ABOUT THE POSITIVE POP SONG CONTEST

GENERAL SONG CONTEST INFO

Songs of all genres will be judged by a multi-tiered judging process. There will be 1 GRAND PRIZE winner, 1 SINGER/SONGWRITER AWARD winner, 15 DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION winners, and 35 HONORABLE MENTIONS. All songs will receive a written evaluation and be given a point rating. READ MORE ABOUT THE PRIZES HERE.

ENTRY SPECIFICS

Entry submission fee is $25. Final entry deadline has recently been extended to 8-15-05. Winners will be announced on this website Fall of 2005. READ MORE ABOUT THE RULES HERE.

JUDGING

All songs will be judged by qualified industry professionals [i.e.: publishers, songwriters, artists, record label employees, agents, or music producers] which means your song will be heard by an industry pro. Songs will be evaluated based on: lyrics [message, craft, originality], song structure, and melody [originality, memorability, appropriate for lyric]. Production quality of the demo will NOT affect the point rating given to the song.

ABOUT POSITIVE POP

We realize that what makes a song "positive pop" can be a bit subjective, so we've come up with this description: A song is "positive pop" when it has lyrics that either inspire, motivate, celebrate, entertain, encourage, or educate. A story with a good moral, or a love song that is positive, or an inspirational spiritual message would be appropriate. Even just a feel good, fun to sing while you're on a road trip song qualifies. It doesn't need to literally be "pop", it can be country, jazz, hip hop, adult contemporary, rock...

Really, it's not so much about what "positive pop" IS, but more about what it is NOT. Things that would make a song NOT "positive pop" in our opinion are: a negative message, break up songs about missing someone, angst filled lyrics, songs that make fun of other people in a mean way, songs that are raunchy or focus solely on being naughty or nasty, songs that tell someone off. If you've got a song that you're not sure about, just go ahead and enter it, it's probably okay. If you're really not sure, take the "is your song positive pop" quiz.

Songs we consider NOT to be "positive pop"... Cleaning Out My Closet [Eminem] Cry [Faith Hill] Cry Me a River [Justin Timberlake] Song for the Dumped [Ben Folds] Goodbye Earl [Dixie Chicks] You Oughta Know [Alanis Morrisette] Leave (Get Out) [Jojo] Nasty Girl [Nitty] Hot in Herr [Nelly] Thong Song [Sisqo] We are not in any way saying these are bad songs, we actually really like some of them, they just would not qualify for this contest.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE ENTRY FORM.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

	Worldwide Groove Corporation are the music production team of Ellen Tift and Kurt Goebel, with a combined 21 years experience producing music of many genres. Both have their Masters Degree of music production from University of Miami. Go to their website to hear samples of their work by clicking on their logo. They will provide full production of one song for the grand prize winner at a $3,000+ value.
R	Platinum Lab Recording is an excellent new recording studio in Nashville, TN. For a list of their high end gear and clients, please visit their website. They are providing one day of tracking including an engineer to the grand prize winner at a $1,500 value.
	Sound Kitchen is the largest recording facility in the southeast, where the biggest names in music choose to record. They are located in Franklin, TN and are providing a room for one full day of mixing to the grand prize winner at a $1,200 to $1,500 value.
	The Groove Portal is the home base of Worldwide Groove Corporation for track programming and overdubs. The Groove Portal is providing up to 3 days of studio time for the grand prize winner.
	Each year Gospel Music Association hosts GMA Academy Regional Talent Competition and Workshop. This is a wonderful opportunity for aspiring writers to continue developing their craft. They are providing one scholarship to the grand prize winner at a $250 value.
	TAXI is the best independent A&R organization there is. Each member receives classified ads from publishers and labels who are seeking songs, with the opportunity to submit their own materials. They are providing a one year membership for the grand prize winner at a $300 value.
	Guitar Center of Nashville, located by 100 Oaks Mall is one of the biggest music gear retailers in middle Tennessee. They are generously giving one Fender acoustic guitar to the grand prize winner at a $170 value.
	CD Baby is the best place for indie artists to get online physical and digital distribution of their music. They are honest, they pay on time, and they just keep growing. They are providing digital distribution of the top 15 songs of this contest to legal paid digital download services.
	The Breen Agency is one of Nashville's best artist booking agencies because it is owned by David Breen, one of the music industry's most trustworthy people. They will be choosing the singer/songwriter award winner from among the top 15 songs and providing that person with a live performance opportunity. You can't put a price on that.
	Work with established songwriters and have opportunities to pitch your songs too at NextHitWriters.com. Check out their website for full details. Hit Writers, LLC is providing one year memberships to both the grand prize and singer/songwriter award winners at $100 each.
	Venus Master is owned by University of Miami grad Jim Falzone who has had thousands and thousands of hours of professional music mastering experience. They are providing professional mastering for one song to the grand prize winner at a $100 value.
	Janet Kenyon of Kenyon artist development is one of Nashville's best voice teachers, as well as a fantastic singer and person herself. The singer/songwriter award winner will receive three free voice lessons at a $150 value.
	Pop Rocks Candy is fun. That's all there is to it. Pop Rocks is helping Positive Pop Song Contest provide one packet of this fun treat to the first 200 entrants.
	Positive Rhythms internet radio pride's itself in playing uplifting and family friendly programming for its listeners. They will be featuring the grand prize winner on their program.
	Playlikeapro.com is one of the best guitar resource websites on the Internet They have many informative articles and links for guitar players as well as gear for sale. They are providing guitar accessories for the grand prize winner.
	Yackland Studio is the work base for writer and producer Stephen Leiweke who is the music producer of many many indie bands as well as getting his name on the credits of several label projects. They are standing by for any assistance Worldwide Groove Corporation may need in fulfilling the grand prize.
	Fabulation Records will be compiling the top 15 songs onto one CD for online digital distribution and sales. This is one indie record label with a bright future ahead of them.
	Sonicbids.com is assisting the song contest with online entries.
	EMI Publishing has graciously agreed to listen to the grand prize winning song for a possible publishing deal. We are betting they will check out all of the top 15 songs, but no promises.