The 7th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) is now accepting entries with it’s own online submission. IAMA promotes excellence in Acoustic Music Performance and Artistry. Acoustic artists in various genres can gain exciting radio and web exposure through this competition. Participating sponsors include D’Addario Strings, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, AirplayAccess.com, Tanager Music Software (Songframe), Broadjam.com, Acoustic Cafe Radio Show and XM Satellite Radio.

IAMA is open to all independent artists and labels. Unlike other music industry competitions, IAMA focuses on developing new markets for Acoustic artists, labels and with or without CD releases. Past years’ winners include Liz Longley, The Refugees (USA), Kate Lush (Australia), Wayne Southards (USA), Larry Pattis (USA), El McMeen, etc.

Win prizes in 8 different categories: Folk/Americana/Roots, AAA/Alternative, Instrumental, Open, Bluegrass, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Group/Duo. There will also be an Overall Grand Prize winner awarded to the top winner worth over US$11,000, which includes radio promotion to over 250 radio stations in US and Canada.  Winning songs will be heard on radio! Winners and runner-ups will be featured on our CD compilation. Also, we feature up to 10 different artists get featured and promoted on IAMA website every month, which provides a review, ratings, CD information and more. The sooner, you enter, the sooner you get featured!

Judging is based on excellence in music performance, songwriting/composition/song choice, Music Production and originality. (Please note that IAMA is a different competition from USA Songwriting Competition).

** EARLY ENTRY BONUS: First 1,000 entrants entered by August 31st or earlier will receive a FREE subscription to Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine ($39.95 value, while stocks last) Hurry!. Ways to enter:

By mail:
http://www.inacoustic.com/entryform.html

Or Enter online with your MP3:
https://online.songwriting.net/iama

Or Via Sonicbids:
http://www.sonicbids.com/iama2010

Or Via Broadjam:
http://www.broadjam.com/contests/details/contest/index.php?contest_id=2486

Features World’s Largest #1 Party, SongPosium Classes & Shows At The Bluebird Café

Nashville, Tennessee (August 19, 2010) – “IT ALL BEGINS WITH A SONG” during the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)’s SongPosium Week. Festivities to educate, elevate and celebrate songwriters are scheduled from Monday, September 20 through Saturday, September 25.

Kicking off the week is the World’s Largest #1 Party at NSAI (1710 Roy Acuff Place) on Monday, September 20 from 4pm-6pm. Industry professionals and SongPosium attendees are invited to this event, co-sponsored by Avenue Bank and The Recording Academy®, which honors songwriters from the past year for their chart-topping tunes. Three special organizational awards – the Stephen Foster Award (in recognition of generous support for – and dedication to – songwriters, the music industry and NSAI), the Maggie Cavendar Award of Service (in recognition of extraordinary service to the songwriting community) and the NSAI’s President’s Choice Award (in recognition of outstanding contributions to the protection and betterment of the songwriting profession) will be presented as well.

From Tuesday, September 21 through Friday, September 24 NSAI will turn Music Row into a songwriting university to educate the songwriting community during SongPosium. Featuring more than 120 classes taught by some of the biggest names in the music industry, this is the most comprehensive songwriting educational event available. Attendees can fashion their schedule based upon individual needs and interests. Classes are available a la carte or in a discounted bundle called the Max Pack. Registration is now open here.

The Bluebird Café will also host 2 shows nightly from Tuesday, September 21 through Saturday, September 25 featuring songwriters like Brett James (“Cowboy Cassanova”), Rebecca Lynn Howard (“Forgive”), James Dean Hicks (“Goodbye Time”) and many more. Reservations can be made at bluebirdcafe.com are strongly recommended. SongPosium attendees will have priority access to shows via a promo code.

About NSAI: The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters’ trade organization. Established in 1967, the membership of more than 5,000 spans the United States and seven international countries. For more than 40 years, NSAI has been dedicated to serving and protecting the rights of aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music. For more information, visit nashvillesongwriters.com.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) announces the dates for the NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT. Kicking off August 1 and running through October 31, 2010, the contest boasts unparalleled career-building industry relationships designed to help unsigned songwriters navigate the road to becoming professional hitmakers. The Grand Prize Winner will receive an exclusive mentoring session with Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Darius Rucker.

“Through the years the NSAI Song Contest has been a vehicle to let our organization discover some amazing new talent. Many of the winners have gone on to sign professional songwriting or artist deals. While many of the new talents were not the winners, they were discovered throughout the judging process. We get excited every year when the NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT comes around for this reason!” says NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison.

