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FULL CONTEST & ELIGIBILITY RULES FOR THE
26th Mid Atlantic Song Contest.
For the 26th
MASC contest, SAW will accept a total of 300 entries in each category.
What does this mean for you? A 1-in-300 chance or better to
win!
All words pre-printed on this entry form (everything from page 1 to 4!) are considered part of the rules. If entering via electronic submission (online), you still agree to abide by all rules & regulations listed here. You may enter as many songs as you wish in each category. It is strongly suggested (mercy!) that your song be a max of 4 minutes, but this is not required. You may enter same song in more than one category. All songs remain the property of the songwriter(s).
ELIGIBILITY
- Each entry must have lyrics EXCEPT for the Instrumental Category.
BUT: Instrumental category entries must include a 3 sentence description
as to the artistic intent of the composition (this is essential).
- All entries must be either submitted online by September 15
or must be postmarked September 15. All entries MUST be received
by September 30 regardless of postmark. We prefer online
entries, but will accept multiple entries from the same artist
on one home burned CD without other unrelated tracks. We
do not accept cassette recordings.
- You must not have made more than $5,000 in publishing royalties
in 2008 and cannot be employed as a staff writer for a publishing
company nor have been paid for such services by a publishing company.
- Each entry must be wholly original (co-writers allowed) and
shall not infringe on any copyrights or any other rights of any
third party. Each entrant shall hold SAW harmless from and against
claims inconsistent with these requirements.
- No composition or lyric may be entered that has been:
(1) licensed;
(2) placed under contract for commercial sale with any major label,
publisher or other entity; before the deadline; or
(3) selected in previous years' MASC contests as Gold, Silver,
Finalist.
HOWEVER: You may re-submit songs having won honorable mention
in past contests.
- Special Prize Eligibility.
To qualify for the $100 Young Artist Award for top artist 21 and
under (as of September 15, 2009), you must give your birth date
& year, as well as your co-writers. The total amount of the
prize is $100 and check is made out to the submitting songwriter.
All co-writers must be 21 or under. All others may ignore
or lie in wonderful glowing terms about your age as long as you
are true to the fact that you're 22 and over.
PROCESS OF ENTRY
- FILLING OUT ENTRY FORM. Each song
must be submitted on a separate entry form. Fill out & sign
the official entry form, which signals your acceptance of permissions
& disclaimer at the bottom. For multiple entries fill out
the song information on each separate form. Include payment
information on the first form.
- SUBMITTING LYRICS. You must submit
lyrics or instrumental description. If entering via mail provide
four copies of either a) the complete lyrics of your song,
or b) a three sentence description as to the meaning behind
your instrumental composition. Include title of your work but
no searchable copyright information. We may disqualify your entry
if you do so (we want these to be anonymous). If song is
not in English, provide an English translation--artistic license
allowed. Lyrics must be contained upon one side of one 8.5 x 11
page. There is no need to repeat duplicate sections--for
example just identify and re-type “chorus” where it
repeats, unless the chorus contains serious changes.
- SUBMITTING RECORDING. If entering via mail, please note: we
encourage multiple separate entries on the same CD, but you MUST
include a complete paper track list as part of your entry. Entries
must have song title(s) and category written legibly on the front
cover and on the CD. Do not put your name or your picture on the
CD. CHECK for technical glitches! We will not replace tracks
once they have been submitted. If you record a better version,
you may submit it as a separate entry. Winners will be allowed
to submit their best versions for inclusion on the compilation
CD. Should your entry win Grand Prize, Second or Third Overall
or Gold or Silver, your signature on the entry form signifies
your consent to have your song included on the Winner’s
Compilation CD.
- CALCULATE AMOUNT DUE for all your
entries. Fill out the first entry form we will see when opening
the package with all of your payment information. Include a check—payable
to Songwriters’ Association of Washington--or money order
(no cash) for the total amount or include your credit card number,
expiration date and signature.
| SAW Member Rates |
Non-Member Rates |
| 1-5 Songs: $20 per song |
1-5 Songs: $24 per song |
| 6-10 Songs: $18 per song |
6-10 Songs: $22 per song |
| 11-15 Songs: $15 per song |
11-15 Songs: $18 per song |
- PACKAGING ENTRY. Place four
copies of each set of lyrics or description in a stack. Place
separate entry form with each set of lyrics, and place the compilation
or individual CDs on the top of the stack. You may fold all the
papers in half around CD and place in an envelope. Affix proper
postage. Send to:
Mid-Atlantic Song Contest / S.A.W.
