American Songwriter
American Songwriter is a Nashville-based music media company, founded in 1984 and owned by Savage Ventures, that publishes songwriting content, runs three annual contests (Song, Lyric, Road Ready), a three-tier membership program, paid education courses, and a premium songwriting camp serving aspiring and professional songwriters globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersNashville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What American Songwriter does
American Songwriter is a Nashville-based music media company founded in 1984 and operated as a brand under Savage Ventures. The company publishes a bimonthly print and digital magazine, operates a podcast network (including Off The Record, Song Diving, and SongTown on Songwriting), and maintains a daily editorial website covering songwriting craft, artist profiles, album reviews, and music history across genres including country, rock, pop, folk, and Americana.
The company's product portfolio is organized around three flagship annual contests (Song Contest at $25/entry with a $10,000 grand prize, Lyric Contest at $15/entry across six sessions, and Road Ready Talent Contest at $35/entry with a $20,000 grand prize for unsigned artists), a three-tier membership program (Gold $36.99, Platinum $59.99, Diamond $149.99 first-year pricing) bundling digital access, print issues, contest discounts, and professional coaching, an education division called Songwriter U offering online courses ($499.99-$999.99) and the Between The Lines premium songwriting camp ($2,499-$3,499) at Hutton Hotel Nashville, and a magazine subscription product at $59.99/year. The underlying technology is described as a digital content platform and membership management system; no proprietary AI, API, or SDK capabilities are disclosed.
American Songwriter monetizes through contest entry fees, recurring membership and magazine subscriptions, course and camp tuition, display advertising, and prize-sponsor relationships with gear manufacturers (Gibson/Epiphone, AKG, JBL) and industry partners (Savage Music for publishing deals, Warner Music Group for A&R access, Country Thunder for live performance opportunities). Its customer base is a long-tail of individual songwriters — both aspiring hobbyists and working professionals — with documented case-study outcomes including Billboard #1 co-writes and label signings tracing back to contest wins.
American Songwriter firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Songwriter
- Legal name
- American Songwriter
- Website
- https://americansongwriter.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- American Songwriter is a Nashville-based music media company, founded in 1984 and owned by Savage Ventures, that publishes songwriting content, runs three annual contests (Song, Lyric, Road Ready), a three-tier membership program, paid education courses, and a premium songwriting camp serving aspiring and professional songwriters globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Songwriter industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Media and Songwriting Education
- NAICS
- Sound Recording Industries (5122), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- A&R / Artist Development Services (MPAIAGAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Songwriting, Composition & Arranging (EDAMANAG), Songwriting & Composition (Topliners, Co-writers, Camps) (MPAIABAA)
Keywords
Where American Songwriter is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nashville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Songwriter business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Three-tiered membership program (Gold, Platinum, Diamond) with annual subscription pricing ranging from $36.99 to $149.99 for the first year. Provides access to digital issues, community hub, coaching, discounts on contests, print magazines (Platinum/Diamond), and professional reviews (Diamond).
- Song Contest Entry Fees: Entry fees of $25 per song submission for the flagship Song Contest, which awards a $10,000 grand prize along with publishing deals and mentorship. Accepts submissions across 23+ genre categories.
- Lyric Contest Entry Fees: Entry fees of $15 per lyric submission for the Lyric Contest, run in six sessions annually since 1984. Session winners receive guitar prizes, studio equipment, magazine features, and the grand prize Dream Day on Music Row including co-write session, mentorship, professional demo, and Nashville trip.
- Road Ready Talent Contest Entry Fees: Entry fees of $35 per submission for the Road Ready Talent Contest targeting unsigned artists. Grand prize includes $20,000 cash, live Nashville performance, publishing deal opportunity with Savage Music, and A&R mentorship.
- Magazine Subscriptions: Print magazine subscriptions at $59.99/year (50% off promotional rate, normally $119.88), including 6 bimonthly issues delivered to subscribers plus digital access. Also available through Platinum and Diamond membership tiers.
- Songwriter U Education: Online songwriting education courses including Foundations ($999.99), Skill Lab: Lyrics ($499.99), and Co-Writing Rooms. Taught by working hit songwriters with live sessions, assignments, and direct feedback.
- Songwriting Camps: Between The Lines songwriting camp held July 24-27, 2026 at Hutton Hotel in Nashville. Three tiers: Gold ($2,499, access only), Platinum ($2,999, shared room), Diamond ($3,499, private room). Includes full camp access, meals, and 1:1 mentorship with hit songwriters and A&R executives.
