Mission

Annual Song Contest held by the Dallas Songwriters Association to provide a benchmark for popular songwriting competency. Winners in each category, plus grand prize winners.

CATEGORIES AND JUDGES:Finalists in each category will be judged by music industry professionals from record labels and publishing companies; Grand Prize winner will be chosen by A&R and/or industry professionals of Broadjam.com

DSA is CELEBRATING 33 YEARS IN 2023

JOIN * LEARN * COLLABORATE * GROW - MOTIVATING & UPLIFTING SONGWRITERS THROUGH EDUCATION

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

2013 WINNERS ANNOUNCED


GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

1. Do You Believe by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA
2. Looking Glass by Rick Webster, Perth, Australia
3. 3, 2, 1 by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA

SEE THE COMMENTS FROM THE GRAND PRIZE JUDGE

CATEGORY WINNERS

Listen to the whole playlist on Soundcloud at:

Americana

Cook a Chicken by Whitley Hill, Nashville, TN
2. Old Grim by Eric Bettencourt, Portland, ME
3. Carla Moore by Brian Kalinec, Houston, TX

Christian / Inspirational

1. He Did His Best Work On Wood by T Edwin Doss, Silver Spring, VA
2. First Church of The Last Chance by Brent Benton, Plano, TX
3. Point Me Home by Stephen McWhirter, New Albany, IN

Country

1. Guitar Players Get The Girls by Debra Gussin and Marty Dodson, Los Angeles, CA
2. Dancing on Dandelions by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY
3. Driftwood You and Me by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT

Instrumental

1. Looking Glass by Rick Webster, Perth, Australia
2. Dogs In Paradise by Charlie Hill, Tulsa, OK
3. Warrior by Arek Religa, Chicago, ILWarrior

Love

1. A New Love Song by Nitanee Paris Lawson and Jonathan Bluth, Malibu, CA
2. When Did You Know by Glen Naylor, Bright, Australia
3. So Beautiful by Katie Hardyman, Pampoolah, Taree, NSW, Australia

Novelty / Childrens 

1. Down To Earth by Kate Diaz, Chicago, IL
2. The Christmas Song No One Knows by Renee Safier, Andy Hill and James Vermilya, Redondo Beach, CA 
3. Dig Into Reading by Randy Sauer, Hays, KS

Pop/Rock/Alt/RnB

1. Do You Believe by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA
2. 3, 2, 1 by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA
3. Like They Do It In The Movies by Nitanee Paris Lawson, Malibu, CA
HM. So Long by Maureen Fichten, Manalapan, NJ

Singer / Songwriter

1. Smoke & Ashes by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA
2. Smallest Act of Kindness by Cal Scott, Portland, OR
3. Trans-Pecos Serenade by Eddie Lott, Dallas, TX


2013 SEMIFINALISTS


Americana

1. Carla Moore by Brian Kalinec, Houston, TX
2. Parting Song by Melissa Bandura, Richmond N., BC, Canada
3. Possum Trot Road by Richard Mack Harrell, Boca Raton, FL
4. Memory Museum by Mark Stepakoff, Wellesley, MS
5. Circle Back by Michael Henchman, Vancouver, WA
6. Screen Door by Martin Flannagan, Baton Rouge, LA
7. Cold Blood by Mark Stepakoff, Wellesley, MS
8. The Twilight Years by Roy Williams, Woodbridge, ONT, Canada
9.  Lost Angel by Eric Stone, Boulder, CO
10. Old Grim by Eric Bettencourt, Portland, ME
11. Lonely at the Bottle by Tom Biles, Keller, TX
12. Cook a Chicken by Whitley Hill, Nashville, TN

Christian / Inspirational

 1. When A Soldier Comes by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT
2. Spirit's Hymn by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA
3.The Sky Is The Limit by Lanny Sherwin, Santa Barbara, CA
4. He Did His Best Work On Wood by T Edwin Doss, Silver Spring, VA
5. Point Me Home by Stephen McWhirter, New Albany, IN
6. Snowflake by Randall Brown, Mineola, TX
7. Sing It by Carl Peterson, Paw Paw, MI
8. A Dance With Angels by Rob Cariddi, Fort Mill, SC
9. First Church of The Last Chance by Brent Benton, Plano, TX
10.  Sweet Communion by Brent Benton, Plano, TX

