The 7th annual CMT/NSAI Song Contest is accepting submissions, with prizes that include among others:

The contest is run by the Nashville Songwriters Association International, and Country Music Television. Entry fees are $40 for a single song, or $55 for two songs, with the fees rising after September 30 to $45 and $60. There is no limit to the number of songs that can be submitted.

The contest rules state that all genres of music are eligible, and we asked Deanie Williams, CMT/NSAI Song Contest Director, whether she felt like bluegrass songs, or songs from bluegrass writers, would have a fair chance in the competition.

“Every year the CMT/NSAI Song Contest receives thousands of song contest entries from all across the U.S. as well as internationally. We receive entries from all genres of music, including Bluegrass. In fact, last year’s CMT/NSAI Song Contest found a bluegrass gem that made its way to the Finals! Do yourself a favor and send us your Bluegrass song if you think it’s ready for a single-song contract because that is exactly what you could win!”

The official deadline for submissions is November 30, 2006 but entries received by August 15 will be entered into a separate drawing for a prize pack that includes a lifetime NSAI membership, admission to the 2007 NSAI Symposium and attendance at a NSAI Song Camp – plus a Gibson Epiphone guitar.

You can find all the details and entry forms on the official contest web site.