Tennessee Songwriters Week Qualifying Round at the Museum

The Birthplace of Country Music is hosting a qualifying round for the 2022 Tennessee Songwriters Week!

Date: Saturday, February 5, 2022

Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location: Birthplace of Country Music Museum

Tickets: $10 (For spectators only; songwriters enter below, no registration fee required)
**COVID-19 POLICY:
Musicians, audience members, judges and staff in attendance will be required to show proof of vaccination or proof of negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of entry.

BUY TICKETS

Aspiring singer-songwriters dream of the opportunity to perform at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, and for a few lucky artists, that opportunity will arrive during 2022 Tennessee Songwriters Week! A number of venues, including the Birthplace of Country Music in Downtown Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee, will host qualifying rounds for singer-songwriters to compete for a place in the spotlight at this historic proving ground for artists – and spectators are invited to watch the competition!

Click here for more information on Qualifying Rounds, Showcase Events, and more.

CONGRATULATIONS, SONGWRITERS!
The following artists have been chosen to compete in Tennessee Songwriters Week Qualifying Round at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum Feb. 5:

Adam Bolt
Alexis May Hamilton
Ari Silver
Audrey Rose
Blake Branscom
Chip McLain
Daniel Davis
Ella Patrick
Forencia Rusiňol
Jonathan Short
JP Parsons
Justin Crider
KT Vandyke
Logan Fritz
Makenzie Phipps
Michael Litton
Noah Spencer
Sam Collie
Savannah Smith
Toby Gibson

Up to 20 contestants will be considered for the Qualifying Round at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum on Saturday, February 5, 2022, but we will be accepting a waitlist after the first 20 spots are filled. There is no registration fee. Any legal resident of the Unites States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are eligible.

The deadline to register is January 11, 2022.

Rules for Entry:

Songwriter must own the rights to the song they will perform during the competition. Upon entry, they also must provide song lyrics and a link to a YouTube video of the registrant performing the song they will sing during the performance. During the competition, all songwriters will have 5 minutes to perform and must perform the original song they submitted upon entry. Entrant may sing acapella or have live accompaniment. Light percussion is allowed if there is no set-up time necessary. Entrant may bring up to two (2) performers to accompany on instruments. Back up tracks are not permitted.

The original song performed must not disparage any group of persons, religion, be considered inflammatory or inappropriate. Sponsor(s) or Sponsor designee has the final authority to determine if the song performed violates the above. If Sponsor(s) determine that the original song performed is in violation of these rules, the entrant will be requested to cease the performance, agrees to leave the venue without incident, and will be disqualified from consideration.

Each and every performance by an Entrant will be judged by a panel of at least three (3) individuals from the songwriting community in and around Tennessee. If a judge is related by marriage or blood or has a close personal connection to an Entrant, the Judge will refrain from scoring that Entrant. Entrants will be evaluated numerically from 1-5 in the following categories considering both the Entrant’s song and performance: 1) originality; 2) vocal and/or instrumental talent; and 3) emotional connection to the audience. 1-5 on a numerical scale considering both the song and the performance.

A panel of judges will choose four (4) songwriters from the Feb. 5 Qualifying Round at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum to advance to the Songwriters Week Showcase to be hosted at one of six (6) historic venues in the following cities: Franklin, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Gatlinburg, and Johnson City. The eligible songwriters will be given the opportunity to perform an original work. From each of the six (6) locations, hosting twenty (20) songwriters each, one (1) songwriter will be selected by a panel of judges to play their original work at The Bluebird Cafe on Sunday, March 20, 2022.

Notification and verification:

Following closure of the sign up period, successful Entrants will be notified via phone or email by the Venue to which they are assigned. Entrants that move forward from the Qualifying Round to Tennessee Songwriters Week Showcase will be notified following their respective performance at the respective venue. Successful registrants should contact the respective assigned venue with any questions.

If an Entrant is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these rules at any time during the contest period that Entrant will be disqualified.

Each of the six (6) winners from the Tennessee Songwriters Week Showcase must be present during the announcement at the venue on the date of the performance in order to win. The six (6) winners will be required to complete a W-9 form for tax filing purposes, providing their Social Security number and an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release (the “Affidavit”). If an Entrant is otherwise eligible under these Official Rules but is deemed a minor in his or her state of primary residence, the Entrant’s parent or legal guardian will be required to execute and return the Affidavit on the minor’s behalf.

