NEWSONG - WHERE GREAT ARTISTS ARE DISCOVERED

Now in its seventh year, The Mountain Stage NewSong Contest presented by Folk Alliance is one of North America's premier showcases of performing songwriters across ALL genres of music. We're interested in finding, promoting and working with the most talented songwriters who perform their own songs, regardless of style.

ABOUT MOUNTAIN STAGE

NewSong's partner MOUNTAIN STAGE™ is public television and radio's venerable live performance music program, produced both on the road and at home and heard worldwide on more than 125 radio stations, XM Satellite Radio and the "Voice of America." Now in its 25th year, the show has a long and storied tradition of featuring national and international acts in all styles of music and of launching emerging acts to stardom.

Mountain Stage presents acts ranging from traditional roots, blues and country, to avant-garde rock, world beat, jazz and more. The show's guest list is the most stylistically varied of any national radio or television performance program. It has showcased over two thousand artists since 1983. The short list of those who have made their national debut on the show include the Barenaked Ladies, Ryan Adams, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones and Alison Krauss.

FINALIST SELECTION

A total of 12 finalists will be selected to perform in the international contest finals, held this year on Saturday, October 11 in Charleston, West Viriginia's Cultural Center theater - the home venue of the internationally broadcast Mountain Stage radio and television show. All finalists will attend the Mountain Stage show on Sunday, October 12 in Charleston, where one of the contest's five co-winners will be a featured performer of the show.

The twelve finalists this year will be selected as follows:

One from each of this year's six (6) regional rounds (see table below for info and eligibility)

Six from the general round - open to anyone, anywhere on the planet. Two of these six spots are reserved for those who submit before the Early Bird Deadline of midnight, June 23.

DISCOUNTS FOR MEMBERS OF NEWSONG PARTNERS

Members or referrals from NewSong partners receive $5 off the first and second entries. Discount codes are provided to eligible members/affiliates by the following partners.

Folk Alliance Musician's Atlas NSAI Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) Songwriter's Association of Washington (SAW) Baltimore Songwriters Association (BSA)

ASCAP BMI SESAC SOCAN Austin Songwriters Group NJ Songwriters in the Round Songwriter's Hall of Fame

# OF SUBMISSIONS

There is no limit to the number of submissions you can submit. However, you can submit no more than four songs at a time.

YOUTH ROUND

We're happy to announce that in our efforts to help develop and promote younger artists, we're introducing a new 'Youth' Category to artists 18 or younger. Regional live round finals of this new 'Youth' category are scheduled to take place as matinee shows on the day of each evening regional live round, followed by a workshop on songwriting, performance and the music business.

PRIZES

Tthere are cash prizes, and one of the five co-winners will be chosen to perform live on an internationally broadcast "Mountain Stage" Show, which has showcased over two thousand artists since 1983. The short list of those who have made their national debut on the show include the Barenaked Ladies, Ryan Adams, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Alison Krauss and NewSong Recordings artist and former contest standout Diana Jones.

Co-winners and other standouts will be invited to participate in future NewSong productions in various locations throughout the country, and will be candidates for film and television placement opportunities, as well as for future releases on the NewSong Recordings label. Non-winning contestants will also be considered for future Mountain Stage appearances.

All 5 co-winners for the general round as well as the "Best Song" category winner will receive a $300 cash prize. Additionally, The five 2008 Co-Winners will be featured in a 'Feature Showcase' at the 2009 Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis, TN.

Additional contest prizes include:

• From Oasis CD Manufacturing (http://www.oasiscd.com) $500.00 off any complete retail ready project of 1,000 CDs or more for all five contest co-winners, and the Best Song category winner; $250.00 off complete retail ready projects of 1,000 CDs or more OR $100 off complete retail ready projects of 500 CDs or more to ALL non-winning finalists (7).

• From Musician's Atlas (http://www.musiciansatlas.com) Each of the 5 co-winners will receive an annual, all access subscription to the AtlasOnline interactive system. ALL 2008 NewSong Contest entrants will be entitled to subscribe to the AtlasOnline for just $9.95. This is a $30 savings. (Typically, the cost to subscribe is $39.95 for the first month, and then $9.95 for each additional month you choose to maintain their account. You can unsubscribe at any time.)

2008 REGIONAL ROUNDS, ELIGIBILITY AND DATES

• Six (6) regional finalists will be identified for each of the following live round competitions listed below. The winner of each round will advance to the international finals, held on October 11 at the Cultural Center in Charleston, WV - the home theater of the internationally broadcast Mountain Stage show.
• Regional eligibility is determined artist's residency. To see if you are eligible for the regional Mountain Stage NewSong Contest rounds, please see the table immediately below
• Regional entrants may also submit to the general round of the contest.

REGION	ELIGIBLE STATES/TERRITORIES*	VENUE& LOCATION	DATE
CANADA	ALL TERRITORIES & PROVINCES	Ottawa Folk Festival	August 15 or 16
NORTHEAST	Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont	Joe's Pub; New York, NY	TBA**
SOUTHEAST	Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia	Eddie's Attic; Decatur, IL	August 24
MIDWEST	Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin	Old Town School of Music; Chicago, IL	TBA
SOUTHWEST	Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah	Cactus Cafe Austin, TX	August 28
WEST	Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming	Venue TBD; Los Angeles, CA	TBA

* Your principal residence must be in one of the listed states in order to be eligible to submit to the associated regional round.
** All regional rounds are scheduled to take place in late August and Early September, 2008.

IMPORTANT DATES

IMPORTANT DATES
JUNE 4	CONTEST OPENS FOR ENTRIES (All Regional & General Rounds)
JUNE 23	EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTED DEADLINE*
JULY 1	EARLY BIRD GENERAL ROUND FINALISTS ANNOUNCED (2)
JULY 21	REGIONAL ROUND DEADLINE
AUGUST 1	REGIONAL ROUND FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
SEPTEMBER 1	GENERAL ROUND DEADLINE
SEPTEMBER 12	GENERAL ROUND FINALISTS ANNOUNCED (4)
SAT, OCTOBER 11	INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN STAGE NEWSONG CONTEST FINALS (CULTURAL CENTER THEATER; CHARLESTON, WV)
SUN, OCTOBER 12	ONE OF FIVE CO-WINNERS FEATURED ON AN INTERNATIONALLY BROADCAST MOUNTAIN STAGE SHOW (RECORDED LIVE IN CHARLESTON, WV)

* All deadlines are at 11:59 PM on date listed above.

Contestants should designate the style of song they consider their entry to fit when entering tunes. The categories are: Rock & Blues, Americana, Folk, World, Christian, Country, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Pop/Alternative, Children's, Humor and Other/Open.

For full contest rules and guidelines, see www.newsong-music.com/contest

 

Please stay tuned for Contest and Academy announcements by subscribing to the NewSong newsletter on the NewSong website (where you can also read up on contest rules). E-mail any further questions to contest@newsong-music.com.

NewSong - Where Great Artists Are Discovered
www.newsong-music.com

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