Be a part of New York Music History

Be a part of music history. Submissions for the NEW YORK MUSIC AWARD'S' "NEW ARTIST/SONGWRITING COMPETITION" which open annually every February 15th. See competition rules and details below. 

 ABOUT US:

The New York Music Awards New Artist/New Song Competition is an annual music contest that honors musical artists who are New York-born or raised, New York-based or New York-identified. The winners are decided upon by a distinguished panel of music- industry judges. Besides cash and prizes, the winning entries will be featured on the home page of the New York Music Awards website. Prizes are awarded in various wide-ranging categories. Past “New Artist” winners of the New York Music Awards include Madonna, Whitney Houston, Shawn Colvin, Joan Osborne, Mary J. Blige, L. L. Cool J, Vanessa Williams and more.

New York Music Awards “Best New Artist” Award
New York Music Awards “Best New Song” Award

CATEGORY WINNERS receive cash award and prize packages.

Winning artist and song will be featured on the New York Music Awards website’s Home Page.

SONGWRITING CATEGORIES:
 

1. Rock
2. Pop

3. Indie
4. Folk/Americana
5. Hip Hop
6. Country
7. R&B
8. Blues
9. Latin

ENTRY FEE:
ALL DATES ARE THE SAME EVERY YEAR. The competition entry fee is $25 per initial entry song, $20 for any entry after that. These fees are in place from February 15 thru May 30. Winners will be announced on July 30th.

The recording quality of the submission is not part of the criteria.

RULES AND REGULATIONS:
Submissions can be submitted digitally online or on video. All entries must be submitted by  May 30th. Entry fees are non-refundable. 

To enter online, please click here:

All songs submitted for the songwriting competition must be original, with all authors listed on entry form.

Disclaimer: The NEW YORK MUSIC AWARDS' NEW ARTIST COMPETITION (NYMANAC) is not responsible for any entry forms that have misleading or incorrect song authorship information. NYMANAC is not responsible for misdirected or late submissions. Winners will be notified by email and will sign an affidavit that their song is original and that they own all rights to song. If this affidavit is not signed, an alternate winner will be named. Entry constitutes NYMANAC permission to use winners’ name, likeness and winning music for future publicity. Entrant retains all ownership rights to all submitted song(s). NYMANAC will not have any ownership rights to any song(s) submitted.

1. Entrants must be New York-identified. This means either being born, raised or living in New York State at some point, currently living in New York State or establishing a career by performing regularly in New York State.
   
2. Each song that is submitted must be the entrant’s own composition. If a song has multiple co-writers, there needs to be one representative whose name represents the song on the entry form.
3. There is no limit to the number of songs a contestant may submit, but each entry must have its own entry form and entry fee. There is an entry-fee reduction for multiple entries. Payment can be through one single credit card payment, Pay Pal or Zelle payment, personal check, cashier’s check or money order for multiple entries. DO NOT SEND CASH. The entry fees are non-refundable, and NYMANAC is not responsible for faulty, late, or misappropriated entries.
4. Winners will be chosen by a select panel of judges comprised of either performers. songwriters, producers, music journalists, and music industry professionals.
5. The recording and production quality of submissions will NOT impact the judge’s decisions in the songwriting category, and vocal performance quality will only count in the vocal categories and not the songwriting categories.
6. The prize will be awarded to the applicant, and if there are other collaborators it is the applicant’s responsibility to divide the prize. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.
7. Winners will be notified by email and must sign and return an affidavit within 14 days of notification date. The affidavit will state that winner’s song is original work and he/she holds rights to song. Failure to sign and return such affidavit within 14 days or provision of false/inaccurate information therein will result in immediate disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Entrant shall, by entering, indemnify and hold NYMANAC harmless from and against any claims.
8. If entrant is under 18 years old, the signature of a parent or guardian is required.

DEADLINES:

The final deadline is always May 30th, every year. This means that all entries must be posted/postmarked on or before May 30th, and all online entries must be made by midnight EST (US) on May 30th. NYMANAC reserves the right to extend the deadline past May 30th, and if it is extended.

Entrant may submit as many songs as desired in each category. Entrant may also enter the same song in more than one category. It is entrant’s responsibility to ensure that the submitted song(s) are complete and playable. All entry fees are non-refundable. NYMANAC does not give feedback or a critique to entrants.

1. NYMANAC reserves the right to extend the entry deadline and increase or reduce entry fees for special promotions and/or entry deadline periods.
2. Entries will be screened by an NYMANAC listening committee who will select the finalists, and the finalists will be sent to the judges who will select the winners. The judging committee consists of music industry professionals.
3. NYMANAC finalists will be announced on July 30th and winners on August 20th. The New York Music Awards will post all results on its website and will notify entrants by email that results are posted. Entrant is responsible for providing up-to-date and correct email addresses to NYMANAC. NYMANAC is not responsible for entrant’s non-receipt of any NYMANAC emails for any reason, including but not limited to, server or email malfunctions.
4. NYMANAC will use its best efforts to announce the winners at the designated time, but will not be held liable for any unforeseen delays. Winners will be notified by email or phone.
5. All winners agree to release NYMANAC and sponsors from all liability regarding prizes won. All federal, state, and local taxes, and customs fees, when applicable, are the sole responsibility of winner. NYMANAC will not pay any winners’ taxes or custom’s fees. Prizes will be sent out within a reasonable amount of time, and NYMANAC will use its best efforts to send prizes out in a timely fashion. Prizes which are being sent to winners from Sponsors may take longer than prizes sent directly from NYMANAC. If after 180 days any winner has not received any portion of prizes, it is winner’s responsibility to notify NYMANAC in writing within 30 days, and by certified mail, as to which prizes are outstanding. If winner fails to notify NYMANAC, NYMANAC will no longer be responsible for delivery of prizes.
6. Entrant acknowledges that all songs entered may be distributed to judges who will be selecting the winners, and Entrant agrees to release, indemnify, and hold NYMANAC, its sponsors, and judges harmless for liability, damages, or claims for injury or loss to any person or property relating to, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, participation in NYMANAC.
7. By entering NYMANAC, entrant and/or their parents or legal guardian (if such entrant is a minor) agree to accept and be bound by the decisions of NYMANAC and its judges which are final and binding in all matters. Entrant agrees to be bound by all terms of these official NYMANAC Rules And Regulations as established herein.

New York Music Awards.