Celebrating it’s 10th Anniversary, the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is calling songwriters of all genres and career stages, from anywhere in the world, to enter their song for the chance to win a career-boosting cash prize.
The winning songwriter takes home a first-place cash prize of A$50,000, courtesy of Australasian music rights management organisation APRA AMCOS, Alberts and Sony Music Publishing.
Songwriters outside of Australia and New Zealand will have the opportunity to win the new American Songwriter Spotlight Award. The award is supported by American Songwriter, the international music media company that has been exploring the craft of music by highlighting the world’s greatest songwriters and artists for over 35 years. The prize comes with A$1,500 and a feature on American Songwriter.
The 2021 first-place winner, announced earlier this year, was Genesis Owusu for the blistering ‘Gold Chains’, co-written with Andrew Klippel, Kieran J Callinan, Michael Di Francesco and Julian Sudek.
Since winning top honours, Owusu was named the ACT’s 2023 Young Australian of the Year, played international festivals and just released his new single ‘Get Inspired.’
Runners-up also win cash prizes, with a 2nd place amount of $A10,000 thanks to legal experts Banki Haddock Fiora, and 3rd place receives A$5,000 courtesy of Aon.
The AMPAL Emerging Songwriter Prize, awarded to an up-and-coming unpublished songwriter, comes with A$5,000 cash for the recipient, courtesy of the Australasian Music Publishers Association Limited.
Last year’s competition raised A$192,000 from 3,837 entries that came in from an all-time high 64 countries. With a truly global pool of entrants, the American Songwriter Spotlight Award is a dedicated prize to acknowledge international talent.
“We’re excited to kick off the next Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, and to welcome the American Songwriter Spotlight Award to the prize offerings. The entry fees contribute directly to Noro’s music therapy services and the entries that come from around the world will help us to increase our capacity to reach more individuals and their families,” said Belinda Leonard, CEO, Noro.
“I’d like to thank American Songwriter for supporting the promotion of the prize and its very first winner on their platform,” added Ms Leonard.
Jaxsta will also provide promotion and outreach to songwriters worldwide, who are encouraged to claim their profile on the world’s largest and only official music credits database.
As always, the full entry fee goes to support the transformative programs of Noro (formerly Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia). Since 2009, songwriters have contributed more than A$1.8m to help make Noro’s transformative programs accessible to its participants and their families.
Named after the iconic songwriters and founding members of The Easybeats, Harry Vanda and the late George Young, the long-running competition has honoured a range of songwriting talent: Genesis Owusu in 2021, Thelma Plum (2020), Matt Corby and Dann Hume (2019), Amy Shark (2018), Gretta Ray (2016), Husky Gawenda (2014), Isabella Manfredi (2013), Kimbra (2011) and Megan Washington (2009), as well as top finishers including Baker Boy, Ruel, Kaiit, Sarah Aarons, Gotye, Meg Mac, and Gang of Youths frontman David Le’aupepe.
A judging panel comprised of influential artists, producers, media and music industry professionals will be announced soon.
Entries close 11.59pm (AEDT) Tuesday 31 January 2023.
Please visit vandayoungsongcomp.com for more information and terms and conditions. The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting
IG @vandayoungcomp