Indie music news is geared towards the independent musician, however much of the content can be of the same use to established stars who are expanding their career. The following article is a short interview I did recently with Joseph Cuccia, President/Founder, Cooch Music. To get back to the main Indie Music News page at any time simply click the button on the left. 

              A REAL amateur songwriting contest ?????

                        by Rikk Matheson

Getting tired of trying to win songwriting contests, only to get beaten by the BIG names that enter everywhere ? Well, it seems your search may be over as Cooch Music have a totally AMATEUR songwriting contest. What does that mean? How can I enter? What is the whole deal? Well, I briefly picked the brain of  the president and founder of Cooch Music, Joseph Cuccia to get some answers for you, and the following is the summation of the chat we had.....

So, a totally amateur songwriting contest, hmmmm, sounds interesting, well Joseph, what's the deal, what are the benefits from entering your contest as opposed to others found in publications, and/or on the web?

JC:   Our contest is open to Amateur Songwriters Only! Others are open to Amateur and Professionals. (Amateur writer guideline is someone who makes less than $5000 a year in Royalties from their songs) We offer prizes like the others but at a low entry fee -only $15.0o an entry (we know writers don't have a lot of money! HA) Since we are also Publishers and Management company we judge every entry for possible placement in our company. Even if you are not amongst the winning song!

We have contacts with all of the major labels and Indies in which we shop
songs to their artists. So you can see the benefits for the Amateur Songwriter.
We feel that we are opening doors for these writers who might not otherwise
have a chance to get their songs to major artists and we also help develop these
writers if the potential is there!

RR: Would we know any of your past winners ?

JC:          **WINNERS LIST FROM OUR 6TH CONTEST!
                   (CONTEST ENDING Aug. 31sth 2003)

GRAND PRIZE WINNER: ** Ron Meliment / Richard Bruno (Band Driving While 7)
from Philadelphia, PA USA for the song "Be Leavin'" (Rock)

1ST Place: ** Chris Turner / Tony Barlow from Malaga, Spain. for the song
"Sign on the dotted line" (R&B)

2ND Place: ** Nicky Saleeba from Manangaroo, Perth, Western Australia. for
the song "Broken Love" (POP)

HONORABLE MENTION WINNERS ARE:
* Bonnie Foster from Westbrook, CT USA. Song "Play around with you" (Country)

*(KIA) M.T. Loong from N. Las Vegas, NV USA. Song "Proud to be, Americans are we" (Patriotic)

*Lorenn Peer from NY, NY, USA. Song "Layla Lavan" (White Night - Hebrew) (Pop)

*Nikki Chapin Frizzell from Medina, MN USA. Song "Mindful" (Gospel) and also
for the song "I Know You Are I Am (Gospel)

** This contest had a couple of special events happen. First Nikki Frizzell
is the first songwriter to place two songs within one contest! Congrats to
Nikki!

**Also Nicky Saleeba (KNIKI) is the first songwriter to place a song in two
different contests!

RR: Are the songs judged by folks in the know? Who are they? and What criteria is used?

JC: Songs are judged by our staff at our publishing company J. Cooch Music(BMI) and we have professionals from the industry come in to help out. Many in the fields of Producers, Engineers, other Artists and Management. These
professionals are also seeking songs while they judge which can lead to other possibilities for the writers.

Songs are to be judged on originality, lyrics, melody and composition, Production and vocals are not judged as we are judging the songs not the performance or the recording.

RR: What styles of music are accepted into the 7th Amateur songwriting contest?

JC: We accept all Genres of Music! None excluded! A hit song is a hit song no matter the Genre!

RR: When can the winners, and/or wondering minds like myself expect to be announced/ notified ?

JC: Winners are notified two months after the deadline date ( the deadline for this contest is March 28th, 2004) And they are announced at the same time!

Well, first off, my thank you's going out to Joseph Cuccia from Cooch Music for taking the time to speak with me, and if you are interested in finding out more, simply click on the songwriting contest image above, or below.........

Oh yes, and Good Luck !!

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