BlackDog Recording Studios is extremely excited to announce the conclusion of the first Upstate New York Songwriting Contest! The judges have deliberated and selected the Grand Prize winners, and we are ready to hand out the awards!

On behalf of BlackDog Recording Studios and all the other sponsor companies of the UNYSWC, we would like to extend our warmest thanks to all entrants for having submitted to this contest! You're contributions have helped to make this event a resounding success. We would like to congratulate everyone for the outstanding quality of the musical selections we received.

The Grand Prize winners

"Beige" – Kate Lee Best Solo

"Garbage Platin'" – Erik Jacobs (The Po' Boys Brass Band) Best Group

"Beat Goes On" – Willie Sowell Best Rap/Spoken Word

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

The First and Second Prize Winners, By Category

1) Country

1st Prize: "The Ticket" – Jeff Riales
2nd Prize: "My Refrain" – Samuel Asher

2) Gospel

1st Prize: "Call Your Name" – Jim Ferrie & The Studio Dawgs
2nd Prize: "Good is God" – Takiyah Gettys

3) Jazz

1st Prize: "This Time Tomorrow" – Michael Lombardo

4) Pop

1st Prize: "Come Around" – Michael Wittig
2nd Prize: "Vision Of Light" – Terry Landers

5) Latin

1st Prize: "Mini the Cat" – Angel Lopez Jr.

6) Electronic

1st Prize: "New York" – Sean Smith

7) Folk

1st Prize: "On Your Way" – Kate Lee
2nd Prize: "Her" – Mark Stuart Gagnon

8) R&B

1st Prize: "Perjury" – Sam LaCara (The I-69's)
2nd Prize: "Kitchen Cupboard Blues" – Mike D'Aurizio

9) Rock

1st Prize: "Lady D" – Warli
2nd Prize: "A Beautiful Discord" – Peter Poleon

10) Hip-Hop

1st Prize: "What It Is" – Terrell Jacobs
2nd Prize: "So Long" – Will Wright

11) World

1st Prize: "Do You Remember" – Robert Snead

12) Lyrics Only

1st Prize: "Drift Away" – Laura Conklin

Congratulations to all winners! We are very excited for you, and will be contacting you shortly to award the prizes! To all our finalists, we thank you for having submitted, and hope you will continue submitting to future songwriting contests here at BlackDog Recording Studios!

Please check out our sponsors, as well; they really make this all happen, and we are very grateful for their assistance! As a sign of our appreciation for their support of up-and-coming artists, we ask that you support them with your business whenever possible! Thank you again!

As a special bonus, here is the UNYSWC Top 35 play-list, featuring the submissions from all bands and individuals selected as finalists! Please listen to the variety of styles and highlight performances we have received- from as far away as Portugal and Hong Kong!

Contest winners will be contacted via e-mail by the end of June. Regardless of the final outcome, we hope that you all will continue to write and be inspired by music. We again want to emphasize how much we appreciate your participation in this event, and encourage you to enter future songwriting competitions!

65 FINALISTS

Get the Flash Player to see this player.