Non-compliance with this requirement will result in forfeiture and the entrant with the next highest score from that venue will be selected, this should occur in real time at the venue.

Prize Conditions:

Please visit BluebirdCafe.com to read about frequently asked questions regarding The Bluebird Cafe. Prize is not assignable or transferable although Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value due to unavailability. Prize must be taken on dates specified by Sponsor or Prize will be forfeited in its entirety. Dates so specified are subject to change by The Bluebird Cafe only. All other expenses not specifically mentioned herein, including but not limited to tips, gratuities, incidentals, local and long distance telephone calls, and service charges, required transportation, any necessary lodging, all meals and beverages, and any other miscellaneous expenses not specifically mentioned above, are the sole responsibility of the entrant/winner(s).

By participating and accepting a prize, entrant/winner represents that he/she understands that travel, whether by plane, automobile, or other conveyance, or by foot, and in the air, contains some inherent element of risk of accident, illness, injury, loss or death, which may be caused by negligence, forces of nature, or other agencies, known or unknown. By accepting a prize, winner acknowledges participation in the prize is voluntary, acknowledges that there are natural factors and occurrences which may impact on or affect the safety of the activities they are participating in and they assume the risk of such factors and occurrences and agree that the Released Parties will not be in any way responsible for any resulting injury and/or death. Further, upon exercising the prize, winner agrees to all Terms of Use as set forth by The Bluebird Cafe.

In addition, the winner(s) are solely responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes as well as other fees associated with receipt of a prize, regardless of whether a prize is used in whole or in part. Taxes on the prize are solely the responsibility of the winner and winner agrees to provide a W-9 Tax form. Each prize winner will be required to disclose his/her social security number on the W-9 for the purpose of issuance of a 1099 MISC form for tax purposes.

Governing Law/Jurisdiction:

Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action. Further all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrant’s rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor(s) in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to its conflict or choice of law rules. The Tennessee Claims Commission or the state or federal courts in Tennessee shall be the venue for all claims, disputes, or disagreements arising under this Contract. The entrant/winner acknowledges and agrees that any rights, claims, or remedies against the State of Tennessee or its employees arising under this Contract shall be subject to and limited to those rights and remedies available under Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 9-8-101 – 408.

Limitation of Liability:

The Released Parties, the State of Tennessee and The Bluebird Cafe, each of their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent corporations, and their respective officer, directors, shareholders, employees and agents, are not responsible for: Any incorrect or inaccurate entry information, theft, tampering, destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries; printing or other errors; and/or, any entries which are late, lost, delayed, incomplete, misdirected, stolen, mutilated, illegible, received with postage due or any combination thereof. Sponsors reserve the right to modify, suspend or terminate the Contest at any time that it may become necessary as a result of circumstances beyond the Sponsors’ control. In the event prizes are to be awarded when the Contest deadline date has lapsed, potential winner(s) will be selected from all eligible entries received as of the deadline date/time designated as the last day to enter the Contest.

Release of Liability:

By participating, winner(s), winners’ guests and entrants agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any claims made by a winner(s), a winner’s guest, entrants or any other third parties related in any way to the operation of this Contest as well as any other claims, damages or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses (whether alleged, threatened, or actual) to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in the Contest and/or any Contest-related activity.

LEGAL WARNING: WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE CONTEST, ALL PRIZES, AND ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH THE CONTEST SITE ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.

ANY ATTEMPT BY YOU TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE PROMOTION MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM YOU TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

Conditions of Entry:

Entry materials that have been tampered with or altered are void. If, in the Administrator’s or Sponsor’s opinion, there is any suspected or actual evidence of electronic or non-electronic tampering with any portion of the Contest, or if computer virus, bugs, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or technical difficulties or failures compromise or corrupt or affect the administration, integrity, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and void any entries submitted fraudulently, to modify or suspend the Contest, or to terminate the Contest. Should the Contest be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, notice will be posted on the Website. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of the Entrant based on an e-mail address, the winning entry will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry.

Sponsor(s):

Department of Tourist Development, William Snodgrass/Tennessee Tower, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, 13th Floor, Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1102 and The Bluebird Cafe, 4104 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215.

Note: This Contest is not in any manner sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with the platform it is administered, i.e. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.