By Sharon Goldman

Okay, here’s the thing about songwriting contests — I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, they can be a great way to create opportunities for songwriters, both amateur and professional, whether it’s good publicity, cash prizes, getting top industry comment or recording contracts.

And I certainly know some very deserving people who have won big prizes. A very funny songwriter I know, Eric Schwartz, won the comedy/novelty first prize at the 2008 International Songwriting Competition. Abbie Gardner, one-third of the trio Red Molly and a solo songwriter to be reckoned with, won the top folk prize at the 2008 John Lennon Songwriting Competition.

My biggest problem, though, is that the fees for songwriting contests can really add up quickly — especially if you just use your credit card without thinking too much about it on SonicBids, an online submission site. At $30 per song per contest a typical fee, you can easily spend hundreds of dollars — as I have over the years, without anything to show for it.

So am I just bitter because I haven’t received so much of an “honorable mention” through my songwriting contest submissions? Could be…(wah…boo hoo…) but I also just think that songwriters should consider carefully before spending relatively big money on contests with long odds — hundreds if not thousands of competitors in your chosen category.

That said, if you do decide to submit to contests, I’d personally recommend sticking with ones that are really considered reputable. I’m not saying that I really know which ones those are, but I have submitted to the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the USA Songwriting Contest, and the International Songwriting Competition. Oh, and I think the Billboard Songwriting Contest is another one…

Sharon Goldman is a New York-based singer-songwriter and member of Sweet Bitters, a female folk pop duo. She recently launched Songwriting Scene, a blog for songwriters about songwriting, from which this column is republished with permission.