SONG CATEGORIES

There are ten song categories. Scroll down the page for descriptions of each category - reading these will help you choose the correct categories for your songs.

Pop Rock/Indie Adult Contemporary Jazz/Blues Folk/Country	Christian/Faith Urban & Dance Lyrics Only  Instrumental Open Category

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TIP: If you are still not sure what category your songs fall into after reading the descriptions below try taking a look at some of the big internet music sales sites and see how they categorise the various artists and their music.

Pop
Chart style popular music that could also include some slower pop ballads as well as more obvious up-tempo pop songs. This is the most commercial of all the categories and is for songs with mass (often younger) audience appeal - think X-Factor, Pop Idol, American Idol.

Adult Contemporary  -  AC
A new category that we introduced this year in response to your requests. Artists that are often described as AC include Amy Winehouse, Sting, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Celine Dion, Simply Red, Bryan Adams. Some acoustic based singer/songwriter material could also be suited. "Hot AC" is used to refer to a new radio format for younger, edgier bands.

Rock / Indie
All types and styles of rock music and alternative and indie music. Contestants in this category include bands as well as solo performers and songwriters. Recordings can be of any type: eg studio, bedroom, garage or live. 

Jazz / Blues
All jazz and blues styles from jazz ballads to classic 12 bars, traditional, experimental and modern.  This could also be a suitable category for conteporary jazz based easy listening styles (eg Katie Melua) or heavily jazz influenced bands such as Steely Dan.

Folk / Country
Country includes all the many different country styles and variations. Folk includes traditional folk music as well as contemporary and easy listening folk/acoustic styles.

Christian / Faith
All songs with a religious or faith theme including gospel, Christian, praise, worship etc. All musical styles - traditional, modern and alternative, choral to soul to rock. Christmas carols may be entered in this category or in Open/Miscellaneous (or both). 

Lyrics Only 
The category for lyricists. Lyrics may be typed or handwritten. If you wish you may also add directions about the type of music/vocalist/presentation etc that you imagine accompanying your lyric (this is optional and not a requirement).

Urban (including Dance)
Contemporary R&B, Hip Hop styles, Rap and all Urban styles. All dance styles including disco, d&b, trance, techno, tribal, gabba, garage etc. If you feel that your songs may overlap with Pop or Adult Contemporary you may wish to also enter in those categories.

Instrumental
All styles and forms of instrumental music from classical to rock. Theme, film, jingles or mood music, songs without lyrics or improvisational - there are no limits. Any type of instrumentation - eg single acoustic instrument, all keyboards based or band/ensemble performances etc etc.

Open (previously known as Miscellaneous)
As the title implies, anything goes in this category and there are no restrictions on what you may enter. This Open category is particularly suited for songs that do not fit easily into any of the above categories. Past entries have included opera, show tunes, Christmas carols, childrens' songs and comedy.

Click here to enter