Last Updated October 23, 2024
How To Enter
An entry fee of $25 payable digitally to Wide Open Country is required with each song entry. By entering, you agree that this entry fee is necessary to cover the processing and administration of the contest. You may enter as many songs as you'd like into any available category. Each entry requires a $25 fee. All songs entered must be original compositions with all song authors credited. Only valid streaming URL links will be accepted (e.g., YouTube, Soundcloud, Spotify). Please double-check URL links before entering. Wide Open Country is not responsible for issuing refunds based on broken, private or otherwise invalid links. We are not accepting MP3 files. You may enter a variety of recording styles, including demos, worktapes and finished masters. We require the song to be clearly audible in the recording. This is a song contest, based on the musical elements present in the composition, not a singing contest. Songs will be evaluated based on lyrics, melody, likability, overall composition, and various other musical considerations. Songs WILL NOT be evaluated on recording quality, vocal prowess, or other similar values. We simply require that the recording clearly presents the song in its fullest light. You may enter online only via wideopencountry.com. Refunds WILL NOT be issued under any circumstances. No feedback will be provided on the songs entered into the contest.
Eligibility
The Contest is open to any songwriter, artist, musician, and/or band from anywhere in the world. The following parties are not eligible: (i) Employees, independent contractors, and/or affiliates of Wide Open Country, or any of their immediate family members, (ii) contributors to the Contest (including judges and other contributors as we may determine on a case-by-case basis) and (iii) employees of Sponsors. By submitting, you are representing that you (and all associated co-writers on your submission) are not employed by or affiliated with Wide Open Country, or any of its affiliates, you are not a contributor in any way to the Contest, and you are not employed by or affiliated with any of the contest sponsors and you have not been at any time during the previous two years. You represent and warrant that (a) all registration information you submit is truthful and accurate; (b) you will maintain the accuracy of such information; and (c) your entry to the Contest does not violate any applicable law or regulation. If you are under 18 years of age, however, you must have permission and clearance to enter the Contest from your parent or legal guardian. Entry of the Contest is void where prohibited. All contest winners are notified by email address or phone number. If the chosen winners do not respond to Wide Open Country's notifications within seven (7) days, Wide Open Country reserves the right to contact runner-ups for the receipt of the prizes. International winners must pay any and all customs fees for delivery of prizes.
Judging Process & Winners Announcements
This Contest is a talent and skill-based business event. All entries are judged based on the merit of the overall songs (lyric & melody). All entries will be first screened by multiple professional songwriters contracted by Wide Open Country, in conjunction with employees of Wide Open Country. All contest entrants shall stay informed of the selection process via wideopencountry.com site updates. Finalists will be selected from all songs entered and will be turned over to a group of top music industry professionals and accomplished songwriting peers who then narrow the finalists down to the Winners. The Winners will be notified via email and/or phone and all results will be posted on wideopencountry.com. If the chosen winners do not respond to Wide Open Country's notifications within seven (7) days, Wide Open Country reserves the right to contact runner-ups for the receipt of prizes. International winners must pay any and all customs fees for delivery of prizes. Entrants who are not official Winners will not receive individual notifications but will be notified via e-newsletter.
Content
We do NOT claim ownership in the materials you submit in conjunction with the Contest. Such materials include written text, files, images, photos, video, songs, lyrics, poetry, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, remarks, suggestions, ideas, graphics, tags, hashtags, genres, splits, ownership splits, identifiable numbers, identifiable codes, songwriter name, personal identifiable information, copyright registration information, affiliated companies or individuals, rights holder, administrator, publisher, or any other materials (collectively, "Content") that you display, upload, transfer, publish, or post to wideopencountry.com, whether public or private. By submitting any Content through the Contest, whether public or private, you hereby grant to us a limited, non-exclusive license to use, stream, transmit, beam, store, publicly display, translate, reproduce, and distribute such Content, in any format, whether known or unknown, including the limited right to use your likeness, persona, logo, trademark, and right(s) of publicity ONLY for purposes of the Contest.
By entering the Contest, you represent and warrant that your entry is an original work and that the content does not violate the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, trademarks, contract rights or any other rights of any person or business. You further agree to indemnify and hold Wide Open Country, contest judges and screeners, and all contest sponsors, their subsidiaries, and affiliates, and their respective officers, agents, partners and employees, harmless from any loss, liability, claim, or demand, including reasonable attorneys' fees, made by any third party due to or arising out of any breach of your representations and warranties set forth above and/or if any part of the entry causes Wide Open Country to be liable to another.
By making an entry into the Contest, the entrant acknowledges and agrees that Wide Open Country may obtain many entries under this Contest and that such entries may be similar or identical in theme, idea, format or other respects to others submitted under this Contest and/or created or developed by Wide Open Country on its own or by those working on Wide Open Country's behalf, and/or other promotions staged and/or led by Wide Open Country, and waive any and all claims entrant may have had, may have, and/or may have in the future, that any similar entry, and/or other works accepted, reviewed and/or used by Wide Open Country (or its designees) may be similar to entrant's entry. Entrant acknowledges and agrees that Wide Open Country does not have now, nor shall it have in the future, any duty or liability, direct or indirect, vicarious, contributory, or otherwise, with respect to the infringement or protection of any copyright in and to entrant's entry.
Other Rules & Regulations
The parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement promptly by negotiation between persons who have authority to settle the controversy. Any party may give the other party written notice of any dispute not resolved in the normal course of business. If not resolved, any dispute, claim or controversy (i.e., contractual, tort, and/or statutory) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity thereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, shall be determined EXCLUSIVELY by arbitration in Nashville, Tennessee before one arbitrator. The arbitration shall be administered by either AAA or JAMS. This Agreement and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, exclusive of conflict or choice of law rules. Void where prohibited.
Prize Deliveries
Prize delivery of all prizes will be coordinated via email. Video consultation calls with selected mentors will take place in 2025. If any prize is not fulfilled within 180 days of the official winner announcement, it is the responsibility of the winner to notify Wide Open Country in writing. If the winner fails to notify Wide Open Country of any outstanding prizes within 180 days, Wide Open Country can no longer guarantee prize fulfillment.
Deadline
The Wide Open Country Song Contest deadline is February 3, 2025, at 11:59:59 (CST)
Wide Open Country reserves the right to extend the deadline at any point in the contest.
Category Descriptions
Alt Country
Alt-Country (or alternative country) is a subgenre of country music that blends traditional country elements with influences from punk, rock, folk, and indie music.
Bluegrass
Bluegrass is a genre of American roots music that blends elements of traditional country, Appalachian, Scottish, and Irish music.
Hip Hop Country
Hip Hop Country is a fusion genre that blends elements of country music with hip-hop and rap.
Modern Country
Modern country, also known as contemporary country, refers to the current mainstream form of country music that blends traditional country sounds with influences from pop, rock, and other popular music genres.
Traditional Country
Traditional country music refers to the early and foundational style of country music that developed in the Southern United States in the early 20th century.
