Songwriting competition

To enter:

1. Click on the Enter Here button below to purchase your entry and enter the details for each song.  Entries cost $20 each. 
2. Email a pdf of your song lyrics to the email address on your entry ticket.  You will receive an email acknowledging your entry with a link for uploading the recording of your song(s) (MP3 only, and max. 10.6MB).
3. Support ABOTMA by joining (membership cost is $30). 

If you would like more information email: abotmasongs@gmail.com

How To Enter

Entry Criteria

Criteria: 

1. Songs entered must be written (or co-written) by the entrant and must not be published prior to Mountaingrass 2025 (Spotify; Apple Music etc); 
2. A recording (MP3) and lyrics (PDF) are required for each entry.  Please note .WAV files are not acceptable as the are too large for emil.  If attachments are larger than 5MB you can send a shared link (eg Dropbox).
3. Entries must be performed on acoustic stringed instruments (bass excepted) in a solo or duo format, with backing tracks unacceptable for performance of the winning entry. 
4. Entries are not required to be genre specific however priority in judging will be given to songs suitable for performance as Bluegrass, Old-Time and associated styles. 
5. The judges will consider song structure and form (verse; chorus; instrumental section etc); melody (don’t forget the hook lines); lyrics (metre -flow with music; rhyme; alliteration etc); and originality. 
6. Submissions that are instrumental only, or lyrics only, will not be accepted.
7. Original lyrics to an existing tune or song are unacceptable. 
   
8. The judges decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

9. Entrants are required to be current members of ABOTMA (from July 1 for 2025). Become a member here

The ABOTMA Songwriting competition is on again in 2025!

The objective of the songwriting competition is to encourage artists to develop their own sound and story, and to further Bluegrass and Old-time traditions in a contemporary context. 

A prize of $500 will be presented to the winner and $100 to the runner-up at the Mountaingrass Festival 2025 where they (or nominee) will have the opportunity to perform the song. The winner and runner-up also receive a season pass to the Mountaingrass festival in 2025. 

The prize is offered through the generous sponsorship of Performance Advantage, a company providing HR services to small business. It's Director Suzanne Diprose will present the prizes at Mountaingrass 2025. 

The competition is open from 1 July 2025 to 30 September 2025 

If you would like more information email: abotmasongs@gmail.com

ABOTMA Songwriting competition 2025 proudly sponsored by Performance Advantage

The winners of the inaugural ABOTMA Songwriting competition in 2024 were: 

First prize: Karen Lynne – Out There On The Road

Runner up: Ben Thomas - I’ll Be Going Back There Next Year.

2024 Songwriting competition winners