NASHVILLE, TN — Mayor John Cooper has announced an online competition to choose a “fan favorite” among the three finalists in the “Nashville Needs A Song” COVID-19 songwriting competition. The competition started on Wednesday, May 27 and Davidson County residents can visit https://www.asafenashville.org/nashville-needs-a-song-contest/ to cast their vote. Online polls close at 5 p.m. CDT on Friday, May 29.
The top three competition finalists chosen by the Nashville Songwriters Association International are:
“Looking Up” Written by Jesse Labelle, Rob Crosby, and Jamie Moore
“Times Like These” Written by Conner Sweet, Lance Carpenter, and Liz Hengber
“We Will Survive” Written by Ryan Kinder and Justin Morgan
At Mayor Cooper’s direction, the “Nashville Needs A Song” contest was created to solicit compositions from Music City’s songwriters that would help inspire and uplift Nashvillians as they navigate the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Nashville has a rich history of both consoling and encouraging our neighbors far and wide during tumultuous times with the gift of music,” said Mayor Cooper. “Now, in our fight against the coronavirus, we could all use an anthem to help us build solidarity and inspire us in the ways that only music can. I look forward to casting my vote in the ‘fan favorite’ competition and invite all Nashvillians to listen to the finalists’ entries and make your selection online.”
“Nashville Needs A Song” is a joint initiative of the Mayor’s Office, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, and Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). NSAI is administering the contest, which was open to songwriters who live in Davidson County, and the submitting songwriter must be a current member of NSAI. The first 100 submissions were considered.
NSAI assembled a panel of professional songwriter members to help choose the best song to be used as an anthem for these troubled times, according to NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. To encourage submissions and help those who keep the music playing in Music City, the NCVC is offering prize money from its COVID-19 relief fund, which is part of its charitable foundation: $2,500 to the winning songwriter, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third. The “fan favorite” winner will also receive a cash prize.
Winning songs may be used by the city and NCVC as part of marketing initiatives. Writers and their publishers will retain all future rights to their songs.