about mountain stage finalist selection early bird finalists regional rounds how to enter cost to enter discounts youth category prizes 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 about the regionals northeast southeast midwest southwest west canadian   CO-WINNER CO-WINNER & BEST SONG WINNER CO-WINNER CO-WINNER CO-WINNER Liz Longley Philadelphia, PA Grace Pettis Austin, TX Reed Waddle Boston, MA David Via Greensboro, NC Betty Soo Austin, TX GRACE PETTIS ALSO WINS 'BEST SONG' AWARD FOR '9 TO 5 GIRL' CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO AUDIO FROM ALL OF THIS YEAR'S FINALISTS CLICK HERE FOR THE PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THE 2010 CONTEST, AND AUDIO AND VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM THIS YEAR'S FINALS WEEKEND. YOUTH CATEGORY WINNER YOUTH CATEGORY WINNER YOUTH CATEGORY WINNER YOUTH CATEGORY WINNER Seth Glier Shelburne, MA Molly Trull Columbia, MO Mindwalk Boulevard Wilmington, MA Danielle Doyle Medford, MA   2009 MOUNTAIN STAGE NEWSONG CONTEST GENERAL ROUND FINALISTS Liz Longley Philadelphia, PA www.lizlongley.com Grace Pettis Austin, TX www.gracepettis.com Reed Waddle Boston, MA www.reedwaddle.com Honey Dewdrops Scottsville, VA www.honeydewdrops.com   THE 2009 REGIONAL ROUND WINNERS OF THE MOUNTAIN STAGE NEWSONG CONTEST CANADIAN NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST Jon Brooks King City, ON Daniellle Miraglia Somerville, MA Luke Brindley Vienna, VA MIDWEST SOUTHWEST WEST Wes Casto Marietta, OH Fictionist Salt Lake City, UT Shaun Cromwell Los Angeles, CA   Now in its eighth year, The Mountain Stage NewSong Contest 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. Click here for the press release. 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 26th 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. A total of 12 finalists will be selected to perform in the international contest finals, held this year on Saturday, October 10 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 11 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) 'virutal' 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   return to top   David Via Greensboro, NC www.davidvia.com Betty Soo Austin, TX www.bettysoo.com Congratulations to David Via and Betty Soo for being selected as this year's 'Early Bird' finalists. As finalists, they'll join the winners of each of our six regional rounds along with the remaining four general round finalists (deadline to submit is September 1). NOTE: ALL general round entrants who were eligible for Early Bird consideration are still in the running for the remaining four general round spots of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest finals. If you'd like to be considered for a regional round spot though, please see below.   Performing songwriters in the states and regions below can enter songs in their respective Regional Rounds by July 24 -- 10 finalists in each region will be selected to compete in ‘virtual’ live contests. The winner of each round will advance to the international finals. Entry discounts for regional rounds are available to active members of qualifying organizations. REGION ELIGIBLE STATES/TERRITORIES* MIDWEST Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin CANADA ALL TERRITORIES & PROVINCES NORTHEAST Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont SOUTHEAST Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia SOUTHWEST Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah WEST Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming New this year, our regional finals will be “virtual.” Entrants who advance to a regional round will be asked to upload a video performance of a song to YouTube. NewSong Contest judges will review each finalist’s footage to select a winner. In addition to the official winner there will be a "People's Choice" award for each region based on popular vote through our website. NOTE: You do NOT have to submit a video when initally entering the contest. If you are selected as a regional finalist, however, you will be required to have at least one video performance available on YouTube.   return to top   There are two ways to submit to the contest - both the general and the regional rounds: ONLINE - submit quickly and easily through sonicbids. Click here to enter online. MAIL-IN - mail your submissions. Click here for details. 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.   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   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. 2008 NewSong Contest Entrants Folk Alliance Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) Songwriter's Association of Washington (SAW) Baltimore Songwriters Association (BSA) ASCAP SESAC SOCAN Austin Songwriters Group NJ Songwriters in the Round Songwriter's Hall of Fame   There is no limit to the number of submissions you can submit. However, you can submit no more than four songs at a time using online submissions via sonicbids..   We're happy to announce that in our efforts to help develop and promote younger artists, we're introducing a new 'Youth' Category in each of the regional round to artists 21 or younger. Special youth showcases will take place at each regional live round.   return to top   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. 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.   return to top

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO ENTER THE CONTEST: ONLINE - submit quickly and easily through sonicbids. Click here to enter online. MAIL-IN - mail your submissions. Click here for details.