THE MOUNTAIN STAGE NEWSONG CONTEST
presented by Folk Alliance

The Deadline to Enter to the General Round is Midnight, September 1.

overview | how to enter | cost to enter | important dates | regions | rules & guidelines | contest home

REGIONAL MENU:
Canada | Northeast | Southeast | Midwest | Southwest | West

NEXT EVENT:

Date: Thursday, August 28
Venue:
Cactus Café
Location:
Austin, TX
Time:
8:00 PM
Tickets:
$10 at the door (no advance)
Youth Showcase: Yes!

cactus cafe logo

mountain stage

NewSong Contest Status Update:
updated: Wednesday, August 27

*The General Round deadline is September 1, 2008. Four additional artists will be selected to perform in the international contest finals, held Saturday, October 11 in Charleston, WV at the home theater of the internationally broadcast Mountain Stage television and radio show.

EARLY BIRD FINALISTS
maureen andary
Maureen Andary
Washington, DC
www.myspace.com/maureenmusic

robby hecht


Robby Hecht
Nashville, TN
www.myspace.com/robbyhecht

REGIONAL ROUND WINNERS TO DATE
Steve J. Dawson

Steve J. Dawson
(Midwest Regional Winner)
Chicago, Illinoiswww.stevedawsonmusic.com

the ark
Date: Monday, August 11
Venue:
The Ark
Location:
Ann Arbor, MI


tanya davis

Tanya Davis
(Canadian Regional Winner)
Halifax, Nova Scotia

www.tanyadavis.ca

OFF logo

Date: Saturday, August 16
Venue:
Ottawa Folk Festival
Location:
Brittania Park, Ottawa


kagero

KAGERO (Northeast Regional Winner)
Brooklyn, New York
www.kagero.com

joe's pub

Date: Sunday, August 17
Venue:
Joe's Pub @ the Public Theater
Location:
New York, New York


JEFF ELLIS (SOUTHEAST REGIONAL WINNER)
Hungtington, West Virginia
www.jeffellismusic.com

Eddie's Attic logoDate: Sunday, August 24
Venue:
Eddie's Attic
Location:
Decatur, GA

REGIONAL ROUND WINNERS TO BE DETERMINED

cactus cafe logo

Date: Thursday, August 28
Venue:
Cactus Café
Location:
Austin, TX
Time:
8:00 PM
Youth Showcase: Yes!

Mint logo

Date: Tuesday, September 2
Venue:
The Mint
Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Time:
8:00 PM
Youth Showcase: Yes!

 


 

rose cousins
2007 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest winner Rose Cousins performing on an internationally broadcast Mountain Stage Show. Rose was selected among the five co-winners to perform on the show.

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 Early Bird finalists (Robby Hecht and Maureen Andary)

EARLY BIRD FINALISTS

Two of this year's six general round finalists will be selected from entries submitted before midnight on June 23 – the date of the Early Bird Deadline.

 

HOW TO ENTER

There are two ways to submit to the contest - both the general and the regional rounds:

Entrants can specify which round - the general and/or regional rounds - they'd like to enter during the online submission process or on the mail-in form.

COST TO ENTER

ONLINE

MAIL-IN

1st 2 songs: $30/entry
Songs 3 & 4: $20/entry*
Click here to enter online.

*There is no limit to the number of online submissions, but you can only submit 4 songs per batch, with the above pricing.

$30/entry
Click here for mail-in instructions & form

 

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
  • 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 CATEGORY

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 21 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. To submit to the Youth Category, proceed to submit to either a regional or general round – you will have the opportunity to select the youth category on a follow-up page of the submission process.

PRIZES

There 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:

Oasis CDFounded by musician Micah Solomon, Oasis offers CD and DVD manufacturing for musicians. Absolutely free with your CD purchase: radio promotion on our OasisSampler CD targeted to the genre of your choice, Brick & Mortar distribution, download and online sales, free web hosting, and much more. (888)296-2747 • info@oasisCD.com

    • $25 discounts for EACH entrant, good for replication services
    • $100 coupons to EACH regional finalist in all six regional rounds
    • $250 coupons to all international finalists
    • $500 coupons to all 5 co-winners

     

  • From Musician's Atlas:

Musician's AtlasThe new Musician's AtlasOnline is the networking database and music biz management tool that adds real muscle to your career.

The AtlasOnline is packed with thousands of vital industry contacts plus interactive tools that musicians and other industry pros rely on to market and sell their music more successfully.

As a NewSong Contest entrant, you'll receive:

      • 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.)
      • Each of the 5 co-winners will receive an annual, all access subscription to the AtlasOnline interactive system.

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

MIDWEST Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

The Ark;
Ann Arbor, MI

Monday,
August 11
CANADA ALL TERRITORIES & PROVINCES Ottawa Folk Festival Saturday,
August 16
NORTHEAST Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont Joe's Pub;
New York, NY

Sunday,
August 17

SOUTHEAST Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia Eddie's Attic;
Decatur, GA
Sunday,
August 24
SOUTHWEST Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah Cactus Café;
Austin, TX
Thursday,
August 28
WEST Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming The Mint;
Los Angeles, CA
Tuesday,
September 2

* 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.

Please stay up-to-date with all things NewSong by subscribing to the NewSong newsletter on the website (where you can also read up on contest rules). E-mail any further questions to contest@newsong-music.com.

© 2008 NewSong, LLC. All Rights Reserved.