NASHVILLE, TN (NSAI Song Contest/ www.nashvillesongwriters.com) - Songwriters entering the 7th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest have the chance to get Rich – literally. Award-winning songwriter and artist
John Rich of
Big & Rich will offer a mentoring session to the Grand Prize Winner of the 7th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest.
"John Rich is on a roll! And there is a reason. He is an AMAZING songwriter and his talent and success are truly inspiring,' says NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. 'If you win this mentoring session, get ready. It will be intense, honest and real!"
One-half of the award-winning country music duo Big & Rich, John Rich was also a member of popular band Lonestar, playing bass and sharing lead vocal duties. Releasing their first record in 2004, Big & Rich have quickly become a household name with their brand of Country Rock that include hits such as 'Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy).' Their album Horse of a Different Color went to the top of the Billboard Country Chart and hit No 6 on the Billboard 200. Their latest album Comin' to Your City reached the Top 10.
John Rich is one of the music industry's most notable songwriters. The reigning ASCAP artist/songwriter of the year, Rich is currently nominated for the CMA Award for SONG of the YEAR with partner Big Kenny for the Big & Rich hit "8th of November.' The Amarillo , TX , native has also written massive hits for many of Country's brightest stars including 'Redneck Woman' by Gretchen Wilson, 'Mississippi Girl' by Faith Hill, 'She's a Butterfly' by Martina McBride and 'Like We Never Loved At All' by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.
"NSAI is very excited to work with John Rich on the 2006 CMT/NSAI Song Contest,' says Herbison. 'We are very appreciative of his support of NSAI and of songwriters everywhere."
Rich's mentoring session is not a co-writing session; but an opportunity for the Grand Prize Winner to receive pertinent industry, songcrafting and career advice, to have an original song critiqued, and to spend time with one of the music industry's top songwriters. The time, date and place of the mentoring session will be scheduled after the Grand Prize Winner is announced in May 2007.
Along with the John Rich Mentoring Session, the 7th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest boasts a plethora of exciting prizes designed to help amateur songwriters on their road to becoming a professional songwriter. Just a few of the additional prizes up for grabs this year include. . .
A Single-Song Contract from a MAJOR Music Row Publisher;
A $500 gift certificate to Sam Ash Music;
A Three-Day Trip to Nashville ;
A 'Star Treatment Prize Package' including a special guest performance at the world-famous Bluebird Café, a limo ride to and from the show by Celebrity Limousines, a cut, color and style from Music Row's Premier Salon Gordon & Co., an Artist Promo Package from Krista Lee Photography, A Kiehl's gift box and Personal Consultation, and dinner-for-two at Sunset Grill;
A demo of YOUR song by professional producers and musician at Parlor Studio on Music Row;
A private tour of the CMT studios;
Tickets to the 2007 CMT Music Awards;
Prizes from Gibson, SHURE, Masterwriter, Elixir, CMT and more.
'These prizes are specifically designed to take six amateur songwriters' careers to a whole new level,' says Deanie Williams, Song Contest Director.
In fact the Top 6 Winning Songwriters will each win a single-song publishing contract from a major Music Row publisher. Warner/Chappell Music, Curb Music, Cal IV Entertainment, Famous Music, Hearts Bluff Music and Universal Music Publishing will each offer single-song contracts to CMT/NSAI Song Contest winners. The remaining publisher will be announced shortly.
'By offering the top six winning songs single-song contracts with a major publisher we create an opportunity for the aspiring songwriter to build relationships with top-notch songwriters, publishers and music industry executives that would normally take years to establish,' says Bart Herbison, executive director of NSAI.
The popular CMT Listeners' Choice Award is also back for a second year. Beginning March 1, 2007, the Top 15 Finalists in the 7th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest will be posted at www.nsai.cmt.com. Music fans can go to the site through April 23, 2007, listen to the Finalists' demos and vote for their favorite song. The song with the most audience votes will be the CMT Listeners' Choice Award Winner. In its first year, the contest received over 106,000 votes.
Prizes are awarded to One (1) Grand Prize Winner, One (1) CMT Listeners' Choice Winner, Four (4) Finalists, Ten (10) Runners-Up and Forty (40) Honorable Mentions. The contest is open to all genres of music. All songs entered receive a judging report. Music industry executives, professional songwriters, and NSAI board members judge songs based on lyrics, melody and composition. Performance and production will not be evaluated.
The entry cost is $40 for one song or $55 for two songs if entered by September 30, 2006. After September 30, 2006, the entry fee is $45 for one song and $60 for two songs.
Songwriters entering before Sept. 30, 2006 will receive $5 off the entry fee. Also, all current NSAI members receive an additional $5 off their total entry fee.
Songwriters may enter as many songs as they like!
Every entrant will be automatically registered to receive an exclusive celebrity prize pack from Backstage Creations, The Premier Celebrity Product Placement Company. The prize pack contains items from Coby Electronics, Sonic Impact Technologies, Fendi Sunglasses, Tres Vivant, Latino Royalty, Avlon Haircare and more!
All entries must be postmarked by the FINAL CONTEST DEADLINE: Nov. 30, 2006. Although the contest is sponsored by CMT, ALL GENRES OF MUSIC ARE ACCEPTED.
The 7th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest is presented by CMT and sponsored by the following organizations: Americana Rhythm magazine, Gibson Guitar, DiscMakers, BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, Elixir Strings, Masterwriter, Nashville Scene, American Songwriter, Music Connection Magazine, Bluebird Café, Sam Ash Music, Graffiti Indoor Advertising, Sonicbids, SHURE Microphones, Songramp.com, SongU.com, 95.5 The Wolf, Lightning 100, Americana Music Association, FRETS magazine and the 12th Annual Inspirational Country Week with support from Sunset Grill, Kiehl's, Parlor Studio, Krista Lee Photography, Backstage Creations, Celebrity Limousines, Gordon & Co., John Rich, Raybaw Records, Universal Music, Cal IV Entertainment, Curb Music, Hearts Bluff Music, Warner/Chappell Music and Famous Music Publishing.
All proceeds from the 7th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest will benefit NSAI's legislative efforts to protect the rights of songwriters. NSAI is the world's largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization.
For more information on the Nashville Songwriters Association International and info on the 7th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest, visit www.nashvillesongwriters.com. Visit www.nsai.cmt.com or call 1-800-321-6008 for complete 7th Annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest rules and prizes and an entry form.