Country

1. All Part Of Our Love by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT
2. Already Gone by Wyler Delray, Creve Coeur, IL
3. Dancing on Dandelions by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY
4. Dear John Letter Again by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY
5. Driftwood You and Me by Kevin Reardon, Riverside, CT
6. Guitar Players Get The Girls by Debra Gussin and Marty Dodson, Los Angeles, CA
7. Headstone by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY
8. I Knew by James Hoppe, Aliso, CA
9. I Miss Someone All the Time by Wyler Delray, Creve Coeur, IL
10. I'll Meet You In Dallas by Krystan Bellows, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
11. If You Were My Girl by Roger Kaye, Glens Fallas, NY
12. Professional Help by T Ediwn Doss, Silver Spring, VA 
13. The Point of No Return by Wyler Delray, Creve Coeur, IL
14. Your Memory's Never Done Me Wrong by Brent Benton, Plano, TX

Instrumental

1. Backlash by Lou DeAdder, Whitby, Canada
2. Dogs In Paradise by Charlie Hill, Tulsa, OK
3. Friday Night Chant by Tomer George Cohen, Latin, Israel
4. Jazzy by Lou DeAdder, Whitby, Canada
5. Looking Glass by Rick Webster, Perth, Australia
6. Warrior by Arek Religa, Chicago, IL

Love

1. A New Love Song by Nitanee Paris Lawson and Jonathan Bluth, Malibu, CA
2. Caught by Stephanie Krawiee, Bloomfield Hills, MI
3. I Keep On Wanting You by Andre Kerek, Miami, FL
4. A Paris August Moon by Glen Naylor, Bright, Australia
5. So Beautiful by Katie Hardyman, Pampoolah, Taree, NSW, Australia
6. The Very Best In Me by Jordan Spivack, Nanuet, NY
7. When Did You Know by Glen Naylor, Bright, Australia
8. Where The Willows Weep by Glen Naylor, Bright, Australia

Novelty / Childrens 

1. Echo The Gecko by Jordan Spivack, Nanuet, NY
2. Cat In My Hoody by Robert Stelmach, White Rock, BC, Canada
3. Rockin' THe Kazoo by Randy Sauer, Hays, KS
4. The Christmas Song No One Knows by Renee Safier, Andy Hill and James Vermilya, Redondo Beach, CA 
5. Down To Earth by Kate Diaz, Chicago, IL
6. Jasper's Worst Christmas by Whitley Hill, Nashville, TN
7. Jonathan Baker by Robert Graham, Toronto, Canada
8. Dig Into Reading by Randy Sauer, Hays, KS

Pop/Rock/Alt/RnB

1. 3, 2, 1 by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA
2. Do You Believe by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA
3. Ice Cream by Stephanie Krawiee, Bloomfield, MI
4. Like They Do It In The Movies by Nitanee Paris Lawson, Malibu, CA
5. Lucid Lover by Jessi Teich, Philadelphia, PA
6. Museum Day  by Patrick Bisaillon and Marc Bourbonniers of Plead Guilty, Mirabel, Quebec, Canada
7. River by Heidi Zettl, Allen, TX
8. Shade of Grey (Starlight Mix) by James Hoppe, Aliso Viejo, CA
9. So Long by Maureen Fichten, Manalapan, NJ
10. Story Of A Broken Heart by Stephanie Krawiee, Bloomfield, MI

Singer / Songwriter

1. Trans-Pecos Serenade by Eddie Lott, Dallas, TX
2. Open a Vein by Martin Flannagan, Baton Rouge, LA
3. Smallest Act of Kindness by Cal Scott, Portland, OR
4. Hands of Angels by Steve Schultz, Poughkeepsie, NY
5. Shadow by Steve Schultz, Poughkeepsie, NY
6. Nicer Here by Davis McGee, Orlando, FL
7. Beautiful Like You by Davis McGee, Orlando, FL
8. Smoke & Ashes by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA
9. Honey Pie by Nitanee Paris Lawson, Malibu, CA
10. Empty Space by Sebastien Parentin, Loudrefing, France
11. Slow Work in Progress by T Ediwn Doss, Silver Spring, VA 
12. On A Cold Cold Christmas Day by T Ediwn Doss, Silver Spring, VA 
13. Philadelphia by Eric Colville, Ipswich, MA

