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2003 MSG Song Contest Winners!

MSG would like to thank all the participants in this years song contest. Our Contests have received almost 400 entries from all over the US. It was difficult narrowing all those great songs down to our five finalists in each category and then the first place winner from those categories down to our Grand Prize in winner.

I would like to thank all of our judges in this years event and congratulate all of our winners! Your prizes should arrive within the next four to six weeks. For those of you who did not place, please do not see this as a judgment on your talent or songs. As with any contest the winners appealed to the judges with that song on that day, hopefully next year they will find your song the most appealing! Take care and keep on writing.
Eric Hester, President, Madison Songwriters Group.

and the winners are.......

Bluegrass/Roots Category
First Place - Gypsy - Chris Wagoner, Sun Prairie, WI
Second Place - Hangin on a Line - Thomas Burns, Mt Horeb, WI
Third Place - Date with an Angel - Dan Kennedy, Wauwatosa, WI
Honorable Mention - Gospel Accordin to the Blues - Catfish Stephenson, Madison, WI
Honorable Mention - Once She Gets Organized - Lynn Smith, Madison, WI*

Alternative/Metal Category
First Place - For Cory's Sake - Erik Richardson, Madison, WI
Second Place - Do You Wanna Know - Jim Ness, Oregon, WI*
Third Place - Hitchhiker - Ken Jackson, MAdison, WI*
Honorable Mention - How Close - Ron Vogel, Verona, WI*
Honorable Mention - Strangely Enough - Mark Croft, Madison, WI*

Children's/Novelty Category
First Place - If You Were a Frog - Biff Blumfumgagnge, Madison, WI
Second Place - You Cezanne - Greg Percy, Monona, WI
Third Place - First Christmas Without You - Jim Ness, Oregon, WI*
Honorable Mention - Junk Food Life - Lynn Smith, Madison, WI*
Honorable Mention - Your Father's Underwear - Doug Hamilton, Madison, WI*

Pop/Rock Category
First Place - She's a Landslide - Mark Croft, Madison, WI*
Second Place - Rideaway - Aaron Nathans, Madison, WI*
Third Place - Big Brown Brick Buildings - Jace Nichols, Oregon, WI
Honorable Mention - No One Can Love You - Mary Gaines, Sun Prairie, WI
Honorable Mention - Enough - Amy Curl, Monona, WI*

Gospel/Inspirational Category
First Place - The Sermon on the Mount - Jonathan Stafstrom, Madison, WI
Second Place - Shine Your Star - Jim Ness, Oregon, WI*
Third Place - Grace of You - Len Mormino, Middleton, WI*
Honorable Mention - Then Suddenly - Chuck Ruhland, Plain, WI
Honorable Mention - Four Miles south of Kitty Hawk - Michael Hoel, DeForest, WI

Country/Americana Category
First Place - When Evening Falls - Thomas Burns, Mt. Horeb, WI
Second Place - You're Just a Cloud - Tracy Koeller, Madison, WI
Third Place - Don't Know What You Missed - Kelsy Boyd , Cottage Grove, WI
Honorable Mention - Cheepa Ta Keepa - Tom Wakely, Minneapolis, MN
Honorable Mention - Cowboy Jamboree - Darrell Ree, Janesville, WI

Folk/Acoustic Category
First Place - Small Moments - Kris Adams, Cross Plains, WI*
Second Place - The Highway - Mark Croft, Madison, WI*
Third Place - Indiana Radio - Aaron Nathans, Madison, WI*
Honorable Mention - Jehovah's Goodbye - Dale Kidd, Mount Horeb, WI*
Honorable Mention - Sweet Melissa - John Norland, Edgerton, WI

$500.00 Grand Prize Winner - Kris Adams of Cross Plains, WI for her song, Small Moments.

*While we received entries from all over I would like to point out that 95% of all of our entries came from with in the State of Wisconsin. I have placed an asterisk by the names of active MSG members.

2003 MSG Song Contest!

The Madison Songwriters Group (MSG) is currently holding it's 2003 Song Contest. The contest offers a $500 Grand Prize and five winners in each of its seven song categories. The contest will be judged by Music Industry professionals from around the US, including publisher and record company representatives. 2003's judges include, President of Ash Street Music Publishing Gregory Dorschel, Nashville Producer and Songwriter Craig Carothers, and Singer/Songwriter Tracy Grammer. This is a great way for amateur songwriters to get some positive feedback about their songs and start building a resume to attract more Major Label & Publisher interest.

MSG 2003 Songwriters Contest Entry Rules

1. Enter as many songs as you like. Each song must have a fee. Send your name, address, phone, category you would like to enter (one category per fee) and song title on an index card with your entries or submit an official entry form from the MSG website. Only the Grand Prize Winner will recieve the $500 cash prize. The categories are;

Pop/Rock
Alternative/Metal
Country/Americana
Folk/Acoustic
Bluegrass/Roots
Gospel/Inspirational
Childrens/Novelty

2. CASSETTE TAPES or CDs only. ONE SONG PER CASSETTE OR CD.

3. Send cassette or cd with 3 typed lyric sheets. Label cassette or cd and lyric sheets with song title and category only.

4. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON YOUR CASSETTE, CD OR LYRIC SHEET.

5. Send SASE for a list of contest winners. Tapes or CD's will not be returned.

6. The writer retains all rights to songs submitted. However, MSG reserves the right to use winning songs for nonprofit promotional purposes (i.e. a cd compilation). If your song is chosen for the compilation you will provided a number of CD's equal to your statutory rate. Only the principle writers name (ie the person who enters the contest) will recieve billing for the song on future CD's and MSG's website.

7. Proceeds from the contest will go towards prizes and to help fund future MSG sponsored activities.

8. MSG officers, and their immediate family are not eligible for entry in this competition.

9. Because songs are a creative work, the evaluation of the entries is clearly subjective. The opinions of the judges are final.

10. Entries that do not comply with contest rules and requirements will not be accepted and the entry fee will be forfieted.

11. Postmark deadline has been extended to December 20th. $20 PER ENTRY FOR NON-MEMBERS, $15 FOR MEMBERS. (Membership is only $25 a year!). Checks and Money Orders excepted. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH! Make Check or Money Order payable to MSG.

12. Send all entries to: MSG Song Contest, PO Box 44731, Madison, WI 53744

How "MSG Songwriters Contest" Songs Are Judged

Judging will be done on two levels. Each song will be heard by a minimum of three judges. To ensure impartiality, tapes/cds will be assigned a number and placed in a category.

Judging criteria will be based primarily on song composition elements however; production and performance aspects will also receive emphasis.

All songs will be judged by at least three qualified judges, including established regional artists and music industry professionals selected for their specific interests and credentials in each category. The Numer One song in each category will recive a free one year membership to MSG and will advance to the final round judging, the top five songs from each category will receive a certificate suitable for framing. The $500 Grand prize winner will be selected from the seven category winners.

Final judging to be announced by MSG no later then February 1, 2004, and will be posted on this website.

If you have still have questions please contact us here