Entering its 11th year, NSAI has created – along with CMT for the past five years – a nationwide platform for aspiring songwriters to submit their best tunes with one Grand Prize Winner and one CMT Listeners’ Choice Winner. Past winners understand this is a powerful vehicle to get “discovered” and have found success from signing an artist development deal with DreamWorks Records to securing a music-publishing staff writer deal.

Nashville pro writers, publishers and industry professionals will narrow down the finalists over three rounds of judging and select the Grand Prize Winner, 10 Runners-Up and 10 Honorable Mentions before the Top 10 (excluding the Grand Prize Winner) are posted on nsai.cmt.com. Fans can vote online for their favorite song from January 15 through February 28, 2011. Last year there were more than 450,000 votes for the CMT Listeners’ Choice.

In addition to the mentoring session with Darius, prizes include a single-song professional demo, tickets to the 2011 CMT Music Awards, a private tour of CMT studios, a performance at The Bluebird Café, meetings with major music publishers and a one-year membership to NSAI, just to name a few. Take advantage of this opportunity to launch a songwriting career. For a full list of prizes and how to enter, visit nsai.cmt.com.

All genres of music are encouraged. The entry fees are $35.00 (Current NSAI Members) and $45.00 (Non Members) per song submitted.
About Darius Rucker: Darius Rucker signed with Capitol Records Nashville in 2007 and has since been embraced by the country music community with his chart-topping 2008 debut, Learn to Live – an album that has produced three consecutive No. 1 singles and Top 5 smash, “History In The Making.” Rucker’s transition has been highly praised, with The New York Times proclaiming he has “one of the year’s most vibrant country albums.” Rucker’s success in the country music format was recently recognized at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards when he received the Top New Artist title and again with an ACM Award nomination in the Top Male Vocalist of the Year category.  Rucker is currently in the studio working on his follow-up to Live slated for release on October 12, 2010 titled Charleston, SC 1966–a title which pays tribute to one of Rucker’s biggest influences, Radney Foster.  Rucker’s latest single, “Come Back Song,” from his forthcoming record is racing up the charts.  Fans can currently see him on the Brad Paisley H2O World Tour presented by Chevy throughout 2010.  For more information, please visit dariusrucker.com.

About NSAI: The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters’ trade organization. Established in 1967, the membership of more than 5,000 spans the United States and seven international countries. For more than 40 years, NSAI has been dedicated to serving and protecting the rights of aspiring and professional songwriters in all genres of music. For more information, visit nashvillesongwriters.com.

About CMT:  CMT, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 90 million homes in the U.S.  CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand.  The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.

New York, NY, July 19, 2010:  Responding to a flood of applicants from around the world, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has selected 12 emerging composers to participate in this year’s 22nd annual Television andFilm Scoring Workshop.  Selected participants have the rare opportunity to record their own music using similar resources afforded Oscar-winning composers while receiving advice, practical experience and insiders’ access from some of the industry’s leading professionals - all of this at no cost.  The internationally recognized workshop, which takes place in Los Angeles, CA, July 19 - August 12, 2010 is one of the most successful and prestigious programs offered by ASCAP, and it is widely known as a major educational and networking opportunity for emerging composers.

Participants will benefit from the mentorship of Emmy Award-winning composer and arranger Richard Bellis.  Author of The Emerging Film Composer and member of ASCAP’s Board of Directors, Bellis has coached the workshop for the past twelve years, and led a panel selection of the twelve workshop participants, who were selected from several hundred applicants worldwide.

“With this program, ASCAP introduces these 12 talented composer participants to Hollywood’s elite, including award-winning film and television composers, orchestrators and top-tier business professionals,” said Bellis.  “In addition, participants receive a rare glimpse of what it’s like to be an A-list film composer.  They are given a scene to score from a major motion picture and then surrounded by every benefit and luxury afforded a big budget music score - music editor, scoring mixer, contractor, copyists and a 60 piece L.A. studio orchestra on one of the largest recording stages in town. There is nothing like this workshop anywhere else in the world.”

This year’s workshop is partially supported by The ASCAP Foundation with an additional contribution from ole, one of the world’s largest independent, full-service music publishers.  “One of ole’s core endeavors is to support and develop promising talent and our creator community,” says David Weitzman, director of Business Development at ole.  “We’re pleased to join ASCAP in the ASCAP Television and Film Scoring Workshop with Richard Bellis for the 3rd year.”

With an ideal combination of state-of-the-art facilities and access to some of the industry’s most renowned professionals, the four-week power-packed workshop assigns each participant a three-minute scene from a well-known feature film.  They have 9 days to compose an original score to fit the scenewhich concludes with a scoring session with L.A.’s finest session musicians from the Recording Musicians Association on the legendary Eastwood Scoring Stage at Warner Bros. Studios.  Armed with state-of-the-art tools, the participantshave the benefit of working with a team of professionals, including a music editor and Pro Tools operator, recording engineer and booth recordist, music librarian and prep service, and a musician’s contractor.  On the last day of the workshop, ASCAP screens all of the clips, complete with effects and dialogue, in a theater at the Directors Guild of America.  Each composer will walk away with an impressively competitive top-of-the-line demo, invaluable resources, and a head start to launching a career as a composer.

