The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is an annual song contest based in Nashville, Tennessee, whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of songwriters on all levels and promote excellence in the art of songwriting. Amateur and professional songwriters and musicians are invited to participate. ISC has the most prestigious panel of judges of all the songwriting and music contests in the world, offering exposure and the opportunity to have your songs heard by the most influential decision-makers in the music industry.[1] Submissions are judged on creativity, originality, lyrics, melody, and arrangement; production/Recording quality and vocal ability are not judged.[2]
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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. Entrants may submit as many songs as they wish - in the same category or in multiple categories.[2]
68 Winners share in over $150,000 in cash and prizes:[3]
Recording Artists:
Tom Waits; Tori Amos; Jeff Beck; Lucinda Williams; Simon Le Bon and Roger Taylor (Duran Duran); Billy Currington; My Morning Jacket; Kelly Clarkson; Keane; McCoy Tyner; Wynonna; Francesca Battistelli; Tegan and Sara; Massive Attack; Michael W. Smith; Alejandro Sanz; Johnny Clegg; Jeremy Camp; Ray Wylie Hubbard; John Mayall; Craig Morgan; Basement Jaxx; James Cotton; Trombone Shorty; Robert Earl Keen; Black Francis (The Pixies); Mose Allison; Robert Smith (The Cure); Amadou & Mariam; Sandra Bernhard; Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals); Matt Thiessen (Relient K); and Chayanne
Industry Executives:
Monte Lipman (President, Universal Republic Records); David Massey (President, Mercury Records); Brian Malouf (VP A&R, Walt Disney Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP A&R, Latin America, Sony/BMG); Ric Arboit (President, Nettwerk Music Group); Anastasia Brown (Music Supervisor, FORMAT); Dr. Demento (Radio Host, The Dr. Demento Show); Allison Jones (VP of A&R, Big Machine Label Group); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Dan Storper (President, Putamayo World Music Records and Putumayo Kids); Kim Buie (Head of A&R, Thirty Tigers); Douglas C. Cohn (Sr. VP, Music Marketing & Talent, Nickelodeon); Trevor Jerideau (VP of A&R, J Records); Antony Bland (A&R, American Recordings); and Steve Smith (VP of A&R, Aware Records); and Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment) [1]
Aaron Lewis (Staind), Adele, Alan Meltzer (Founder/CEO, Wind-Up Records), Amanda Ghost (President of Epic Records), Amy Doyle (Sr. Vice-President Music and Talent of MTV), Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Angelique Kidjo, Arif Mardin (Former President, Manhattan Records and Vice-President, Atlantic Records), B.B. King, Baaba Maal, BeBe Winans, Ben Folds, Ben Harper, Bo Diddley, Brad Schwartz (Sr. VP/General Mgr., Much MTV Group), Branford Marsalis, Brian Wilson, Bruce Lundvall (President, EMI Blue Note Label Group), Buckcherry, Cassandra Wilson, Chaka Khan, Charlie Walk (Former President, Epic Records), Cheech Marin (Cheech & Chong), Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers), Chris Parr (Former VP, Music Programming and Talent Relations, CMT), Clint Black, Dan Haseltine (Jars of Clay), Dan Zanes, Daniel Glass (Founder/CEO, Glassnote Entertainment Group ), David Bendeth (Former Sr. VP A&R, RCA Records), David Lindley, DJ Tiesto, Eddie Kramer (Producer), Frank Callari (Co-Founder/Former Sr. VP A&R, Lost Highway), Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Glen Barros (President/CEO, Concord Music Group), Guru, James Diener (President, A&M/Octone Records), James Mercer (The Shins), Jazmine Sullivan, Jeff Fenster (Sr. VP A&R, Jive Records), Jeffrey Steele, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Bralower (Producer), Joe Nichols, Joe Satriani, John Digweed, John Ondrasik (Five For Fighting), John Scofield, Jon Secada, Joss Stone, Journey, Julian Casablancas (The Strokes), K'Naan, Keith Wozencroft (President, Capitol Music and Virgin Records UK), Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Kim Stephens (A&R, Capitol Records), Kings of Leon, KT Tunstall, Lisa Ramsey Perkins (Sr. Director, A&R of Sony Nashville), Loretta Lynn, Macy Gray, Mario, Medeski Martin & Wood, Michael Gudinski (Founder, Mushroom Records), Michael McDonald (Co-Founder, ATO Records), Mitchell Cohen (Former VP A&R, Verve Music Group), Mona Scott-Young (Former Co-Owner/President, Violator Management), Montel Jordan, Natalie Grant, Neil Finn (Crowded House), Nelly Furtado, Nile Rodgers (Producer), Ornette Coleman, P. Diddy, Pat Metheny, Patrick Moxey (Founder/Owner, Ultra Records), Paul Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk, Paulina Rubio, Peter Asher (Former President, Sanctuary Artist Mgmt.), Peter Furler (Newsboys), Peter Gabriel, Peter Hook (New Order), Phil Vassar, Pitbull, Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace), Ray Davies (The Kinks), Regina Spektor, Rick Krim (Executive VP Talent and Music Programming of VH1), Ricky Martin, Rihanna, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20), Robbie Williams, Robert Beeson (Founder, Essential Records ), Rose Noone (Former Sr. VP A&R, Epic Records), Sasha, Scott Kirkland (The Crystal Method), Sean Paul, Seymour Stein (Chairman/CEO of Sire Records), Sonny Rollins, Stacey Earle, Steve Vai, Steve Winwood, Sully Erna (Godsmack), T-Pain, Taj Mahal, Terence Blanchard, The Donnas, Timbaland, Toby Mac, Tommy Morris (Telent Coordinator, The Comedy Store), Tracy Gershon (Sr. VP and Head of A&R, Warner/Chappell Music Nashville), Train, Vanessa Carlton, Weird Al Yankovic, Youssou N'Dour, and more! [1]
Many Grand Prize winners have been signed by major labels and gone on to find continued success.
Kasey Chambers (Liberation Music [AUS], Sugar Hill Records [USA], EMI), 2010 [4][5]
King Charles (Universal Republic), 2009 [4][6]
Kate Miller-Heidke (Sony BMG), 2008 [7][8]
Catie Curtis (Capitol Records), 2005 [7][9]
Gin Wigmore (Island Records), 2004 [7][10]
Moana Maree Maniapoto (Sony BMG), 2003 [7][11]