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

2013 CATEGORY SEMIFINALIST

Song titles only are listed because the judging is still in process and the songwriters must currently be anonymous until completion of the process at which time all names and home towns will be added to this listing in September.

AMERICANA
1. Carla Moore
2. Parting Song
3. Possum Trot Road
4. Memory Museum
5. Circle Back
6. Screen Door
7. Cold Blood
8. The Twilight Years
9. The Lost Angel
10. Old Grim
11. Lonely at the Bottle
12. Cook a Chicken

Christian / Inspirational
 1. When A Soldier Comes
2. Spirit's Hymn
3.The Sky Is The Limit 
4. He Did His Best Work On Wood
5. Point Me Home
6. Snowflake
7. Sing It
8. A Dance With Angels
9. Church of The Last Chance
10.  Sweet Communion

Country
1 All Part Of Our Love
2 Already Gone
3 Dancing on Dandelions
4 Dear John Letter Again
5 Driftwood You & Me
6 GUITAR PLAYERS GET THE GIRLS
7 HEADSTONE
8 I Knew
9. I Miss Someone All the Time
10 I'll Meet You In Dallas
11 If you were my girl
12 Professional Help
13 The Point of No Return
14 Your Memory's Never Done Me Wrong 

Instrumental
1.   Backlash
2.   Dogs In Paradise
3.   Friday Night Chant 
4.   Jazzy 
5.   Looking Glass 
6.   Warrior

Love
1.   A New Love Song
2.   Caught
3.   I Keep On Wanting You
4.   Paris August Moon
5.   So Beautiful
6.   The Very Best In Me
7.   When Did You Know
8.   Where The Willow Weep

Novelty / Childrens 
1. Echo The Gecho
2. Cat In My Hoody
3.Rockin' THe Kazoo
4. The Christmas Song No One Knows
5. Down To Earth
6. Jasper's Worst Christmas
7. Jonathan Baker
8. Dig Into Reading

Pop/Rock/Alt/R&B
1. 3, 2, 1
2. Do You Believe
3. Ice Cream
4. Like They Do It In The Movies
5. Lucid Lover
6. Museum Day
7. River
8. Shade of Grey (Starlight Mix)
9. So Long
10. Story Of A Broken Heart

Singer / Songwriter
1. Trans-Pecos Serenade
2. Open a Vein
3.  Smallest Act of Kindness
4. Hands of Angels
5. Shadow
6. Nicer Here
7. Beautiful Like You
8. Smoke & Ashes
9. Honey Pie
10. Empty Space
11. Slow Work in Progress
12. Cold Cold Christmas Day
13. Philadelphia

Thursday, July 18, 2013

DSA SONG CONTEST IN THE JUDGING PHASE - IPOD DRAWING WINNER ANNOUNCED

Category judges are busy listening to the entries and picking the winners.

 At the July Second Tuesday Meeting, our guest speaker, Kathy Baldwin, drew song entry number 196, Sweet Communion. The songwriter of the winning entry is Brent Benton from Plano, Tx. Brent wins an IPOD shuffle, from the Apple Store, his choice of color.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

DSA 2013 Song Contest Deadline June 17th


Eight Song Categories
1. Christian/Inspirational
2. Country
3. Americana/Folk/Bluegrass
4. Pop/Rock/RnB/Alternative
5. Love Songs/Easy Listening
6. Children's/Novelty
7. Singer/Songwriter (songwriter is the performer)
8. Instrumental

Multiple Winners In Each Category
Entry Fee $25
Deadline: Monday, June 17th, 2013
Submissions Close at Midnight. 