The workshop has guided talent in taking their craft to the next level, and has produced a large number of success stories.  In previous years, the workshop has featured top ASCAP composers as speakers including:  Sean Callery (24, Bones, Medium), John Debney (Predators, Iron Man 2), Michael Giacchino(Star Trek, Up, Lost), Mark Isham (The Secret Life of Bees, Bobby) Randy Newman (Toy Story 1, 2 & 3, Leatherheads), James Newton Howard (Salt, The Dark Knight), Mark Snow(Ghost Whisperer, The X-Files), Brian Tyler (The Expendables, Fast & Furious, Eagle Eye) and Hans Zimmer (Inception, The Dark Night).

Industry veterans who regularly contribute their time and talent to the program include: music editor Michael Ryan co-founder of Mad 4 Music, Jo Ann Kane Music Services, legendary recording engineer Armin Steiner, contractor Peter Rotter, RMA International President Phil Ayling, orchestrator David Slonaker, scoring mixer John Rodd and concert master Endre Granat.

Information about the 22nd annual ASCAP Television and Film Scoring Workshop participants is available here:
http://www.ascap.com/press/2010/00719_workshop.aspx

About ole
In 2007, ole joined as a title sponsor.  ole is a globally competitive, Canadian-owned, full-service music publisher. They boast a team of over 30 experienced industry professionals focused on acquisitions, creative development and administration worldwide. The ole catalog includes over thirty-five thousand songs and thirty thousand hours of TV music across all genres. ole is an expert in administrating television music copyrights and in licensing songs for TV & Film. They are committed to being the best and most innovative global destination for world-class songwriters, composers, and management talent, and the first choice music source for creators in all media. ole has offices in Toronto, Nashville and Los Angeles.  For more information on ole, go to www.majorlyindie.com.

About The ASCAP Foundation
Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs. Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects for senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the United States.  www.ascapfoundation.org

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world’s largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 380,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members.  ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists.  ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances.  ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.  www.ascap.com

SESAC’s Songwriter’s Bootcamp is a FREE day-long educational forum for artists and songwriters to receive feedback on their work and interact with award-winning writers, producers and music supervisors. Registration is REQUIRED to attend.

To Register click here: http://www.sesac.com/Events/seminars/bootcamp10.aspx

SESAC along with Leadership Music hosted an informal discussion led by SoundExchange Executive Director John Simson who outlined the digital copyright distribution process and how recording artists and master rights owners can register for royalties.  The reception, which was held at SESAC’s Nashville headquarters, also featured an informative question and answer session with the music industry audience.
SoundExchange is an independent, non-profit performance rights organization that collects statutory royalties from satellite radio, internet radio, cable TV music channels and similar platforms for streaming sound recordings.  The Copyright Royalty Board, which is appointed by the U.S. Library of Congress, has entrusted SoundExchange as the sole entity in the United States to collect and distribute these digital performance royalties on behalf of featured recording artists, master rights owners (such as record labels) and independent artists who record and own their masters.

Beverly Hills,  CA –SESAC, the nation’s fastest growing performing rights organization, honored its stellar roster of top film and television composers with the annual SESAC Television & Film Composers Awards Dinner. The invitation-only event was held at Chaya in Beverly Hills, CA, celebrated the composers of music featured in 2009’s biggest films, primetime television shows and cable programs. The festive event commemorated an incredible year for SESAC’s composers.

“SESAC is proud to host our annual “Television & Film Composers Awards” and devote a night celebrating our very gifted composers” said Pat Collins, SESAC’s President/COO. “The music the television and film composers create are an essential part of the overall emotional experience of a show or film and SESAC is honored to be associated with such talented people.”

The SESAC event bestows awards to music composers in the categories of Network TV, Local TV, Cable TV and Film Composing.   With over 60 awards given during the evening, some of the most highly rated shows acknowledged were Two And A Half Men, Grey’s Anatomy, House, Boston Legal among many others.

http://www.sesac.com/News/News_Details.aspx?id=1152

ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) today announced that it has filed 21 separate infringement actions against nightclubs, bars and restaurants in 13 states.

In each of the cases filed today, the business or establishment has either publicly performed the copyrighted musical works of ASCAP’s songwriter, composer and music publisher members without obtaining a license from ASCAP to do so, or had signed a license agreement with ASCAP but failed to comply with the license’s payment terms. In every instance, the establishment refused to obtain a license or pay the fees owed under the license, but continued to perform ASCAP members’ music without permission, resulting in the filing of the infringement actions.

