The 11th Annual Mountain Stage NewSong Contest is open for entries, with the Regional Round deadline quickly approaching! The Mountain Stage NewSong Contest is one of North America’s premier showcases of emerging performers and songwriters. The contest spans an array of genres, and is one of the highest rated competitions by Sonicbids artists (see below for reviews and ratings). The Mountain Stage has debuted artists such as The Barenaked Ladies, Ryan Adams, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, and Alison Krauss. The 2012 contest winner will get the opportunity to record a fully funded album with producer Iestyn Polson (David Gray, Patty Smith, David Bowie) with a publicity campaign from The Press House, sponsored by PledgeMusic. This album will be released on Brooklyn's NewSong Recordings label. The winner will also perform on an internationally broadcasted Mountain Stage (NPR) show, be invited back to perform his or her own show at Lincoln Center during its 2013 season, have a published interview and album review by American Songwriter magazine, and receive a performance spot at Sundance's ASCAP Music Café in Park City in February, 2013.

All finalists and other contest standouts will also be invited to participate in future NewSong Music productions in various locations throughout the country, and will be candidates for film and television placement opportunities, as well as for future releases on the NewSong Recordings label and consideration for future Mountain Stage appearances.

Winner will receive:
A fully-funded album produced by lestyn Polson (David Gray, Patti Smith, David Bowie), recorded over 10 days at beautiful Echo Mountain Recording and released on the NewSong Recordings label
A 2013 performance at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
A live performance on National Public Radio's highly acclaimed Mountain Stage show
An appearance at the 2013 Sundance/ASCAP Music Café
A fully-funded album release pr/publicity campaign from the Press House, sponsored by PledgeMusic.
Published interview and album review by American Songwriter magazineAdditionally, all entrants will be candidates for future recording, management and performance opportunities. The live performance contest finals will be held Saturday, October 20, 2012 at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, during the CMJ Music Marathon.

You can enter the contest here: mountainstagenewsongcontest.com

To stream last year's winner Arthur Alligood's grand prize album One Silver Needle – produced and mixed by Mikal Blue (Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, James Blunt) – click here.

To stream 2010 contest winner Amber Rubarth's grand prize album A Common Case of Disappearing – produced and mixed by Grammy winner Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Tom Waits) – click here.

The Regional Round deadline is July 31st. Enter now: www.mountainstagenewsongcontest.com

check out our two 2012 early bird finalists:

http://www.newsong-music.com/2012/06...ird-finalists/