FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THE NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER 'NSAI MEMBER AWARDS'
Event to be held during Tin Pan South Week 2020
Nashville, Tenn. (December 13, 2019) -- The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) will hold its first-ever Member Awards next year. “We have thousands of songwriter members who may not describe themselves as professional songwriters, but write amazing songs, are outstanding performers and deserve recognition for their work,” said NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. "We will present awards in a number of categories on Thursday, March 26th during Tin Pan South week 2020 and Tin Pan title sponsor Region’s Bank will present the awards."
“This is one of the most exciting additions to NSAI’s programming in years,” Herbison added. “We applaud Region’s Bank for underwriting this event. Nothing could be more in line with the part of our mission statement that says: to educate, elevate and celebrate the songwriter.”
First-year honors include awards voted by NSAI’s global membership and some chosen by NSAI staff. They include:
Online Pitch Award—Members vote on songs previously taken by Music Row publishers during NSAI’s 24 annual “Online Pitch” sessions. 12 Finalists in this category are determined by NSAI Member Representatives before members vote to determine the winner.
Song Evaluation Award – These selections begin with songs chosen by more than 14 professional songwriters who serve as NSAI Song Evaluators. These selections are narrowed by NSAI Member Representatives prior to final voting by NSAI Members. This is a very prestigious award considering the evaluators review more than eight thousand member songs each year.
NSAI Mentor Awards—Members vote on songs chosen by NSAI Mentors, a group of professional songwriters including R.C. Bannon, Mason Douglas, Jamie Floyd, Lacy Green and Benita Hill.
NSAI One to Watch Award—determined by the member with the highest number of “Ones to Watch” designations from NSAI Song Evaluators.
NSAI New Member of The Year—Chosen by the NSAI Member Representatives based on the person who has taken the most advantage of their first year of membership to grow as a songwriter.
Volunteer of The Year –Chosen by NSAI staff.
Friends of NSAI – Chosen by NSAI from partner individuals or organizations who assist NSAI and its members to fulfill our mission to serve songwriters.
Graduate Award – Presented to NSAI members who have signed publishing deals and moved into the professional songwriter category.
Chapter of The Year – Given to the outstanding NSAI Chapter from among the 100 across the world as determined by NSAI staff.
Chapter Coordinator of The Year – Given to the outstanding NSAI Chapter Coordinator as determined by NSAI staff.
Other Recognitions:
Todd Givens Scholarship Winner
NSAI Song Contest Winners
Anthem Chapter Challenge Winners—each of NSAI’s 100 chapters choose a “best song” during the month of April. NSAI and Anthem Music Publishing narrow the field down to a select few who are offered single-song contracts with Anthem, or other opportunities. Five songwriters will be recognized in this category.
The invitation-only event will be held at Analog at Hutton Hotel in Nashville and will include performances. In 2021 the NSAI Member Awards presented by Regions Bank will add the prestigious member-voted awards of Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $128 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,500 banking offices and 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.
About Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)
Established in 1967, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is the world’s largest not-for-profit songwriters trade organization and has a membership of more than 5,000 spanning the United States and eight (8) foreign countries. Consisting of a body of creative minds, including songwriters from all genres of music, professional and amateur, for over 52 years, NSAI has been committed to protecting the rights and future of the profession of songwriting, as well as carrying a commitment to educate, elevate and celebrate the songwriter, acting as a unifying force within the music community and the community at large. For more information, visit nashvillesongwriters.com.