Songwriting Competition Guidelines and Submissions
This year’s songwriting competition will be in support of the Crip Trip, a docuseries that follows quadruple amputee (Daniel) and his caregiver (Frederick) as they embark on a road trip across North America, navigating art, the television industry, and their complex friendship – to keep Daniel from being institutionalized.
The winner(s) of this competition have the chance to have their songs included in one or more of the episodes of Crip Trip, a docuseries entering into Season 3, which will air in 2027.
If chosen as a winner, the team or individual behind the song will receive a sync fee of $500 from the production company.
By entering this competition, you are agreeing to the following TERMS & CONDITIONS:
- Bent River Records (BRR) also reserves the right to publish, produce, re-produce, and distribute the finished audio in perpetuity, throughout the world. The songwriter(s) will retain all intellectual property.
- Bent River Records (BRR) reserves the right to select performers for the winning pieces.
- All entrants must be a current student of MacEwan University.
- Adjudication will be done by a panel of jurors selected by BRR, and will contain members of the department of music, representatives of BRR, and external members selected by the partner production company. The anonymity of entrants will be maintained; judges will not know the identity of the participants they are evaluating until after adjudication is complete.
- By entering this contest you consent to receiving a post-experience reflection survey from Ben River Records and the MacEwan Office of Work Integrated Learning
Bent River Records values, promotes and prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its work. We recognize the systemic barriers that have led to many artists being underrepresented and will continue to do work to amplify and uplift voices that reflect Edmonton’s diverse communities. We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that represents diverse backgrounds.
DEADLINE FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS: 5:00 PM MST on Friday, December 11th, 2026.
Winners will be announced by early 2027.
Write a song based on the brief given by Frederick Kroetsch and Daniel Ennett in Room 11-361 Hall on October 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Please come to see their presentation and ask questions.
An archive video of this presentation is available HERE: https://youtu.be/h9zaDtOpkco
Please use the presentation / video as a guide and inspiration for your music.
The competition will accept up to two submissions per participant or group.