SONG CONTEST BLOG

Those of you that have entered the Free International Songwriting Competition know that the total cash prize is $6000.

The cash prize, as published on this website, is broken down into three categories for Winner, Finalist and Runner Up, like this:

Singer/Songwriter Category:
$1000 Winner
$400 Finalist
$100 Runner-Up

Songwriter Category:
$1000 Winner
$400 Finalist
$100 Runner-Up

Lyricist Category:
$1000 Winner
$400 Finalist
$100 Runner-Up

That’s a total of $6000

Or is it?

Thanks to an email from a member [who can do basic arithmetic], it was brought to my attention that we’re $1500 short.

I still want to give away $6000 and I need your help to spread an additional $1500 across the three categories.

How would you do it?

A million dollars is a lot of money.

It’s enough money to change your life.

I discussed the prospect of launching an international songwriting competition with a one million dollar cash prize with a colleague of mine today.  We agreed that, in order for the music industry to take songwriting competitions seriously, we’ve got to put our money where our mouth is.

Imagine – one lucky and immensely talented individual will win $1,000,000 cash.  That’s enough capital to launch any half-decent record to the stratosphere.  And what label, manager, publicist or radio plugger wouldn’t work with an artist with that kind of marketing capital?

A million dollar prize is bigger than performing on the American Idol stage.  It’s bigger than going on tour with a legacy act.  It’s bigger than any artist development opportunity the music industry has collectively called to action since… ever??

I’m talking about a cool million with no strings attached.  And if you want to put the money into a lush condo instead of your music career, it’s your prerogative.

Oh, and submissions would be free.

Now that’s an international songwriting competition to take note of.

Your thoughts?

In response to an email alert that automatically goes out to our members seven days before a song contest deadline, I received this email this morning.  It made me chuckle.  Is that bad?

I am pleased to see that there are only 7 days remaining before this farce comes to a blissful end.  Every day this “opportunity” has been before us it has seemed like a miserable exercise in futility.  Please inform me when you have completely closed your doors to any additional submissions so I can rest in peace.  It’s been a nightmare.

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Graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Public Relations and Entertainment Communications, Eavan began her music career as an A&R intern at Atlantic Records. In 2007, she joined the Artist Management Department at Vancouver-based Nettwerk Music Group. Out of Nettwerk’s LA office, Eavan works directly with the artists Jars of Clay, Sixpence None the Richer, Maria Taylor, Griffin House, and Lucy Schwartz on a day to day basis. In 2009, she began working with manager Kevin Kocher for the artists Chromeo, Datarock, and Fan Death, as well. In her free time she throws parties and books shows with other music industry friends under the moniker “Less Jack More Jill” and is quite fond of gummy bears and puppies.  We’re delighted to welcome Eavan to our panel of song contest judges.

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I was snooping around the International Songwriting Competition website (as you do to keep tabs on your competitors) and discovered a real gem: Kate Miller-Heidke.   Clearly a winner – she picked up the 2008 grand prize – and, in my opinion, the first truly competitive artist to be associated with the ISC, Kate Miller-Heidke sounds like Australia’s answer to Katy Perry.  She will be making an appearance at MUSEXPO in London this summer.  Superb artist.