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2025 Singer-Songwriter Competition

, 2025 Singer-Songwriter Competition
Deadline for entry is Thursday, May 8 @ 12pm (noon) ET

Attention Singer-Songwriters!

Enter The Acorn's 13th annual Singer-Songwriter Competition for cash prizes and performing opportunities! The deadline for entry is Thursday, May 8 @ 12pm (noon) ET. Six Singer-Songwriters will be selected as Finalists to perform on Saturday, July 19 at The Acorn in Three Oaks, Michigan. More info and a link to the Entry Form are below.

Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition Entry Guidelines


Important Dates

  • Thursday, May 8 @ 12pm (noon) ET. Submission Deadline (any entries after the deadline will not be considered)
  • Thursday, June 12. Notification to Finalists
  • Thursday, June 19. Public Announcement of 2025 Finalists
  • Saturday, July 19. Finals. Event start time is 7 PM ET / 6 PM CT Check in for finalists TBD.

Submission Fees

  • 3 songs $25

Payment

  • Preferred - Online (credit card) Acorn Singer Songwriter Competition
  • By check: Make check payable to The Acorn and mail to The Acorn, P.O. Box 395, Three Oaks, MI 49128. If you are paying by check, please include a separate sheet with the name of the participant, email, song titles and a phone number where you can be reached. Once we receive the check, you will receive a confirmation via email.
  • If the entrance fee is cost prohibitive for you, please reach out to songwriter@acornlive.org for financial assistance.

Guildlines

  • Video entries only.
  • Each song must have accompanying lyric sheets with song title and songwriter's name on each song.
  • Video performances should be as close to "live" as possible.
  • Video and audio quality need to be good enough for judges to conduct informed evaluations. Make sure we can see you and hear you!
  • Video format options: mp4 download, smartphone video, YouTube link, or Vimeo link. If your file size is too big, we recommend you upload to Google Drive.
  • Submissions can include up to three people.
  • Preferred format for video and lyric sheet entries is to paste links in the online entry form. (Use links from a cloud such as Dropbox, Box or Google Drive. PLEASE NO WE TRANSFER FILES. We accept YouTube links for performance videos as well. Please do NOT copy/paste your lyrics into the Google Form.) If you are having trouble, you can email your lyrics to songwriter@acornlive.org. Include TITLE, NAME OF SONGWRITER.

How It Works

  • Submissions are evaluated on song structure, lyrics, musicality, overall appeal, and the ability of the performer to sustain a full length show.
  • The top six finalists are chosen from the pool of submissions. Those six semi-finalists compete at the Singer-Songwriter Competition Finals, Saturday July 19th, 7pm ET, in front of a panel of prestigious judges and Acorn patrons.
  • Finalists will perform their winning entry (chosen by our selection jury) and one other song from their submission in the first round. The panel of judges then narrows down to three Top Finalists.
  • The top three perform another original song. The audience votes to determine the winner.

Prizes

  • Winner to receive $1,200, 2nd place/Runner-up $500, 3rd place $350, remaining 3 Finalists given $150.
  • Finalists will also receive a video recording of their performance at The Acorn.
  • Finalists are considered for other Acorn shows and recommended for other area events.

Contest Rules

  • Submit three original songs (music and lyrics written by the entrant).
  • Entrants can have up to three people performing in their group.
  • Travel to The Acorn is the responsibility of the performers.
  • Previous First place winners in The Acorn Singer-Songwriter Competition are not eligible to compete for five years.

Questions?

Email songwriter@acornlive.org

2025 entry form

Please read our FAQs for more info or if you have any questions!