(Clockwise from top left) Alger, Cropper, Davis, Foster Alger, Cropper, Davis, Foster To Be Inducted Into Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Oct. 17 The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation has announced that Pat Alger, Steve Cropper, Paul Davis and Stephen Foster will become the newest inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.  The group will be inducted Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.  The dinner/ceremony, presented by AT&T, will feature special performances of the inductees’ songs, as well as NSAI's annual awards for "The 10 Songs I Wish I’d Written," as selected by the organization's Pro Songwriters Division.  Tickets for the event are $200 each.  A limited number of seats are available to the public and may be purchased by contacting event director Mark Ford at hoftix@nashvillesongwriters.com or 615-256-3354.  For more on the inductees, click the headline above.

NSAI Closed Monday, Sept. 6 * * *  OFFICE CLOSING  * * *  In observance of the Labor Day holiday, NSAI will close early on Friday, Sept. 3, (2 p.m.) and will be closed on Monday, Sept. 6.  We will reopen on regular schedule Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Andrea Standley & Gia DeSantis SongPosium Spotlight: Andrea Standley & Gia DeSantis Classes daily -- Sept. 21-24 -- various offices along Music Row -- Nashville Every week leading up to SongPosium 2010 (September 21–24) we'll highlight different instructors to help you become more familiar with some of these amazing teachers, as well as to find out what classes they're offering.  Last week, we profiled John Frazier. This week, our SongPosium Spotlight shines on two new faces to the 2010 faculty, Andrea Standley & Gia DeSantis, who are joining forces to offer up a new and innovative way to approach the craft of songwriting. Click on the headline to learn more.

Results Are In For NSAI’s “Christmas In July” We made our list and checked it twice -- thank you to everyone who submitted songs to the NSAI Song Evaluations Department for the “Christmas In July” song search!  To find out which songs made NSAI's 2010 Best Of The Holidays compilation CD, click the headline above.

Denny Jiosa Performs At Milwaukee Flood Benefit NSAI Regional Chapter Flood Fundraising Events, Part Deux The May flood that hit Nashville and much of Middle Tennessee left a wide path of devastation and a lot of needs to be filled. NSAI Regional Chapters across the nation and around the world held fundraisers for the victims. Our chapters are run by volunteers who already donate much time and effort in their monthly meetings, so these flood fundraisers were above and beyond, and greatly appreciated. Over the next few weeks, we’ll highlight some of the efforts from the various chapters. Click the headline above to read more stories about what our fabulous chapters have been doing.

Want Industry Access & A Mentoring Session With Darius Rucker? The NSAI NSAI Song Contest Presented by CMT runs through October 31, 2010, and the Grand Prize includes a mentoring session with Capitol Records Nashville recording artist and Grammy-winning songwriter, Darius Rucker!  Past winners understand this is a powerful vehicle to get “discovered” and have found success from signing an artist development deal with DreamWorks Records to securing a music-publishing staff writer deal. This nationwide platform is for aspiring songwriters in ALL GENRES to submit their best tunes with one Grand Prize Winner and one CMT Listeners’ Choice Winner. Additional prizes include a single-song professional demo, tickets to the 2011 CMT Music Awards, a private tour of CMT studios, a performance at The Bluebird Café, meetings with major music publishers and a one-year membership to NSAI, just to name a few. Take advantage of this opportunity to launch a songwriting career. For a full list of prizes and how to enter, visit nsai.cmt.com. The entry fees are $35.00 (Current NSAI members) and $45.00 (Non Members) per song submitted. Enter today! Check out nashvillesongwriters.com, facebook.com/nsaiofficial and twitter.com/nsaiofficial for updates. Click here for a special message from Darius (under Music Player)!

Protect Your Original Music With MyWerx.com MyWerx is a secure online tool that enables songwriters to store creative work and connect it with co-writers and business partners.  When a song is uploaded, a tamper-proof, date-stamped version is stored. You can then notify your co-writers with an email from the platform, inviting them to validate the information on the work and claim it from their own MyWerx account.  You can upload and protect the complete sound file or just the preliminary lyrics.  This process eliminates later disputes and helps you organize your catalog.  MyWerx can be used from your computer or through the new MyWerx iPhone app which allows you to record and upload new songs straight from your phone.  Within the next year, MyWerx will expand to connect creators with business representatives, such as publishers, PROs, etc.  This will drastically reduce the cost of monetizing music, by eliminating redundancy and updating changing information in real time, so you can be free to do what you do best- write songs.  Registering and using MyWerx is free, with premium service accounts available.  Protect your work today at mywerx.com.  For more on MyWerx, click the headline above for a quick video.

