A current round-up of songwriting contests:
• The 1993 Songwriting Contest of the Virginia Organization of Composers and Lyricists (VOCAL) is open to accept entries with a postmark no later than March 31, 1993, until April 30, 1993. Prizes are: Grand Prize -- an Electro-voice ND857B Microphone plus a gift certificate for $50 from Southern Music in Richmond, VA. Second Prize -- a Tascam Porta 03 Ministudio.Third Prize -- An acoustic guitar. Additional prizes include $25 for winning a category. For information and entry forms, write to: VOCAL, POB 34606, Richmond, VA 23234.
• The 1993 Greater Southern Country Music Association Songwriting Contest is accepting entries of country songs. Entry fee is $10 or 3 songs for $25. Apparently the winning song(s) will be recorded on a compilation CD and the winner(s) will receive 10 free copies. For more information, write Greater Southern C.M.A. Songwriting Contest, POB 780, Aripeka, FL 34679.
• A contest for some serious consideration comes courtesy of the IBMA Newsletter. Warner/Elektra/Asylum, Inc. will sponsor the First Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest (and an accompanying endowed scholarship in music at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C.). Chris Austin was a North Carolina songwriter, bluegrass musician and alumnus of the Ricky Skaggs Band who was killed in the 1991 plane crash that also killed seven other members of Reba McEntire's band.
The deadline for entry is March 15, 1993. There are four categories of entries: bluegrass, country, gospel and general. For a complete set of rules and an application, send an SASE to: The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, The Merle Watson Memorial Festival, Wilkes Community College, P.O. Box 120, Wilkesboro, NC 28697-0120, or call 919-651-8691.
We got a letter from Sunlite Music Company down in Owensboro. They're working on a Singer-Songwriter Showcase to be held at Woodward's Cafe inside the RiverPark Center in downtown Owensboro. The showcase is still in the planning stages, but if you're interested, contact Michael A. Gatewood at 502-684-9569.
From The Singing News Trade Review, a publication focused on Southern Gospel:
DayWind Records is looking for new material for The Cumberland Boys' upcoming recording project.
Karen Pulley, Marketing Director of DayWind, says that the company is looking for new, refreshing material that has a strong country sound with solid Christian feel.
Send demos to her attention at DayWind, 128 Shivel Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075.
Serious Good Stuff Publishing if Atlanta is looking for incredible hit tunes for an R&B singer named Dwayne Winston. They are seeking all tempos but especially up-tempo material aimed at women ages 24-39.
Send materials to:
Serious Good Stuff Publishing
Dwayne Winston Project
2051 Bolton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30318-1105.
The first regular showcase since the October showcase is set for Saturday, March 6, at the Rudyard Kipling, 422 W. Oak.
Scheduled to perform are: Tom Florian,who does Sixties-like material; Mark Gibbs, who has just released a tape of his country tunes; Jonathan Miller, who might be classifed as somewhat folky; and Frank and Bridgett Wilson, who have been on a couple of shows.
The show starts at 9:00 p.m and there is no charge for members of the Co-op. Everybody else pays $3. Come on out.