"They Lost My Vote" by Ellen Bukstel & Nancy Wuerzburger was chosen "Best Political Song of the Year" by Hollywood Music Awards.

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Bukstel & Shalom Bayit Jewish Domestic Abuse Program of Jewish Community Services of South Florida presents Faces of Violence 2009 Singer/Songwriter Competition ATTENTION: ALL Singer Songwriters (Acoustic, Folk, Americana, and Pop),
I have been asked by Shalom Bayit Jewish Domestic Abuse Program to co-sponsor a Singer Songwriter Competition open to all singer songwriters. We are asking for you songs that relate in some way to Domestic Violence and Abuse. If you are a Sonicbids member then go to: www.facesofviolence.com and click Sonicbids Logo link and it will take you to the listing. If you do not wish to enter through Sonicbids, and  would prefer a PDF version of the entry form sent to you.... then reply to this email (ellen@bukstel.com) with your request.

Below is the information and I ask that you pass it along to other singer songwriters who might be interested..
Singer/Songwriter, acoustic, indie, folk, Americana, pop, & associated genres are accepted, but compositions must relate in some way to the subject of domestic abuse. All entries must be written and/or co-written, recorded and performed by the applicant. Prizes include:
    * Winner - cash award of $1000 and press coverage;
    * First and Second Runner – cash awards of $500 and press coverage
Preliminary judges will choose the top ten Semi-finalists, and those ten will be notified by March 20, 2009. From the ten, the contest’s judges will then select the top three, who will perform at the 2009 Faces of Violence Jewish Domestic Abuse Luncheon in Miami, Florida on May 21, 2009; at the Ritz Carlton South Beach. The official winner, first runner up and second runner up will be announced at the luncheon. Travel, Home hospitality lodging and meals in Miami, Florida will be provided for two days and one night for the top three finalists. Please do not enter the contest if you cannot attend this event.
To be eligible, artist must be independently producing their own music, the entry must be a release-quality recording and the applicant must be the singer both on the submitted recording and for the live performance. All co-writers must be listed; All compositions must be copyrighted or copyright applications must be in process; artist must own all publishing and copyrights to their song; if entrant is under 18 years old, the signature of a parent or guardian is required.
Domestic Abuse impacts all types of relationships, socio-economic classes, ages, and spectrums of religious and cultural life. Shalom Bayit is the Jewish concept of harmony in the home. Music brings us together today and with everything that came before – proof of the power of song.
Shalom Bayit is celebrating four years of service to the South Florida Jewish community by joining with South Florida award winning singer, songwriter and activist Ellen Bukstel, to honor the musical talents of gifted singer-songwriters. It is named after the fund raising music video ‘Faces of Violence’ created by Ellen and her two sons Brett and Todd Segal, featuring her original soundtrack ‘You’re Not Better Than Me’ to help raise funds for Shalom Bayit. Faces Of Violence premiered at the Inaugural Fund raising Luncheon in 2006 and will be featured again at the 2009 Faces of Violence Jewish Domestic Abuse Luncheon Presented by Shalom Bayit, JCS of Miami, Florida where the 2009 winning song and songwriter will be announced

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JACK WILLIAMS WINS "BEST OF BOUND FOR GLORY" AWARD 2008This year's Best of Bound for Glory winner joins the illustrious ranks of Bill Staines, Garnet Rogers, Le Vent du Nord, Chris Smither, Y*ALL, Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Tanglefoot, Mustard's Retreat, and Small Potatoes. Taken together the winners highlight the quality and diversity of top notch performers on the folk music scene.Between sets of the October 19th live broadcast of WVBR's Bound For Glory, host and founder Phil Shapiro announced that the excellent Southern singer, songwriter, and guitarist JACK WILLIAMS has won the Tenth Annual Best of Bound for Glory Award. The award recognizes fans' favorite from the recently concluded 41st season of this Sunday night Ithaca, NY staple. Bound for Glory is North America's longest running live folk concert broadcast. It is broadcast live on WVBR-FM 93.5 and 105.5, on line at http://wvbr.com .

