What Are the Official Rules?
The official rules can be found here: https://catholicsongcontest.com/official-rules-2022/
Do I have to be Catholic to enter?
No — no one will be checking your Catholic ID card, and you do not have to be Catholic, but the winning songs will give glory to God in a way that represents the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Can I submit lyrics only, not combined with music?
Yes, to submit lyrics only, choose “Lyrics Only Entry” button on the Enter Page.
How much are entry fees?
The entry fee is $15 per song.
Do I retain all rights to my song?
Absolutely! The contest does not and will never own the song that you poured your heart and time into.
Who are the judges?
All songs will be judged by many successful music industry professionals who are Catholic or who have an appreciation for the Catholic Church.
Does the production quality matter?
The short answer is no. A well-structured song with great lyrics will work no mater how it is produced, and if you want to submit just a vocal or a vocal with a single instrument, then please do — our judges can recognize a good song even if it is stripped down. However, there are some genres of music, such as electronic music, in which the production is part of the overall aesthetic of the song.
Can I submit an instrumental?
No, only songs with lyrics will be considered.
What languages can the song be in?
Currently only songs in English, Spanish, French, or Latin will be considered. Poetry and the deeper meaning of song lyrics often gets lost in translation, and we are only qualified to judge songs written in English, Spanish, French, and Latin. However, we want to and might be able to make exceptions. Please contact us to tell us what other language your song is in and we will let you know if we are qualified to judge the meaning of the lyrics.
I do not live in the United States. May I enter?
If you are a resident of one of the following countires, you may enter: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom (UK), United States (US).
If your country is not listed please contact us to consider adding it to the list. Note also, that the only three languages we are qualified to judge are English, Spanish, French, and Latin.
May I enter more than one song?
Yes, you may enter up to 3 songs per songwriter. We want people to submit their best songs, not every song. This is will save you money on entrance fees too.
Is there an age restriction?
Entrants must be 14 years or older. Any entrants younger than 18 years of age must have their entries submitted by a parent or guardian.
