Mission

Annual Song Contest held by the Dallas Songwriters Association to provide a benchmark for popular songwriting competency. Winners in each category, plus grand prize winners.

CATEGORIES AND JUDGES:Finalists in each category will be judged by music industry professionals from record labels and publishing companies; Grand Prize winner will be chosen by A&R and/or industry professionals of Broadjam.com

DSA is CELEBRATING 34 YEARS IN 2024

JOIN * LEARN * COLLABORATE * GROW - MOTIVATING & UPLIFTING SONGWRITERS THROUGH EDUCATION

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

2016 WINNERS

Click on title for a link to play the song.


AMERICANA
1. Two Trains by Renee Saffier, Andy Hill and Hard Rain, LA, CA
2. Just Can't Drown a Broken Heart by Jared LoStracco, Nacogdoches, TX
3. My Unsung Hero by DeDe Wedekind, Houston, TX

CHRISTIAN
1. Hearts Wide Open by Michael R. J. Roth, Arlington, VA
2. It Could Be You by Robert Graham, Toronto, Can.
3. Praise You by Rick Babb, Dallas, TX        

COUNTRY
1. Still Enough by Tim Sharp, Tomball, TX 
2. Pills by Tim Sharp, Tomball, TX 
3. Wanted Man by Christopher Sjostrom, Bedford, TX

LOVE / EASY LISTENING
1. The Warmth of Your Love by Don Coyne, LA, CA
2. Let My Heart Take It From Here by Randy Overton, Waxahachie, TX
3. Sanctuary by Natanee Paris, Agoura Hills, Ca

INSTRUMENTAL
1. Shoot Out by Conrad Swartz, Vancouver, WA
2. Aural Therapy by Al Marcy, Downers Grove, IL
3. Enchanted Kingdom by Bill Wren and Frank Ralls, Port Aransas, TX

NOVELTY / CHILDRENS
1. Grow Up by Lauren Paley, Lauren Paley, Cedar Hill, Tx (email)
2. Cool To Be Kind by Randy Sauer, Hays, KS (email)
3. The Christmas Song No One Knows by Renee Saffier, Andy Hill and Hard Rain, LA, CA
3. Roly Poly With You by Rick Babb, Dallas, TX
HM Eenie Meenie by Ireland Casteel, Grapevine, TX    (email)
HM Dreamland by Charles Carter, Dallas, Tx

POP
1. INSIGNIFICANT OTHER by Andy Hill, Renee Safier and Hard Rain, LA, CA
2. BREAK ME OPEN by Debra Gussin, Brian Bell, Luther Russell, LA, CA
3. SUNRISE by Pamela Olivia, Santa Clarita, CA 
HM FOR A REASON by Richie Smith, Richardson, TX

SINGER SONGWRITER
1. SMALL TOWN MASQUERADE by Haley McDaniel, Denton, TX
2. CLEANSING RAIN by Jared LoStracco, Nacogdoches, TX
3. HALLELUYAH TODAY by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA
HM SOFT PLACE TO FALL by Debra Gussin, Jonathan Bluth, LA, CA

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS
1. Enchanted Kingdom by Bill Wren and Frank Ralls, Port Aransas, TX
2. Just Can't Drown a Broken Heart by Jared LoStracco, Nacogdoches, TX
3. CLEANSING RAIN by Jared LoStracco, Nacogdoches, TX

Read Grand Prize Judge Roy Elkins Comments

WINNER OF THE IPOD
Jeffery Moore, Baton Rouge, LA  His entry, This Love, #102 was drawn.


Saturday, December 10, 2016

DSA Song Contest Awards Dinner

Coming Tuesday December 13, 7PM,  at Sons of Hermann Hall. Semifinalists performing at the Awards Dinner. RSVP here.
https://dallassongwriters.org/event/2nd-tuesday-monthly-dsa-meeting-2016-12-13-2/2016-12-13/

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

2016 Semifinalists Announced

SC2016 SEMIFINALISTS

AMERICANA
California by John Mason, Grand Prairie, TX
Just Can't Drown a Broken Heart by Jared LoStracco, Nacogdoches, TX
Lucky in Love by Rick Babb, Dallas, TX
My Unsung Hero by DeDe Wedekind, Houston, TX
Two Trains by Renee Saffier, Andy Hill and Hard Rain, LA, CA