Enter Online 
at one of two DSA Song Contest Submission Partners:
To Enter Online, you Must Join Broadjam by
Receiving a Free 90 Day PROMoB Membership.

or

To Enter Onlineyou Must Join Sonicbids
Receiving a Free 90 Day Membership with a 2 week Free Trial of Sonicbid's EPK
Electronic Press Kit)

Sonicbids is the leading matchmaking site for emerging bands and music promoters. Its community of 325,000 registered artists use the site to connect with 25,000 music promoters - ranging from some of the world's largest music festivals and conferences, to clubs, colleges, music supervisors and other people looking to book or license music.
New to Sonicbids? Sign up to submit your band to sonicbids.com/dsa and get a free trial, plus 25 "Tokens" to submit to 25 Token Gig Listings at no additional cost. Previous Sonicbids members can reactivate their membership for only $1!

OR ENTER BY MAIL, 
download the contest form here.
Mail your check and entries to:
Dallas Songwriters Association
2013 Song Contest Director
Sammons Center For The Arts
3630 Harry Hines Blvd. #20
Dallas, Texas 75219
(voicemail) 214-750-0916 x1

MAIL IN ENTRIES MUST BE POST MARKED BY June 17th.
 or you can mail you entry form and CD and pay online at our DSA Kagi store with credit card or Paypal. Click here to enter our Kagi store.

Each entry is entered into the drawing for an IPOD
Drawing held July 9!

Important Dates
Submission Deadline: June 17, 2013
Drawing For Free Ipod: July 9, 2013
Semi-Finalists Announced: Aug 13, 2013
Finalists and Grand Prize Winners Announced: Sept 10, 2013

GRAND PRIZE
Premier Demo By

A Premier Nashville Recording Service
(List Value $705.00)
Beaird Music Group recorded the demo of Lady Antebellum's "I Run to You" which was just voted as the Single of the Year at the CMA Awards.

and a Casio PX-350 Privia Piano

Grand Prize Winner, and
1st and 2nd Runner Up Receive:
($199.95 Value) 
Includes Artist Website, 1 Yr. Hosting
1 Yr. Sonicbids Membership

Additional Prizes
1st Runner Up Receives:
1 Day of FREE high quality recording on one song,  and a night in
Merlin's Cabin at RIVER SOUNDS on the Llano River in the Texas Hill Country.


2nd Runner Up Receives:
Song Critique from Barbara McMillen, Associate Professor of Songwriting at Collin College
and recording time at Joe Musik Studio


1st Place in Each Category Receives:
$100
A 1 year Broadjam MoB Membership ($49.95 value)
A 1 Yr. Sonicbids Membership

2nd Place in Each Category Receives:
$50
A 1 year Broadjam MoB Membership ($49.95 value)
A 1 Yr. Sonicbids Membership

Every Winner Receives:
DSA Membership ($50.00 Value)


Need More Info?
Winners will be announced on-line

TOP TEN REASONS TO ENTER THE DSA SONG CONTEST

10. You can win a casio privia keyboard.

9. You can win cash

8. You can win a one year DSA membership or more.

7. You can get a free trial membership for entering online at Broadjam

6. Semifinalists get a chance to perform at the Awards or other DSA Showcases

5. Semifinalists and Winners get their names published in Songwriter Notes and the Press Release

4. Entrants can get peer review on their song

3. Winners get their songs on the awards soundcloud site.

2. Contest recognition looks good on your resume

1. We are a small contest, so you have a better chance to win.

Now in it's 33rd year!

The DSA Song Contest is one of the longest running international song contests for amateur songwriters. Offering over $5,000 in cash and prizes this year, the DSA has EIGHT categories in all. See Contest Rules for eligibility.

JOIN LEARN COLLABORATE GROW

Join -Learn - Collaborate - Grow
DSA is a 501 C-3 non-profit educational organization dedicated to providing to songwriters everywhere opportunities for learning about the craft and business of songwriting. Songwriters Newsletter is published by the Dallas Songwriters Association c/o Sammons Center for the Arts 3630 Harry Hines Blvd Box 20 Dallas, TX 75219.
Barbara McMillen, Editor, Founding President Emeritus http://www.barbaramcmillen.com

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