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Here''s a list of the most frequently asked questions we have been asked.
If you cannot find the answer to your question, just post it or contact us.
1. What do you most look for in a submission?
2. How are the songs rated and processed?
3. Why should I submit music to you?
4. How do I contact you?
5. How do I submit music?
6. Other then submitting music to the circle, how else can I get involved?
7. Why should I submit 3 songs instead of one?
8. I am a lyricist. Can I submit only lyrics with no music? I only compose - Can I submit only music with no lyrics?
9. I write my own music but am not a performer - can I still submit?
10. I am not the one singing the song I am submitting - is that OK?
11. My song contains a sample. Can I still submit it?
12. Do you retain any exclusive ownership of any kind on all songs submitted?
13. How can I continue to get updated information and stay in touch with the Circle?
14. I’ve performed with the circle in the past and want to keep you updated on my career.
15. I submitted music online but never got a confirmation email. Did you receive my submission?
16. Once I have submitted music, will I hear back either way if I''ve been chosen?
17. How do I get booked for a showcase?
18. How will I be contacted if I’ve been chosen to play a showcase?
19. How far in advance do you book showcases?
20. I have previously submitted music to the NY Songwriters Circle Do I really have to submit again if I want to be included in this year’s contest?
21. When are contest finalists notified?
22. When is the deadline for contest submissions?
23. Where can I find the complete terms and conditions for the 2009 contest?
24. How do I submit music by mail?
1. What do you most look for in a submission?
We first and foremost look for a great song. A strong melody and well written lyrics.
Production and performance values are important as they help to highlight a great song, but we’ve had many finalists who submitted demo recordings to our previous contests. We also look to see how the song fits stylistically with the genre in which it is delivered - Will the song still stand out when it''s performed live? The song writing aspects of the submission are what we look for the most.
2. How are the songs rated and processed?
All submissions are reviewed by a panel of listeners directed by Tina Shafer. All submissions are also considered for booking opportunities for ongoing showcases and events, including our showcase series in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Lost Angeles. Throughout the submission time period all submissions are reviewed and rated, then narrowed down until we reach a list of the top 12 finalists. These finalists will be contacted and announced on the site on or around October 30th, 2009.
All 12 finalists are invited to perform their songs live in front of our blue ribbon panel of judges and an enthusiastic crowd of fans during our 2 night finale events, where the top winners are voted on by a silent ballot by our judges.
3. Why should I submit music to you?
Aside from obviously winning the contest and prizes involved, we offer our members many other opportunities throughout the year. Each submission is reviewed for the opportunity of being featured in our award winning ongoing showcases in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles, as well as many special events we produce throughout the year (Previous productions included the Halftime Stadium concert series which offered our members the opportunity to perform at Madison Square Garden, the Prudential Center in NJ and more).
Additionally all submissions are added to our online music database and are tagged with specific terms that allow us to locate them for placement opportunities in films, TV shows and advertisements. For over 19 years we have developed contacts and partnerships with many industry professionals who are always looking for great content. Your song submissions add your music to this growing database of material and allows you the opportunity to take part in all of these exciting opportunities thereby exposing your music to a huge audience.
Many times we or many of our industry contacts will be looking for a specific song, songwriter or musician for a project or session which may lead to you getting hired. You will benefit from our ongoing reputation as one of the most outstanding companies around to feature new, original music. The caliber of artists that have come from the Circle in the past (Norah Jones, Richard Julian, Vanessa Carlton, Gavin DeGraw, The Spin Doctors, Lisa Loeb, Jesse Harris and more) makes the New York Songwriters Circle a haven of new original talent for many music industry professionals including record labels, publishers, music writers and editors, managers and entertainment lawyers - many of whom are personally involved in our annual contest.
Past contest winners include Kate Voegele (2006 contest winner, Interscope/Myspace Records / One Tree Hill), Company of Thieves (2007 contest winners, Windup/Sony) and Mieka Pauley (2008 contest winner, Cosmopolitan Magazine’s “StarLauch” winner) - Joining the Circle means meeting amazing people and making invaluable contacts in the industry. You don’t want to pass up this opportunity.
Please use our contact page.
You have two options of submitting music to us, Online or via Mail. If submitting by mail please make sure to complete the online registration portion of your submission, which will provide you with an online page and email you will need to include with your mail in submission to us. Click here to submit music.
6. Other then submitting music to the circle, how else can I get involved?
Come check out a live show in NYC, Boston, Philly, Chicago or Los Angeles when you''re in town. We love meeting members in person!
You can also check out our monthly educational “Loft Series” – an amazing monthly community gathering to gain insight, connect with other artists, and network with industry professionals. You can find info on our Loft Series here.
We’re always looking for ways to involve and encourage our members. Make sure you have registered and are on our email list. Connect with us on Facebook, Myspace, YouTube and Twitter.
