For over 25 years, the American Songwriter Amateur Lyric Contest has helped thousands of songwriters become involved in our community. Established in 1984, America Songwriter magazine sponsors six (6) contests per year that run in conjunction with each issue published. Entrants should send lyric sheet only, no cassettes or musical direction. The winning lyric, along with three (3) additional runners-up and ten (10) honorable mentions from each contest, will be published in the issue of American Songwriter that follows the deadline of each contest.

Honorable Mentions: Ten honorable mentions are recognized in each issue.

Finalists: Top four finalists have their lyrics printed in American Songwriter magazine. One of the four finalists will also be chosen for American Songwriter's one-page Q&A feature in the following issue.

First Place: First place winner receives a Martin DX1 Koa acoustic guitar and a legendary Shure SM58 Microphone.

Grand Prize: One of the bi-monthly First Place winners is selected each year for a Grand Prize trip to Nashville, Tennessee (includes ONE round-trip travel tickets). We'll schedule a "Dream Co-Writing Session" for the winner with a legendary, hit Music Row songwriter, and also coordinate a recording of the new song with a to-be-announced leading demo company. *** Past Grand Prize Lyric Contest winners have co-written with hit songwriters such as Rodney Crowell ("Stars on the Water," Jimmy Buffett, "Please Remember Me," Tim McGraw, "Making Memories of Us," Keith Urban), Bobby Braddock ("He Stopped Loving Her Today," George Jones, "People Are Crazy," Billy Currington, "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," Tammy Wynette) and Chris Stapleton ("Your Man," Josh Turner, "Never Wanted Nothin' More," Kenny Chesney, "Swing," Trace Adkins), also lead singer for the band The SteelDrivers. Stay tuned in 2010 for the announcement of a heavy-hitter pop/rock artist & songwriter who will become next year's "Dream Co-Writer!"

*** Remember, this is a LYRICS-ONLY contest, so it is not necessary to have an Audio File attached to the lyric/song you would like to enter (although it is fine if you do). Both Members and non-Members of AmericanSongspace.com need only to account for the LYRIC SHEET for each song entry!

2010 Lyric Contest Music Industry Judges:


* PAUL ROPER (GM, DUALTONE MUSIC GROUP)

* MIKE KING (PROFESSOR, BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC)

* CHAD GREEN (CREATIVE DIRECTOR, WORD MUSIC PUBLISHING)

* CLINT WILEY (AGENT, AGENCY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS)

* DOAK TURNER (OWNER/EDITOR, NASHVILLE MUSE)

* JUSTIN LEVENSON (MANAGER, LICENSING OPERATIONS, SESAC)

* BRADLEY COLLINS (DIRECTOR WRITER/PUBLISHER RELATIONS, BMI)

* DOUGLAS WATERMAN (A&R DIRECTOR, AMERICANSONGSPACE.COM)

* CAINE O'REAR IV (MANAGING EDITOR, AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE)

* ADAM SWART (MUSIC SUPERVISOR, 35 SOUND)

* DAVID WILKES (VP A&R, KOCH RECORDS/E1 MUSIC)


Upcoming Lyric Contest DEADLINE:

March 18, 2010 7 P.M. (CST) (May/June Issue)