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Tag: International Songwriting Competition

International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Announces 2015 Judges

Kesha, Boyz II Men, Moby, Pat Metheny, Lorde, Tom Waits, Sara Evans, Bastille, Avicii, Daddy Yankee, Casting Crowns, And Many More To Judge ISC 

Called “the songwriting competition to take note of” by the prestigious New York Times,” the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) today announced its esteemed panel of judges for the 2015 competition. The panel includes many iconic, high-profile recording artists, as well as Presidents and CEOs from Atlantic, Epic, Elektra, Sony Music Latin, Warner Bros., Tommy Boy, Wind-Up, Alligator, Concord Music Group, and more. Designed to nurture the musical talent of songwriters on all levels and promote excellence in the art of songwriting, ISC offers the opportunity for songwriters to have their music heard by some of the most influential decision-makers in the industry. ISC gives away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes (shared among 68 winners) including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash and $30,000 in merchandise and services. In addition to prizes, winners gain recognition, press, kudos, and more career opportunities. Open to both amateur and professional songwriters, ISC offers 22 categories to enter, representing all genres of popular music. More information on entering ISC can be found at http://www.songwritingcompetition.com.

Last year’s ISC Grand Prize winner, Australian singer/songwriter Vance Joy, was honored for his memorable hit song, “Riptide.” In a statement, Joy said, “It is such an honor to win this songwriting prize. Writing songs is what gives me purpose, and I’m proud to receive this award.” The winning song “Riptide” turned out to be the song that launched Joy’s career worldwide and has since become a classic. He is currently on a six-month tour supporting Taylor Swift.

Joy is one of many winners who have included artists such as Bastille; Gotye; Lindsey Stirling; Kimbra; The Band Perry; Andrew Bird; Passenger; Gin Wigmore; Missy Higgins; King Charles; For King And Country; and more. The complete list of 2015 judges includes: Recording Artists Kesha; Tom Waits; Bill Withers; American Authors; Lorde; Pat Metheny; Sara Evans; Bastille; Casting Crowns; Keb Mo; Avicii; Boyz II Men; Bill Withers; Keane; Hardwell; Robben Ford; Danilo Perez; Moby; Jon Secada; Daddy Yankee; Afro Celt Sound System; Anthony Hamilton; Gerald Casale (Devo); Sean Paul; Justin Townes Earle; Hawk Nelson; Jean-Luc Ponty; Shakey Graves; Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Chayanne; Joy Williams; Matt Maher; Art Alexakis (Everclear); Far East Movement; Femi Kuti; and more to be announced.

Industry Executives: Craig Kallman (Chairman/CEO, Atlantic Records); Sylvia Rhone (President, Epic Records); Dan McCarroll (President, Warner Bros. Records); Jeff Castelaz (President, Elektra Records); Nir Seroussi (President, Sony Music Latin); Daniel Glass (President, Glassnote Records); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); Rosie Lopez (President, Tommy Boy Entertainment); Glen Barros (President, Concord Music Group); Bryan Stewart (VP of A&R, Curb Records); Jason McArthur (VP of A&R, Provident Label Group / Sony Music Entertainment); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Edward Chmelewski (President, Blind Pig Records); Sharon Tapper (Head of Publishing, Glassnote Records); Kevin Welk (Chief Creative, Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records); Angel Carrasco (President, Discos 605); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Joseph Burney (VP of A&R, RCA Inspiration/Sony Music Entertainment); Richard Stumpf (CEO, Atlas Publishing); Steve Greenberg (CEO, S-Curve Records); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, New West Records); Albert Schilcher (VP of Music and Music Marketing, MTV International); Jamie Masada (Owner, Laugh Factory); Cyndi Nelson (General Mgr., Zanies Comedy Club); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Gary Briggs (A&R Executive); Claire S. Green (President, Parents’ Choice Foundation); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); Julie Kertes (General Manager, National Parenting Publications Awards, NAPPA); Nate Dern (News Editor, Funny Or Die News); Wende Curtis (Owner, Comedy Works); and more to be announced.

International Songwriting Competition 2014 call for entries

The International logo_2014Songwriting Competition (ISC) has announced its judging panel for the 2014 competition which is now accepting entries. This year, ISC has expanded on the participation of music industry executives, offering the opportunity for artists to have their music heard by the highest level of decision-makers in the music business. Judges include Presidents and CEOs from Republic, Atlantic, Warner Bros., Elektra, Columbia, Virgin, Sony Music Latin, Mercury, Wind-Up, Tommy Boy, Alligator, S-Curve, and Concord Music Group.

Coupled with additional high-profile industry executives and an notable group of recording artists – many of whom are currently dominating the charts – ISC offers the opportunity for artists to have their music heard by the most impressive and elite panel of judges yet.

This year we decided to invite more record company executives in order to open up more opportunities to songwriters and artists,” states Candace Avery, Founder and Director. “It is so difficult for up-and-coming artists to reach these elusive music executives, so this is an incredible chance for artists to have their music heard by the people who actually make career-changing decisions. We are very excited and honored that so many high-level industry professionals want to participate – this is truly unprecedented in any competition.”

ISC gives away more than $150,000 in cash and prizes (shared among the 68 winners) including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash and $30,000 in prizes. Open to both amateur and professional songwriters, ISC offers 22 categories to enter, representing all genres of popular music. Past winners have included Grammy winners, chart-topping artists, amateur songwriters, and everyone in between, including Bastille; Gotye; Lindsey Stirling; Kimbra; The Band Perry; Andrew Bird; Passenger; Gin Wigmore; Missy Higgins; King Charles; and many more.

2014 ISC judges include:

Recording Artists

Tom Waits; American Authors; Pat Metheny; Sara Evans; Bastille; Casting Crowns; Avicii; Wayne Shorter; John Hiatt; Keane; DJ Snake; Robben Ford; Danilo Perez; Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Martina McBride; Newsboys; Jon Secada; The Chainsmokers; Jason Isbell; Afro Celt Sound System; London Grammar; Michael W. Smith; Craig Morgan; Gerald Casale (Devo); Jean-Luc Ponty; James Cotton; Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes); Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Matt Thiessen (Relient K); Chayanne; J. Holiday; and more to be announced…

Industry Executives

Monte Lipman (Founder and Chairman/CEO, Republic Records); Craig Kallman (Chairman/CEO, Atlantic Records); Dan McCarroll (President, Warner Bros. Records); Jeff Castelaz (President, Elektra Records); Alison Donald (Co-President, Columbia Records UK); Ted Cockle (President, Virgin Records UK); Mike Smith (President, Mercury Records UK); Nir Seroussi (President, Sony Music Latin); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); Rosie Lopez (President, Tommy Boy Entertainment); Glen Barros (President, Concord Music Group); Rex Rideout (VP of A&R, Motown Records); Jay Landers (Executive VP of A&R, Verve Music Group); Bryan Stewart (VP of A&R, Curb Records); Jason McArthur (VP of A&R, Provident Label Group / Sony Music Entertainment); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP A&R, Latin America, Sony); Keith Naftaly (Executive VP of A&R, RCA Records); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Joseph Burney (VP of A&R, RCA Inspiration/Sony Music Entertainment); Richard Stumpf (CEO, Atlas Publishing); Steve Greenberg (CEO, S-Curve Records); Kim Buie (A&R, Thirty Tigers); Albert Schilcher (VP of Music and Music Marketing, MTV International); Gary Briggs (Senior VP of A&R/Producer, New West Records); Lori Teig (VP of Talent, VEVO); Jermaine Hall (Editor-In-Chief, Vibe Magazine); Jamie Masada (Owner, Laugh Factory); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Julie Kertes (General Manager, National Parenting Publications Awards, NAPPA); Claire S. Green (President, Parents’ Choice Foundation); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); Wende Curtis (Owner, Comedy Works); and more to be announced…

For an entry form and further details you can go to the ISC’s website

Irish composer excels at International Songwriting Competition

Niamh Castlepalooza (2)Niamh Murphy (aka Foxglove) has proven herself to have a notable stage presence, having taken third place in the Performance category at this year’s International Songwriting Competition. With over 20,000 entries from almost 120 countries there was no shortage of talent to choose from but it was the Cork-based artist who turned the judges’ heads and scooped the bronze. Past category winners include Gotye, The Band Perry, Amanda Palmer, Passenger, Andrew Bird and many more.

A wealth of industry knowledge was on hand to select the cream of this year’s crop with judges including Tom Waits, Susanne Vega, Robert Smith and Bernie Taupin in a stellar list along with other notable composers and artists as well as record label presidents and other industry leaders.

Niamh’s song ‘Shields of Fire’ was selected as one of the top submissions in her category. She posted this personal message about the win:

” I’m absolutely thrilled with this result! To think that there were so many entries and my song ‘Shields of Fire’ was chosen to come third in the performance category is just great. Writing songs is a wonderful thing to be doing and very enjoyable; and I can’t seem to stop doing it! Nods of approval like these are very appreciated and encouraging!”

You can follow Niamh/Foxglove online at her Facebook, Soundcloud and Breaking Tunes accounts.

There is currently an open call for submissions to the International Songwriting Competition 2014. Should you wish to follow in Niamh’s footsteps, you can enter here.

Irish Songwriters Receive Honorable Mentions in International Songwriting Competition

isc logoA number of Irish songwriters have received honourable mentions in various categories in the 2012 International Songwriter Competition. ISC announced the winners of the 2012 competition yesterday.

Alan Earls from Wicklow was acknowledged for his entry, “Beautiful” in the Adult Contemporary category. Armagh songwriter, Tony Villiers, was also acknowledged in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category for his entry, “Jesus Was a Rollin’ Stone”.

Elsewhere, Naas duo, Miracle Bell, received honourable mentions in two categories – Pop/Top 40 for their song “Love Sounds” and Unsigned Only for the track “Paris”.

Liam Redmond, songwriter with The Scenes, was acknowledged in the Rock category for their song, “Alone”, while Deep End of the Road, an avant-garde collective made up of Lorcán Mac Mathúna, Eoghan Neff, Flaithrí Neff, Seán Mac Erlaine and Martin Tourish, received a mention in the World section for “Scread Ceann Sualtaim”.

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is an annual song contest whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena.

Every year the competition attracts entries from thousands of songwriters worldwide. Categories include: AAA (Adult Album Alternative), 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, Performance, Pop/Top 40, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Teen, World Music, and Unsigned Only.

http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/

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