Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park /Friends

Big Stone Gap, VA 

Big Stone Gap, Virginia

Our 2013 Songwriting Contest

 2013 Official Contest Rules and Eligibility 
Click here for our Entry Form. 

The Gathering In The Gap Songwriting Contest represents the spirit and traditions of Appalachian culture.  Its focus is to showcase outstanding, but under-recognized, performing songwriters.   Both traditional and newer styles of songs are encouraged.  Song topics may fall into one or more of these general areas: 

-songs relative to Americana and related topics

-topical songs about historic or current events

-songs should be in genres which have roots in Appalachian culture: Old-time, Folk, Bluegrass, Country, Gospel, Blues, and Rockabilly. 

• Songs entered must be the original work of the contestant and each contestant is limited to two entries.  
  
  
• The Gathering In The Gap songwriting contest is open to those participants whose primary source of income (50% or more) is NOT derived from songwriting or publishing.  Income from performances is not considered songwriting income. 
  
  
• Artists paid to perform at Gathering In The Gap are not eligible to enter the contest within the festival year in which they are being paid.
  
  
• Members of the Gathering In The Gap Steering Committee and the staff of the Southwest Virginia Museum, along with their immediate families, are not eligible for contest participation.
  
  
• Entrants under 18 years of age must submit an affidavit of parental guardian approval, along with the official entry form.  

How To Enter 

Entry Deadline:  April 17^th, 2013 by 4 p.m. 

Entry Fee: $10 first song, $5 for second song.  Check or money order paid to: Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum.  Do not send cash.  Entry fees are non-refundable. 

Entry Mailed To: Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum, P.O. Box 294, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 or entry may be dropped off during business hours at the Southwest Virginia Museum, Big Stone Gap, VA.  All entries must arrive by deadline, not by postmark.  Entries received too late to be judged will be returned unopened.  The Gathering in The Gap Music Festival is not responsible for late, damaged, misdirected, insufficient postage, stolen, or misappropriated entries. 

         One completed entry form per song; signature must be original

         One song entry per compact disc

         Lyrics submitted typed, double spaced

         Cd and lyric sheet must be labeled with the entrants name, address, email, telephone number, song title, and co-authors name, if applicable.

         Cd and lyrics will not be returned

         Upon arrival of entry, contestant will receive notification of submittal by email 

Judging 

Entries will be judged by a panel of professional songwriters, publishers, or other music industry professionals.  Entries will be reviewed and judged on the following criteria: 

• Originality
• Lyrics
• Melody
• Relevance to criteria

Note: Music production and performance quality of submittal are not considered. 

From the original mailed cd entries, ten finalists will be chosen to compete on the main stage at the Gathering In The Gaps song writing contest.  Finalists will be notified by May 4^th, 2012. 

Finalists 

Ten finalists will be invited to compete on May 25, 2013 on the festival Main Stage at Gathering In The Gap in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.  Order of each finalists competition performance will be determined by the songwriting committee.  Each finalist will be given a free access ticket to get into the festival, along with a festival t-shirt.  Transportation to and from the event, as well as other expenses, are the responsibility of the finalist. 

Each song in the finals must be performed by the composer, with no more than one accompanist; performances to pre-recorded soundtracks will NOT be allowed.  If there are several co-writers, all will be allowed to perform the song.

On-site judges will make the final determination of first, second, and third place winners based upon previous stated criteria and live performance. 

Winners and Prizes 

• First place winner will receive:
  • $250 cash prize
  • Recording session of  5 hours courtesy of Grammy award winning recording studio, Maggard Sound of Big Stone Gap
  • Plaque
• Second place winner will receive:
  • $100 cash prize
  • Plaque
• Third place winner will receive:
  • $50 cash prize
  • Plaque

• All 10 finalist will receive a free 2012 Gathering in the Gap festival entrance ticket

NOTE:  In the event of co-writers win, the division of cash prizes is the sole responsibility of the person whose name is listed first on the entry form. 

Indemnity and Release 

On-line entry form and signature on entry form constitutes each song submitted is an original song and releases the Gathering In The Gap songwriting contests, its sponsors, the Friends of the Museum, and the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park from all liability.  Entry also constitutes permission to use the winners name and likeness for future advertising and publicity without compensation.