Get Priority Access To Bluebird Shows During SongPosium Week! Shows nightly -- Sept. 21-25 -- Bluebird Cafe -- Nashville SongPosium attendees will have exclusive access to NSAI's SongPosium Week Performance Series at The Bluebird Cafe two weeks in advance. That’s a full week BEFORE the general public! Shows feature songwriting luminaries such as:  Wynn Varble (“Waitin’ On A Woman” by Brad Paisley), Tony Mullins (“How Forever Feels” by Kenny Chesney), Danny Wells (“These Days” by Rascal Flatts), Pat Alger (“The Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks), Ralph Murphy (“Half The Way” by Crystal Gayle), Roger Cook (“Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” by The Hollies), Tim Nichols ("The Man I Want To Be" by Chris Young), Richie Supa ("Pink" by Aerosmith), Steve Seskin ("Don't Laugh At Me" by Mark Wills), Rachel Thibodeau ("Good Directions" by Luke Bryan), John Scott Sherrill ("Would You Go With Me" by Josh Turner), John Lefler (of Dashboard Confessional), Brett James ("The Truth" by Jason Aldean),Dave Turnbull ("The Boys Of Fall" by Kenny Chesney), Kerry Kurt Phillips ("This Ain't Nothin' by Craig Morgan), David Lee ("Roll With It" by Easton Corbin), Rebecca Lynn Howard (her own "Forgive"), Chris Wallin ("Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney) and Sarah Darling (Black River recording artist). Lineups may be subject to change.  More details to come as the schedule develops! Click on the headline above for details on priority access now.

Pick Up A Few Trade Secrets At SongPosium 2010 Classes daily -- Sept. 21-24 -- various offices along Music Row -- Nashville Back for its 5th year, SongPosium will once again turn Nashville’s famous Music Row into your songwriting university campus from Tuesday, Sept. 21 to Friday Sept. 24.  Featuring more than 120 classes taught by some of the biggest names in the music industry, SongPosium is uniquely the most comprehensive songwriting educational event available.  Why?  Because we put the choice in your hands.  You fashion your schedule based upon your individual needs and interests.  How many classes do you want to take?  What instructors have you always wanted to learn from?  What subjects do you want to concentrate on?  It’s all up to you! Choose from an a-la-carte selection of individual classes or fill up your schedule and save money by taking advantage of the SongPosium MaxPack. Click the headline above for details and to Register Now!

Give The Gift Of Music People love to give and receive recorded music as a gift for just about any occasion or to commemorate an important moment in life.  Though the "Give The Gift Of Music" campaign, NARM and RIAA have joined forces to remind people that music in any format is a memorable, and affordable, gift choice.  To learn more and and download a logo for your website/email, click the headline above.

Want To Perform At Musicians Corner In Centennial Park? A new Nashville destination, dubbed Musicians Corner, will showcase and celebrate the Music City’s ties that bind.  Ensconced in the West End Avenue corner of Centennial Park, Musicians Corner provides the ideal epicenter for a multi-cultural musical hive.  The location will be inaugurated with a series of free Saturday afternoon lawn parties, starting July 10 and continuing every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. through October 16.  A pastiche of musical performances featuring locally based favorites, original voices, and surprise guests will be augmented by lifestyle, food, and artisan vendors to create a community gathering space in Nashville’s Centennial Park.  For the official news release on Musicians Corner, click the headline above.  To visit the Musicians Corner website, click here.  To apply for a performance spot, click here.

Bluebird On The Mountain Welcomes 2010 Corporate Partners The Bluebird Café and Vanderbilt’s Dyer Observatory are pleased to announce corporate partners Nissan USA, Jack Daniel's and The City Paper for the 2010 Bluebird on the Mountain series!  “This is our first year ever to have corporate partners, and we are thrilled to have such amazing representation by these local businesses,” said Erika Wollam Nichols, COO of The Bluebird Café.  “All of these partners have strong ties to the middle Tennessee community and each welcomed the chance to help us present our songwriters’ series at the Dyer Observatory in 2010.”  Each partner will have an on-site presence at the monthly event; showcasing new vehicles, offering beverage tastings and other activities.  For more information on these partners, please visit their websites; NissanUSA.com, jackdaniels.com and nashvillecitypaper.com.

Enjoy Bluebird On The Mountain's 2010 Season - Next Show Sept. 18 Two stellar shows remain in the Bluebird on the Mountain concert series at Vanderbilt's Dyer Observatory.  These concerts under the stars feature some of the best songwriters in Nashville and beyond.  Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com.  Admission is $95 for a carload of up to eight people.  Feel free to bring blankets, lawn chairs, food and drink.  Make yourself comfortable in the observatory's lawn in front of the stage.  Relax and enjoy a fabulous evening of sunset, music, and stars. Saturday, Sept. 18 at 8:00 p.m. Tom Douglas, Natalie Hemby, Lori McKenna Gates open at 6:00 p.m.  $95 per car.  Reservations required. Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:00 p.m. Steve Seskin, Chuck Jones, Pam Rose Gates open at 5:30 p.m.  $95 per car.  Reservations required. Dyer Observatory is located at 1000 Oman Drive, off Granny White Pike between Old Hickory Blvd. and Otter Creek Road, near Radnor Lake. Directions are available at www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu/.

