Songwriter Michael R. J. Roth is featured in the Great American Song Contest Hall of Fame, and is known for his award-winning, original acoustic songs with "the kind of lyrics that make Nashville writers salivate." The Nashville Songwriters Association named him "One to Watch." Lori McKenna called him "Brilliant."

Roth was the First Place Lyric Winner in the USA Songwriting Competition, the NSAI/CMT contest, the Unisong International Song Contest, the Great American Song Contest, the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, the Austin Songwriters Group and the Dallas Songwriters Association competitions. He also received two Honorable Mentions in American Songwriter Magazine. His poetry has appeared in Rolling Stone and literary magazines.