Annual Song Contest

SAN DIEGO SONGWRITERS GUILD SONG CONTEST RULES

  • All styles of music are eligible.
  • Each song must be the contestant’s original work. Entrants and their collaborators retain full rights to all work submitted.
  • Songs will be judged by a committee consisting of industry professionals and songwriters.
  • Judges will use five criteria:
    1. melody,
    2. form,
    3. originality,
    4. lyrics (when applicable),and
    5. presentation.
  • Winners are responsible for division of prizes.
  • Contest is open to all amateur songwriters (one who has not been employed as a staff writer for a publishing company or being paid for such services,and/or receiving more than $2,500 from royalties income within the past year). No song previously recorded and released through major national distribution in any country will be eligible.
  • Prizewinning songs from prior SDSG song contests are not eligible.
  • Tapes/CD’s/Lyric Sheets will not be returned.
  • Prizes for this year’s contest are yet to be determined. Check out prizes from prior years at our website Note:many of the prizes are "San Diego" based and can only be redeemed in San Diego stores, offices,and studios.
  • Entries that violate these rules may be disqualified, and submitted fees will not be returned. All judges’ decisions are final.
  • SDSG is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, postage due, stolen, or misappropriated entries.

  • If entries exceed 70, a pre-screening session will be conducted by industry professional and songwriters. The top 70 songs entered will be Finalist.
  • Songs will be judged by industry professionals and songwriters.
  • Maximum number of song submissions is two per writer. SDSG reserves the right to limit entries further. Co-writes count proportionately toward this total. (For example: An entry with two writers counts as 1/2 of one entry for each writer.) SDSG reserves the right to limit entries further.
  • The contest is limited to 70 entries.

EACH ENTRY MUST CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Entry Form: Completed and signed Entry Form, see below, photocopy is OK. One Form per song entered.
  • Audio CD:Each song must be submitted on its own individual CD.You must indicate the track number of each song submitted on CD.
  • Lyric Sheets: 5 copies of lyric sheets (please include English translation if applicable). Sheets are not required for instrumental compositions. Performer’s/songwriter’s names must not appear on lyric sheets.Entries will be number coded to assure impartiality in judging.

CONTEST TIME LINE Early Mail In Deadline: TBD

Contest Date: TBD FEES: Early Mail-in Registration Discount Fees $10 (Current SDSG Member) or $15 (Non-SDSG Member) per song.

Fees the night of the event (Limited numbers of entrants may be accepted) $15 (Current SDSG Member) or $20 (Non-SDSG Member) per song.

One check or money order for multiple entries is acceptable. Join SDSG or renew your expired membership when you enter and you may enter at member rates. Membership Applications are available at Online and at the event.

After early registration has past, we encourage entrants to submit entries in person at the Contest to avoid entries being late due to mail delays. Mail Entries To:

San Diego Songwriters Guild Contest 3368 Governor Drive,Suite F-326 San Diego,CA 92122 Download Rules and Entry Form Membership Application

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at:

e-mail sdsongwriters@hotmail.com

Enter today!

Note: SDSG is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation with no paid employees. It is operated on a break-even budget by a volunteer board of directors. Revenues are used to conduct seminars, rent meeting facilities, cover travel expenses for industry guests, maintain the web site, and publish and distribute the SDSG newsletter. The information gathered in this entry form (including names, addresses, e-mail, etc.) will not be sold to anyone and you will not be spammed.