John Cirillo Songwriting Scholarship
JCSS Scholarship Rules, Terms & Conditions and Disclaimers
I.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF JCSS SCHOLARSHIP
On an annual basis, JCSS will be accepting applications from practicing songwriters dedicated to improving their songwriting skills, learning the co-writing experience and desirous of networking with established Nashville songwriters and industry pros, among other skills and benefits, and who are Eligible under the criteria in ¶ III.A. below (“Applicants” or “Songwriters”). From the Applicants, 10 Scholars will be chosen on the basis of 2 song submissions and a personal video (see Application Requirements, ¶ III. below). Each of the 10 Scholars will qualify to participate in the multiple types of songwriting experiences and learning opportunities offered through JCSS throughout the ensuing Scholarship year, through individual learning opportunities, mentoring and song critiquing and through co-writing and other interactions with the other Scholars (see Scholarship Benefits and Prizes, ¶ II. below).
In addition, based on separate virtual interviews JCSS will conduct with each of the 10 Scholars (and perhaps additional songwriting submissions, as requested), 1 of the 10 Winners will be selected as the “First Place Scholar” who, in addition to the Scholarship Benefits all 10 Scholars enjoy, will receive the Nashville-experience “benefits” described in ¶ II. below.
The Scholarship Benefits will be made available to the Scholars and First Place Scholar at various times throughout the Scholarship year, according to a schedule to be determined by the JCSS Board and as available according to personal schedules of Board Members, Scholarship Mentors, participating Music Industry pros and volunteers, and abilities of the Angel Donors. Because the JCSS Scholarship relies on the donation of time and “benefits” by all of these people making this Scholarship experience possible, the schedule of Benefits will be somewhat fluid and set as the Scholarship year unfolds.
Scholars’ participation in the JCSS Scholarship does not end at the end of the Scholarship year. It is the hope and expectation of the JCSS Board that all Scholars will want to continue to nurture and build on the relationships and Nashville learning experiences garnered during the Scholarship process – with other Scholar co-writers, mentors they have worked with and music industry pros and other contacts. The JCSS Board will invite and encourage each Scholar to continue to participate in mentoring, interacting with and supporting the Scholarship and the Scholars selected in following Scholarship years. By asking the Scholars from each Scholarship year to continue their interest and participation in providing the Scholarship program and Benefits in subsequent years, the JCSS Scholarship can grow and perpetuate itself and continue to help develop incipient but interested and dedicated songwriters evolve their crafts and contribute to the world of excellent songwriting.
II.
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS & PRIZES
Scholarship Benefits for All 10 Scholars:
—Access to JCSS Scholarship Facebook Group for Networking;
—Regular Free Zoom Songwriting Workshops (e.g., lyric writing, melody creation, song structure, networking, tips and pointers, career advice, etc.);
—90 Day Gift Membership to SongU.com that includes three free pitches (one/month), one interactive song feedback course with a pro songwriter or music publisher, and more;
—One year membership to Song Club Community Plan (provided by Sarah Spencer)
—Co-writing opportunities with other JCSS Scholars;
—Group Critiques with Music Industry Pros;
—Five audio lectures on songwriting donated by author and hit songwriter Jason Blume;
—Mentoring Sessions with JCSS Scholarship Board Members and Volunteer Mentors;
—Onstage performance opportunities as available to Scholars who can provide their own travel to and lodging in Nashville; and
—Other likely opportunities for Scholars to the grow, learn and expand their songwriting careers.
Additional Prizes for the First Place Scholar:
Additional prizes for the First Place Scholar are provided by JCSS Angel Donors, including:
—One year membership to Song Club Community Plan plus enrollment in 30 Days of Song Prompts Program (offered by Sarah Spencer);
—Pitch to Publisher Session (provided by Sheree Spoltore);
— One year membership to Global Songwriters Connection (provided by Sheree Spoltore)
—Production of a Song Demo at Denny Martin Studios (provided by Denny Martin);
—Production of a Song Demo (provided by Alyssa Trahan);
—Nashville “Tracking Session” (with full band) at “Best Built Songs” (offered by Robin Ruddy). Musicians and Engineer to be determined and provided by the JCSS;
—Free Country2Sync Course and follow-up consultation from Washington Street Publishing;
—A cowrite with recording artist and American Idol finalist, James Durbin;
—One free year of SongU.com “Courses, Coaching, and Connections”; and
—A new acoustic guitar (offered by Troy Castellano of Instruments For Education).
Additional benefits or prizes may become available for the Scholars or the First Place Scholar as the Scholarship year unfolds and additional commitments from Angel Donors or Individual or Corporate Sponsors for the Scholarship are pledged.
III.
APPLICATION PROCESS
AND
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP
A. Applicant Songwriting Experience and Personal Qualities.
--Who is Eligible to Apply for Scholarship Benefits?
--The Scholarship is open to amateur and semi-professional songwriters and artist/songwriters.