7. Why should I submit 3 songs instead of one?
We want to get a good sense of what you are about as a writer when we listen to your songs. Submitting more then one song simply allows us to get to know you and your songs a little better. Maybe the "other songs" that you submitted will be more in the direction of what we are looking for. That is also why we offer the special deal on 3 song submissions ($50 vs. $90).
We currently host a database of over 4000 songs from all over the world. Many times we or many of our industry contacts will be looking for a certain type of song, songwriter or musician for a project or session which may lead to you getting hired so having more materials as part of that database is important.
8. I am a lyricist. Can I submit only lyrics with no music? I only compose - Can I submit only music with no lyrics?
We cannot accept submissions that do not consist of both a melody and a lyric. The lyricists and the composers should get together and write! Visit our collaborative corner and find someone to collaborate with!
9. I write my own music but am not a performer - can I still submit?
Yes. Many of our previous events have featured writers who wrote big hits for big artists, yet are not performers themselves. You can choose to either perform the song yourself (go for it, we say!) or feature a guest singer/musician to perform your song.
10. I am not the one singing the song I am submitting - is that OK?
Yes it is. If your submission makes it to the live finale events, then you can choose to either perform the song yourselves (go for it!) or feature a guest singer/musician to perform your song. When submitting make sure to include the artist''s name with your submission.
11. My song contains a sample. Can I still submit it?
All lyrical and compositional content must be 100% original. Keep in mind that if your submission makes it to the live finale, you may have to perform a version of the selected song without the samples.
12. Do you retain any exclusive ownership of any kind on all songs submitted?
No.
13. How can I continue to get updated information and stay in touch with the Circle?
Become a member today - it is FREE!
14. I’ve performed with the circle in the past and want to keep you updated on my career.
We''ve been doing this for over 19 years and are honored to have had many great artists work with us in the past. Let us know what you''ve been up to. You can contact us or post a note about your whereabouts on our message boards.
15. I submitted music online but never got a confirmation email. Did you receive my submission?
If you submitted your songs online you should have received a confirmation email from us. If you did not receive one contact us with complete information about your submission so that we can look into it further. If your submission was mailed in please allow up to 2 weeks for processing. We will send you an email confirming we have received your mail-in submission.
If you have not received a confirmation email and more than 2 weeks have passed since you mailed in your submission, please contact us with complete information about your submission so that we can look into it further.
16. Once I have submitted music, will I hear back either way if I've been chosen?
No. Due to the amount of submissions we received we cannot send out personalized emails letting you know the status of your submission. All finalists will be announced on our website on or around October 30th, 2009 and will be personally contacted via the phone number provided during registration.
17. How do I get booked for a showcase?
During the contest time period all bookings for events are done via contest submissions. Each submission during this period counts not only as an entry to the 2009 Song writing Contest but talent is also considered and booked for ongoing showcases in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles events.
18. How will I be contacted if I’ve been chosen to play a showcase?
We will contact you via the email you have on file with us. Please make sure it is current.
19. How far in advance do you book showcases?
Showcases are usually booked over 8 months in advance. Patience is key when waiting for booking opportunities but we always call when we hear something we love.
20. I have previously submitted music to the NY Songwriters Circle.
Do I really have to submit again if I want to be included in this year’s contest?
Yes – The contest is a yearly event which we highly recommend being part of. If you have submitted music for showcase consideration, it will still be reviewed for booking but will not be considered as a contest entry.
21. When are contest finalists notified?
Finalists for the 2009 contest will be notified and announced on our site on or around
October 30th, 2009.*
22. When is the deadline for contest submissions?
Due to an overwhelming amount of
requests from our members we are happy to announce that the deadline
for submissions to the 2009 Songwriting Contest has been extended to
October 25th, 2009.
Mail in submissions must be postmarked
by October 21st to qualify.
The Contest finals will be held live at The Bitter End in New York City, November 18th and 19th, 2009 at 8pm.
Mark your calendars!
*Dates subject to change
23. Where can I find the complete terms and conditions for the 2009 contest?
Right here.
24. How do I submit music by mail?
Thank you for your interest in submitting music for our 2009 Song-writing contest by mail. Here is the process:
1.) Log In (if you have not yet registered with us, you will be asked to do so).
2.) After you have registered and logged-in to your account on our site, click Submit Music
3.) Fill out all of the required information on this page. At the bottom of the page, click "Submit By Mail".
4.) On the next page, decide whether you want to submit 1 song or 3 songs. *Ignore the part that says you will be asked for your credit card info on the next page, you will not be asked to submit that information if you are submitting by mail as you will be including your payment by check with your mail in submission. Enter in the information requested for each song (titles and lyrics). Agree to the Terms and Conditions, and click "Submit" at the bottom.
5.) The next screen will tell you your ID #, and give you instructions for mailing in your submission. Please follow the directions, and be sure to print out that page and mail it in with your submission package.
*Please remember to include a CD with your song(s) and your ID #, and a check made payable to "The New York Songwriters Circle" in your package as well.
You will be notified once your package has been received.
If you still have a question contact us
