Now in its seventh year, the 2008 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest is now accepting entries for one of the premier showcases in North America for singer-songwriters in multiple genres.

The deadline is Sept. 1 to submit to the general round of the contest with earlier deadlines for various regional rounds held across North America.

In addition to cash prizes and other awards, one of this year’s six co-winners will perform on a future edition of “Mountain Stage,” one of the world’s preeminent broadcast programs for performing songwriters and original music.

This year introduces Folk Alliance as the contest’s presenting sponsor. “The partnering of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest with the Folk Alliance is a natural,” says “Mountain Stage” executive producer Andy Ridenour. “The result will be an even greater impact on the two institutions’ missions of promoting the song and the songwriter.”

There are two ways to enter:

n  Mail in by sending CD entries via U.S. mail. (www.newsong-music.com/contest)

Contest overview

A total of 12 finalists will be chosen to perform in the international contest finals, held on Oct. 11 at the Cultural Center Theater in Charleston. One of six co-winners will be chosen to perform on a live “Mountain Stage” taping the next day.

Co-winners and other contest standouts also will be invited to participate in future NewSong productions in locations throughout the country and will be candidates for future releases on the NewSong Recordings label.

Non-winning contestants also will be considered for future “Mountain Stage” appearances.

For full rules and guidelines, see www.newsong-music.com/contest.