Designed to encourage Michigan artists to collaborate with other musicians, the competition will accept song entries from April 1 to MY 31. Get the link to enter at Local Spins.

The 2023 Award Winners: Annabelle Fuerst and Payton Carter at their album-release show last weekend. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
EDITOR’S NOTE: The songwriting challenge deadline has now been extended to May 31. Scroll down to listen to last year’s winning song.
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The moon is rising yet again.
The second annual New Moon Songwriting Challenge fires up on April 1, with organizers challenging Michigan songwriters to collaborate with other tunesmiths in submitting songs in the competition.
Aimed at encouraging artists “to venture into uncharted territory by engaging in co-writes with fellow musicians,” the New Moon contest will accept song submissions from April 1 until May 31.
Each song must feature two songwriters, with at least one of them based in Michigan. Open to all ages and genres, the competition allows each participant to enter up to two songs provided each one has a different co-writer.
The first-place winner will receive a prize package that includes studio time at Electric Moon Studios in Grand Rapids to record the winning song, a 30-day playlist campaign via Forthright Records, release consultation with Crooked Tree Creative, a photo shoot with Emma Vanderveen Photography and five single 45-rpm records from Great Lakes Records.
Young Kalamazoo-area songwriters Payton Carter and Annabelle Fuerst won last year’s inaugural competition and have since gone on to release their first studio album as the Payton & Annabelle duo, “For the Willows,” celebrated during a concert earlier this month at The Clover Room in Kalamazoo.
At the time of their 2023 win, Fuerst called it “incredible to be recognized and praised” as songwriters amid “a competition filled with so much talent.” (Scroll down to listen to the final studio version of their winning song.)
Traverse City’s SkyeLea Martin and Trillium Groove were named the runners-up in the 2023 challenge that drew entries from 84 Michigan artists who submitted 38 songs spanning several genres.
Sponsored by Crooked Tree Creative’s Elle Lively and Electric Moon Studios’ Ryan Jamgotch, the New Moon Songwriting Challenge will announce the winners and honorable mentions in June, based on judging by a panel featuring Lively, Jamgotch, Forthright Records’ Andrew Oliver, WYCE’s Shelby Brook, Emma Vanderveen and George Paulin of Great Lakes Records.
“By pairing up artists who may not have previously collaborated,” Lively said, “the challenge aims to spark innovation and produce fresh, unexpected musical compositions.”
Songwriters can enter by filling out the official form online here. There’s no entry fee, but lyrics for the songs must be provided.
Email michigansongcontest@gmail.come for additional information and updates.
LISTEN: Payton & Annabelle, “Projection” (from “For the Willows”)
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