CHRISTIAN
Only A Prayer Away (Acoustic) by John Nelson Kullberg,Rivervale, NJ
Stronger from Dream of You by DeDe Wedekind, Houston, TX
Once Again by Jeff Moore, Dallas, TX
I WILL SING by Matt Stemme, Castaic, CA
It Could Be You by Robert Graham, Toronto, Can.
Love Lives On by DeDe Wedekind, Houston, TX
Praise You by Rick Babb, Dallas, TX
On the Breath of God by Len Seligman, Sarasota, FL
God is Too Big for Any One Religion by Len Seligman, Sarasota, FL        
Hearts Wide Open by Michael Roth, Arlington, VA

COUNTRY
Still Enough by Tim Sharp, Tomball, TX
Pills by Tim Sharp, Tomball, TX
I'm Singing My Heart Out by Charles Carter, Dallas, TX
Behind Bars by T Edwin Doss, Silver Spring, MD
90 Proof by Amy Abernathy, Canton, GA
Small Town Masquerade by Hayley McDaniel, Denton, TX
It Ain't Half Bad by John Swantner, Bellville, TX
Wanted Man by Christopher Sjostrom, Bedford, TX
Coal Dust by Nitanee Paris, Jean-Pierre Williams, Clarence Lawson, Malibu, CA
Malibu, CA
Just Want My Baby Back by Rick Babb, Dallas, TX

LOVE / EASY LISTENING
Under a Starlit Sky by Sean Layer, Plano, TX
Let My Heart Take It From Here by Randy Overton, Waxahachie, TX
Sanctuary by Nitanee Paris Lawson, Rachelle Lynn Gislason, Malibu, Ca
The Warmth of Your Love by Don Coyne, LA, CA
River of Memories by Charles Carter, Dallas, TX
Hate That I Love You by Deborah Gussin, Brian Bell, Luther Russell, LA, CA
Recipe of Love by DeDe Wedekind, Houston, TX
Let Me Love You by Mimi Balkey, Plano, TX

INSTRUMENTAL
Aural Therapy by Al Marcy, Downers Grove, IL
Analyze by Al Marcy, Downers Grove, IL
Russian Odyssey by Marc Tilson, Sacremento, CA
Enchanted Kingdom by Bill Wren, Port Aransas, TX
Recipe of Love by DeDe Wedekind, Houston, TX
Sell Me Out by DeDe Wedekind, Houston, TX
Shoot Out by Conrad Swartz, Vancouver, WA
Welcome Home by John Miltano, Miller Place, NY

NOVELTY / CHILDRENS
Today I'll Marry My Friend by DeDe WedeKind, Houston, TX
Dreamland by Charles Carter, Dallas, Tx
The Christmas Song No One Knows by Renee Saffier, Andy Hill and Hard Rain, LA, CA
Chicken or Beer by T. Edwin Doss, Silver Spring, MD
Grow Up by Lauren Paley, Lauren Paley, Cedar Hill, Tx
Roly Poly With You by Rick Babb, Dallas, TX
Eenie Meenie by Ireland Casteel, Grapevine, TX
Cool To Be Kind by Randy Sauer, Hays, KS
What Would I Do by Randy Sauer, Hays, KS


POP
BREAK ME OPEN by Debra Gussin, Brian Bell, Luther Russell, LA, CA
FIND MYSELF by Jonathan Ditto, Kona, Hawaii
FOR A REASON by Richie Smith, Richardson, TX
INSIGNIFICANT OTHER by Andy Hill, Renee Safier and Hard Rain, Los Angeles, CA
I’M ALRIGHT by Jeff Moore, Baton Rouge, LA
I’M LOOKING AT YOU by Clark Ford, Ames, IA
LEANING ON HEAVEN by DeDe Wedekind, Houston TX
MYSTERY GIRL by Andre Kerek, Miami, FL
NEVER  COME by Sebastien Parentin, Strasbourg, Lorraine, France
OH JENNY by Debra Gussin, Brian Bell, Nate Shaw, LA, CA
ORDINARY DAY by Susan Odella, Virginia, MN
SELL ME OUT by DeDe Wedekind, Houston, TX
SHE’S A PISTOL by Vicki Lee, Pine Bluff, AK
SUNRISE by Pamela Olivia, Santa Clarita, CA
THIS MEANS WAR by Mary Jennings, Nashville, TN
WORD MAN by Stefanie Johnson, Allentown, PA
DEAR FEAR by Katie Riley, Poetry, TX
KICKS by Jacquelyn Schwartz, Dallas, TX
LOST by  Jacquelyn Schwartz, Dallas, TX
WALK AWAY by Rick Babb, Dallas, TX

