2026 CHAPTER CHALLENGE INSTRUCTIONS 

OVERVIEW: 

Starting April 1st through May 31st, 2026, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) will kick off the annual “NSAI Chapter Challenge.” 
NSAI members in Local Chapters across the globe have an opportunity to submit 1 (one) pre-recorded song at their local in person Chapter meeting! 
Participants must be a current NSAI member and “affiliated” with a Chapter where they wish to attend and submit for the Chapter’s April or May meeting. 
(“Affiliated” means you have joined a Local NSAI Chapter and receive information and participate in that Chapter’s activities.) 
  

📍 Check the Chapter Events Calendar to see all upcoming meetings—click on a local Chapter near you for details on how to attend and participate! 🎵🗓️ 

If you are affiliated with multiple Chapters, you may only submit one song to one Chapter. 
Multiple entries will immediately be disqualified. 

 
To find and join a Local Chapter near you, please follow these steps: 
go to - https://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/chapter-search and click the name of the Chapter you are interested in. 
That takes you to the Chapters Profile page where you will see the Chapter’s information, including a teal button (picture for reference below) that says, “Affiliate with Chapter.” 
Click “Affiliate with Chapter” (shown below) to join and you’re all set! 

 

 

 

 

CHECK OUT THE PRIZES!

The winning NSAI Member and the winning NSAI Coordinator whose songs are chosen will each receive:

  • A curated Nashville, Music Row experience - exclusively customized for each winning writer, specific to their individual talent, inspirations, and goals including:

  • Two industry meetings that are in alignment with the writer’s unique style (to be completed within a year of winning)

  • Lunch with NSAI Staff (to be completed within a year of winning)

  • One (1) Roundtrip flight on Southwest Airlines, Official Airline Partner of NSAI 

  • Winners will receive flight vouchers and instructions to book their own flights.

  • Flight vouchers expire on May 1, 2027. 

  • Limited to travel only in cities serviced by Southwest Airlines.

  • Two (2) night hotel stay at NSAI Partner hotel in Nashville 

  • Excluding predetermined blackout dates and upon availability.

  • Hotel accommodations cannot be scheduled during the months of March or September

  • NOTE: Travel is for two (2) days and two (2) nights (exclusions for dates of travel apply). The trip must be booked at least two (2) months in advance and scheduled between Monday-Thursday.

  • A guided tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum (to be completed within a year of winning)

  • And more!  

 

 CHAPTER CHALLENGE TOP 20 PRIZE PACKAGE 

  • In depth Song Feedback by Pro Writer 

  • Exclusive Online Pitch with a Music Row Publisher

  • Recognition on NSAI Socials

  • Top 20 playlist featured on NSAI website

  • Commemorative Poster

Chapter Coordinators will facilitate the Chapter meeting where members will listen to all the songs submitted. Each member can submit 1 (one) song. After the last song is played, fellow members will vote on the song they think should make it to Round 2 of the Chapter Challenge.  

Coordinators are there to facilitate the voting process. 
Each Coordinator will receive an automatic song submission into Round 2 as a “thank you” for their dedication and time as a volunteer Chapter Coordinator.  
The Member’s song that receives the most votes will be forwarded to NSAI by the end of your meeting and ALL MEETINGS must be concluded by 11:59pm (CST), May 31st, 2026.  
Round 2 - NSAI has an appointed committee that will listen to all song submissions from Members who were selected by their Chapter as the winner, along with each Coordinator entry. 
The committee will then vote and select the top 20 submissions. 
  

ENTRY RULES  

  • No live performances will be accepted. 
  • Songs cannot be co-written with a professional songwriter. 
  • Songs under/pending contract are not eligible for submission. 
  • AI MUST NOT be used in the creation of the Song (melody) or Lyric of the submission to be eligible. Song submission must be the original work of the Songwriter without use of any artificial intelligence, and must not infringe upon the copyrights, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity or be otherwise contrary to applicable laws and regulations. 
  • NSAI members in Local Chapters can submit one song at one local Chapter meeting. Multiple submissions will result in disqualification. 
  • Members cannot vote for their own song submission. 
  • Non-members cannot vote for or submit a song in the competition. 
  • Voting must happen at the Chapter meeting -- NO EXCEPTIONS. 
  • The song that receives the most votes from Chapter Members MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 11:59pm (CST) Saturday, May 31st, 2025. 
  • Late submissions will not be accepted.  

 

CHECK OUT LAST YEAR'S 2025 CHAPTER CHALLENGE FINALISTS 

With over 4,000 members from our NSAI Chapters worldwide, check out the songs that made it into this year’s Chapter Challenge Top 20 below! Thank you to all the incredible Chapters, Coordinators and Members that participated! 

TOP 20 CHAPTER CHALLENGE PLAYLIST

 

 

TOP 20  - CHAPTER CHALLENGE 2025

LOCAL CHAPTER WINNERS - 2025