--Prior Professional Experience Limits on Eligibility: For the purpose of this Scholarship, no Songwriter Applicant may be subject to a current staff publishing agreement, agreement with a record label or other entertainment-related entity to render recording or songwriting services that is currently in effect and/or have agreed; Furthermore, no such publish, label or other entity shall have rights in and to musical compositions or recordings of the Submitted Songs(s). Any Songwriter Applicant of Submitted Song(s) who at the time of entry derives the majority of their income from songwriting, currently has a staff writing deal with a publishing company, or has ever had a song appear on any of the following charts is not eligible to participate in the Scholarship: Airplay, Mediabase, and/or Radio & Records (R&R).
--Geographical Limits on Eligibility: The Scholarship is open only to Songwriters who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. The Scholarship is subject to all applicable federal, provincial, territorial, state, national and local laws and is void where prohibited by law. JCSS reserves the right to require Songwriters to prove that they are eligible.
--Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submitting the Application.
--Applicants cannot be immediate family members of any JCSS Board member or Scholarship Mentor or Angel Donor or Individual or Corporate Sponsor.
--What Level of Commitment Is JCSS Looking for from the Scholarship Winners?
--To participate in good faith and as fully as possible in all facets of the JCSS Scholarship Program offered. The value each Scholar receives from the Scholarship directly depends on time, effort and consistency of that Winner’s participation in the Scholarship Benefits and events.
--The First Place Scholar must be able to spend at least one week in Nashville at their own expense, on a schedule to be mutually agreed.
B. Application– Process, Form, Content and Schedule.
1. Application Requirements. Each entry requires all of the following:
--Completed Application:
--Application may only be made via the online Application Form; paper Applications will not be accepted.
--2 Songs:
--Songwriters must submit 2 songs with the Application (“Submitted Songs” or “Songs”). At least one Song must be a solo write.
--For any Submitted Song that is a co-write, all co-writers (“Co-writers”) must be identified in the Application form, including contact information, and must consent to the Applicant’s submission of the Song for this Scholarship.
--Songwriters must submit Songs via the online Application Form.
--Songs must be submitted via mp3 or .m4a format no larger than 8MB in file size.
--Maximum length – 5 minutes.
--You don’t have to have a professional full demo. A clear, clean recording of a single instrument and a voice is just fine.
--Lyric Sheets: (for each Song submitted, via a word doc or PDF.)
--Applicant’s Personal Video
--Application Fee: An Application Fee in the amount of $15 must accompany the Application, as provided in the Application Form.
--Application Submission Period: (See dates for 2023-2024 Program Application Period set forth in ¶ 2. below.)
2. Application Evaluation and Winners Selection and Notification Schedule.
--Online Applications Open: 02/10/2025.
--Online Applications Close: 03/09/2025.
--JCSS Application Evaluation Process: 3/31/2025.
--Up to 10 Scholars will be Selected and Notified by Email by the end of the first week in April.
--Scholars submit Original Work, Recording Rights and Publicity Release Affidavit(“Winner Original Work Affidavit”): Within 15 days from receipt of Winner Notification. (“Winner Original Work Affidavit” will be provided with the email notification.)
--JCSS will conduct Virtual Interviews of 10 Scholars during the 30 days following receipt of the Original Work Affidavit.
--All Scholars will be Notified of the First Place Scholar by Email following completion and evaluation of the Virtual Interviews.
C. Applicant’s Agreement to be Bound by JCSS Terms & Conditions and Liability Disclaimers by Submission of Application.
By submission of the JCSS Application, each Applicant represents and agrees that he/she has read and understands the JCSS Terms & Conditions and Liability Disclaimers set forth on the JCSS Website and in the Application and further agrees to be legally bound in all respects to those Terms and Conditions and Liability Disclaimers with respect to all aspects of the JCSS Program including but not limited to the Application Process, the Scholar Selection Process and the award of Benefits to the Scholars.
D. Songwriting Evaluation and Selection Criteria and Process.
10 Scholars will be chosen by a panel of music industry pros based the songs and video submissions. Songs will be judged based on melody composition, originality, and lyric. The First Place Scholar will be selected from the 10 Scholars following the Virtual Interviews.
E. Affidavits and any Additional Documents Required of Scholars to Proceed with Scholarship Participation.
The 10 Scholars will be notified by email and must sign and return an Affidavit that addresses eligibility, recording rights and publicity releases within fifteen (15) days from the notification date. Among other things, the Affidavit will state that the Winner’s Song(s) is/are original work(s) and that he/she holds all rights and/or permissions to the Song(s). Failure to sign and return such Affidavits within fifteen (15) days from the date of notification or provision of false or inaccurate information in the Affidavit will result in immediate disqualification and an alternate Scholar will be selected by JCSS. Affidavits and the information therein shall be subject to verification by JCSS or its agents. Submission of an Application constitutes permission to use the Scholar’s name, likeness, voice, and Personal Video for future advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation from JCSS. The Affidavit shall identify all co-writers of submitted Songs and provide current contact information for each such co-writer.
IV.