- Advertising: Display advertising and sponsorship opportunities across the website, newsletter, and podcasts. Brand partners include guitar manufacturers (Gibson/Epiphone), audio equipment companies (AKG, JBL), and music industry service providers.
- Contest Promotions: Additional promotional contests during specific periods (e.g., Heart Toppers love song promotion) offering bonus prizes including Martin guitars, with sponsorship from music industry brands.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Gold: Digital access and community at discounted first-year rate |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum: Print magazines plus community and discounts |
| Subscription | Annual | Diamond: Full access with professional reviews and mentorship |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Song Contest: Open song competition with $10,000 grand prize |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Lyric Contest: Six sessions annually judged by professional songwriters |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Road Ready: Talent contest for unsigned artists with $20,000 grand prize |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Foundations: 8-week beginner songwriting course |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Skill Lab: Lyrics: 4-week intermediate lyric writing intensive |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Between The Lines Songwriting Camp: 3-day immersive Nashville experience |
| Subscription | Annual | Print Magazine Subscription: Bimonthly issues delivered to door |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels9 records
American Songwriter product offering
Product offeringCore offering
American Songwriter is a Nashville-based music media brand that publishes a bi-monthly print and digital magazine covering songwriting craft and the music industry, operates the Songwriter U online education platform with courses and live songwriting camps, runs three flagship songwriting contests (Song Contest, Lyric Contest, Road Ready Talent Contest), and maintains a paid three-tier membership community (Gold, Platinum, Diamond) for aspiring and professional songwriters. Its content network includes the Off The Record podcast, the Sound of Texas video series, and recurring editorial features such as Behind The Song and The List, all centered on education, recognition, and community for songwriters.
Product overview
American Songwriter is a music media company operating as a multi-platform content publisher with three flagship contest products (Song Contest, Lyric Contest, and Road Ready Talent Contest), an education division (Songwriter U with three-tier courses and Between The Lines Songwriting Camp), and a content network spanning a bi-monthly print/digital magazine, the Off The Record podcast and broader podcast network, the Sound of Texas video series, and editorial features including Behind The Song, The List, and Digital Cover Exclusives. The company also operates a three-tier membership program (Gold, Platinum, Diamond) and a daily newsletter (The Daily Co-Write). All offerings center on songwriting education, recognition, and community for aspiring and professional songwriters.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Song Contest American Songwriter's flagship open song competition accepting entries across 23+ genre categories (R&B/Soul, Rock, Country, Pop, Hip-Hop/Rap, Americana, Jazz, Latin, etc.). $25 per entry, with a $10,000 grand prize, A&R mentorship, publishing deal opportunity with Savage Music, a 2-page magazine feature, global album promotion via Play MPE, premium studio time, and a custom guitar. Deadlines recur annually; next deadline December 7, 2026. Judged by 20+ artists and industry leaders.
- Lyric Contest A lyric-only writing competition running six sessions per year since 1984. $15 per lyric entry; each session winner receives a Dream Day on Music Row in Nashville (co-write with David Ryan Harris, mentorship with Jessie Jo Dillon, professional demo recording, Nashville trip), an Epiphone guitar, an AKG P220 condenser microphone, and JBL 3 Series studio monitors. Session Six closes September 15, 2026.
- Road Ready Talent Contest A talent and stage presence contest for unsigned artists worldwide. $35 per entry; grand prize includes $20,000 cash, a live Nashville performance, a publishing deal opportunity with Savage Music, A&R mentorship, a 2-page magazine feature, a studio recording package, a gear package, a PR campaign, a 1-year membership, and a performance slot at Country Thunder Music Festival's Songwriters Showcase. Entries closed July 1, 2026.
- Membership Program (Gold, Platinum, Diamond) Three-tier annual membership community. Gold ($36.99 first year, then $59.99) includes digital bimonthly issues, community access with unlimited comments/DMs, vendor discounts, and a members-only newsletter. Platinum ($59.99 first year, then $119.88) adds 6 print magazines per year, 20% off contest entries, and discounts on songwriting camps and digital courses. Diamond ($149.99 first year, then $299.88) adds 25% off contest entries, 4 song/lyric pro reviews ($180 value), a monthly live coaching call, and exclusive industry workshops.
