Songdoor 2009 Open for Submissions with New Site, Features, Freebies

April 16, 2009 - PRLog -- The SongDoor 2009 International Songwriting Competition is now open for submissions. Awards totaling more than $40,000 (including a single-song publishing contract) and two new judges have also been announced. Complete information is available at SongDoor's new website: http://www.songdoor.com.

"This year we have upped the ante and added a single-song publishing contract to our Awards package," said SongDoor president, Tony Zotta. "The total awards value is now up to more than $40,000, and we have two new top-shelf judges and a hot new recording facility providing the winner's demo." Zotta adds that the website has undergone a complete renovation and now offers many interactive features, special discounts, free MP3 downloads and more.

This year's competition, in partnership with SongU.com, 16 Ton Studios, Hard Twist Music-BMI, MasterWriter, Spring Hill Studio Productions, Broadjam and Tanager Audioworks, kicks off today and runs through November 15. Last year's Grand Award winner Anthony (http:/www.anthonysnape.com), an Aussie transplant who won with his perfect rocker "Disappearing Day," is currently considering booking agents, and just appeared at SXSW in March. Anthony also won the Singer/Songwriter category with "Stronger" as well as the Pop category for the song "A Little Piece of Love," a feat never before accomplished in SongDoor's history. Fifteen other entries are currently being represented to Nashville publishers and producers as this goes to press.

Two new judges join the SongDoor panel this year: Robert Reynolds and Tony Raine. Robert is a pure-country bass slinger and founding member of the Grammy® Award-winning band, The Mavericks, who released six albums, selling over four million copies worldwide. Tony Raine, SongDoor's other new judge, has been in the entertainment business for more than 35 years. As General Manager and Production Manager of the Cape Cod Melody Tent, he managed more than 600 shows over 14 summer seasons, featuring national and international acts such as Tony Bennett, Tom Jones, The Black Crowes, The Moody Blues, Hootie and the Blowfish, LeAnn Rimes, Willie Nelson and many, many more. Tony also runs Whistling Dixie Tours and MusicTreks, both of which conduct tours for musicphiles. Judges Brady Seals, Joe Beck, Jason Blume, Dennis Winters and Steve Avedis are with SongDoor again this year.

SongDoor is still the only songwriting competition where nobody loses. All entrants receive a free DIY SongU.com songwriting course and free melody-writing software, valuable tools worth $70. The entry fee is $10. "It's our way of demonstrating that we really do care about helping songwriters be better at what they do," says Zotta.

Entrants are eligible to win the Grand Award, valued at approximately USD $7,745 in music merchandise and services, including a single-song publishing contract with Hard Twist Music-BMI (owned by mega-hit songwriter Bill Shore), a full-band private session demo at 16 Ton Studios, Music Row's hottest recording facility, a one-year full-access membership to SongU.com, a copy of MasterWriter songwriting software, a suite of songwriting software from Tanager Audioworks, a Primo MoB membership to Broadjam, a leather gear bag and an autographed copy of two of hitmaker Jason Blume's best-selling songwriting books. Six Category Winners each receive a valuable package of awards valued at almost $4,670 including a first-rate guitar or vocal production demo and memberships to both SongU.com and Broadjam.

Songs may be entered in six different categories: Christian, Country, Pop, Rock/Alt, Soft Rock and Instrumental. Entries are accepted online or by mail through November 15, 2009.

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The annual SongDoor Songwriting Competition is open to amateur and professional songwriters worldwide. Entries are accepted from April 15 through November 15. Categories: Alternative, Christian, Country, Pop, Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Instrumental.