BMI Foundation Creates Nashville Songwriting Scholarship

The BMI Foundation is accepting applications for its 2016 scholarship season, open to young musicians attending colleges and universities nationwide. The Foundation will administer seven distinct scholarship competitions aided by panelists of international musical acclaim.

These annual programs include the newly established Nashville Songwriting Scholarship and BMI Founders Award for Radio Broadcasting, as well as the BMI Future Jazz Master Scholarship, BMI Student Composer Awards, John Lennon Scholarships, peermusic Latin Scholarship, and Woody Guthrie Fellowship.

The Nashville Songwriting Scholarship is an annual competition established in 2015 to support aspiring country music artists nationwide. A $5,000 scholarship will be awarded for the best original song in any of the following genres: Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk, and roots. The contest is open to students between the ages of 17 and 24, who are enrolled in any college or university located in the United States. Grammy-winning recording artist and BMI songwriter Kacey Musgraves has endorsed the inaugural competition.

Program applications must be completed online no later than Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. For complete details and to apply, please visit bmifoundation.org/programs.

“It is with great anticipation that the BMI Foundation opens its virtual doors to young composers, songwriters, and music scholars across the country,” said BMI Foundation President Deirdre Chadwick. “In addition to our historic awards for the creators of pop, Latin, jazz, and classical music, we are thrilled to broaden our reach in 2016 to aspiring country music songwriters and broadcasting students. Collectively, our programs provide vital support for the next generation of musical talent and professionals in America.”