INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) ANNOUNCES 2013 WINNERS

Information from Candace Avery at International Songwriter Competition. 

Yet again Australian Bands and Songwriters have shown their quality by winning several categories.

Here's the press release for the 2013 Winners:

I'm emailing to let PRO-COPY know that the prestigious US-based International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has announced its 2013 winners. We are very excited because out of nearly 20,000 entries from 120 countries, and 68 winners in total, Australia scored three First Place wins, six Second Place wins, four Third Place win, an amazing 32 Honorable Mentions!

It is extremely important to ISC that the accomplishments of these Australian songwriters be recognized, and we sincerely hope that you will help us to accomplish this goal by promoting this press release and helping to spread the word about their international achievements.

Thank you very much for your support of Australian Music!

All the best,

Candace Avery
Founder/Director

International Songwriting Competition
1307 Eastland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37206
ph: 615.251.4441
fx: 615.251.4442
www.songwritingcompetition.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Candace Avery
International Songwriting Competition
615.251.4441
[email protected]
www.songwritingcompetition.com

INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION (ISC) ANNOUNCES 2013 WINNERS

45 AUSTRALIAN SONGWRITERS HONORED IN U.S.-BASED COMPETITION

May 7, 2014 - The International Songwriting Competition (ISC), widely recognized as the world's most prestigious and respected songwriting competition, has today announced its 2013 winners. Almost 20,000 entries were submitted, and once again, Australians have garnered the most wins of any country second only to the USA. Australian songwriters have garnered three First Place wins, six Second Place wins, four Third Place wins, and 32 Honorable Mentions. For the second time in ISC history, Australians dominated the Rock category, shutting out all other nationalities. See below for a list of Australian winners.

Established in 2002, ISC awards more than $150,000 in cash and prizes to amateur and professional songwriters around the world. Past ISC winners include Gotye, Bastille, The Band Perry, Passenger, Kasey Chambers, Kate Miller-Heidke, Gin Wigmore, King Charles, Lindsey Stirling, Kimbra, Andrew Bird, The Living End, Eskimo Joe, and many more.
Winners were selected by a panel of judges which included, among others, Imagine Dragons, Martina McBride, Joshua Redman, Josh Turner, Keane, Garbage, Dido, Jon Secada, Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.), James Cotton, Boney James, Jason Isbell, and Anoushka Shankar. Judges also included the top echelon of music industry executives, including Monte Lipman (Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Republic Records), Dan McCarroll (President, Warner Bros. Records), Alison Donald (Co-President, Columbia Records UK) and many more.

"ISC provides a platform for songwriters to have their music heard in an international arena and encourages them to create and develop their artistry," states Candace Avery, Founder and Director. "It is vital for all artists to be recognized for their talents and awarded the due respect for their accomplishments. We are proud that so many Australian artists excel in ISC, and we have come to expect an unusually high level of songwriting from them."
This year's Grand Prize is awarded to jazz trumpeter, composer, and arranger Shunzo Ohno for his song "Musashi." This is the first time in ISC's 13-year history that the Grand Prize has been awarded to either a songwriter in the Jazz category or an artist from Japan.

One of the leading jazz trumpet players in his native Japan by the age of 19, Shunzo Ohno moved to New York City in 1974 to perform with jazz legend Art Blakey & The Messengers. Since then, he has performed and toured with many of the world's greatest jazz artists, including Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Gil Evans, Larry Coryell, Machito & His Afro-Cuban Orchestra, and many more. With numerous recordings under his own name as a leader, he has also appeared on over 30 more as a sideman and has collaborated on two Grammy winning recordings. Surviving both a serious car accident in which his teeth and lips were permanently damaged and a later bout of throat cancer which forced him to relearn his playing, he is a testament to determination and courage, even inspiring a biography and documentary in Japan about his life.

For a more in-depth bio, please go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/pressreleases
ISC is sponsored by: Presonus, Lowden Guitars, Marshall Amplification, Solid State Logic, Berklee College Of Music, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Airplay Direct, D'Addario, DiscMakers, Thayers, SongU.com, Sonicbids, The Music Business Registry, Indie Venue Bible, Celebrity Access, Tunecore, Independent Mastering, George Stein, Esq., Songtrust, and Taxi.

