Enter Music Contests and Win Big

How to Win a Songwriting Contest
written by: Jake Sibley

If you're a musician, you can't help but see them. They're posted in music stores, crammed in the backs of magazines, brightly linked at the bottoms of webpages. They have important-sounding names like "The Great American Song Contest".

"I wonder who actually spends the time to put together an application and mail it off to this thing…"

I do. And you're going to, because winning a songwriting contest or music competition can do wonders for your music career.

As I write this, Jim Beam Bourbon is preparing a press release to announce that I won one of their B.E.A.M. Grants ("Benefitting Emerging Artists in Music"). I'm not telling you this to brag. I'm telling you this because I want you to know that you can win just as easily.

Your Competition

Although some contests, like the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, are fairly well publicized, many of them are not. Did you know that Jim Beam gives away $100,000 in grants to musicians like you every year? Probably not - and, frankly, I'm glad. If you did, you might have won it instead of me.

The competition pool for these things is far from overwhelming. The truth is, there aren't that many people in the world that actually visit music stores and read music magazines. Of those that do, only a small fraction are organized and intelligent enough to put together a decent application for a contest. Of that small group, only a smaller fraction are willing to make the effort, rather than shrug off their chances as not much better than winning the lottery.

Millions of people play the lottery. Hundreds - or less - enter any given music contest.

The best part is that all the creative geniuses out there (I hate them just as much as you do!) are often the most critical and self-conscious of their own work. They are too burdened with self-doubt and the weight of their own genius to enter a contest. Consequently, your competition is a handful of talented musicians, a busload of average Joes, and a few tone-deaf freaks that honestly believe they are John Lennon.

Now that you understand that you actually have a decent shot at winning one of these things, let me explain why it's imperative that you try.

It won't take much time to put together an application, and this small investment can pay off enormously:

First, if you win a contest, you win a contest. How cool is that. You call your mom, you call your friends, you leave four answering machine messages for your band. There are few things that feel better.

Second, not only do you win a contest, but you win something. Quite often it will be money, but many contests also shower their winners with free gear. Some contests award studio time or recording contracts.

Third, you have certifiable evidence that someone out there - besides your mom, your friends, and your band - actually likes your music. The value of this tidbit is immeasurable. It will sustain you through many moments of darkness, believe me.

Fourth - and this is the big one - you get publicity. Free advertising for your music and your band. You get your name in the newspaper. You get interviewed by the local music rag. You might get on the TV news. If you win a contest sponsored by a company like Jim Beam or BASF, you can bet they'll take the lead in publicizing your achievement. Companies don't spend all that time and money to run a contest just because the CEO digs hip music. They do it for the press - and as the winner you get to surf that PR wave all the way to the beach. Yes, they are using you, and yes, you are loving it.

The Follow-Up

If you do win a contest, be sure you do everything you can to maximize the press. Study up on how to write an effective press release and send one to every newspaper, magazine, and radio station that might possibly care. The resulting publicity would cost thousands if you contracted it through standard means. You're getting it for free.

Most importantly, highlight your achievement in your press kit! Nothing looks better in a band bio than "Winners of Jim Beam Bourbon B.E.A.M. Grant."

So keep your eye open for contests and get busy.