditions,
which shall be final in all respects. All federal, state, and local taxes, insurance, registration,
delivery, shipment and fees are the sole responsibility of Contest/Auction winner. By receipt of
any prize, Contest/Auction winner and any guest of Contest/Auction winner agrees to release and
hold harmless Sixthman, and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents,
suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from
and against any claim or cause of action, including but not limited to, personal injury, death or
damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the Contest/Auction or receipt or use
or misuse of any prize. By participating in this Contest/Auction, each participant agrees to accept
and be bound by all terms and conditions of Sixthman’s Ticketing Agreement, including all terms
and conditions imposed by the Cruise line. A copy of the Ticketing Agreement may be found at
https://www.bootsonthewatercruise.com
12. Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest/Auction constitutes Contest/Auction
winner’s consent to Sixthman’s and its agents’ use of Contest/Auction winner’s name, likeness,
photograph, voice, opinions and/or hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media,
worldwide, without further payment or consideration.
13. AS THE CONTEST/AUCTION SPONSOR, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RELAYING
THE PRIZE DETAILS TO THE CONTEST/AUCTION WINNER IN A TIMELY AND CORRECT
MANNER AS WELL AS DISTRIBUTING THE NECESSARY TAX FORMS ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS PRIZE. Sixthman is not responsible for, nor will they honor, any incorrect or inaccurate
information given, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or
programming associated with or utilized in the Contest/Auction.
Winner will be chosen in 3-4 weeks after the giveaway ends.
8. 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
