June 30 is the postmark deadline for entries in the 14th Annual USA Songwriting Competition that is open to amateur and professional songwriters. Winners in 15 categories will be selected by a judging committee comprised of music industry professionals and will receive cash, merchandise and/or services as prizes. Songs will be evaluated based on originality, lyrics, melody and composition, without consideration for quality of performance and production.

Contestants may enter as many songs in as many categories as they wish. However, a separate CD or cassette (or MP3s of 5 MB or less if entered online), entry form, lyric sheet and $35 fee is required for each entry. Complete rules and regulations, entry forms and additional information may be found online at www.songwriting.net.

Los Angeles, California-based pop-rocker Jordan Zevon won the overall grand prize in last year’s USA Songwriting Competition. Other winners included Brooklyn, New York-based singer-songwriter Lucy Wainwright Roche (first place in the folk category for “Snare Drum”) and Boston, Massachusetts-based contemporary Celtic fiddler and composer Hanneke Cassel (first place in the instrumental category and overall third prize in the competition for her song “A Shadow and a Thought”). Top honors for lyrics went to San Marcos, Texas-based Americana singer-songwriter Terri Hendrix for “If I Had a Daughter.” A Q & A interview with Hendrix was posted on AcousticMusicScene.com on March 31 and is archived in the Features section.