ISC is now accepting entries for 2014. More information can be found at: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com.
For a complete list of 2013 ISC winners and to hear the winning songs, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners
To download low-res photos of all winners, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners
For high-res photos, please contact Candace Avery at [email protected]

Australian winners include:

First Place Winners:
"Billy's Dream" - Tony King / Beautifully Mad (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Lyrics Only
"Give Her The World" - Adam Eckersley, Jason Reeves, Danelle Joy Leverett (Mannering Park, NSW, Australia) - Country
"Is This How You Feel" - Isabella Manfredi, Jack Moffitt, Thomas Champion, Luke Davison / The Preatures (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Rock

Second Place Winners
"Everything You Wanted" - Sebastian Cohen, Yves Roberts, Montgomery Cooper / Clubfeet (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Music Video
"My Dark Crusade" - Sophie Hanlon (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Performance
"Please Go Lightly" -  Worldfly (Darwin, NT, Australia) - Adult Contemporary (AC)
"Pray My Dear Daughter" - Charles Jenkins / Charles Jenkins & The Zhivagos (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Folk/Singer-Songwriter
"Set Me On Fire" - Missy Higgins, Butterfly Boucher (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Adult Album    Alternative (AAA)
"Seven" - Benjamin Dowd, Sam Reale, Jordan Hicks / Apes (Bacchus Marsh, VIC, Australia) - Rock

Third Place Winners
"Aloft" - David Crowe / Resin Moon (Alice Springs, NT, Australia) - Adult Album Contemporary (AAA)
"Boy" - Bertie Blackman, Francois Tetaz (Northcote, VIC, Australia) - Music Video
"Ow Ow Ow" - Jamie Saxe / The Mighty bUZZniks (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Children's Music
"Werewolves" - Calling All Cars (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Rock

Honorable Mentions
"All In My Head" - Missy Higgins, Butterfly Boucher (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Folk/Singer-Songwriter
"Animal Pals" - Scott Langley (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Children's Music
"Awake" - David Crowe / Resin Moon (Alice Springs, NT, Australia)
"Beautiful Mistake" - Haiydn Zafer / Nez Erok (Perth, WA, Australia) - Dance/Electronica
"Bunyips" - Tony Barnard (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Jazz
"Ceaseless Goodbye" - Imogen Clark (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Teen
"Closed Door" - Shane Timmo  (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Lyrics Only
"Falling Apart" - Themba Thompson / The Khanz (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Music Video
"Falling Apart" - Themba Thompson / The Khanz (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Unsigned Only
"Flesh And Bone" - Casey Barnes, Rick Price (Gold Coast, QLD, Australia) - Country
"Gasoline" - Christian O'Brien, Phoebe Baker, Louisa James / Alpine (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Adult Album Alternative (AAA)

"Kiss You" - Ruby Montey (Gold Coast, QLD, Australia) - Teen
"Listen To Soul, Listen To Blues" - SAFIA (Canberra, ACT, Australia) - Dance/Electronica
"Lo-Fi" - Sophie Koh, Ben Lee, Brad Wood (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Adult Album Alternative (AAA)
"Lovin' In The Fall" - Bex Chilcott / Ruby Boots (Perth, WA, Australia) - Americana
"Loving Myself" - Hairy Soul Man (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Music Video
"Mercy Killer" - Bertie Blackman, Francois Tetaz (Northcote, VIC, Australia) - Adult Album Alternative (AAA)
"Mercy Killer" - Bertie Blackman, Francois Tetaz (Northcote, VIC, Australia) - Performance
"Monsters" - Scott Langley (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Children's Music
"My Dark Crusade" - Sophie Hanlon (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Unsigned Only
"My Lover And My Friend" - Gregg Arthur, Casper Tromp (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Jazz
"Neon Cola Signs" - Eric Robinson, Mike Willmett, James Laubscher, Daniel Murphy / My Fiction (Brisbane, QLD, Australia) - Rock
"Outta Here (Ballad Of Chris Green)" - Cyndi Boste (Hepburn, VIC, Australia) - Americana
"Over The Fence" - Andrea Storm Kaden (Gold Coast, QLD, Australia) - Teen
"Release The Sound" - Roma Waterman (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Gospel/Christian
"Step Inside" - Azaria Byrne, Kara Jayne, Jordan McDonald, Ronnie Simmonsa / The Art (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Unsigned Only
"The 12 Drinking Days Of Christmas" - Danny McMaster (Tallai, QLD, Australia) - Comedy
"The Night Has An Alibi" - Wons Phreely (Perth, WA, Australia) - Rock
"The One" - JD Baxter, K Hickin (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Gospel/Christian
"What We Want" - Gena Rose Bruce (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) - Americana
"What's A Girl To Do" -  Iseula Hingano, Nathan Brett / Blue Eyes Cry (Newport, VIC, Australia) - Blues
"You And I" - Damien Leith (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - Adult Contemporary (AC)

ISC is sponsored by: Presonus, Lowden Guitars, Marshall Amplification, Solid State Logic, Berklee College Of Music, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Airplay Direct, D'Addario, DiscMakers, Thayers, SongU.com, Sonicbids, The Music Business Registry, Indie Venue Bible, Celebrity Access, Tunecore, Independent Mastering, George Stein, Esq., Songtrust, and Taxi.