Social Sites Unite! Don’t miss out on the excitement at NSAI!  Become a Fan on Facebook (facebook.com/NSAIofficial), a Friend on MySpace (myspace.com/NSAIofficial) and a Follower on Twitter (twitter.com/NSAIofficial) for updates on events, special visitors, what’s going on in the music industry and more!

Know A Non-Songwriter Who Wants To Support Songwriting? The FAN membership was created for our Non-Songwriter Industry Professionals, Friends and Family who are passionate about NSAI’s legislative efforts.  If you know someone who isn't a songwriter, but who LOVES what NSAI is doing and wants to support our efforts, please let him or her know about this opportunity.  As a FAN, they'll receive our weekly E-News, which features party dates such as NSAI’s World’s Largest #1 Party, the latest in political news, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame dates and the opportunity to purchase Tin Pan South Fast-Access Passes at a discount AND before they go on sale to the public.  Flex-pay is available for the $150 annual membership or the $2,000 Lifetime membership.  Click on the headline above to Join Today!

photo courtesy of Steve Jones Photography Rock Some Sweet Swag From NSAI NSAI merch is now available online! Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone else – or yourself – these items are sure to look amazing, AND you’ll be supporting the organization that supports your songwriting.  The NSAI line includes military caps, trucker hats, hoodies, jerseys and t-shirts. So what are you waiting for . . .  click on the headline above to start shopping now.  [We also send out a special thank you to our models -- great job, guys!]

Say It Loud, Say It Proud…I’m An NSAI Member! Do you often flaunt your NSAI membership? Word around the Music Mill is that you do and we appreciate your energy and excitement! If you’ve ever asked, “How can I help promote NSAI?” we want to thank you and offer you a link to the official “NSAI Proud Member” web banner. You can use this code for your website or social sites (MySpace, Twitter, etc.). Click on the headline above for step by step instructions. With your help we can reach songwriters nationwide. Thank you for your continued support!

NSAI Workshop: Critique Night Thursday, September 2, 2010 -- Critique Night -- Nashville Workshop Thursday, September 2, 2010, is Critique Night at the Nashville Workshop.  Our guests will be songwriters Denny Sarokin and Bruce Miller.  Click the headline above for more.  [Note: Bring your song on CD or cassette, two lyric sheets and your membership card. For complete details on how to prepare your song for submission click here.]

NSAI Christian Music Workshop Webcast: Pro Teacher Night Tuesday, September 7 -- Guest Speaker Night -- Nashville Christian Music Workshop Tuesday, September 7, 2010, is Guest Speaker Night at the Nashville Christian Music Workshop.  Our Guest Speaker will be Evan Milby.  Click the headline above for more.    [Note: this workshop will be webcast. To listen, you must be an NSAI member and you must login. Then go to Workshops and Webcasts and click on Listen to Webcast.]

Bob Dellaposta NSAI Workshop Webcast: Pro Teacher Night Thursday, September 9, 2010 -- Pro Teacher Night -- Nashville Workshop Thursday, September 9, 2010, is Pro Teacher Night at the Nashville Workshop.  Our Pro Teacher will be songwriter/publisher/instructor Bob Dellaposta, whose topic will be "Thinking Out Of The Box."  [In honor of his son, Richie, who passed away in March, Bob has created a scholarship for trumpet players at Indiana University of Pennsylvania with the goal of raising $15,000.  In appreciation to those who contribute, Bob will provide free song critiques and consultations.  For more on the Richard J. Dellaposta Memorial Scholarship, click here.]  Click the headline above for more.    [Note: this workshop will be webcast. To listen, you must be an NSAI member and you must login. Then go to Workshops and Webcasts and click on Listen to Webcast.]

NSAI Workshop: Pitch-to-Publisher Night Thursday,September 16, 2010 -- Pitch-to-Publisher Night -- Nashville Workshop Thursday, September 16, 2010, is Pitch-to-Publisher Night at the Nashville Workshop.  Our guest publisher will be Daniel Lee from Ten Ten Music.  [Note: Bring your song on CD or cassette, two lyric sheets and your membership card. For complete details on how to prepare your song for submission click here.]

No Thursday Workshop September 23 Thursday, September 23, 2010 -- No Workshop Please note:  There will be no workshop on Thursday night, September 23, because of SongPosium.  The workshop will resume the following week.

NSAI Workshop Webcast: Guest Speaker Thursday, September 30 -- Guest Speaker Night -- Nashville Workshop Thursday, September 30, 2010, is Guest Speaker Night at the Nashville Workshop.  Our guest will be Bryan Kelley from Groove House Records who will speak on "Breaking In: Licensing For Film & TV."   [Note: this workshop will be webcast. To listen, you must be an NSAI member and you must login. Then go to Workshops and Webcasts and click on Listen to Webcast.]