NSAI & CMT Host Contest to Find Country’s Next Big Hitmaker

"It all begins with a song." -- NSAI

Some of the biggest heroes in music aren't the voices you hear on the radio but rather the musicians behind the scenes who craft the lyrics and melodies. The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) wants to find the next big thing in songwriting, so they've teamed up with CMT to host a contest with some pretty huge incentives to apply.

The Grand Prize winner will get to meet with living legend Charlie Daniels for a private mentoring session. There will also be a CMT Listeners' Choice winner and a Lyrics-Only winner, with prizes including a professional demo, a performance at Nashville's legendary Bluebird Cafe, meetings with several top publishers, a one-year membership to NSAI, tickets to the 2012 CMT Music Awards and more. Unsigned songwriters have from now until Monday, Oct. 31, to submit their best tunes (in any genre, not just country!). Click here for rules and instructions on how to enter.

With three rounds of judging, a committee that includes established songwriters, publishers and music industry professionals will choose the Grand Prize and Lyrics-Only winners, plus 10 runners-up and 10 honorable mentions. Then, the Top 10 (excluding the Grand Prize winner) will be posted on nsai.cmt.com for the CMT Listeners' Choice online voting. You'll be able to cast votes for your favorite songwriter Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, 2012.

Entry fees are $35 per song for current NSAI members and $45 for non-members. Click here to enter.