NewSong Music Announces 25th Annual Competition With Fully Funded EP and Vinyl Prize

NewSong Music has opened the doors for its 25th annual songwriting competition, inviting artists from North America and beyond to submit original work by Sunday, September 13, 2026, 11:59 PM PST. The contest will culminate in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 25, 2026, where finalists will perform, compete, and network.

The competition offers a rare chance for emerging musicians. The grand prize consists of a fully funded six‑song EP produced and recorded at a professional studio, plus the manufacturing of 300 vinyl copies of the winning project by Citizen Vinyl. Every entrant in 2026 also receives a 5 % discount on future vinyl pressing projects at Citizen Vinyl, a North Carolina plant renowned for high‑quality production and its patented vinylkey® NFC technology.

After the submission deadline, a panel of industry judges will sift through online entries and select eight finalists. Those artists will travel to Asheville to perform at The Grey Eagle venue on Sunday, October 25. The event will feature live performances, a judging session, and opportunities for musicians to connect with local industry professionals.

Past winners of the NewSong Music Competition—Nashville’s Crys Matthews and Jobi Riccio, Portland’s AC Sapphire, and Slow Runner from Saluda, NC—have leveraged the platform into recording and touring opportunities. The 2025 grand prize winner was Susan Anderson of Asheville.

NewSong Music, an independent artist development organization and record label, describes its mission as building a supportive community for performers and songwriters of all genres and skill levels while identifying exceptional talent for career development and broader exposure. The competition aligns with that mission by providing a platform for songwriting talent to be discovered and nurtured.

Citizen Vinyl, the competition’s presenting partner, operates a state‑of‑the‑art pressing facility in Asheville. The plant offers vinyl production, cassette duplication, and a pre‑order platform that integrates the vinylkey® NFC chip, allowing artists to embed digital content and verify authenticity.

Finalists will be announced on September 11, 2026, via NewSong’s Facebook, Instagram, website blog, and newsletter, along with details on how to prepare for the Asheville event.

For additional information, high‑resolution images, or press inquiries, contact Alli Marshall at alli@newsong-music.com or call +1 828‑318‑7196.

In summary, the 25th NewSong Music Competition offers a comprehensive package—songwriting contest, EP production, vinyl pressing, and networking—designed to elevate emerging artists. The event will take place in Asheville on October 25, 2026, with finalists announced two days earlier. All interested artists should submit their original work before the September 13 deadline to qualify.