February 1 is the entry deadline for the annual Music2Life Songwriting Contest. Established in 2000, the songwriting contest is sponsored by the Public Domain Foundation, a nonprofit organization launched by Noel Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul & Mary) more than 30 years ago to encourage the making and use of music for social change.
Ten artists will be named as finalists in the contest and will be afforded an opportunity to share their original songs of social and political significance during the Kerrville Folk Festival in the Texas Hill Country in early June.
Submitted songs, which should contain content that is relevant in today’s sociopolitical climate and be no longer than four minutes, will be reviewed by a panel of songwriters and performers. Judges include Judy Collins, Christine Lavin, Kathy Mattea, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Paul Winter and Peter Yarrow. Each of the 10 finalists will receive $300 travel stipends and free two-day weekend passes to the Kerrville Folk Festival, where they will perform on Saturday, June 5. In addition, the three top finalists will receive donations to the charities of their choice and the grand-prize winner will open the festival’s main stage on Saturday evening.
As the Public Domain Foundation’s website notes: “Artistic expression can serve as an emotional bridge – bringing our world closer together by reminding us of our common human condition.” The foundation also assists artists in building relationships with nonprofits that might use their songs for promotional and educational purposes.
Complete contest guidelines and additional information can be found online at www.music2life.org.
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