In addition to exciting prizes, the 9th Annual NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT boasts unparalleled career building industry relationships designed to help unsigned songwriters navigate the road to becoming professional hit makers. This year's prizes include professional mentoring sessions with Kenny Alphin (Big Kenny from the duo Big & Rich) and Regie Hamm, four time SESAC Songwriter of the Year, 2008 American Idol songwriter, recording session and single-song publishing contracts from major music publishers such as Cal IV Entertainment, Curb Music, Heartsbluff Music, Melrose Entertainment, Montage Music Group, Skyline Music Publishing.
Ten Runners-Up, four finalists and a Grand Prize winner will be chosen from among thousands of entries. The CMT Listeners Choice contest is back again this year, and fans logging onto www.nsai.cmt.com can vote for their favorite song from the 15 finalists from January 20, 2009 through February 28, 2009.
What is really unique about the Song Contest is the access winners have to the absolute best in the business, said NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. The industry access literally saves years off the time it takes a new songwriter to break in and gets them exposure money cant buy.
Each of the previous NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT Grand Prize winners have achieved success as a direct result of the competition including 2002 winner Tracy Naples, who signed a label development deal; Jesse Terry (2003), Zane Williams (2005) and Diana Kelley (2007) who each signed single-song or full publishing deals; and 2006 winner, Charlie Worsham, signed a publishing deal with Chrysalis as well has receiving a recording contract for his band, Kingbilly.
All genres of music are accepted and all entries must include lyrics. Songwriters may submit as many songs as they would like. Entries will be accepted from August 1, 2008 until Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008. Look for more details on www.nsai.cmt.com.
Proceeds benefit the NSAI Legislative Fund to protect the rights of songwriters.