Division and Prizes:
Junior Division – ages 8 – 17 years old. You must be 8 years old by September 1st, 2023. There will be a maximum of Ten (10) finalists in the Junior Division.
There will be three (3) cash prizes for the Junior Division: 1st Place $200.00, 2nd Place $125.00, 3rd Place $75.00 1st Place winner will also win the opportunity to perform their winning song as an opener on the Delta Fair Main Stage.
Senior Division – ages 18+ You must be 18 years old by September 1st, 2023. We will have a maximum of Ten (15) finalists in the Senior Division.
There will be three (3) cash prizes for the Senior Division: 1st Place, $500.00, 2nd Place, $250.00, 3rd Place $100.00. 1st Place winner will also win a 4 hour recording session at Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios in Memphis and they will perform their winning song as an opener on the Delta Fair Main Stage.Royal Studios has produced and worked with artists such as Al Green, Anne Peebles, Rod Stewart, and Bruno Mars.
Overview:
Delta Songwriting Star seeks to showcase the top songwriters in the Mid-South. (Contestants must be 8 years old on or before September 01, 2023)
All who wish to enter the competition must pre-register and submit their music and lyrics (with a recording)by emailing or mailing the Entry Form located on the last page of this packet. Each individual may enter up to 3 songs. The fee to enter is $15 per song during early registration.If chosen for the final round, you will be given free admission to the Delta Fair & Music Festival Delta Songwriting Star competition on Friday,September01,2023.There will be a maximum of Ten (10) finalists from Jrs and Fifteen (15) finalists from Srs. division that will compete in the Final Competition at the Delta Fair & Music Festival (www.DeltaFest.com) on Friday, September 1, 2023. The Delta Songwriting Star winner will be determined by Delta Songwriting Star judges.
The Competition Process:
Qualifying Round:The contestant will submit digitally/virtually for the first round.Lyrics, writers, and a recording of the song is required to be entered.A private panel of qualified judges will listen to each entry and decide the finalists for each age category.There will be 10 selected for Jrs. and 15 selected for Srs.Entries turned in after August 21, 2023 after 7pm will NOT be considered.
Music Requirements: In your qualifying submission you may sing a capella or with a handheld instrument, keyboard (provided for finals) or use a karaoke/music track on CD.Please bring 2 copies of your CD/jump drive if you are selected for the Final Round.Contestants will not be allowed to use an aux cord.A CAPELLA IS NOT ALLOWED FOR FINAL ROUND. You MUST have some sort of music/accompaniment for the final round.no lead vocals are allowed on the track.
Lyric Requirements: Must be submitted with registration entry along with a recording, and all writers and co-writers names.
Time Requirements: We will begin to time you from the first note played.
Qualifying Round – Not to exceed Five (5) minutes.
Final Round – Not to exceed Five (5) minutes.
You must bring your social security number to be awarded the prize money. (Winners will not be given their prize money without supplying Delta Fair & Music Festival their social security number for tax purposes). Alternates will be determined from the Qualifying Round in the event a contestant doesnotmeettheDELTASONGWRITING STARrequirementsand will be notified in the case of a disqualification.
Delta Songwriting Star, Delta Agribusiness, are not responsible for lost, stolen, mangled,
mis-delivered, illegible, incomplete or late entries. One person will be awarded the grand prize.
Requirements to enter the Delta Songwriting Star Competition
You are 8 years old by September 1, 2023, a legal U.S. citizen or a permanent U.S. resident who is eligible to work full-time in the United States; and if you are in the final competition at the Delta Fair & Music Festival on Friday, September 1, 2023, you MUST be able to demonstrate prior to the final round that you do not have a professional recording or songwriting contract.All submissions must be turned in no later than August 21, 2023 by 7:00pm.
What to bring to the final round:
- Identification: If a complaint is filed about your age, you must have in possession one form of proof of age. Failure to do so could result in disqualification at the end.
- W-9 or Social Security Number: Winners in the final round need a completed W-9 form or bring their social security number to fill out the provided W-9 form before receiving the cash prize.
- Under 18: If you are under 18 years of age, you must be accompanied by your parent or legal guardian. If you are accompanied by a legal guardian (as opposed to a parent), your legal guardian must bring proof of guardianship or you will not be able to compete. In addition, your parent or legal guardian must have the authority to sign documents on your behalf, including the release form on the website (which should be signed by you and your parent and/or legal guardian, as indicated on the form).
