Terms & Rules
Eligibility
Nashville Rising Song is open to songwriters of any age and any level of experience. Songwriters under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. By signing up you agree to these terms and to the rules announced at the venue on the night of the round.
Original Songs Only
Every song performed must be 100% original and written by the competing songwriter — lyrics, melody and chords. Co-written songs, cover songs, and songs written in whole or in part by artificial intelligence are not eligible for competition.
Sign-Ups and Slot Drawings
Signing up does not guarantee a performance slot. Each open-mic round has room for up to 21 songwriters. If more than 21 songwriters are present at the venue at 6:30 PM, contestants are chosen by random drawing. Please arrive early and check in promptly.
Reserved Slots
A reserved performance slot costs $25 per round and is non-refundable. To keep a reserved slot the songwriter must arrive and check in by 6:30 PM. If the songwriter has not checked in by that time, the slot is released to another songwriter and the reservation fee is forfeited.
Instruments and Setup
Only one instrument may be used at a time. Drums, bass guitars and electric guitars are not permitted, and multiple instruments may not be played simultaneously. Please bring your own acoustic guitar with a pickup — we cannot mic an acoustic guitar without one. Nashville Rising Song provides an 88-key weighted digital piano, and all piano performers must use the provided keyboard.
Photography and Livestream
Nashville Rising Song may photograph, audio record, video record and livestream any performance at our events, and may use that material to promote the series. By performing you grant us permission to do so.
Questions
See the FAQ for more detail, or reach us through the contact page.