ASCAP protects the rights of its members by licensing and distributing royalties for the non-dramatic public performances of their copyrighted works.  Those licensed by ASCAP include any establishment or business that wants to perform copyrighted music publicly.

“ASCAP is passionate about music, and we only use legal action as a last resort - after many attempts at an amicable resolution have failed,” said Vincent Candilora, ASCAP Senior Vice President of Licensing.  “Just as a bar needs a liquor license, they also need a license to play copyrighted music.  Having music in an establishment is an enhancement that draws many patrons to these venues.  A music license is a basic cost of business recognized in hundreds of thousands of bars, restaurants and other venues across the U.S.”

Any business using copyrighted music has the opportunity to obtain permission to do so lawfully, through acceptance of a license covering the use of the more than 8.5 million copyrighted songs and compositions in the ASCAP repertory.  Nearly 90% of the license fees ASCAP collects are paid as royalties directly to songwriters, composers and music publishers.  The balance covers ASCAP’s operating costs, which are the lowest of any performing rights organization in the world.

“ASCAP not only has a right to collect license fees from the users of music, but it also has a responsibility to its songwriter and composer members, the smallest of small business people, to ensure they are adequately compensated for their hard work,” added Candilora.  “The 21 cases filed today aim to heighten awareness among music users and the public that it is a Federal offense to perform copyrighted music without permission.”

Frequently Asked Questions about licensing can be found on ASCAP’s website at http://www.ascap.com/licensing/licensingfaq.html

The establishments listed below have performed publicly the copyrighted musical works of ASCAP’s songwriter, composer and music publisher members without receiving their permission to do so, resulting in lost income for these music creators.

Establishment, City, State
Law’s Lunch & Dinner, Riverside, CA
The Vibe, Riverside, CA
Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Tampa, FL
Empire Dine & Dance, Portland, ME
Doug’s Burger Bar (f/k/a Twister’s Iron Bar Saloon), Imperial, MO
Foxy Lady Club, Raleigh, NC
Vanishing Point Bar and Grill, Mt. Airy, NC
Ron’s Landing, Hampton, NH
Bolero Resort & Conference Center, Wildwood, NJ
Bacchus, New Paltz, NY
Bamboo, East Hampton, NY
Barking Frog, Beacon, NY
The Eagle, New York, NY
Jessie’s Roadhouse, Merrick, NY
Deuces 2, Columbus, OH
Cross Eyed Moose, Oklahoma City, OK
Isla Verde, Philadelphia, PA
Nephew’s, San Marcos, TX
Sister’s Edge II (f/k/a The Cockpit), Austin, TX
The Candy Bar, Richmond, VA
Secrets Restaurant Tavern, Virginia Beach, VA

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world’s largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 380,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members.  ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists.  ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances.  ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.  www.ascap.com

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) has extended office hours this summer to better serve the songwriting community. Each Saturday (except July 3) songwriters of all levels and genres are invited to stop by (1710 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville) from 10AM – 2PM for fun & excitement during Saturday Sessions! Participate in special performances, take a tour, network to find a co-writer, let our staff answer your questions or book a Writers’ Room for the afternoon.

At Saturday Sessions, NSAI will be open for business as usual and pro songwriter R.C. Bannon (“I Don’t Have To Be Me (Til Monday)” – Steve Azar) will often host intimate rounds with audience Q&A in the studio. Hit writer John Schweers (“I Left Something Turned On At Home” – Trace Adkins) and TV Personality/Music Mogul/Chef Big Fella recently shared their talents and advice. Other familiar faces like Jeff Bates (“Long, Slow Kisses”), Roger Brown (“We Must Be Loving Right” – Barbra Streisand), Steve Dean (“Round About Way” – George Strait), Beckie Foster (“For The Weekend” – Steve Wariner), The Writer’s Den Music Group’s performing/writer Trent Jeffcoat, Bill LaBounty (“Rock My World (Little Country Girl) – Brooks & Dunn”), Clay Mills (“Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” – Darius Rucker), Thom Shepherd (“Redneck Yacht Club” – Craig Morgan), Anthony Smith (“What About Now” – Lonestar), Danny Wells (“These Days” – Rascal Flatts), Brian White (“Watching You” – Rodney Atkins) and Better Angels Music’s performing/writer Mike Willis will also join the lineup. Stay tuned for more surprises!

To learn more about NSAI and Saturday Sessions, visit nashvillesongwriters.com. Stay connected via facebook.com/NSAIofficial and twitter.com/NSAIoffical.