RULES & REWARDS FOR THE SONGWRITING CONTEST
1. There is only one category this year: Cowboy/Western Song
2. Fee is $25 a song or three (3) songs for $50.
3. There can be more than one songwriter for a song, the prize to be divided between them as they see fit.
4. A lyric sheet must be provided for each song.
5. Judges will be music business professionals.
6. Grand prize will be $1,000 and a Silver Spur Package for this year’s IWMA Convention in Albuquerque.
7. Grand prize winner will get to perform their song on the IWMA Awards Show in a featured slot where the $1,000 prize will be presented.
8. Second Place prize is $300 and an opportunity to perform their song on this year’s Friday Night Opry. The prize will presented during the Saturday night Awards Show.
9. Third Place prize is $150. The prize will presented during the Saturday night Awards Show.
10. Contest dates are May 1-July 31. Entries must be received during this window but not later than July 31. Send to: marsha@westernmusic.org or mail to IWMA Songwriting Contest – P.O. Box 648 – Coppell, TX 75019
11. Winner will be notified ahead of time but will not receive his/her award until the Convention in Albuquerque.
12. Songs must not have been previously recorded and released.
13. Songs must fall lyrically into the cowboy/western genre. Song may be written to fit any musical style – rock ‘n’ roll, folk, Celtic, easy listening, etc. – but must speak to the life, work, nature, history, landscape, romance, etc., of life in the west past or present or to life lived in the West outside the city.
14. Songs must be submitted by mp3 or on CD disc ONLY. Songs do not have to be recorded in a professional studio. Song may be simply performed and recorded with a home device.
15. Songs must be submitted with no more than two (2) instruments. Judges will be considering lyrics and melodies, not performance of the song.
16. Each entrant must be submitted with the full name(s) of each songwriter.
QUESTIONS: contact marsha@westernmusic.org or call IWMA at 505-563-0673