Songdoor 2008 Is Open for Submissions

April 15, 2008 - PRLog -- The SongDoor 2008 International Songwriting Competition is now open for submissions. Awards totaling more than $25,000 and two new judges have also been announced. Complete information is available at http://www.songdoor.com.

"SongDoor is growing like kudzu," joked the competition's president, Tony Zotta. "We have increased the awards purse again by 20%, and have added two new judges, both huge names in the industry. We have really ramped things up this year and can't wait to get going."

This year's competition, in partnership with SongU.com, Jay's Place recording studio, Spring Hill Studio Productions, Broadjam and MasterWriter, kicks off today and runs through November 15. Last year's Grand Award winner Erinn Sherlock (http://www.myspace.com/sherlockerinn), an Aussie transplant who won with her stunning singer/songwriter entry "Return To You," is currently considering management offers and continues to write whenever she can. Her rock tune, "Collide" took that category, among thousands of entries. Seven other entries are being considered for artist cuts at press time.

Two new judges join the SongDoor panel this year: Brady Seals and Joe Beck. Brady entered the national music scene as a founding member of the Warner Brothers band Little Texas. The group’s phenomenal success earned such accolades as ACM’s Vocal Group of The Year, two Grammy® nominations and record sales exceeding 11 million to date. Brady was awarded ASCAP’s Triple Play Award as a writer of three consecutive #1 songs, including “What Might Have Been,” which topped the Country, A/C and Pop charts — simultaneously. In 2003, Brady assembled and served as front man for the band Hot Apple Pie. The band made history as the highest-selling debut country band in the history of Neilsen Soundscan. The Top 20 single “Hillbillies” went to #1 on VH-1 Country and CMT named it among “CMT’s Top 20 Sexiest Videos.” In 2007 he founded OpporTune Music, specializing in artist development. He also serves as Head of A&R at CO5 in Nashville. Brady has co-produced two records with the legendary Rodney Crowell and has worked with such artists as Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Wynonna and Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles, just to name a few. For more information about Brady's rich musical history, please visit www.bradyseals.com.

Award-winning songwriter Joe Beck joins SongDoor as the new Christian-category judge. Joe heads up Music Central Worship, a new division of Music Central, and he’s done it all in the music business - as a player, producer and writer, he is nothing short of legendary. With 65 hits and 20 #1 records, he claimed the BMI Christian Song of the Year a couple of years back for “Do You Ever Live Without Me.”

A free SongU.com course and a free song evaluation are still available to all entrants, tools worth $70. The entry fee is $10, a pretty good return. "We were so sick of competitions that just take your entry fee and disappear," says Zotta. "We're songwriters, too. We know. So in an effort to 'walk the walk' we evaluate every song on 12 points and provide detailed personal commentary on what works and how to improve what doesn't, and we also provide a totally strings-free online songwriting course through SongU.com to help writers improve their craft. Entering this competition gives songwriters tangible help with their career, even if they don't win the major awards."

Entrants are eligible to win the Grand Award, valued at approximately USD $5,200 in music merchandise and services, including a full-band private session demo at Jay’s Place, a Music Row institution that has recorded the likes of Garth Brooks, Gretchen Wilson, Lonestar, Chet Atkins and many, many more. The Grand Award also includes a one-year Platinum Membership to SongU.com, a copy of MasterWriter songwriting software, a Primo MoB membership to Broadjam, a pair of Bose headphones and an autographed copy of two of hitmaker Jason Blume's best-selling songwriting books. Seven Category Winners each receive a valuable package of awards valued at almost $2,900, including a first-rate guitar or vocal production demo and memberships to SongU.com and Broadjam.

Songs may be entered in seven different categories: Alternative, Christian, Country, Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Rock and Instrumental. Entries are accepted online or by mail through November 15, 2008.

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ABOUT SONGDOOR

The SongDoor International Songwriting Competition is an annual event, open to amateur and professional songwriters worldwide. Entries are accepted online or by mail from April 15 through November 15.  The entry fee is just $10. Judges include seasoned music industry producers, artists and engineers who have worked with such artists as Britney Spears, Neil Young, Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Buffett, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and a host of others. For complete information, visit: songdoor.com.

Website: www.songdoor.com