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES AND DISCLAIMERS
A. JCSS – GENERAL PROGRAM DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Without limiting other specific Terms, Conditions and Disclaimers that will be included as part of the John Cirillo Songwriting Scholarship Application Process, your submission of an Application, accompanying Personal Video, and any Song (melody, lyrics and arrangement) for consideration and evaluation for the John Cirillo Songwriting Scholarship (“JCSS”) constitutes your agreement to release, waive, indemnify and hold harmless JCSS and its employees, members of its Board, officers, attorneys, agents, members, representatives, donors, sponsors and volunteers from and against any and all claims, demands, losses and liabilities of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, in law or in equity, including without limitation, for copyright infringement or other misappropriation, arising from any alleged acts or omissions by JCSS in connection with your Application submission, JCSS’ evaluation of your Application Submission, JCSS’s determination regarding Winners of the Scholarship, and/or any of the prizes or benefits to be awarded to Scholarship Winners, it being further understood and agreed by the Applicant that such release, waiver and indemnification shall be binding upon your heirs, executors, administrators and assigns.
B. Rules Regarding Scholarship Benefits and Prizes.
By submitting your Application, you agree:
--The Scholarship and Benefits are personal to you and are not transferable to any other person.
--The Scholarship and Benefits are not subject to cash values exchange or “cash-out” with the Scholarship Program.
--Scholarship Benefits that are not accessed, used or accepted during the Scholarship year are thereafter deemed forfeited; provided, all Scholars shall have the right to participate in the selected Benefits portion of the Scholarship offered to the following and subsequent years’ Scholars.
--In the event a Scholar becomes unable to fully participate in substantially all of the activities, events and Benefits during the Scholarship year, such Scholar agrees to promptly notify JCSS of this situation in writing at hello@johncirillosongwritingscholarship.com, and at the JCSS Board’s discretion, a substitute Scholar may be selected to finish out the Scholarship year and participate in any of the remaining Benefits.
C. JCSS’s Discretion to Substitute, Alter or Withdraw Scholarship Benefits.
The Scholarship Benefits will be made available to the Scholars and First Place Scholars at various times throughout the Scholarship year, according to a schedule to be determined by the JCSS Board and as available according to personal schedules of Board Members, Scholarship Mentors, participating Music Industry pros and volunteers, and abilities of the Angel Donors. Because the JCSS Scholarship relies on the donation of time and “benefits” by all of these people making this Scholarship experience possible, the schedule of Benefits and Prizes will be somewhat fluid and set as the Scholarship year unfolds. JCSS reserves the right to delay, cancel or substitute any Benefits as may become necessary in JCSS’ sole discretion.
D. Applicants Retain Ownership of Their Copyrights -Disclaimer of Use and Waiver of Claim for Copyright Infringement – Rules for Copyright Splits.
1. Applicant’s Retain Ownership in Their Copyrights in Submitted Songs.
Applicant Songwriters and Co-Writers will retain and own their Copyrights in the Submitted Songs. JCSS WILL NOT USE ANY SUBMISSION FOR ANY COMMERCIAL PURPOSES BUT RATHER ALL USAGE SHALL BE FOR PROMOTIONAL, MARKETING, ADVERTISING AND/OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. ANY COMMERCIAL USE OF ANY SUBMISSION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO FURTHER AGREEMENT BETWEEN SONGWRITER AND JCSS AND SHALL REQUIRE SONGWRITER’S WRITTEN CONSENT.
2. Applicants Waive Any Claims for Inadvertent Infringement of Submitted Songs.
3. Copyrights in Mentored and Co-Written Songs Will be Split Equally among all Co-Writers.
E. Songwriters’ [and Co-Writers’] Grant of Irrevocable Licenses to JCSS.
1. License to Use Submitted Songs.
By submitting the Application and Songs (“Submission”), Songwriter hereby grants to JCSS a fully-paid up and royalty free, irrevocable, perpetual and worldwide license to use and display the Submission on the JCSS Website, other JCSS affiliated websites and in other media now or hereafter known, and otherwise use the Submission in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, without compensation of any kind or further notice to or approval from Songwriter or any third party, unless otherwise specified by JCSS. JCSS is not responsible for any unauthorized third-party use of any Submission. JCSS does not guarantee that any Submission made will be posted.
2. License to Use Applicant’s Image, Likeness, etc. and Any and All JCSS Created/Related Songs from the Mentorship, Co-Writing and “Nashville Experience” Program.
By submitting the Application and Songs, Songwriter also grants to JCSS a license comparable in scope to the license identified in paragraph 1. above for the Program to use Applicant’s image, likeness and all JCSS created/related songs resulting from the mentorship, co-writing or other JCSS programs.
F. Agreement to Marketing Contacts.
By submitting the Application, Songwriter agrees that he/she may receive marketing contacts from JCSS, Angel Donors or other Program Sponsors, including:
1. From JCSS relating to Scholarship Business.
2. From “Angel Donors” relating to the Donors’ respective Businesses.
3. From “Corporate Sponsors” of the JCSS Scholarship.
G. Non-Discrimination:
JCSS does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected category. JCSS is committed to administering its Songwriting Scholarship Program on the basis of songwriting merit only. JCSS encourages all Songwriter participants to treat others cordially and with respect.