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2023 Singer-Songwriter Competition

, 2023 Singer-Songwriter Competition
Deadline for entry is Monday, May 22nd @ 12 PM (noon) ET

Attention Singer-Songwriters!

Enter The Acorn's 11th annual Singer-Songwriter Competition for cash prizes and performing opportunities! The deadline for entry is Monday, May 22nd @ 12 PM (noon) ET. Six Singer-Songwriters will be selected as Finalists to perform on Friday, July 21. More info and a link to the Entry Form are below.

Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition Entry Guidelines


Important Dates
  • Monday, May 22 @ 12 PM (noon) ET. Submission Deadline (any entries after the deadline will not be considered)
  • Monday, June 12. Notification to Finalists
  • Friday, July 21. Finals. Check in for finalists TBD. Event start time is 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT
Submission Fees
  • 3 songs $25
Payment
  • Preferred - Online (credit card) Acorn Singer Songwriter Competition
  • By check: Make check payable to The Acorn and mail to The Acorn, P.O. Box 395, Three Oaks, MI 49128. If you are paying by check, please include a separate sheet with the name of the participant, email, song titles and a phone number where you can be reached. Once we receive the check, you will receive a confirmation via email.
  • If the entrance fee is cost prohibitive for you, please reach out to songwriter@acornlive.org for financial assistance.

  • Video entries only.
  • Each song must have accompanying lyric sheets with song title and songwriter's name on each song.
  • Video performances should be as close to "live" as possible.
  • Video and audio quality need to be good enough for judges to conduct informed evaluations. Make sure we can see you and hear you!
  • Video format options: mp4 download, smartphone video, YouTube link, or Vimeo link. If your file size is too big, we recommend you upload to Google Drive.
  • Submissions can include up to three people.
  • Preferred format for video and lyric sheet entries is to paste links in the online entry form. (Use links from a cloud such as Dropbox, Box or Google Drive. PLEASE NO WE TRANSFER FILES. We accept YouTube links for performance videos as well. Please do NOT copy/paste your lyrics into the Google Form.) If you are having trouble, you can email your lyrics to songwriter@acornlive.org. Include TITLE, NAME OF SONGWRITER.
     
    How It Works
  • Six semi-finalists are chosen from the pool of submissions. Those six semi-finalists compete at the Singer-Songwriter Competition Finals, Friday July 21st, 8 PM ET, in front of three prestigious judges and Acorn patrons.
  • During the first round, each finalist plays their winning entry. The panel then narrows down to three Top Finalists.
  • The top three picks from the first round perform a second original song of their choosing. The audience votes on the winner and runner-up.

  • Prizes
  • First place $1000, Second place $250 and Third place $100.
  • All finalists will also receive an audio recording of their performance at The Acorn.
  • Finalists are considered for other Acorn shows and recommended for other area events.

  • Contest Rules
  • Submit three songs.
  • Entrants can have up to three people performing in their group.
  • Travel to The Acorn is the responsibility of the performers.
  • Previous First place winners in The Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition are not eligible to compete for five years.

  • Questions? Email songwriter@acornlive.org

2023 entry form

Please read our FAQs for more info or if you have any questions!