33rd Australian Songwriting Contest: Non-ASA Members

The ASA's Australian Songwriting Contest is the country’s largest and longest running competition (over 30 years!) for professional and amateur songwriters. Songs are judged on originality and craft. The song does not have to be performed by the songwriter, but it must be original and not signed with a publishing company at the time of entry.

This page is for Australians that are not current members of ASA.

• If you're an ASA Member or would like to become one, please click here.


• If you'd like to enter the International category, please click here.

Sponsors of prizes and supporters of the organisation include APRA/AMCOS, Ausmidi, PPCA, Dynamic Music, National Film and Sound Archive, SongCentral, Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, Maton Guitars, Hal Leonard, Hamish Ta-Me Photography, Grover Allman, Edensound, Syntec International, MMS Retail, Wests Tigers, Intermusic, Hot Country Radio Network, KIX Country Radio Network, AceMastering, MusicNSW, KG Instruments International, TrakVan, CMC Productions, CMC Music, University of Griffith and Q Music. As well as the Prize Sponsors listed above, the ASA gratefully acknowledges MusicNSW, Radio Station 4BC and The Entertainers.com.au for ongoing support.

The ASA uses up to 60 well-qualified people from the music industry in a unique multi-tiered judging system in which each entrant’s identity is hidden. This precludes any tendency for the judges’ decisions to be influenced by any factors outside the song itself.

Following the judging process, 1st place-getters are invited perform at the ASA's gala National Awards Night, which is an important fixture on the Music Industry Calendar. The Lyrics Category winner is the only exception to this, but they will have their composition displayed in written form on the night. All 1st place Winners receive free Level 2 membership to SongCentral and free showcasing for their winning song(s) for one year (min Value $66.00). In addition, Hal Leonard supplies a quality music book to every winner. All 2nd and 3rd place-getters will receive other prizes as detailed below, and all Top 10 finalists are recognised on stage at the National Songwriting Awards, as well as receiving a Certificate of Placing and free Level 1 membership to SongCentral along with free showcasing for their finalist song(s) for one year (min Value $49.50).

3 special awards are presented at the ASA’s National Songwriting Awards:

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Judged from the 1st place getters of each category. Separate entry is not required.

Sponsored by APRA

Winner receives: $3,000 cash for APRA and an Easys Trophy.

RUDY BRANDSMA AWARD

All entrants who are ASA members qualify for nomination to receive this great honour.

Sponsored by Maton Guitars

Winner receives: Maton EM225C worth $1599.00 and Easys Trophy

PPCA LIVE PERFORMANCE AWARD

Judged and sponsored by PPCA, for the best live performance at the National Songwriting Awards

Winner receives: $400 cash

Each of the other 13 Categories have prizes issued for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and they vary as detailed below. All dollar amounts refer to Australian dollars. Here is the prize summary:


AUSTRALIA (Songs with an Australian theme or subject)

Sponsored by Edensound, Syntec International and ASA

1st Prize: Mixing and Mastering of one song, valued at $715

2nd Prize: $200 cash

3rd Prize: $100 cash


BALLAD

Sponsored by Dynamic Music and MMS Retail

1st Prize: Zoom Q3HD Video Recorder worth $469

2nd Prize: $200 cash

3rd Prize: $100 cash


CONTEMPORARY/POP/DANCE (Up tempo modern songs)

Sponsored by Syntec International and Grover Allman

1st Prize: A Sennheiser XS wireless handheld microphone system worth $529

2nd Prize: 500 full colour customized guitar picks, a Grover Allman Guitar Keyring of your choice, and a Grover Allman Necklace of your choice

3rd Prize: 250 full colour customized guitar picks, a Grover Allman Guitar Keyring of your choice, and a Grover Allman Necklace of your choice


COUNTRY

Sponsored by Hot Country Radio Network, KIX Country Radio Network, Acemastering and ASA

1st Prize: 2 weeks high rotation and guaranteed exposure on air through both Hot Country and KIX Country Radio Networks across Australia, plus promotion and recognition on both network’s web pages as their Country Songwriter of the Year in association with the ASA. Valued in excess of $5,000. (reaching potentially 4 million+ in 60+ radio markets)

2nd Prize: Mastering of the winning song or a Mastering Voucher for $400

3rd Prize: $100 cash


FOLK/ACOUSTIC (Including ‘unplugged’ compositions)

Sponsored by Ausmidi, Intermusic and ASA

1st Prize: Mixcraft Pro Studio 6 worth $169 and other songwriting software worth $150

2nd Prize: $200 cash

3rd Prize: $100 cash


INSTRUMENTAL (Any genre or style, including traditional, classical, contemporary, film/TV tracks & electronica)

Sponsored by KG Instruments International, Dynamic Music and ASA

1st Prize: A KG #100 Violin Outfit worth $625

2nd Prize: Zoom R8 worth $449

3rd Prize: $100 cash


INTERNATIONAL (This is a special category open to songwriters from any country in the world, including Australia! Any genre of material can we entered.)

Sponsored by TrakVan and ASA

1st Prize: AUD $1,000, courtesy of TrakVan - the new way for indie artists to play and sell their music direct from their websites.

2nd Prize: $200 cash

3rd Prize: $100 cash


LYRICS (Words of a song or poem/words suitable to be set to music)

Sponsored by CMC Productions and National Film and Sound Archive

1st Prize: $250 cash, and Registration for a CMC Productions Songwriting Seminar

2nd Prize: $200 cash

3rd Prize: $100 cash


OPEN (For that song that may not fit other categories)

Sponsored by Acemastering and SongCentral

1st Prize: Mastering of the winning song or a Mastering Voucher for $400

2nd Prize: $250 cash

3rd Prize: $100 cash


ROCK/INDIE (Contemporary songs and heavier arrangements)

Sponsored by CMC Music, Edensound and ASA

1st Prize: Sterling By MUSICMAN guitar (Model: Silo 20) worth $895.00

2nd Prize: Mixing and Mastering of one song, valued at $715

3rd Prize: $100 cash


SONGS FOR CHILDREN

Sponsored by Q Music and Wests Ashfield Leagues Club

1st Prize: $200 cash and Delegate Registration for the BIGSOUND Conference

2nd Prize: $200 cash

3rd Prize: $100 cash


SPIRITUAL

Songs of faith or inspiration

Sponsored by University of Griffith and National Film and Sound Archive

1st Prize: $200 and free enrolment in the Songwriting or Music Technology courses on offer at the Gold Coast Campus of Queensland Conservatorium, valued at approx $500

2nd Prize: $250 cash

3rd Prize: $100 cash


YOUTH (Any genre or style - songs by entrants 17 years of age and under as at 1st June this year)

Sponsored by Katie Hardyman Music

1st Prize: $250

2nd Prize: $150

3rd Prize: $100