How much does it cost to enter NESC?
The fee is only $25 for your first entry and $10 for each additional entry -far less than most other competitions. We have not raised our prices for over 6 years.
Other contests just take my money and I never hear anything again. It makes me feel like I’ve been ripped off. Is NESC different?
Yes! No entry is ignored. Everyone’s song is listened to by our judges. Everyone is eligible for the opportunity to win the Grand Prize, Category prizes & other awards.
Can I enter my song(s) from somewhere other than New England?
You must have some connection to New England or your song must be about somewhere in New England. Perhaps you used to live in New England, went to school somewhere in New England, etc… If you have any questions on this, please email Sue Martin for clarification at info@newenglandsongwritingcompetition.com
What if I have a song that doesn’t seem to fit a specific category?
Just choose whichever category seems closest. If you think it’s half one category and half another, enter the song in both categories to improve your chances. Examples can be seen here.
I’m not a great singer and my home recording equipment isn’t the best. Is that going to affect my chances of winning?
Not at all. This is a songwriting competition, not a performance or a production competition. It’s all about the originality, melody, composition and structure, and lyrics of the song.
Do I lose the copyright on my songs if I submit them to NESC?
NO. You retain ALL rights.
Do I have to sign up for anything in order to enter NESC?
NO. You will never be asked to sign up for anything here. You can voluntarily sign up for our mailing list if you want to. We will never, ever sell or rent or give your information to anyone.
Do you accept credit cards?
Yes, via Square. This is the only payment method we accept because it keeps our entry fee low and is the best way to accommodate entrants.
What do I get if I win?
You can see all of the awards here. Aside from material stuff, winning is good for your confidence. You’ll have an award to put on your résumé, and you’ll be taken more seriously by people in the industry. We also send out a press release announcing the winners, and post your song on the site for the whole planet to hear.
How and when will winners be announced?
Winners are announced on April 3rd. The winners and the winning songs will be posted on the website. Winners will be notified by e-mail. As some email goes to spam, it is up to the winner to check the website and get in touch with the Director of the competition if there are any questions regarding cash, prizes, etc.
What if a judge loves my song and wants to publish or record it?
This is entirely possible; in fact, this has happened many times already. If this happens to your song, the interested judge may request your name and when the competition is over; we will contact you to ask permission to put you in touch.