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NBC Insider American Song Contest

American Song Contest Announces 56 Jurors Who Will Help Crown the Winner

Including Ester Dean, a.k.a "The Song Machine." 

By Christopher Rosa
Asc Juror Ester Dean

American Song Contest is finally here. 

The highly-anticipated music competition show premieres March 21 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Modeled after Eurovision Song Contest, ASC will showcase 56 Artists⁠—each representing either a U.S. state, territory, or Washington, D.C.⁠— competing for the title of Best Original Song. All the Artists will be singing their own music, and viewers at home—plus a Jury of music-industry experts—help crown the winner. 

So, who is on this Jury? Well, it's a stacked lineup of music industry executives, songwriters, radio programmers, A-list managers, and members of the Recording Academy. They'll be evaluating the Artists on their performances, artistic expression, originality, and the hit potential of their songs.

One very notable Juror is Ester Dean, a singer-actor-songwriter known in the industry as "The Song Machine." She's helped pen hits for everyone from Nicki Minaj to Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Rihanna. So, in other words, if she thinks you have a hit song, you definitely do. 

See the full list of Jurors, below. 

  1. Alabama – Amber Parker, Program Director, WTXT Tuscaloosa, iHeartMedia
  2. Alaska – Quinn Christopherson, Artist
  3. American Samoa – Joseph Fa’avae, Founder, Island Block Network
  4. Arizona – Double-L, Music Director / On-Air Personality, KNIX Phoenix, iHeartMedia
  5. Arkansas – Kevin Mercer, Program Director, KHKN Little Rock, iHeartMedia
  6. California – Dan McCarroll, Former President of Capitol Records and WB Records
  7. Colorado – Isaac Slade, Former Member of The Fray
  8. Connecticut – Jaime Levine, CEO, Seven Mantels, Artist Manager
  9. Delaware – Christa Cooper, On-Air Personality / Assistant Program Director, WDSD Wilmington, iHeartMedia
  10. Florida – Jose Tillan, Director/Producer – The POPGarage
  11. Georgia – Jennifer Goicoechea, SVP A&R Sony Music, EPIC
  12. Guam – Heidi Chargualaf Quenga, Executive Director, CHamorro Cultural Advisor
  13. Hawaii – Eric Daniels, Keyboardist/Arranger, “The Voice”
  14. Idaho – Shari Short, Singer/Songwriter/Producer
  15. Illinois – Mike Knobloch, President, Music and Publishing, NBCUniversal
  16. Indiana – Nancy Yearing, Talent Development
  17. Iowa – Taylor J., Program Director / On-Air Personality KKDM Des Moines, iHeartMedia
  18. Kansas – Michelle Buckles, Program Director, KZCH Wichita, iHeartMedia
  19. Kentucky – Ashley Wilson, Director of Country Programming, Kentucky/Indiana, iHeartMedia
  20. Louisiana – Uptown Angela, Executive Vice President of Programming, Format Lead Custom R&B/Gospel, iHeartMedia
  21. Maine – Lauren Wayne, General Manger / Talent Buyer, State Theater
  22. Maryland – Caron Veazey, Founder & CEO, Something In Common
  23. Massachusetts – Jamie Cerreta, EVP Hipgnosis Songs Group
  24. Michigan – Shahida Mausi, CEO The Right Productions, Inc./Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre
  25. Minnesota – Barry Lather, Creative Director / Choreographer / Producer
  26. Mississippi – Joe King the Big Daddy, Program Director, WZLD Hattiesburg, iHeartMedia
  27. Missouri – Tommy Austin, SVP Programming, iHeartMedia
  28. Montana – Stephanie Davis, Singer-Songwriter
  29. Nebraska – Hoss Michaels, Program Director, KXKT Omaha, iHeartMedia
  30. Nevada – Jim Vellutato, CEO, Arrival Music
  31. New Hampshire – Charlie Singer, Music Television Producer / Executive Producer
  32. New Jersey – Matt Pinfield, Nationally Syndicated Radio Host / A&R Consultant
  33. New Mexico – Tony Manero, SVP Programming Southwest, iHeartMedia
  34. New York – Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer & President, iHeartMedia
  35. North Carolina – Paul Schadt, On-Air Personality, WKKT Charlotte, iHeartMedia
  36. North Dakota – Allison Bostow, Program Director / On-Air Personality, KIZZ Minot, iHeartMedia
  37. Northern Mariana Islands – Galvin Deleon Guerrero, President Northern Marianas College / Radio DJ
  38. Ohio – Khirye Tyler, Songwriter / Producer / Musical Director
  39. Oklahoma – Ester Dean, “The Song Machine”
  40. Oregon – Mark Hamilton, Program Director / On-Air Personality, Portland Audacy
  41. Pennsylvania – Ty Stiklorius, Founder & CEO of Friends at Work
  42. Puerto Rico – Carlos Perez, Creative Director
  43. Rhode Island – Kristin Lessard, On-Air Personality, WSNE Providence, iHeartMedia
  44. South Carolina – Miss Monique, On-Air Personality / Program Director, WXBT Columbia, iHeartMedia
  45. South Dakota – Jered Johnson, President / CEO, Pepper Entertainment
  46. Tennessee – Brian Phillips, Executive VP, Content and Audience, Cumulus Media
  47. Texas – Natural, Music Producer
  48. U.S. Virgin Islands – Ajanie Williams, Music Producer & Author
  49. Utah – Jeff McCartney, SVP Programming, Salt Lake City, iHeartMedia
  50. Vermont – Lee Chesnut, A&R Consultant
  51. Virginia – Justin Derrico, Musician
  52. Washington – Zann Fredlund, On-Air Personality / Music Director & Assistant Program Director, KBKS Seattle, iHeartMedia
  53. Washington, D.C. – Dustin Matthews, Director of Rock Programing, Washington, DC, iHeartMedia
  54. West Virginia – Judy Eaton, Program Director, WTCR Huntington, iHeartMedia
  55. Wisconsin – Shanna “Quinn” Cudeck, Program Director / On-Air Personality, WMIL Milwaukee, iHeartMedia
  56. Wyoming – Ian Munsick, Warner Music Recording Artist

Reminder: American Song Contest airs live Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET on NBC starting March 21.