2025 Song Writing Contest
After 14 successful years of operation and a record 60+ participants in 2024– MSA’s Annual Songwriting Contest will be reimagined in our 15th year in order to better serve Maine’s songwriters, build community, and advance our mission.
As with past years, all entries will be given an initial screening by an MSA Board committee using the criteria of melody, lyrics, form, impact, and originality. The top 10 songs/songwriters from this process will be selected as finalists. However, instead of having a further round of judging and ranking for their live presentation of their songs– we will replace the final competition with a Finalist Showcase. The finalists will be celebrated for their excellence, share their song with an enthusiastic audience, receive awards, and be presented to members of the media. (Similar to Falcon Ridge or Kerrville, winners will be able to bolster their careers by being named a “Maine Songwriting Contest Finalist” rather than 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places.)
In order to make the contest inclusive to a broader segment of our membership, we will also invite submissions from those who write but do not perform. We still require recording to be submitted, but it does not have to be performed by the writer. Any winning songs from this category will be performed at the showcase by either members of the board or guest artists.
As an added feature to the contest MSA will publish a compilation album and playlist of all winning songs, which we hope will be a useful promotional tool for the winning artists, as well as Maine songwriters generally.
As always, we invite artists of all levels, backgrounds, and genres to enter. We especially welcome artists who are new to Maine, younger, members of marginalized populations, and those working outside the traditional “singer-songwriter” genre to submit their works– as part of the MSA’s strategy to engage a more diverse segment of our amazing community.
Here’s what else you need to know:
- The contest is open to full paid members of Maine Songwriting Association; the winner from the previous year and MSA directors are ineligible. Membership must be paid at the time of entry.
- Each full paid member may submit one original song. Co-writers are allowed one entry only.
- Songs must be uploaded in MP3 format using the upload form on the MSA website. File name should contain the name of the song only. In order for our judges to be impartial, please do not include your name in the mp3 file name. Song lyrics are also uploaded through the MSA website.
- If you need help creating an MP3 of your song, contact info@mainesongwriters.org and we’ll try to assist.
- Deadline for entry is August 15, 2025 August 31, 2025.
- A special showcase will be held on November 2nd at Cadenza in Freeport. Each finalist’s performance will be limited to one vocalist and one instrument.
- All musical genres will be considered – no instrumentals.