Competitions

[Lois Gilbert]

2004 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Now Accepting Entries

ISC is the perfect opportunity for bands, artists and songwriters
looking
to gain exposure in the music industry. In addition to celebrity judges
such as Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Bo Diddley, John Ondrasik (Five For
Fighting) and more, ISC judges also include many high-profile record
label
executives who turn to ISC, looking for new talent. "This (ISC) is a
great
A&R source to find new artists," stated Monte Lipman, President of
Universal Records.

ISC 2004 will yield 50 winners that will share in $100,000 cash and
prizes;
but for many songwriters, the prizes are just one of the many benefits
from
winning a competition of this stature. Today's music industry is highly
competitive, and winning the ISC can help open doors for an artist:
"I've
had requests from labels in America asking me to send them more music,
and
there just seems to be so much good will with this competition" said
British singer-songwriter Jane Taylor (2003 ISC Folk/Singer-Songwriter
category winner).

The exposure and attention given to their songwriting achievements is
another benefit for many ISC winners. "Winning the ISC is the highlight
of
my composing career. Radio stations celebrated my win in their news
bulletins, with one even describing me as a national treasure!" said
2003
Grand Prize winner Moana Maniapoto. Echoing that sentiment is Rick
Fines,
the 2003 Blues category winner: "The media has been really good to me
since
winning! I am thrilled with the prizes and the media attention!"

ISC is now accepting entries in 16 musical categories. Deadline for
submission is October 15, 2004. Enter ISC by August 31, 2004 and save
on
multiple-song entries.

http://www.songwritingcompetition.com

2004 Judges:
Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Bo Diddley; John Ondrasik
(Five For Fighting); Taj Mahal; Clint Black; Sean "P. Diddy" Combs;
Macy
Gray; Aaron Lewis (Staind); David Hidalgo (Los Lobos); Branford
Marsalis;
Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Peter Furler (Newsboys); Sully Erna
(Godsmack); Stacey Earle; Scott Kirkland (The Crystal Method); Michael
Gudinski (Chairman, Mushroom Group of Companies); Alan Meltzer (CEO,
Wind
Up Records); Tara Griggs-Magee (Executive VP Gospel/Urban Music, Sony
Records); Michael McDonald (President, ATO Records); Tracy Gershon (Sr.
Dir
A&R/Artist Dev, Sony Records Nashville); Chris Parr (VP of Music
Programming & Talent Relations, CMT); Peter Asher (Co-President,
Sanctuary
Artist Management); Kim Stephens (VP A&R, Lava Records); Barbara Sedun
(VP
Creative, EMI Music Publishing Canada) and Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For
Little People).

Categories for 2004:
AAA/Roots/Americana, Dance/Electronica, Jazz, R&B/Hip-Hop, Blues,
Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Lyrics Only, Rock, Children's Music,
Gospel/Christian, Performance, Teen, Country, Instrumental, Pop/Top 40,
World Music

International Songwriting Competition
211 Seventh Avenue North, Suite LL-20
Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: 615.251.4441
Fax: 615.251.4442
songwritingcompetition.com