Aren some song contests more about performance and production than songwriting?
Unfortunately, that’s sometimes true. But it’s not true with the Great American Song Contest. Judges are instructed to evaluate songs NOT on the quality of the recording, but on the universal hallmarks of creative songwriting excellence — effective lyrics, memorable melody & skillful use of songwriting techniques. Lyrics Only entries are judged using the same lyrical criteria. Judges additionally consider how successfully the lyrics can be adapted to music.
