USA Songwriting Competition

[ottlukk]

One of my friends on another site posted up that he ws a finalist on this "contest". It reminded me of a similar con with the "Song of the Year" contest. That contest was judged to be a scam on Just Plain Folks. The "judges" on that site did not even know they were "judges". This site has no listing of judges (big red flag). However, it does list a few music bigwigs in the testemonial section. Since I told my friend I thought this was a con, I would like a second , or third opinion. This contest says it is in its 17th year. Is it? Any computer gurus out there, give me a hand. Ott

[Len911]

http://www.ascap.com/music-career/resou ... ce-10.aspx

http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/molly_hun ... ompetition

http://www.taxi.com/transmitter/0602/ta ... ition.html

http://www.ascap.com/playback/2012/02/f ... ition.aspx

http://www.world-of-songwriting.com/son ... tests.html

http://spinme.com/2007/05/songwriting-c ... -red-flag/

http://www.youtube.com/user/usasongcomp ... sults_main

[Casey H]

USA Songwriting Competition is a legit competition to the best of my knowledge.

However, as mentioned on these boards many times, song competitions are not a particularly effective path toward any real commercial success. They can stroke your ego, but rarely result in deals, placements, etc-- the things that really matter to most of us.

That doesn't mean NO ONE ever gained success this way. But my strong vote would be to save the contest submission fee money for gear, work for hire productions (if you need), Taxi submissions, legit reviews such as Taxi custom, known services, etc.

Casey

[Len911]

USA Songwriting Competition is a legit competition to the best of my knowledge.

However, as mentioned on these boards many times, song competitions are not a particularly effective path toward any real commercial success. They can stroke your ego, but rarely result in deals, placements, etc-- the things that really matter to most of us.

That doesn't mean NO ONE ever gained success this way. But my strong vote would be to save the contest submission fee money for gear, work for hire productions (if you need), Taxi submissions, legit reviews such as Taxi custom, known services, etc.

Casey

I would have done a +1 if I had not looked over some of the links I posted. The legit ones seem to be an effective way as anywhere to showcase your talent. It's a songwriting competition, and songwriters very rarely are on the front page as often as performers. There are no guarantees of commercial success by any path imo, not even major label deals. I tend to balk at submission fees, but I understand it's probably necessary to pare down what might be an endless stream of garbage submitted. The prizes aren't too shabby either:

PRIZES For the 2013 USA Songwriting Competition

Overall Grand Prize: Over US$50,000 Value! (This is the biggest grand prize ever awarded in any songwriting competition!) in merchandise, cash & more from our sponsors.
Overall Second Prize:US$9,000 worth of merchandise.
Overall Third Prize:US$7,000 worth of merchandise.
15 Category First Prizes:US$2,500 worth of worth of merchandise.
20 Honorable Mention Prizes:US$700 worth of merchandise.

I think it's like Rob Chiarelli said on the latest taxi tv episode, most people stop at 80% of getting there, and it's likely a waste of time and money to submit songs that aren't at least close to the 100% mark. It's really less than a competition imo, because if all the competition submitted 80% level songs, and you won with an 82% song, very likely you wouldn't obtain much commercial success.

[Silje]

I think songwriting competitions can be a great at a certain level of your development as a songwriter.

I used to enter them, and had quite a few finalist placements in different competitions. Although this never got me any deals, at that point in my development, it gave me the inspiration and encouragement to develop myself further. I have also had it happen that the people running a competition contacted me to see if they could send my stuff to a producer they knew, and one time I co-wrote with one of the judges. Bottom line - Will it place your song with an artist? Most likely not. But it is another channel to get your music more known, and you can get some contacts and a lot of inspiration - which might be what you need to put in the next couple of hundred hours...

Now, I don't enter anymore, I find it better value for money to get a custom critique ...

-Silje

[cardell]

My friend Andy won 1st prize in the instrumental category in 2001.

Stuart

[Mark Crozer]

I was one of the runners up in the 2010 (I think!) United Kingdom Songwriting Competition. I got quite excited about it for a day or two and then... I stopped being excited. I would rather have spent the money ($30 I believe... might be wrong) on Taxi submissions.

Just my 'two cents' worth.

mark

[ottlukk]

When I started participating on various music sites 4 years ago, I thought it would be interesting to enter a contest. So, I entered my first professionally demoed tune "Here come Mr. Booze" in both the Great American Song Contest, and the Billboard contest. It won finalist/honors awards in both contests! I thought, "wow, I'm great! . . . let's enter again!" . I won finalist/honors in the GASC 4 years in a row. It's lucky I wasn't holding my breath waiting for producers or artists to contact me. On the other hand, it did give me a lot of encouragement to keep writing, and it was a real ego trip to see my name/song posted up on the site. That said, I don't think it's an effective way to market your music. Ott

[mazey]

When I started participating on various music sites 4 years ago, I thought it would be interesting to enter a contest. So, I entered my first professionally demoed tune "Here come Mr. Booze" in both the Great American Song Contest, and the Billboard contest. It won finalist/honors awards in both contests! I thought, "wow, I'm great! . . . let's enter again!" . I won finalist/honors in the GASC 4 years in a row. It's lucky I wasn't holding my breath waiting for producers or artists to contact me. On the other hand, it did give me a lot of encouragement to keep writing, and it was a real ego trip to see my name/song posted up on the site. That said, I don't think it's an effective way to market your music. Ott

I believe that if you've researched the competition and have respect for their process and judges, and all you are interested in is just seeing where you fit in, in regards to your fellow songwriters, then do it. I've only known about contests since April or so, after a few years of recording my own songs at home and like the idea. I'm not interested I've come to find in finessing the mixing process, just getting better at songwriting. The Taxi plan is just not for me after a few months of seeing what this is about. I love coming up with a new melody or topic to sing about.

I don't really write universally, I'm happy to work for a living and have no misconceptions about where the contests could take me. It may be semantics, but I don't see it as ego as to how I 'place'. It's just recognition from people who know songwriting. I mean can't you just do something to get better at it. Why the need for the big bucks at the end. You don't go trying to bench press 300lbs so you can get a multi million dollar contract with the Dallas Cowboys. I've already been a finalist and I do have reservations about this particular contest, but have been critiqued which also was valuable.

I'm entered into the GASC for next year, and it's cool they give you a critique. I listened to your song Ottlukk, and I've got to say, that is a solid song. You walk that fine line of sincerity and great wordsmanship( without trying to be too cutsey) that only comes with being good at your craft. That song (Here Comes Mr Booze..) deserved the recognition it got, and is one that a few of you should look at imo.

[ottlukk]

Mazey: I really appreciate that you took the time to listen to "Here Comes Mr. Booze". Much less compliment me on it on a public forum. It's a gift out of the ether, that I did not expect. I thank you for it. Look for a new topic regarding Songwriting competitions in the next few days. Ott