You must read this before submitting to the Mountain Stage NewSong
Contest. Thank you!
* Contestants should designate the style of song
they consider their entry to fit when submitting tunes. The categories
are: Rock & Blues; Americana; Folk; World; Country; Hip-Hop;
Christian; Jazz; Humor; Pop/Alternative; Children's and Other/Open.
If a contestant declines to specify a particular category, the
judges will determine which style they believe applies (which
could be “"Other/Open"” if the judges disagree
on how to characterize the tune). Judges will not be required
to select a winner in every category, but will choose winners
representing a diversity of these genres.
* To enter a song, it must be a non-commercially
released, original song.
* Submissions to the Advance Round are not
subject to a time limit. But in the Live Round at the NewSong
Festival when you perform on the contest stage it must meet a
strict four (4) minute limit or you will lose significant points
* In this age of home studios and micro-record
labels, there are new challenges in determining what constitutes
a "non-commercially released" song. NewSong's general
standard is: If you were compensated by someone else for the
writing, publication or release of a song, it would not qualify
for the contest. If, however, you released the song on your own
CD which you sell at gigs, on the web and elsewhere, or you sell
your music independently via digital download, it would qualify.
(As would, of course, all other original songs by performers
who have not released any CDs.) If you have questions about a
particular song, e-mail us at contest@newsongfestival.com.
* The song must be performed by the song
contest entrant. Songs that have been recorded with more than
one backing musician can be submitted in the Advance Round --
for example, sending in a cut from a CD with multiple players.
But remember: at the festival, you will only be allowed one backing
musician on stage.
* Co-written songs may be submitted, but the person
who enters the song must be the one who sings the tune.
IMPORTANT POINT: Though co-writers will be acknowledged,
only the performer of the tune can qualify to win a prize.
* The writer(s) retains all rights to the song.
* This being a performing songwriter contest, instrumental
songs minus lyrics will not be considered.
* Songs submitted in prior NewSong contests that made the Finals
Round are NOT eligible for re-submission. You are, however, welcome
to submit songs you submitted in past contests that did not make
the Finals, if they meet all other contest guidelines.
* You may compete in the Live Round at the
Mountain Stage NewSong Festival if you don't make it through
the Advance Round, with either the same song or another one.
* On stage at the live contest rounds, a
single accompanist may sing along with you, play an instrument,
or both; but you, the entrant, are the sole performer being judged
* Contestants from outside the United States are
welcome to enter. But all chosen finalists, whether from around
the corner or around the world, must get themselves to the NewSong
Festival on their own.
* In the Finals Round at the NewSong Festival,
finalists will perform 2 songs and have 10 minutes to do so.
IMPORTANT POINT: In the Finals Round, you may perform
any two songs you choose, not necessarily the one that got
to you to the finals. Contestants may use their time however
they think best, performing, for example, one three-minute
song and one seven-minute one. The 10 minutes also includes
any introductions and stage patter.
* Finalists will earn a festival pass and free camping.
(The pass includes access to all Festival showcases and concerts,
but does not inlcude the separately-ticketed festival-ending
Mounain Stage Newsong Showcase.)
* Performers who appear, or have appeared,
as paid acts on NewSong festival stages are not eligible for
the contest.
* Unpaid NewSong volunteers ARE eligible to compete
in the contest.
Good luck! Be sure to subscribe to the NewSong News e-mail newsletter
for contest updates. Send an e-mail to:
