Panama City Songwriter is the Grand Prize Winner of American Songwriter

PANAMA CITY FL - Panama City songwriter Michael R. J. Roth has been named the 2024 Grand Prize Winner of American Songwriter magazine’s lyric contest for his song “Love Washes Off.”

Judge Paul McDonald praised the lyrics, describing them as poetic and profound: "This song felt like I was reading something out of an old poetry book. It stood out over any of the other finalists. A lot of times lyrics with this kind of depth and phrasing will float over people’s heads in a world full of fast-food songwriting, but I’m a sucker for deep thinking, poetic, and colorful words."

The Grand Prize includes a “Dream Day on Music Row,” featuring a co-writing session with Kristian Bush of Sugarland, a two-time GRAMMY Award winner with five No. 1 hits. Roth will also receive a full-band demo session at a premier Nashville studio. “I’m really looking forward to working with a songwriter of his caliber,” Roth said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Known for his evocative lyrics and unique sound, Roth has drawn comparisons to Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, and Johnny Cash. Critics have called him “a cool dark troubadour” and a “Jedi songwriter” for his ability to craft compelling, poetic imagery.

Roth’s accolades include winning lyric contests for the Nashville Songwriters Association, USA Songwriting Competition, Great American Song Contest, and Austin Songwriters Group, among others. He also earned a Gold Award in the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest and is featured in the Great American Song Hall of Fame. His original acoustic songs have been celebrated for their depth, earning praise such as “the kind of lyrics that make Nashville writers salivate.”

Roth will teach a lyric-writing class, “The Price of a Song: Writing More Dangerous Lyrics,” at Gulf Coast College’s Encore education program starting January 20. For more details, visit Gulf Coast College’s website.

You can listen to “Love Washes Off” on Roth’s website at easyheroes.com and on major streaming platforms like Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.