PMB 106-137
4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016.
- DEADLINE. All entries must
be received online or postmarked by 11:59 pm, September 15, 2009. Mailed
entries must be received by September 30, 2009.
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: All entries received by July 15 qualify for
a SAW membership raffle drawing
LATE/LOST ENTRIES: Entries received after September 30 will not
be considered (even w/postmark). SAW assumes no responsibility
for loss/damage to entries prior to receipt.
- JUDGING: Judges are professional
artists, venue operators, presenters, Performing Rights Organization
representatives, label representatives, DJs and Satellite radio
representatives, financial backers & music supporters. Judges
are instructed to disregard production /quality of recording. The
Grand Prize Winner, Second & Third Place Overall Winners will
be determined from the Golds by a larger panel of music industry
professionals after all of the Gold winners are chosen.
Only Contest Director & Assistant Director know the songwriter's
name until such time as category judging is complete.
- NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS: Grand Prize, Second and Third Place Overall Winners will be announced at the Awards Night Gala. All other winners will be announced following the Gala at www.saw.org. Gold and Silver prize
winners in each category will be notified by phone, email or mail in the weeks prior to the Awards Gala to provide bio & website
info. We will make every effort to reach winners as early as possible to alert them to their status in order to allow them to plan for
attendance at the Gala. All winners, including Finalists and Honorable Mention in each category will be listed in gala program and announced from the stage. The full results will be posted the day after the big event. You may request a copy
of contest results by writing to the address above.
- Grand Prize, Second Place and
Third Place Overall winners are not eligible for individual category
prizes. All songs submitted are eligible for Gold in their
category.
- SPECIAL 26th ANNIVERSARY AWARDS
NIGHT: The Awards Night Gala will be held in the Washington, DC
metro area in winter of 2010. All contestants are encouraged
to attend. Depending upon available time, Gold winners may be
asked to perform their winning song live but are not required
to do so. In the event that the Gold winners asked to perform
cannot or choose not to perform at the event, the silver winner
in that category may be asked to do so if time permits. Glass-etched
trophies will be presented to the contest’s top three winners
at the Gala. Please see list of prizes on saw.org, which
is updated throughout the contest. We will provide a complimentary
ticket for each Gold, Silver and Finalist winner to the Awards
Gala.
- PRIZES: Prizes must be redeemed
within one calendar year of Awards Ceremony. We will notify
sponsors of winner names or provide a certificate to winners if
provided by sponsor. If, due to circumstances beyond MASCs control,
the independent sponsors do not deliver their prizes to winners,
MASC will attempt to replace those prizes with like quality prizes,
however MASC cannot be held accountable for prizes not delivered
by sponsors. Federal, local and state taxes on prizes are the
sole responsibility of the winner. Unless noted, prizes are non-transferable
and may not be redeemed for cash. Division of prizes among
co-writers is the responsibility of submitting songwriters.
- PROMOTIONAL AGREEMENTS: Gold
& Silver prizewinners in each category agree to furnish a
recorded version of the selected song within two weeks after notification
(non-MP3 versions) for airplay during the awards ceremony. Winners
also agree that SAW may post MP3 clips of their songs on the SAW
website and that their songs shall appear on the Winners’
CD. The recorded song must be produced to technical standards
required by SAW. SAW has the right to edit songs for length, and
to omit selected songs from the CD that do not meet SAW's technical
standards. ALL top winners consent to having their winning songs
used in the manner as listed above as part of their prize.
- WINNERS' CD: Grand Prize, Second
and Third Place Overall & Gold and Silver winners will be
included in the Winners CD, which is sponsored by OASIS. Gold
and Silver winners, along with the Young Artist and other categories,
will be included on the Winners CD, so long as they meet the technical
requirements, and as space permits.
- CERTIFICATE & CD DISTRIBUTION: Each
songwriter and collaborator listed on the entry form of a winning
song, including Finalists and Honorable Mentions, will receive
a personalized 26th Anniversary Certificate of Merit. Winning
songwriters may pick up their certificate at the awards ceremony. Gold
winners receive 10 Winners' compilation CDs (usually by the August
following the award). Silver winners will receive one copy
of the compilation CD.
- SAW will make every attempt to deliver any unclaimed certificates
& prizes to the addresses provided by songwriters as part
of their entry.
The preceding
rules have been updated for the 2009 26th Mid-Atlantic
Song Contest and developed over a number of years by our song contest
team. QUESTIONS? Contact masc@saw.org
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