For a complete list of 2013 ISC winners and to hear the winning songs, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners

International Song Writing Comp extended to Nov 4th

MUSIC SUPERSTARS JOIN RECORD LABEL EXECUTIVES TO SELECT ISC WINNERS

Tom Waits, Nas, Imagine Dragons, Bernie Taupin, Florida Georgia Line, Robert Smith (The Cure), Selina Gomez, McCoy Tyner,
Dido, Duran Duran Are Among The 55 Judges To Select Winners In The
2013 International Songwriting Competition (ISC)

Deadline To Enter Extended Until November 4, 2013

October 7, 2013 - Due to extremely high demand, the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has extended the deadline for entering songs until November 4, 2013. ISC is open to amateur and professional songwriters, and entries are accepted online through the ISC platform, Sonicbids, ReverbNation, Broadjam, or through the mail. Within this extended deadline period, ISC will be offering some special promotions and incentives.

One of the most prestigious and respected songwriting competitions in the world, ISC gives away a total of more than $150,000 in cash and prizes (including $25,000 cash for the Grand Prize winner alone), and gives songwriters 22 different categories to enter their songs into. Not only do ISC winners receive great prizes and media recognition, but winners also receive a lot of industry attention. Many previous winners have gone on to great success and garnered record deals, publishing deals, licensing deals, and even Grammys. Previous ISC winners include: Gotye and Kimbra (best known for their Grammy winning, million selling single "Somebody That I Used To Know), Passenger, The Band Perry, Gin Wigmore, Bastille, and many more.

Entry information can be found at http://www.songwritingcompetition.com.

One of the most difficult challenges for artists is to get their music into the hands of the music industry's heavy hitters, yet ISC gives this opportunity to each finalist. All finalists' songs are sent to the judges who evaluate them and then select the overall winners. This year's judges are unparalleled in prestige and accomplishment and reflect the pinnacle of success in contemporary music.

2013 ISC JUDGES

Recording Artists:

Nas; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Tom Waits; Imagine Dragons; Martina McBride; Bruce Hornsby; Robert Smith (The Cure); Keane; Simon Le Bon & Roger Taylor (Duran Duran); Josh Turner; Dido; Garbage; James Cotton; Brian Setzer; Florida Georgia Line; Mark Foster (Foster the People); Boney James; AVICII; Craig Morgan; Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show); McCoy Tyner; Michael W. Smith; Jon Secada; Anoushka Shankar; Black Francis (The Pixies); Matt Thiessen (Relient K); Gerald Casale (Devo); John Mayall; Joshua Redman; Alejandro Sanz; Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals); Bombino; Jeremy Camp; Chayanne; Jason Isbell; Selena Gomez and Jimmy Needham

CATEGORIES

Adult Album Alternative (AAA), Adult Contemporary (AC), Americana, Blues, Children's Music, Comedy/Novelty, Country, Dance/Electronica, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Gospel/Christian, Instrumental, Jazz, Latin Music, Lyrics Only, Music Video, Pop/Top 40, Performance, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Teen, Unsigned Only, and World Music.

SPONSORS

Presonus, Marshall Amplification, Lowden Guitars, D'Addario, Solid State Logic, Berklee College of Music, Thayers, Independent Mastering, Airplay Direct, DiscMakers, Tunecore, SongU.com, Mrs. Fields Cookies, The Music Business Registry, Celebrity Access, Indie Venue Bible, Sonicbids, Taxi

For more information, contact Candace Avery at 615.251.4441 or email [email protected]

Unsigned Only Music Competition closes soon

Once again the Unsigned Only Music Competition closes it's submissions soon. March 14th is the cut off date for the 2013 competition so get your songs in. It's good to see that independent Aussie artists always do well.

Unsigned Only is a unique music competition designed for solo artists, bands, and singers all over the world who are not signed to a major label record company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or imprints. The goal of Unsigned Only is to find an outstanding, talented performer: a band, singer, or solo artist...a newcomer or veteran...raw or polished - the “gem” that needs to be discovered. Unsigned Only is looking for the total package.

Conceived of and produced by the team who bring you the prestigious International Songwriting Competition (ISC),

ENTER UnSigned Only Music Competition here:  

Unsigned Only is sponsored by Sony Creative Software, Disc Makers, D'Addario, Mrs. Fields Cookies, The Music Business Registry, Celebrity Accesss, and CAD Audio.