Great American Song Contest

22/04/2024

Send a message to learn more

15/04/2024

ADULT
CONTEMPORARY
1st Place
Marina Sneider
Hartsdale NY

Congratulations to Marina Sneider for her amazing song " "I Love You, Dangerous," First-Place winner in the Adult Contemporary category. GASC Judges praised the song for its “adventurous originality, spirited storyline and highly engaging descriptive imagery."

Congratulations to Marina Sneider!
Listen to “I Love You, Dangerous" and other winning songs here:
greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

15/04/2024

SINGER/SONGWRITER
1st Place
Shannon Beel
Nashville TN

Congratulations to Shannon Beel for her song "Lonely," First-Place winner in the Singer/Songwriter category. GASC Judges praised the song for its “impressive lyrical imagery, beautiful melody, and emotionally textured lyrical story."
Congratulations to Shannon Beel!
Listen to “Lonely" and other winning songs here:
greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

15/04/2024

LYRIC WRITING
1st Place
David Yerganian
Medfield MA

Congratulations to David Yerganian, First-Place winner of the Lyric Writing category for his song “He’d Like To Say He’s Sorry.” The song earned praise from the GASC judges for its “clear and engaging narrative” and “expertly well-presented lyrical storytelling.”

Congratulations to David Yerganian!
“He’d Like To Say He’s Sorry”
greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

15/04/2024

SPECIAL CATEGORY
1st Place
Graham Mizen
Lincolnshire UK

Congratulations to Graham Mizen for his humorous song “Can I Have My Guitar Back,” First-Place winner in the Special category. Judges praised the song for its “warmly appealing, smart and funny storytelling, all with skillfully designed melodic charm."

Congratulations to Graham!
Listen to “Can I Have My Guitar Back” and other winning songs here: https://www.greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

12/04/2024

ROCK
1st Place
Nerijus Glezekas
Algonquin IL

Congratulations to Nerijus Glezekas for his song “Seeds Will Grow," the First-Place winner in the Rock category. Judges praised the song for its "astonishing power and poetry ... energized with passion and conviction.”

Congratulations to Nerijus!
Listen to “Seeds Will Grow” and other winning songs here: https://www.greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

12/04/2024

INSTRUMENTAL
1st Place
Chris West
Goodlettsville TN

Congratulations to Chris West for his amazing composition “Lackadaisical," First-Place winner in the Instrumental category. Judges praised the song for its "ingeniously appealing melodic design and creative zest of composition .... a pure joy!”

Congratulations to Chris!
Listen to “Lackadaisical” and other winning songs here: https://www.greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

12/04/2024

FOLK/AMERICANA
1st Place
Steven Farber
Lenexa KS

*"Blaze of Glory (Ball of Fire)"

Congratulations to Steve Farber for his boldly inspirational song “Blaze of Glory (Ball of Fire,)” the First-Place winner in the Folk/Americana category. Judges praised the song for its “exceptional storytelling, inventive poetic language and deftly devised melodic design."

Congratulations to Steve for this great song!
Listen to “Blaze of Glory (Ball of Fire)” and other winning songs here: https://www.greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

11/04/2024

GRAND PRIZE
Cassidi Hesdon
Cara Anderton
Trannie Anderson
Dallas Wilson


"Love of a Good Man" by Cassidi Hesdon and Cara Anderton (Raggedy Anne) are Grand Prize winners in the 25th Great American Song Contest, with cowriters Trannie Anderson and Dallas Wilson. The song won top honors, selected from over 1800 songwriters from 42 countries. Judges praised their song for its “expertly crafted imagery, charming romantic lyrical theme and skillfully designed melody.”

Congratulations to these fine writers!
Listen to ‘Love of a Good Man’ and other winning songs here: https://www.greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

11/04/2024

INSPIRATIONAL 1st Place
Susan Kane
Mount Kisco NY

Congratulations to Susan Kane for her beautiful song “Meryem Ana,” the First-Place winner in the Inspirational category. Judges praised Susan’s song for its ”gracefully poetic lyrics, originality and appealing melodic design.”

Congratulations to Susan Kane!
Listen to ‘Meryem Ana’ and other winning songs here: https://www.greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

11/04/2024

COUNTRY
1st Place Ben Wagner/Emily Ortego/Page Mackenzie

Congratulations to Ben Wagner and co-writers Emily Ortego and Page Macenzie, for their song "Dawns On Us," the First-Place winner in the Country category. GASC Judges praised the song for its “well-crafted, emotionally dimensional lyrical story" and "impressively designed melodic structure.”
Congratulations to Ben, Page and Emily!
Listen to “Dawns On Us" and other winning songs here: https://www.greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

11/04/2024

R&B/HIP HOP 1st Place Celeste Newman & Chymes Melbourne Australia

Congratulations to Celeste Newman, Kiersten Nymann & Cameron Taylor, for their amazing song "Sour," First-Place winner in the R&B.Hip Hop category. Their song was praised by GASC judges for its “originality, poet imagery and smartly designed melodic structure.”