- Songwriter U (Foundations, Skill Lab: Lyrics, Co-Writing Rooms) Online songwriting education platform with three courses taught by working hit songwriters. Foundations is an 8-week beginner program ($999.99) with 8 modules and 8 live sessions covering blank-page-to-demo fundamentals. Skill Lab: Lyrics is a 4-week intermediate lyric-writing intensive ($499.99) with 4 live sessions, small group, and guided rewrites. Co-Writing Rooms is a 4-week advanced collaboration lab. All courses include live feedback and direct instructor engagement.
- Between The Lines Songwriting Camp A 3-day immersive co-writing camp held July 24-27, 2026 at Hutton Hotel in Nashville, led by #1 hit songwriters, Grammy-winning producers, and Warner Music Group A&R (including VP of A&R Stephanie Davenport). Three tiers: Gold ($2,499, access only), Platinum ($2,999, shared Hutton Hotel room), Diamond ($3,499, private room). All tiers include full camp access, all meals, 1:1 mentorship, and access to Hutton Hotel's Writers Studios and showcase opportunities. Payment plans available.
- American Songwriter Magazine Bi-monthly print and digital magazine covering songwriting, the music industry, artist profiles, interviews, and reviews. Print subscription available standalone at $59.99/year (50% off promotional, normally $119.88) for 6 bimonthly issues plus digital access and 20% off contest entries. Also bundled into Platinum and Diamond memberships. The July/August 2026 cover featured Niall Horan.
- Psalms to Songs Christian Music Contest A faith-driven song contest hosted in partnership with InspireMore. Offers a $5,000 cash prize and major label A&R mentorship to the winning faith-inspired music submission. Operates as an international competition.
- Contest Promotions Special promotional contests layered on top of the flagship competitions, offering additional prizes and recognition for entrants. Includes themed promotions such as 'Heart Toppers' love song promotion with Martin guitars as bonus prizes.
Quantifiable outcome
- Lance Carpenter's Lyric Contest win led to co-writing Kelsea Ballerini's Billboard #1 hit 'Love Me Like You Mean It'
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use American Songwriter
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
American Songwriter technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
American Songwriter partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Savage MusiccoreSavage Music, a Savage Ventures company, serves as the publishing deal partner for Song Contest and Road Ready Talent Contest grand prize winners. Provides A&R mentorship and publishing opportunity to contest winners, creating a direct pathway from competition to professional contracts.
- Country Thunder Music FestivalsupportingRoad Ready Talent Contest grand prize winners receive a performance opportunity at Country Thunder Music Festival's Songwriters Showcase, including festival passes, airfare, and lodging for the winner.
- Epiphone (Gibson)supportingEpiphone provides premium acoustic guitars as prizes for Lyric Contest session winners. The 2026 grand prize features an Epiphone 1942 Banner J-45 Reissue in Vintage Sunburst.
- AKGsupportingAKG provides P220 condenser microphones as prizes for Lyric Contest session winners. Large-diaphragm condenser microphones for home vocal recording.
- JBL (Harman)supportingJBL provides 3 Series Studio Monitors as prizes for Lyric Contest session winners. Reference monitors for accurate audio mixing.
- Play MPEsupportingPlay MPE provides global album promotion and radio tracking for Song Contest winners. Enables winners' music to reach radio stations and playlists worldwide.
- Nashville Demo WorkssupportingPreferred demo production partner offering 10% discount to American Songwriter readers with code ASW. Provides professional recording services for songwriters.
- SongcraftsupportingSongcraft provides songwriting tools as prizes for Lyric Contest session winners.
- Hutton Hotel (Nashville)coreHutton Hotel hosts the Between The Lines songwriting camp (July 24-27, 2026). Platinum and Diamond campers receive lodging at the hotel. The hotel provides $2,000+ in benefits including complimentary Writers Studios, pop-up showcase opportunities, and preferred room rates.
- Warner Music GroupcoreWarner Music Group A&R executive Stephanie Davenport (VP of A&R) serves as a mentor at Between The Lines camp, providing direct access to major label perspective on artist development and songwriting.
- Girlilla MarketingsupportingGirlilla Marketing CEO serves as camp mentor, bringing digital strategy expertise from work with Dead & Company, Willie Nelson, and Blondie.
- Travel TexassupportingTravel Texas partnered with American Songwriter to create 'The Sound of Texas,' a 6-part music and travel series exploring Texas music culture, artists, venues, and local attractions. Series created in partnership with Travel Texas.
