Deadline for entry is Friday May 17 @ 12pm (noon) ET
Attention Singer-Songwriters!
Enter The Acorn's 12th annual Singer-Songwriter Competition for cash prizes and performing opportunities! The deadline for entry is Friday May 17 @ 12pm (noon) ET. Six Singer-Songwriters will be selected as Finalists to perform on Friday, July 19 at The Acorn in Three Oaks, Michigan. More info and a link to the Entry Form are below.
Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition Entry Guidelines
Important Dates
- Friday, May 17 @ 12pm (noon) ET. Submission Deadline (any entries after the deadline will not be considered)
- Wednesday, June 12. Notification to Finalists
- Thursday, June 20. Public Announcement of 2024 Finalists
- Friday, July 19. Finals. Event start time is 7 PM ET / 6 PM CT Check in for finalists TBD.
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.
Guildlines
- 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
- Submissions are evaluated on song structure, lyrics, musicality, overall appeal, and the ability of the performer to sustain a full length show.
- The top six finalists are chosen from the pool of submissions. Those six semi-finalists compete at the Singer-Songwriter Competition Finals, Friday July 19th, 7pm ET, in front of a panel of prestigious judges and Acorn patrons.
- Finalists will perform their winning entry in the first round. The panel of judges then narrows down to three Top Finalists.
- The top three perform another original song. The audience votes to determine the winner.
Prizes
- First place $1,100, Second place $350, Third place $250, remaining 3 Finalists given $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 original songs (music and lyrics written by the entrant).
- 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.orgPlease read our FAQs for more info or if you have any questions!
