The Songwriters Guild of America has been serving songwriters since 1931. In nearly 100 years of service, we have had one simple mission: Protect Songwriters!
While other songwriter organizations have sold out to big publishers, labels or other big money music, the SGA remains committed to working ONLY with songwriters, for songwriters. We work on Capitol Hill to fight those in the music industry who are looking to profit unfairly off the little guy - the creators.  We fight for songwriters to get paid what they're due. So you can trust that we're on your side.  Throughout our history, we've honored the best in professional songwriters and developing songwriters. We want your music to get recognized. This is a contest you can trust -- and one that pays!

As we are re-launching our SGA Awards, post-pandemic, our entry fees are the best around. Plus, winners and finalists receive cash prizes, national recognition, licensing opportunities and performance opportunities. Winners will also get a year-end workshop with a diamond-selling songwriter.

While publishing or licensing your music can be a challenge, our contest offers cash prizes to winners and finalists. This is in addition to national recognition, licensing opportunities and performance opportunities. Winners receive $1,000 for their winning genre song. Two finalists will each receive $500 for their finalist songs.

Finalists and winners will have their songs placed on our music licensing site. Our site is advertised to music supervisors who have licensed songs from our administered catalogs in the past. The site is also marketed to others seeking original music for their creative projects.

SGA Awards offer:
national recognition for quarter finalists (digital badge),
national recognition for semi-finalists (digital badge), 
national recognition (digital badge) for two finalists plus their song on our music licensing site, plus $500 prize
national recognition (digital badge) for one winner plus their music on our licensing site, plus $1,000 prize.

Winners and finalists will be invited to perform with hit songwriters & industry pros in our SGA Showcase (either live or remotely). SGA Showcase events are recorded and made available on our social media, our website and YouTube.

Music educators might be interested in knowing that not only will songwriters get feedback  - in the entry itself and in any notes they receive, but, we don't stop there. For more than 90 years, the hit songwriters who have run the SGA share their knowledge about songwriting with their members. So, if you're looking for more in-depth feedback on your songs, you can always head over to songwritersguild.com and pick up a membership where you'll get more in-depth feedback on how to improve your work. While we have an eye toward helping songwriters make their work commercially successful we support all music goals. We want to help creators thrive.

Our advertising for the contest is limited to the US. But, if you're in another country, you are welcome to enter. However, because the judges we have for our contest are largely English-speaking and have a US perspective toward music, in general, we are limiting song submissions to those written primarily in English (a foreign word, here and there, is allowed provided it does not support the bulk of the song's meaning). We are NOT in support of an English-only mindset. But, as judging a contest like this requires our songwriters to look closely at the songs submitted, and to seek to apply standards we've set as well as be wary of their own subjectivity, we cannot ask them to also consider the intricacies of many foreign languages.

Entering is easy. Choose whether you want to enter with or without feedback, click on the appropriate button and you'll be taken to PayPal check out. You'll pay first, then you will be brought to a form where you will upload your song (in .wav or .mp3 format) along with a lyric sheet (if needed). You'll affirm you have written (or co-written) the song and that you have the right to enter it in the SGA Awards. We also suggest ensuring that your song has been submitted for copyright prior to making it publicly available.