Songwriter Associations for California & Colorado

California

West Coast Songwriters (WCS). Formerly known as the Northern California Songwriters Association. Executive Director: Ian Crombie. 1724 Laurel Street, Suite #120, San Carlos, CA, 94070. 650-654-3966 or 800-FOR-SONG. e-mail: [email protected]. WCS is, perhaps, the largest regional songwriter organization in the country, with aproximately 1,200 members. WCS has members from many northern, central, and southern California cities, including San Francisco, Berkeley/Oakland, San Jose, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, Carmel/Monterey, Los Angeles, and San Diego. They will also be launching new branch associations in several West Coast cities from southern California to the Pacific Northwest. The group hosts 15-20 events per month, including several Open Mics, Song Screenings, songwriting classes with Steve Seskin, Bonnie Hayes, André Pessis, and others, and Work-in-Progress sessions, where a peer group exchanges feedback and song evaluations. On the second weekend of September every year, WCS hosts “Creation:Craft:Connection”, their two-day Annual Songwriters Conference, featuring seminars on current topics of interest, song screenings/song critiques by many prominent publishers/hit writers/label execs, live concerts/Ongoing Open Mic, and impromptu jams on the grass. They also present the WCS International Song Contest, open for entries between October 1st and January 31st each year. Website

Songwriters Guild Of America (SGA), Los Angeles office. B. Aaron Meza, Western Regional Director. The Songwriters Guild of America (SGA) founded in 1931, is a voluntary songwriter association run by and for songwriters. It is devoted exclusively to providing songwriters with the services and activities they need to succeed in the business of music. The preamble to the SGA constitution charges the board to take such lawful actions as will advance, promote and benefit the profession. Services of SGA cover every aspect of songwriting including the creative, administrative and financial. SGA’s non-profit educational foundation was created to aid and educate writers through university scholarship grants and various Guild programs which are offered at the lowest possible cost. Songwriting workshops are taught by leading professional writers in New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles. Classes run for varying lengths and are offered on different levels for beginning or more advanced writers. Song Critique sessions are conducted regularly presenting members with the opportunity to play their songs and receive constructive criticism from peers and professionals. Guests include some of the industry’s most prominent writers, artists, publishers, producers, managers, and attorneys. For more information go to their Website or contact the Hollywood office at 323-462-1108, or e-mail: [email protected].

San Diego Songwriters Guild. 3368 Governor Drive, #F-326, San Diego, CA, 92122. e-mail: [email protected]. This guild, which consists of about 300 members, is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of songwriting. They provide the opportunity for members to pitch their songs to industry pros and to showcase at live events. The guild publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, hosts an annual song contest, and coordinates 8-10 pitch sessions (featuring guest publishers, producers and A&R execs) per year. Website

Concerts, festivals, fairs and expos are just some of the San Diego entertainment events that you can enjoy while in the city.

 

Southern California Songwriters Association (SCSA). Contact Rolla Queen at 909-697-1981. E-mail: [email protected]. 19746 Westerly Drive, Riverside, CA, 92508. Despite the large name, this is actually a smaller but dedicated group of songwriters based in the Riverside/Inland Empire area. SCSA hosts live showcases once per month, and hold group meetings every two months. Website

SongNet (The Songwriter’s Network). Contact Director Jimi Yamagishi at 323-727-4766. E-mail: [email protected]. SongNet was founded in 1999 in Southern California, and currently has an active membership of over 200 songwriters and associates. A volunteer organization, it provides support to its members through seminars, critique sessions, open mic & showcase events. SongNet hosts meetings once per month, and hold showcases twice per month. Website

Songsalive!. E-mail: [email protected]. Songsalive! is an international non-profit organization which is dedicated to the nurturing, support, promotion and education of songwriters and composers. The organization hosts monthly showcases and workshops worldwide. In California they hold a workshop in North Hollywood (LA) and Grass Valley (near Sacramento) performance showcases in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Grass Valley. Website

San Diego Regional NSAI Workshop. The San Diego NSAI Regional Workshop holds regular monthly meetings the third Sunday of the month from 6:00-8:30pm in La Jolla, CA. We do writing exercises supplied by the NSAI office in Nashville, as well as group song critiques. Coordinators: Tracey & Vance Marino, and Joyce Ann Martin. Website

Los Angeles Regional NSAI Workshop. Coordinator: Seth Jackson. E-mail: [email protected]. The newsletter for this workshop is available online at www.sethjackson.net under “Country Notes.”

Central California Songwriters Association (CCSA). Coordinator: Victor Roches. E-mail: [email protected]. This new songwriters group has formed in the Fresno/Clovis area.

North State Songwriters’ Group. 2205 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA, 96002. Email Erin Friedman at: [email protected]. This organization hosts open mics, showcase opportunities and provides a songwriters email list. Membership is free. Website

Colorado

Colorado Music Association (COMA). 303-733-2106. 200 Logan St., Denver, CO, 80203-4028. e-mail: [email protected]. This is a large association, with about 700 members. The members include not just the songwriting community, but performers, recording studios, agents, managers, publicists, promoters, attorneys, bookers and others involved in the music industry.Website

Denver NSAI Chapter. 8727 E. Girard Ave., Denver, CO, 80231.This group has about 40 members, and they hold monthly meetings which feature music business discussions and song critiques. The meetings often include industry guest speakers. Randi Perkins is also the head of the Singer/Songwriter Committee for the Colorado Music Association.