The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau (NCVB) is launching the “Music City Songwriting Competition” and will partner with Phil Vassar, XM Satellite Radio, Jack Daniel’s, GAC, Southwest Airlines, Universal Records South, The Music Group International, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, f.y.e, American Songwriter Magazine, and Renaissance Nashville Hotel to make it all happen.

Prizes for the competition include:

Grand Prize winner will receive:

• A Trip to Music City
• Roundtrip Southwest Airline tickets (2) to and from Nashville
• Transportation from airport to hotel and return 2 Nights at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel (dates TBD)
• $1,000 cash prize
• Winner will be featured and interviewed on GAC Nights with host Suzanne Alexander
• Performance of winning song on GAC Nights
• Winning song played on the XM show, “Music City Connection: Heroes Behind the Hits"
• Single-song publishing contract with The Music Group International
• Personalized Autographed Phil Vassar CD for winner
• 2 Music City Star Cards (complimentary admission to over 30 Nashville attractions)
• Nashville Welcome Kit upon arrival with Nashville souvenirs

Top 25 Finalists will receive: Music City Songwriting Competition Certificate of Recognition and a Music City Gift Bag.

Entries will be narrowed down to the top 25, which will then be judged by a panel of top names in the Nashville music industry, including: Universal Records South recording artist Phil Vassar, Grammy winning songwriter Tim Nichols, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau President, GAC Host and XM satellite radio personality Storme Warren, The Music Group Int.’s Alex Torrez, and BMI’s award winning songwriter Stephony Smith.

Judges will rate each song based on the following criteria: Melody, composition, originality, lyrics and most importantly, commercial appeal.