Commercial Music

The 2026–2027 NSA Commercial Music Category Guide is the comprehensive resource for singers, teachers, adjudicators, and Auditions Chairs participating in Commercial Music auditions. Commercial Music categories include styles such as pop, rock, country, jazz, gospel, R&B, soul, folk, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, rap, and other recording-industry genres, with categories spanning Children and Youth through High School, Post-High School, Advanced, Adult Avocational, and Adult Non-Traditional singers. The guide explains category placement, repertoire requirements, accompaniment options, scoring, advancement, and the performance expectations that are unique to CM.

Commercial Music auditions emphasize authentic performance, stylistic understanding, rhythmic groove, microphone technique, and vocal stylisms appropriate to the selected genre. Singers perform as themselves rather than portraying a character, and repertoire must originate in the commercial music industry—not from musical theatre, film musicals, opera, or other dramatic works. The guide also addresses backing tracks, live acoustic accompaniment, self-accompaniment and original songs where permitted, along with the requirement that CM singers use one microphone amplified through an external speaker. Teachers and singers should review the complete guide carefully before selecting repertoire and preparing an audition.

Commercial Music (CM) Category Guide Get all the details in one PDF file. Learn More

Commercial Music (CM) Regulations Summary Do you know the regulations? Learn More

Commercial Music (CM) Categories of Entry Similar across the genres of music but few distinct differences to check out. Learn More

📣Summary of What's New in Commercial Music (CM) in 2026-2027

• No Double Dipping - Singers entering multiple NSA categories (Classical, Commercial Music, Musical Theatre, and/or Spirituals) may NOT use the same selection in any other category including the American Negro Spirituals category. 
• When does my time begin? The time for ALL NSA auditions begins when the singer begins their slate.
• Sing NEW Repertoire - Repertoire performed in the 2026-2027 National Student Auditions cycle should not be reused from the previous NSA cycle’s chapter, region, or national student cycle. (page 4)
• Teachers enter singers in the NSA Qualifying Round - Teachers will now be responsible for entering their singers in the NSA Rounds using AuditionNow. 
• No Musical Theatre Songs in Commercial Music - Eligible repertoire must have originated in the commercial music industry. Songs originally written and released by commercial recording artists are eligible, even if they were later incorporated into a stage, film, or television musical. Songs originally written for a stage musical, film musical, television musical, opera, or other dramatic work are NOT eligible. 
• Tracks can include background vocals - A prerecorded instrumental track may include background vocals but may NOT include lead vocals. 
• Reminder About Amplification in CM - All CM auditions must use only ONE microphone to amplify the vocals through an external speaker. Mics cannot feed directly into the camera. No additional microphones may be used for any purpose.