’09 OC Music Fest is a great opportunity for artists to meet with music industry icons and win great prizes. It will be carried out May 16, 17 and 18, 2009. Judges will be evaluating the performances of 80 bands. The winner of the competition receives a Dodge Sprinter Cargo Van with 1000 gallons of BioDiesel fuel and $1000 cash with other participants receiving other cash prizes. Not only is this a valuable opportunity for the aspiring musicians, as it is also an environmentally conscious venture. The deadline to submit is February 15 and the submission fee is $99.
www.ocmusicfest09.com

The 2009 DIY Music Festival will be held on February 19, 2009. Winners will have the opportunity to perform at other festivals belonging to the DIY brand that promotes the autonomy of the independent musician. Winners will also be invited to attend a special luncheon in Hollywood, California in which prominent music industry individuals will be present. The deadline to register is January 25 and the fee is $25.
www.diyconvention.com

Indie International hosts a series of song-writing competitions that take place online several times a year. They encourage independent artists to send in their songs to participate in one or more of several categories, sorted by genre. This year, their working categories are Folk/Acoustic, Country, Rock, Pop and Instrumental. This can be a worthwhile opportunity, considering the prizes they offer amount to around $20,000 in cash and equipment and submissions are capped to only 150 per category. The deadline to submit is December 31 and the submission fee ranges from $30 to $40.
www.indieinternational.com

The 9th Annual CMT NSAI Song Contest is aimed at helping amateur songwriters to be heard by important members of the country music industry. Co-sponsored by CMT and the Nashville Songwriters Association International, prizes include a three-day trip to Nashville, opportunities to record demos, single-song contracts from major Music Row publishers, as well as mentoring sessions from the likes of Regie Hamm and Kenny Alphin (Big Kenny). The deadline to submit is November 30 and the submission fee is $35 for NSAI members and $45 for non-members.
www.cmt.com/asm/contests/nsai/2008

Songdoor appears to be doing everything in its power to encourage people to write more music. Everyone who signs up for the songwriting contest outlined on their website receives a free course on SongU.com. Prizes include studio recording sessions, software and full music website memberships. They tout themselves as a valuable resource to get into the Nashville music scene, one of the most prominent in the country. The deadline to submit is November 15 and the submission fee is just $10.
www.songdoor.com