Congratulate these impressive writers!
Listen to "Sour" and other winning songs here: https://www.greatamericansong.com/hall-of-fame.php

20/03/2024

25th Annual Great American Song Contest
* Winners & Finalists Announced *

Please visit the Great American Song Contest to hear the winning songs and discover these great songwriters:
https://www.greatamericansong.com/winners.php

+ Winners will be posted on Facebook soon!

Send a message to learn more

08/03/2024

https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2024/03/08/killers-of-the-flower-moon-songwriter-talks-making-oscar-history/?sh=63f3d5072afa

George Scott made history when he became the first Native American nominee for the Best Original Song Oscar for his Killers Of The Flower Moon track.

01/03/2024

https://variety.com/2024/music/opinion/tiktok-universal-songwriters-underpaid-1235926771/

In the standoff between TikTok and Universal Music, there has been much talk of the impact on artists — but nowhere near enough about songwriters.

12/02/2024

Diane Warren hasn't recorded a hit song of her own, but she's written many for other artists. Here are some of the best:

Her songwriting has transcended sounds across rock, pop, and R&B — garnering nine No. 1s and 32 top-10 hits. Even music lovers unfamiliar with her name recognize plenty of her hit songs. Here are 25 of the best songs written by the hitmaker.

11/02/2024

https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_20_most_iconic_country_music_songwriters_021024/s1__38412087

Flip through the slideshow to look at 20 of country music's most iconic songwriters, from legends like the aforementioned Williams and Haggard to newer hitmakers like Shane McAnally and Natalie Hemby.

31/01/2024

https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/how-pitching-your-songs-and-learning-your-craft-work-together

A well-written song—or any message for that

03/01/2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6D5hzo0mv0

Singer-songwriter Tommy Prine recently made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. But his artistic journey that would bring him there was by no means assured. Spe...

02/12/2023

https://www.clevescene.com/music/new-book-provides-overview-of-singer-songwriter-john-prines-storied-career-43225869

In advance of upcoming Rock Hall appearance, author Holly Gleason discusses her new book

26/09/2023

Jason's songs have topped 50 million sales, with singles in pop, country and R&B. He's also an esteemed songwriting judge in this year's Great American Song Contest!

Seven long years passed from the time I moved to Lo

23/09/2023

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/oliver-anthony-signs-agency-uta-1234829339/

The viral songwriter joined UTA in Nashville

08/09/2023

Wow! What an incredibly successful songwriter!

Her songwriting has transcended sounds across rock, pop, and R&B — garnering nine No. 1s and 32 top-10 hits. Even music lovers unfamiliar with her name recognize plenty of her hit songs. Here are 25 of the best songs written by the hitmaker.

02/09/2023

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-tribute-jimmy-buffett-remembrance-1234817427/

Musician noted Buffett’s gift for songwriting and his generosity: “Jimmy had his roadie restring one of his guitars which he loaned me” when Macca forget his guitar on holiday

02/09/2023

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/jimmy-buffett-best-songs-margaritaville-1234816602/ =f513dee43fca0c036f0f6bf1f2b3a0ca9774d3dfa6a8b3ecd85d9b7dfebc016f&recipient_salt=799859ac688134f988f007a3dabe3b9bbca4d6b40f7f4c9af7a4df45271034f6

From “He Went to Paris” and “Banana Republics” to the Parrothead anthem “Margaritaville”

02/09/2023

https://deadline.com/2023/09/jimmy-buffett-dead-margaritaville-obituary-1235534641/

Jimmy Buffett, best known for his 1977 song “Margaritaville” and love of good times, died September 1 at the age of 76. “Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded …

02/09/2023

01/09/2023

https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2023/09/what-songwriters-need-to-know-about-the-bmi-sale-chris-castle.html

Musicians and other music professionals are understandably nervous about the likelihood of BMI being sold to venture capitalists. Attorney and artist advocate Chris Castle offers answers. by CHRIS CASTLE from. Continue reading

28/08/2023

https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/08/28/nashvilles-music-row-feeling-impact-of-hollywood-writers-strike/70612045007/

The effects of the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes are being felt as far away as Nashville as songwriters see a dip in synch licensing opportunities with many productions halted.