Dallas Songwriters Assoc. Kicks Off 20th Annual Song Contest $5,000 In Prizes Goes To Top Winners

Nov. 20, 2009 - PRLog -- What: Dallas Songwriters Assoc. 2009 Song Contest
Who: Open to everyone
When: Now through Feb. 15, 2010
Where: Online or via postal service, anywhere in the world!
Why: To find, encourage and showcase budding songwriters

DALLAS--Amateur songwriters from around the world are invited to compete in the 20th Annual Song Contest hosted by the Dallas Songwriters Assoc. (DSA). This year's contest will feature 10 categories judged by established music industry professionals and will offer more than $5,000 in prizes to the top winners in each category.

Contestants can enter online via either DSA submission partner, www.broadjam.com or www.sonicbids.com, through Feb. 15, or by mail with entry forms (CDs only, cassette tapes will not be accepted) mailed to: DSA 2009 Song Contest, Sammons Center for the Arts, 3630 Harry Hines Bld. #20, Dallas, TX 75219. Entry fees are $20 per song.

Judges this year include artist manager Marty Rendelman and David Card, owner of the legendary Dallas venue Poor David's Pub.

For the second year the DSA invites music videos to the contest. All music genres will compete against each other in the "Music Video" category, to be judged by Dallas-based video guru Bart Weiss, founder of the annual Dallas Video Festival.

Each year "Country" is one of the most popular categories. This year Rendelman, who managed LeAnn Rimes during her early career and who manages up-and-comer "American Idol" finalist Kristy Lee Cook, will judge the category, perhaps uncovering the next country sensation.

Card, who books talent across many genres at Poor David's Pub, will judge the "Bare Bones" category of songs, which feature only vocals with up to two instruments. Card says the category "gets to the essence of songwriting in its purest form: lyrics and melody."

Winners last year ranged from across the United States, including Massachusetts, California, New Hampshire, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Maryland, Virginia and North and South Carolina. Additional winners came from Canada, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

"The best way to appreciate the talent in this contest is to look to our 2008 grand prize winner, Mark Wayne Glasmire, who is a 2009 Grammy qualifier," said DSA President Steve Sullivan. "He's testimony to the level of talent in the DSA Song Contest."

Song categories for 2009 are:

1.   Christian/Inspirational
2.   Country
3.   Americana/Folk/Bluegrass
4.   Pop/Rock/R&B/Alternative
5.   Love Songs/Easy Listening
6.   Children's/Novelty
7.   Singer/Songwriter
8.   Instrumental
9.   Music Video
10. Bare Bones

"Each year, this contest is a success because of our sponsors," Sullivan said. Sponsors include Broadjam.com, Sonicbids, Gibson, the Gibson Foundation, WM Sales, Beaird Music Group, Texas Music Group, River Sounds Recording Resort and Kim Copeland Productions.

For more information log onto http://dsasongcontest.blogspot.com.

Dallas Songwriters Assoc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing information about the craft and business of songwriting. All styles of music are welcome in the DSA, and membership includes writers of all ages. DSA monthly activities include meetings with guest speakers, song critiques and performance showcases that are open to the public. In addition, the DSA supports and promotes workshops and contests and publishes a monthly newsletter. For more information, visit www.dallassongwriters.org.

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The Dallas Songwriters Assoc. is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to providing information about the craft and business of songwriting. All styles of music are welcome in the DSA. For more information visit www.dallassongwriters.org.