Lots of songwriting contest news today. One about an upcoming contest in which “no one loses”, to the winners of another:

Songdoor 2006 International Songwriting Competition:

Nashville, TN, June 17, 2006 — The SongDoor 2006 International Songwriting Competition, in association with SongU.com, Jay’s Place, The Nashville Muse, Vision Productions, RealTime Productions, Musical Wonderland, Bella Vista Products, CoolSpringsRestaurants.com and Berkshire Communications, has launched a new songwriter’s event. Complete entry information is available at www.songdoor.com.

The only songwriting contest where nobody loses, the Songdoor International Songwriting Competition is an annual event designed by songwriters, for songwriters. The competition is open to amateur and professional songwriters, and musicians worldwide. Entries are accepted through November 15, 2006.

SongDoor spokesman and president Tony Zotta said that the driving force behind the creation of the competition is to provide more opportunities for both aspiring and established songwriters to break through the corporate music barriers. Said Zotta, “We’re songwriters, and we know how hard it is to get your songs heard. SongDoor is about taking that great unheard song and giving it a fighting chance at being published. We also wanted this to be about furthering your songwriting career, so everyone who enters will receive a free songwriting course from SongU.com and a professional evaluation of each song they submit. Nobody loses.” The fee is only $10 per entry, about a third of other major songwriting contests.

Entrants are eligible to win a Grand Award of US $3,000 in music merchandise and services, including a fully-produced professional demo at Jay’s Place, a Music Row institution that has recorded the likes of Garth Brooks, Gretchen Wilson, Lonestar, Chet Atkins and many, many more. Category Winners also receive a valuable package of songwriter’s tools. ALL entrants in the competition will receive one completely free self-paced songwriting course from SongU.com, worth about $40.

Songs may be entered in eight different categories: Country, Pop, Singer/Songwriter/Folk, Rock, R&B/Soul, Christian/Gospel, Blues and Instrumental. Songwriters may submit as many songs as they like.

Judges include seasoned music industry producers, artists and engineers who have worked with/for such artists as Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire, Kenny Rogers, Tony Bennett, *NSYNC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, The Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band and have recorded on major labels including EPIC Records and ATCO/Atlantic.

For SongDoor rules, FAQs and entry form, please visit the website: www.songdoor.com

For specific questions not addressed on the site, e-mail: info@songdoor.com.

USA Weekend Magazine’s fifth annual songwriting contest for teenagers
“Teens! Word up and win.”

Those five simple words — actually the headline of a story kicking off USA Weekend Magazine’s fifth annual songwriting contest for teenagers — have forever changed the life of a local high school student. (Link)