The Friends of Bound for Glory have honored a newcomer to Ithaca this year. Jack Williams' first and only trip to Ithaca was his Bound for Glory performance of last May. Williams hails from West Fork, Arkansas, and most frequently travels the Southern and Western states, with only an occasional foray into the Northeast. But his reputation travels before him. 
Host Phil Shapiro says "Jack Williams is one of the most eclectic singer songwriters going. You can hear both the white and black musical traditions in his writing. You can hear country, you can hear blues, you can hear jazz. He's a poet who knows how to write simply. And he's a remarkable, magical performer, with graceful good humor, and a hot guitar style.
I wanted to get Jack Williams on the Bound for Glory show for several years. I'd ask other folk music presenters the question 'Who's Good?', and it was amazing how many times Jack Williams' name came up. So I got ahold of some of his music, and, you know, they're right."
Shapiro caught Williams at home in rural Arkansas, on a rare quiet day, right before his departure for a long tour to the Pacific coast and back. When told that he had won the Best of Bound for Glory award, he said that he was glad he hadn't known that he was in a contest. "Well, I'm thrilled. That's just great", he said. "I'm so glad they enjoyed the music that much."
When told about the voting, and that the winners of the Best of Bound for Glory award read like a Who's Who of the North American folk music world, Williams added "Well, I've seen who has played for you in the past and I'm thrilled to be in that company."
He also offered "I've come away telling people about your show, and tell 'em they should at least seek you out somewhere, whether it's internet radio or in person."
Jack Williams' musical career dates to the 1950's, when he played in both jazz and rock bands. His career as a folk singer-songwriter slowly took over, and he has been touring ever since. He is especially fond of doing House Concerts, playing up close and personal in someone's living room to a gathering of friends.
Shapiro added that "we do 33 live folk concert broadcasts every year. This year, 26 of the 33 shows got votes for the Best of Bound for Glory award. I think that means that we're doing something right. The members of the Friends of Bound for Glory have excellent taste. Every one of the 10 award winners is just remarkable."
Phil Shapiro brought the concept of a live folk concert broadcast with him when he moved to Ithaca in 1967, putting folk and acoustic musicians on the air almost immediately. The format, a folk concert in three sets with a live audience held on 33 Sundays every year, has been creating magic well into it's 42nd year. These concerts have featured some of the most renowned voices in American, Canadian, and European folk music. 
For more information about the Best of Bound for Glory award, the Friends of Bound for Glory, or other upcoming Bound for Glory events view their web site at wvbr.com, email bfg@wvbr.com, or phone Phil Shapiro at 607-844-4535. For more information about Jack Williams, visit www.jackwilliamsmusic.com

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NC Songwriters Co-op Announces 11th Annual Songwriting Contest Winners.Letha Costin, Keith Hill, and Garrison Doles won the top three places in the 11th Annual North Carolina Songwriters Co-op Songwriting Contest. NCSC’s hand picked industry professionals based their selection on the entries’ lyrics, melody and presentation. Garrison Doles of Orlando, Florida claimed third place with “Mahalia Jane” and “We Give Ourselves Away.

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14th Annual USA Songwriting Competition  http://www.songwriting.net  is now accepting entries! Winning songs will receive radio airplay in United States and Canada along with great prizes such as a Top Prize of over $50,000. Sponsors of the 14th Annual Competition are: Acoustic Guitar Magazine, New Music Weekly, Sony, Audio-Technica, Ibanez Guitars, D'Addario Strings, Cakewalk, Sam Ash Music Stores, Singer & Musician magazine, Mi7.com, Overloud, Sonoma Wireworks, Intellitouch Tuners, SongFrame Software, Indie Bible, Acoustic Café Radio Program, Livewire Contacts, AirplayAccess.com, Loggins Promotion, Superdups.com and XM Radio.
FREE EARLY ENTRY BONUS: First 1,000 entrants will each receive a FREE  annual magazine subscription to Singer & Musician magazine worth US$19.95 and another Free online Subscription to Acoustic Guitar magazine! (that's two FREE super bonuses for you worth $28.90 just for entering early!!) So Hurry, while stocks last. Please obtain the entry form at:http://www.songwriting.net/entryform.html Or enter online here with your MP3: http://online.songwriting.net

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