FAQs
Enter Now | Category Examples | Judging Process | Rules
Why is SongDoor more advantageous to songwriters than other contests?
Because even if you don’t win one of the larger awards, you still get a totally free self-paced songwriting course from SongU.com to help you improve your craft, along with free melody-writing software. That’s at least $70 of tangible help. Why do we do it? Because we understand what it’s like to live the songwriting life, and we want to do what we can to help more songwriters have a better shot at getting their songs heard. Nobody loses. You win, even if you don’t. :-) SongDoor entry fees are also much less expensive than other competitions. Please see the next FAQ.
How much does it cost to enter SongDoor?
The fee is only $10 per entry, about a third of most other competitions. If you enter one song in one category, the fee is $10. If you enter one song in two categories, the fee is $20, etc.
Other contests just take my money and I never hear anything again. It makes me feel like I’ve been ripped off. Is SongDoor any different?
Yes, yes, yes! No entry is ignored, not ever. Here’s what everybody gets just for entering, regardless of whether or not you win any of the Awards:
• A free self-paced songwriting course from SongU.com
• Free songwriting software
• A thorough, considered screening of your entry (vs. a 10-second listen by an inexperienced temp)
• The opportunity to win the Grand Award, and any of 6 Category Awards
• Confirmation of your entry by email
Our entrants love our personal touch. Read about it here.
How many songs can I enter?
As many songs as you want in as many categories as you want.
What if I have a song that doesn't seem to fit a specific category?
Just choose whichever category seems closest. If you think it’s half one category and half another, enter the song in both categories to improve your chances. You can also look here for examples.
I’m not a great singer and my home studio equipment isn’t the best. Is that going to affect my chances of winning?
Not at all. This is a songwriting competition, not a performance or a production competition. It’s all about the originality, melody, composition and structure, and lyrics of the song. One of our best entries last year was just a guy and a guitar, recorded in his high-ceilinged bathroom!
Can I enter a song I wrote if the rights are owned by a publishing company?
Sorry, no (unless you own the publishing company and retain all rights). You and/or your co-writers must own ALL rights to every song you enter. If you win, you’ll be asked to sign a legal affidavit attesting to it. All songs (both lyrics and music) must be completely original.
Do I lose the copyright on my songs if I submit them to SongDoor?
NO. All songs and lyrics are considered to be copyright-protected the second you put pen to paper. You retain all rights.
Do I have to sign up for anything in order to submit online?
NO. You will never be asked to sign up for anything. You can voluntarily sign up for our mailing list if you want to.
Do you accept credit cards?
Yes. This is the only payment method we accept because it keeps our entry fee low and is the best way to accommodate our international entrants. You do NOT have to have a PayPal account to use PayPal.
Can I enter my song(s) from a country other than the U.S.?
Yes; last year we had entries from 24 countries! Songs can be sung in any language, but we ask that you translate the lyric sheet into English, please. Every song has an equal chance, no matter where it comes from.
What do I get if I win?
You can see all of the awards here. Aside from material stuff, winning is good for your confidence. You’ll have an award to put on your résumé, and you’ll be taken more seriously. We also send out a worldwide press release announcing the winners, and post your song on the site for the whole planet to hear.
How and when will winners be announced?
Finalists will be announced January 8, 2011 and the winners will be announced January 22, 2011. The winners and the winning songs will be posted on the website. Winners will be notified by e-mail and/or phone.
What if a judge loves my song and wants to publish or record it?
This is entirely possible; in fact, this has happened a few times already. If this happens to your song, the interested judge may request your name and when the competition is over; we will contact you to ask permission to put you in touch with one another and you all take it from there.