RULES: The same rules apply to both the Junior and Senior Division.
All songs must be original.
During registration you will enter your lyrics, writer(s), AND a recording of your song. This will be the qualifying round. See the entry form for instructions.
Lyrics that include lewd or degrading language, sex, drugs, guns, violence, or anti-police are prohibited.
Each contestant may enter up to 3 original songs.
If a co-writer enters your song, that will be included as one of your 3 songs. If you already have 3 songs submitted, the 4th song will be disqualified.
All writers must be listed on the registration form. Someone other than the writer may perform the song.
Songwriters or accompanists are permitted to play songs. Accompanists are not provided. 2 Musical instruments are allowed.A keyboard will be the only instrument provided.
Tracks must be on CD or USB drive format, contestants will not be allowed to use an aux cord.
Disqualifications:
Automatic disqualification of the 4th entry if you are listed as a writer on 3 entries.
Automatic disqualification of songs with lyrics that include lewd or degrading language, sex, drugs, guns, violence, or anti-police.
Allcontestants,familymembersorsongwritingcoachesdisplayinglewd,disrespectfulorinappropriate behavior or language to any fellow contestant, family member, songwriting coaches, Delta Songwriting staff or Delta Fair staff will automatically disqualify all of the contestant’s entries.
Any lewd, disrespectful or inappropriate behavior or language by a songwriting coach will result in ALL of their contestant’s entries being disqualified.
We reserve the right to disqualify and/or exclude, in our sole and absolute discretion, any individual from any of the competition for any reason or for no reason at all, including without limitation, violation of any portion of these rules, lew language in song or spoken to individuals or staff, or tampering with the entry process or the competition process. We also reserve the right to change the rules and procedures at any time. Being chosen to compete at any level in the process does NOT ensure that you will be selected to continue to the next stage.
General Conditions:
General dates, locations, procedures and rules are subject to change prior to the competition.Delta Fair and MusicFestival,Expo-South,UniversalFairs,participatingtelevision stations,advertisingagenciesorany person or entity connected with the production, administration or judging of the competition or programs, or any to their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, successors and assigns, and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, contractors, partners, shareholders, attorneys, representatives and members of each of the foregoing entities are not responsible for and shall not be liable for: i) any failure of transportation, bad directions, or the inability, for any reason, of any person to appear at a competition site ; ii) any injuries, losses or damages of any kind caused by traveling to or from the competition venues, being present at the competition venues, participating in the competition process or being selected to or disqualified from continuing in the competition process iii) any printing, typographical or technological errors in any materials associated with the competition process.
For more information contact: Delta Fair & Music Festival Offices: talent@deltafest.com
Schedule:Entry Form is available online @ www.Deltafest.com . Entries must include a completed entry form and payment. Send registration forms and recordings via email to
talent@deltafest.com. In the subject you MUST put Attn: Delta Songwriting Star Entry. Failure to do this may result in your entry being overlooked.
Monday, July 17, 2023 Registration Opens $15 per song to submit Entry Forms on or before Monday August 21, 2023 at 7:00 pm.
Monday, August 21, 2023 Registration Ends Entries received after 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2023 will not be considered for the competition.
Saturday, August 26, 2023 Final Round Top 25 Entries Announced. (10 Jrs. and 15 Srs.) All artists entered will be notified either way. Only the finalists will get to perform their song in front of a live audience.
Friday, September 1, 2023 FInal Round: Agricenter A-Wing
Jr. Division:
Check-in @ 5:00pm All contestants chosen for the final round will need to arrive at the Delta Fair & Music Festival Delta Songwriting Star Competition at 5:00pm to be given a number. There will be a list of contestant’s names at the ticket booth at entrance #3 off of Walnut Grove to get you into the Competition. Parents must buy their ticket at the door.
Sr. Division:
Check-in @ 5:00pm All contestants chosen for the final round will need to arrive at the Delta Fair & Music Festival Delta Songwriting Star Competition at 5:00pm to be given a number. There will be a list of contestant’s names at the ticket booth at entrance #3 off of Walnut Grove to get you into the Competition. Parents must buy their ticket at the door.
Final Round @ 6:00pm Competition begins at the A-Wing Stage. At the end of the competition the winners will be announced. Jrs will compete first, then Srs. The awards will be announced at the end of the show.