Don't know if you heard about this one. It ends today 5/31.....http://www.songwriting.net/  35.00 dollars to enter one song. I didn't really give myself much hope but entered it kind of on a whim. They take your money first, then give you the option to upload an Mp3. I took an old file I had in Sonar and exported it to an 128 Mp3 on my desktop. Loaded and played ok on the desktop so I upload it to their site and get a link to my upload. I try the link and it is dead. I rename my file several times thinking the system got hung up on the name. That didn't work so I re uploaded my Mp3 several times. I double checked the Mp3 at 128 and file size below the limit. Still no go......the website says to check your file before you leave the page. If the file doesn't play you are instructed to try uploading again before you leave the page which I did numerous times.

 You aren't supposed to leave the upload area until you know your file plays. I never got mine to play and there were no other options,so I was forced after an hour of playing with this to leave the site. I sent out emails and that was last evening. Still nothing from anyone.

 Am I a sucker? I am starting to think I am. Should I change my credit card number :P......I think they are legit, but so far underwhelmed is an understatement. I didn't expect to win really but I did expect to have my material presented.

 Any similar experiences with these people?

I look at those things like the lottery... you gotta be in it to win it and I choose not to be in it. 

While I do on occasion buy lotto tix when the payout gets really huge (not always though) I never enter the songwriter contests that require money. The several songwriter contests I have entered were sponsored by local radio stations and were totally free. (cost of postage)  I won in 2 of the three at the local level and won a few prizes from them. 

That money spent on contests (IMHO) would be better spent on songwriting education such as the nashville songwriter's association membership for a year..... that way you actually get some sort of benefit. 

 I don't really feel like the money is a waste if the song was properly uploaded JMHO. I don't think the server ever got my song though. I was curious if this same problem occurred elsewhere with others.

 Only people who play the lottery win the lottery. Admittedly the cards are against us even with good material. I knew that going in to it. After my upload problem I wondered if the organization was even legit. Someone will walk away with 50,000 dollars if it is legit. My guess is the fee helps to cover the cost of the prizes.

 None of us can ever have too much education I suppose.

I believe I have seen this contest around for many years, so it's probably legit to one degree or another. 

Mostly I think the legitimacy of any song contest would depend on a few things...... 

1. The reputations and standing in the music community of the folks who are promoting it.

2. The judges they choose to listen to ALL the songs entered and select the winner. Are they folks who are songwriter/artists with street cred having written some #1 hits themselves? 

3. The prizes offered and most especially can they place the winning songs.... (maybe the top 3 to 10 songs) with artists and get them onto the next big CD of that artist.....? 

I don't like to write international songs.