- InspireMoresupportingInspireMore partners with American Songwriter to co-host the 'Psalms to Songs' Christian Music Song Contest, an international competition offering $5,000 cash prize and major label A&R mentorship.
- Wide Open CountrysupportingWide Open Country hosts the WOC Song Contest, a country-focused songwriting competition promoted through American Songwriter's contest pages.
- VICEsupportingVICE Playlist Project allows songwriters to land their music on the VICE playlist, promoted through American Songwriter's contest ecosystem.
- Savage VenturescoreSavage Ventures is the parent company/brand of American Songwriter, as noted on the website footer: 'American Songwriter: a Savage Ventures Brand.'
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
American Songwriter competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Songwriting Competition (ISC): Annual open song contest with category-based entries and cash/prize packages. Directly comparable to American Songwriter's Song Contest and Lyric Contest business on contest mechanics, entry fees, and songwriter-attendee personas.
- Unsigned Only Music Competition: Songwriting/talent contest for unsigned artists offering cash prizes, mentorship, and industry exposure. Closely comparable to American Songwriter's Road Ready Talent Contest in target audience and prize-pipeline design.
- MusicRow: Nashville-based trade publication covering the country music and songwriting industries. Directly comparable on Nashville focus, songwriter/journalism content, and industry trade audience.
- Soundfly: Online songwriting and music production education platform with mentor-led courses. Comparable to American Songwriter's Songwriter U Foundations and Skill Lab course offerings in target audience and pricing tier.
- Music Connection Magazine: Long-running U.S. trade publication covering songwriters, artists, and the music industry. Directly comparable on songwriter-and-music-industry trade media positioning, particularly for aspiring and working songwriters.
Broad incumbents
- Berklee Online: Online music education arm of Berklee College of Music offering songwriting, production, and performance courses. Comparable to American Songwriter's Songwriter U educational product line, but at much larger scale and broader music-skill coverage.
- Billboard: Major U.S. music industry publication covering charts, artists, and industry news. Broader in scope than American Songwriter's craft-focused editorial but overlaps on music journalism, artist interviews, and the songwriter/industry audience.
- Rolling Stone: Iconic music and culture magazine covering artists, industry, and songwriting history. Comparable as a music-media publication with editorial authority, though broader in genre and cultural coverage than American Songwriter's craft focus.
- MasterClass: Premium online education platform with music/songwriting courses from notable artists and producers. Comparable as a higher-priced online learning competitor to American Songwriter's $499.99–$999.99 courses, though with much broader subject coverage.
Emerging players
- ReverbNation: Independent artist development and distribution platform offering promotion tools, contests, and industry discovery. Comparable to American Songwriter's artist-development mission and unsigned-artist focus, though structured as a SaaS distribution platform rather than a content brand.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
American Songwriter social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Songwriter financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Songwriter leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
American Songwriter funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Songwriter M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Songwriter
What does American Songwriter do?
American Songwriter is a Nashville-based music media brand that publishes a bi-monthly print and digital magazine covering songwriting craft and the music industry, operates the Songwriter U online education platform with courses and live songwriting camps, runs three flagship songwriting contests (Song Contest, Lyric Contest, Road Ready Talent Contest), and maintains a paid three-tier membership community (Gold, Platinum, Diamond) for aspiring and professional songwriters. Its content network includes the Off The Record podcast, the Sound of Texas video series, and recurring editorial features such as Behind The Song and The List, all centered on education, recognition, and community for songwriters.
Is American Songwriter a public or private company?
American Songwriter is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was American Songwriter founded?
American Songwriter was founded in 1984. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is American Songwriter based?
American Songwriter is headquartered in Nashville, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Songwriter make money?
Nine revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are song Contest Entry Fees, lyric Contest Entry Fees, road Ready Talent Contest Entry Fees, magazine Subscriptions, songwriter U Education, songwriting Camps, advertising and contest Promotions.
Who are American Songwriter's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Songwriting Competition (ISC), Unsigned Only Music Competition, MusicRow, Soundfly and Music Connection Magazine. Broad incumbents are Berklee Online, Billboard, Rolling Stone and MasterClass. ReverbNation is listed as an emerging player.
Does American Songwriter have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Songwriter.
What industry is American Songwriter in?
American Songwriter's product category is Music Media and Songwriting Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAGAL, A&R / Artist Development Services, with a secondary code of EDAMANAG, Songwriting, Composition & Arranging. Its NAICS code is 5122 and its SIC code is 2721.