SINGER SONGWRITER
10 FEET UNDER by M’Lynn Musgrove, Dallas, TX
CLEANSING RAIN by Jared LoStracco, Nacogdoches, TX
CRASH by M’Lynn Musgrove, Dallas, TX
HALLELUYAH TODAY by Denise Rosier, Lake Forest, CA
I’LL BE COMING HOME SOON by Edwin T. Doss, Silver Springs, MD
LET MY HEART TAKE IT FROM HERE by Randy Overton, Waxahachie, TX
RUNNING THROUGH NEW BROWN CORN by Edwin T. Doss, Silver Springs, MD
SMALL TOWN MASQUERADE by Haley McDaniel, Denton, TX
SOFT PLACE TO FALL by Debra Gussin, Jonathan Bluth, LA, CA
WILTED FLOWER by Erin James, Nashville, TN

Semifinalists are invited to perform at the Awards Dinner in Dallas on Dec. 13th, 7PM at Sons of Hermann Hall.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

DSA 2016 SONG CONTEST NOW OPEN - DEADLINE SEPT 30


Eight Song Categories
1. Christian/Inspirational
2. Country
3. Americana/Folk/Bluegrass
4. Pop/Rock/RnB/Alternative
5. Love Songs/Easy Listening
6. Children's/Novelty
7. Singer/Songwriter (songwriter is the performer)
8. Instrumental

Multiple Winners In Each Category
Entry Fee $25
Deadline: Friday, Sept 30th, 2016
Submissions Close at Midnight. 

Enter Online 
at DSA's Song Contest Submission Partner:
To Enter Online, you Must Join Broadjam by
Receiving a Free 90 Day PROMoB Membership.

OR ON DSA'S WEBSITE
OR ENTER BY MAIL
download the contest form here.
Mail your check and entries to:
Dallas Songwriters Association
2013 Song Contest Director
Sammons Center For The Arts
3630 Harry Hines Blvd. #20
Dallas, Texas 75219
(voicemail) 214-750-0916 x1

MAIL IN ENTRIES MUST BE POST MARKED BY Sept 30th.
 or you can mail you entry form and CD and pay online at our DSA Kagi store with credit card or Paypal. Click here to enter our Kagi store.

Each entry is entered into the drawing for an IPOD
Drawing held Oct 13!

Important Dates
Submission Deadline: Sept 30, 2016
Drawing For Free Ipod: Oct 13, 2016
Semi-Finalists Announced: Nov 8, 2016
Finalists and Grand Prize Winners Announced: Dec 13, 2016

GRAND PRIZE
Premier Demo By

A Premier Nashville Recording Service
(List Value $625.00 Premier Demo with a vocalist)
Beaird Music Group recorded the demo of Lady Antebellum's "I Run to You" which was just voted as the Single of the Year at the CMA Awards.


Grand Prize Winner, and
1st and 2nd Runner Up Receive:
($199.95 Value) 
Includes Artist Website, 1 Yr. Hosting

Additional Prizes
1st Runner Up Receives:
1 Day of FREE high quality recording on one song,  and a night in
Merlin's Cabin at RIVER SOUNDS on the Llano River in the Texas Hill Country.


2nd Runner Up Receives:
Song Critique from Barbara McMillen, Associate Professor of Songwriting at Collin College
and recording time at Joe Musik Studio


1st and 2nd Place in Each Category Receives:
$50
A 1 year Broadjam MoB Membership ($49.95 value)

Every Winner Receives:
DSA Membership ($50.00 Value)


Need More Info?
Winners will be announced on-line

TOP TEN REASONS TO ENTER THE DSA SONG CONTEST

10. You can win a casio privia keyboard.

9. You can win cash

8. You can win a one year DSA membership or more.

7. You can get a free trial membership for entering online at Broadjam

6. Semifinalists get a chance to perform at the Awards or other DSA Showcases

5. Semifinalists and Winners get their names published in Songwriter Notes and the Press Release

4. Entrants can get peer review on their song

3. Winners get their songs on the awards soundcloud site.

2. Contest recognition looks good on your resume

1. We are a small contest, so you have a better chance to win.

Now in it's 33rd year!

The DSA Song Contest is one of the longest running international song contests for amateur songwriters. Offering over $5,000 in cash and prizes this year, the DSA has EIGHT categories in all. See Contest Rules for eligibility.

JOIN LEARN COLLABORATE GROW

Join -Learn - Collaborate - Grow
DSA is a 501 C-3 non-profit educational organization dedicated to providing to songwriters everywhere opportunities for learning about the craft and business of songwriting. Songwriters Newsletter is published by the Dallas Songwriters Association c/o Sammons Center for the Arts 3630 Harry Hines Blvd Box 20 Dallas, TX 75219.
Barbara McMillen, Editor, Founding President Emeritus http://www.barbaramcmillen.com

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