IBMA

Nashville, Tenn. — Songwriters wanting to be in the spotlight at this year’s World of Bluegrass in Nashville, Tenn., need to think about getting their song bags packed and ready to ship.

May 1 is the deadline for tunesmiths to submit their application package to the International Bluegrass Music Association for consideration to be part of IBMA’s 2009 Songwriter Showcase, which will be held during IBMA’s World of Bluegrass Sept. 28 through Oct. 4.

“The IBMA Songwriter Showcase is not a contest,” the organization said in an announcement to songwriters. “Its purpose is to present new, original bluegrass songs to artists, producers and record label reps looking for new material, as well as to other industry reps in the audience.

“Both veteran and novice songwriters are invited to submit songs. Songwriters who have presented original material at previous IBMA Songwriter Showcases are not prohibited from sending a CD again for this year, but they should submit a different song.

Here’s the procedure interested songwriters need to go through to be considered: Submit a cassette or CD of one original song to:

IBMA Songwriter Showcase
2 Music Circle South, Ste. 100
Nashville, TN 37203.

Tapes and CDs will not be returned.

If you send a CD, make sure it will play in a stereo as well as in your computer. It is not necessary to submit a highly produced song demo. A vocal with a guitar is fine. Typed song lyrics are appreciated. There is no form to fill out or application fee to submit a song for consideration, but be sure to include your full contact information, including name, address, telephone and e-mail address.

Songs must be original works or co-written by the person who submits the tape and must be unpublished or not previously recorded by a major bluegrass act or a major act from another genre.

Songs will be chosen on the basis of their representation of the bluegrass genre, potential appeal to recording bluegrass artists and broadcasters, on the quality of the lyrics and melody and entertainment value.

Again, the deadline to apply is May 1.

The exact date and time of the 2009 Songwriter Showcase, sponsored by ASCAP, will be announced in a future issue of International Bluegrass and also at www.ibma.org.

Meanwhile, the popular Song Demo Listening Sessions will continue at World of Bluegrass 2009, where a panel of respected industry reps listen to new bluegrass songs and comment on them. To participate in this event, songwriters must be registered for the IBMA Business Conference on the day of Song Demo Listening Sessions. All they need to do is drop a CD or cassette of one original bluegrass song into the large box on the long table at the front of the room 15 minutes before the session along with four copies of the lyrics attached to the recording. Songs will be picked at random during the Song Demo Listening Sessions.

Questions can be directed to Nancy Cardwell at the IBMA office: (888) 438-4262, or nancyc @ ibma.org (remove the spaces around the “@” sign).