IBMA Songwriter Showcase Applicants Sought

Up to 10 songwriters (or songwriting teams) will be invited to perform one original bluegrass song each for an audience of artists, producers and other industry professionals during a Songwriter Showcase at this year’s IBMA Business Conference that’s part of the World of Bluegrass in Chattanooga, Tennessee, hosted by the International Bluegrass Music Association, September 16-18. The online application period for the 2025 IBMA Songwriter Showcase extends through March 31.

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Performing Songwriter Contests Open for Entries

Entries are now being sought in three performing songwriter competitions: the Al Johnson Performing Songwriter Contest, Songwriter Serenade, and Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition. Although these contests take place in Texas, they are not solely for songwriters based in the state. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

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2016 IBMA Songwriter Showcase Application Deadline is March 31

Ten selected songwriters or songwriting teams will be afforded the opportunity to perform an original bluegrass song in front of some of the top bluegrass artists and producers in the industry as part of a Sept. 29 Songwriter Showcase during the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) World of Bluegrass in Raleigh, North Carolina. Online applications are due March 31. Judges will consider both the quality of submitted songs and their appeal to bluegrass audiences in making their selections. [To continue reading this article, click on the headline.]

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Singer-Songwriters Flock to Cape May, NJ, March 28-29

The maddening crowds of summer won’t be there, but several hundred performing artists and others engaged in the music business are expected to converge on the historic Victorian-lined New Jersey seaside resort community of Cape May, March 28-29, 2014, for the seventh annual Singer-Songwriter Cape May conference. [To continue reading the article, click on the headline.]

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Chatting with Tracy Grammer About Dave Carter

Tracy Grammer— who has served as the “keeper of the flame” regarding her late partner Dave Carter’s songs — has released a new collection of archived and rediscovered home and studio recordings of the duo’s tunes. Entitled Little Blue Egg, the album topped the Folk DJ chart last month. In a recent chat with New Jersey-based singer-songwriter Sharon Goldman, Grammer shared her memories of Dave Carter’s creative process as well as his songwriting habits, advice and inspiration. Goldman’s article, written for Songwriting Scene, her blog for songwriters about songwriting, is re-posted here with permission. [To read the article, click on the headline.]

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Kasey Chambers Wins 2010 International Songwriting Competition

Australian singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers was named the grand prize winner in the 2010 International Songwriting Competition (ISC). Chambers was recognized for her song “Beautiful Mess,” which was entered into the folk/singer-songwriter category. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Carolann Solebello Wins 2011 SMAF Songwriter Contest

Carolann Solebello is the winner of the 2011 Susquehanna Music & Arts Festival (SMAF) Songwriter Contest. She was selected after performing two original songs -- “Papa’s Mandolin” and “Wash Me Clean” -- during the finals held on Friday afternoon, May 6, as part of the 10th Annual SMAF in downtown Havre de Grace, Maryland. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Jim Lauderdale Engages in Live Facebook Chat on Songwriting, 2/1

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale, who also serves as volunteer chairperson for MerleFest’s Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, will engage in a live chat on Facebook on Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. EST. Fans and aspiring songwriters can join the chat and pose questions to Lauderdale about the contest and songwriting in general by visiting the official page of the contest at the social media site. [To read the entire article, click on the headline.]

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Songwriter Marketing Tips: Writing a Great Bio

Why is writing a good bio so important for singer-songwriters? What are the biggest challenges of writing one, especially if you’re writing it about yourself? What are the qualities of a really good bio? What are the different ways you can use them in publicity and in marketing yourself? AcousticMusicScene.com’s Michael Kornfeld, a communications and PR strategist, recently responded to these and other questions posed to him by singer-songwriter Sharon Goldman for Songwriting Scene, a blog for songwriters about songwriting. That interview is re-posted here with permission. [To read the article, click on the headline.]

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