Nashville Song Search

From Nashville, TN - Music City USA - “Vocal Group of the Year” Diamond Rio invites songwriters to enter a world-class songwriting contest – Nashville Song Search™- a search which offers songwriters the critical exposure they need to launch a career in songwriting.



Top music industry professionals choose finalists in eight different categories: Ballad, Up Tempo, Perfect for Diamond Rio, Traditional Country, Crossover/Pop Country, Folk, Under 18 and Christmas/Holiday.


Prizes are awarded at all levels of judging, and every entrant receives a free copy of Performing Songwriter Magazine. Winners in all eight categories …


- will be flown to Nashville

- provided hotel accommodations for three days

- play in the round at the world-famous Bluebird Café

- receive coaching from hit songwriters, including Craig Wiseman, ASCAP 2003 Songwriter of the Year, and Vince Melamed, two-time recipient of Music Row Song of the Year

- receive a guarantee from Cosmic Mule Music Publishing (Lonestar’s “Front Porch Looking In”) that they will listen to the category winning song

- receive one complimentary song posting on Songscope.com


The Grand Prize winner will receive...


- an audience for the winning song from Universal Music Nashville, Warner-Chappell Music, EMI, and Sony/Tree Publishing

- the opportunity to co-write a song with Grammy Nominated Songwriter Chris Lindsey

- a professional promo package to pitch his/her song to major record labels

- a half-day songwriter’s inside tour of Music City

- a lesson with master guitarist Gary Talley

- a one-year membership to SongU.com


Judging is based solely on originality, lyrics and melody. Since recording quality will not be considered, the playing field between professionals and amateurs is level. Nashville Song Search is a unique opportunity for aspiring writers to gain rare exposure to music industry “insiders.” Contest judges include legendary songwriters, publishers and producers: Katherine Blasingame, Gary Burr, Kent Earls, Gary Harrison, Chris Lindsey, Vince Melamed, Pat Pattison, Troy Verges, and Thom Schuyler.


All proceeds benefit Crisis Center (www.crisiscntr.org) – a non-profit organization that has provided free, 24-hour telephone crisis counseling to Music City and its surrounding communities for 35 years.


Sponsors Include: Crisis Center, Nashville, Diamond Rio, The Bluebird Café, Performing Songwriter Magazine, Country Hit Makers, Nashville Scene, Sonicbids, SongScope.com, Taxi, Berklee Music, Nashville Muse, SongU.com, The Marketing Group and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.