SANTA MONICA TRAVEL & TOURISM AND BROADSTAGE ANNOUNCE ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL SONG CONTEST JUDGING PANEL
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 15, 2026) — Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) and world-class performing arts venue BroadStage are proud to announce a partnership of expert industry talent who will serve as judges selecting the winner of the Route 66 Centennial Song Contest. As part of the iconic highway’s centennial celebrations, this creative competition invites songwriters and musicians over the age of 18 to submit an original song capturing the spirit of Santa Monica and its ties to the historic road for the chance to win $10,000.00 USD. The contest concluded on September 13, with the winner to be announced in November.
“We are honored to have an exceptional group of judges selecting a standout songwriter whose work truly captures the spirit of Route 66. We look forward to sharing the winning piece with the world as a creative celebration of this milestone anniversary,” said Misti Kerns, President/CEO of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism. “We are thrilled to receive so many beautiful compositions from musicians around the world celebrating a century of Route 66.”
“The original Route 66 song by Bobby Troup has traveled through time for 80 years. For songwriters, this is an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of one of the most enduring and iconic popular songs of all time and to meet the moment with the kind of song that brings us together in our zeal for adventure,” shared Rob Bailis, Artistic and Executive Director at BroadStage. “BroadStage enjoys an address right on The Route, so it is only fitting that we host the world premiere of the new song selected by this incredible panel of award-winning musicians and producers, and by the Mayor and City officials of Santa Monica.”
Music plays a key role in Route 66’s place in global pop culture, with Americana tunes inspiring a nostalgic feeling of discovery on the Mother Road. SMTT and BroadStage are thrilled to uplift a songwriter’s voice speaking to Santa Monica’s continued role in the history of Route 66. The Song Contest offers an amazing opportunity for an artist to join this longstanding musical legacy, thoughtfully selected by a highly respected and celebrated group of leaders.
The esteemed panel of judges includes experts across the entertainment and tourism industries, including the City of Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis. The Santa Monica Route 66 Centennial Song Contest judges are:
Rob Bailis – Artistic and Executive Director at BroadStage
Since Rob’s arrival in 2019, BroadStage has developed a vibrant and eclectic multidisciplinary presenting platform, well known for longitudinal artist residencies, bespoke artist-curated series, and a highly personal approach to audience engagement. Prior to joining BroadStage, he served as Associate Director at Cal Performances at UC Berkeley.
Perla Batalla – Artist
Santa Monica native Perla Batalla was born to an immigrant family immersed in music from an early age. She has released seven albums and appeared at hundreds of major concert venues throughout the world. Last year, Perla was inducted into California’s Focus on the Masters, an organization dedicated to documenting and preserving the works and lives of accomplished contemporary artists.
Caroline Beteta – President/CEO of Visit California
Caroline Beteta helms Visit California, a nonprofit organization created to market California as a premier travel destination to increase the state’s share of tourism-related revenues. She simultaneously serves as a strategic advisor for the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) and is currently on the federal Route 66 Centennial Commission.
Alejandro Cohen – Director of Music Content at KCRW
Alejandro is an Emmy Award-winning producer, musician, and longtime cultural curator whose work has helped shape Los Angeles’ independent music and public radio landscape for more than 25 years.
Karen Kennedy – Founder/President of 24/Seven Artist Development
Karen Kennedy leads 24/Seven Artist Development, a leading artist management firm established in 1992 to provide comprehensive strategic marketing and long-term career planning for exceptional artists in entertainment. Over her career, she has guided some of the most influential voices in jazz and contemporary music.
Misti Kerns – President/CEO of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
Misti is a 30-year tourism and hospitality industry veteran, a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME). She joined SMTT in 1997 and has served in her current role for over 25 years. Under her leadership, Santa Monica has solidified its reputation as an award-winning destination.
Robert Kraft – Producer and Former President of Fox Music
Robert Kraft is an award-winning songwriter, film composer, recording artist and record producer. As President of Music at 20th Century Fox from 1994 to 2012, Kraft was in charge of scores and soundtracks for over 300 feature films, as well as dozens of TV shows.
Alycia Mack – Owner/Western US & Canada Agent at International Music Network
Alycia Mack has been an agent at IMN for 24 years, assuming ownership of the agency alongside veteran agent Jeanna Disney at the start of 2026. IMN is celebrated as a booking agency and tour management company for jazz, world music and roots artists who represent the highest level of musical and artistic expression in their respective genres.
Caroline Torosis – Mayor of the City of Santa Monica
Caroline is a lifelong community advocate and public servant. At the time of her election to City Council in November 2022, Caroline had been serving the Santa Monica community as a Commissioner on the Santa Monica Rent Control Board since 2016. A proud UCLA alumna, she is a government affairs attorney and workforce and economic development expert.
Entries will be evaluated based on adherence to the theme, creativity and musical proficiency. Visit santamonica.com/route66 for the full contest details.
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About Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) is a non-profit organization designed to increase visitor expenditures, tourism revenues and local employment opportunities through the promotion of Santa Monica as a travel destination. For more information visit santamonica.com, email [email protected], or follow SMTT on Instagram (@SeeSantaMonica), X (@GoSantaMonica) or Facebook (@VisitSantaMonica).
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