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INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION |
| What
is ISC? The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is an annual songwriting and music contest 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, musicians, bands, and solo performers are invited to participate. It doesn't matter whether you perform or write songs for a living or do it as a hobby – ISC is open to everyone. ISC has the most prestigious panel of judges of all the songwriting contests 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. |
| What's
new for 2008? In response to all the bands and artists making videos once again and the numerous outlets for viewing them, we have added a Music Video category. We're really excited about it and hope to view a lot of great videos. |
| What
are the rules for entering a music video? All videos must be original songs and cannot exceed more than 10 minutes in length. ISC accepts DVD or VHS, but not the PAL format. We're making it really easy for you to enter your videos. You can mail them in along with an entry form, you can upload them by entering online, or you can fill out an entry form (either online or through the mail) and just give us a website to go to, and we'll watch it there. Whether it's YouTube, your MySpace page, your website, or some other website - we'll go to the site and view it. All you have to do is write down the website on the entry form. Easy. |
| When
is the deadline to enter ISC? All entries must be mailed or entered online on or before midnight, October 15, 2008. It doesn't matter how long it takes to arrive at our office - just make sure the entry gets mailed on or before October 15. |
| Does
my song have to be an original song? Yes, ISC only accepts original songs. So, songs that were written by someone else or a long time ago (in public domain) may not be considered original, even if they are rearranged. We do, however, accept songs that include some sampling of other songs (if used as background or filler) and parodies of songs (in the Comedy/Novelty category). Please do not send public domain songs that you have written lyrics to or rearranged (unless it's in the Comedy/Novelty category). |
| Can
I enter my song(s) from a country other than the U.S.? Yes, the International Songwriting Competition accepts and welcomes entries from all over the world. ISC is one of the largest songwriting and music contests in the world, and in 2007 received entries from 100 countries throughout the world from all corners of the globe and every continent. |
| What
are my chances of winning if I live outside the USA.? ISC has the most international winners of any major songwriting or music contest. In 2003 and 2004, the ISC Grand Prize winners were both from outside the USA. Approximately 50% of all ISC winners come from outside the USA. In 2007, 54% of all finalists came from outside the USA. |
| Are
there any age requirements to enter? Anyone of any age can enter ISC, except the Teen category which requires the entrant to be 18 years old or younger. |
| How
many songs can I enter? There is no limit to the number of songs you may enter into the songwriting contest. |
| How
many categories can I enter my song(s) into? You may enter as many songs as you want in different categories, or you may even enter as many songs as you want in the same category. |
| What
if my song does not fit exactly into a category? Enter it into the category that it fits best in. A great song will stand out and be recognized even if it does not fit exactly into a specific category. The categories are a guide, not a rule. Please do not email us and ask us to pick a category for you. You know your songs better than we do, and it needs to be your decision. |
| Can
I have another vocalist sing the song I wrote? Yes, any vocalist can sing the song; it doesn't need to be the song author. Also, you may use any musicians you wish. |
| What
does AAA signify? AAA stands for Triple A (Adult Album Alternative), which is a radio format. AAA playlists are much broader than the limited playlists of hit radio, and therefore depend on album tracks as well as on music released as singles. Stylistically, such stations may play rock, folk-rock, country-rock, modern rock, singer/songwriter, and blues music. Examples of artists in the AAA category include: Jewel, John Mayer, Fleetwood Mac, Jason Mraz, Ben Harper, Beck, The Jayhawks, Pete Yorn, Tori Amos, Coldplay, Train, etc. |
| What
is Americana music? Americana music is best described as progressive, roots country music, which offers an alternative to mainstream country. Examples of Americana artists include Gillian Welch, Joe Ely, Johnny Cash, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, John Hiatt, Ryan Adams, etc. |
| What
is the Performance category? This category is judged not only on songwriting but also on the overall performance and delivery of the song. This makes ISC a music competition as well as a songwriting competition! The criteria include vocal delivery (unless it is an instrumental and has no vocals), instrumentation, melody, arrangement, lyrics, creativity, and overall likeability. This category will be judged on the total package – the overall quality of the song and the performance of it. All genres of music are accepted for this category. |
| Does
ISC accept Spoken Word songs? Yes,...since ISC does not have a specific category for Spoken word, it is recommended to enter Spoken Word songs into the Performance category. |
| What
kind of jazz songs does ISC accept? ISC accepts both instrumental jazz and jazz with vocals – everything from traditional jazz to avant-garde, standards to smooth jazz, swing, and more. |
| Do
you accept parodies in the Comedy/Novelty category? Yes, we do (but make them funny!)... |
| Is
there a maximum time length to an entered song? No, you may enter songs of any time length. |
| How
much does it cost to enter? ISC has an Early Bird entry fee up until July 15. The fee is $30 for the first entry and $20 for additional entries. For example, if you enter one song in a category, the fee is $30. But, if you enter one song in two categories (or two songs in one category), the fee is $50. If you enter three songs in one category (or three songs in different categories) the fee is $70. As you can see, each time you add a song, you will have to add $20. After July 15, the fee is $30 per entry with no discount for additional entries. |
| Will
ISC notify
entrants that their entry has been received? ISC sends out an email to all entrants notifying them that their entry has been received. However, as you know, email is not always 100% reliable, and sometimes is not received. This can happen for a variety of reasons: the email might be filtered out by a spam program (so check your junk mailbox), your server might be down, etc., etc. If your email address changes, please be sure to notify us, as email is the primary method ISC uses to communicate with entrants. If you do not receive any notification from ISC within a few weeks of sending out your entry, feel free to contact the ISC office at 615.251.4441 to verify receipt. |
| How
and when will winners be notified? All entrants will receive notification of the semi-finalists, finalists, and winners via email. Winners will be emailed and/or phoned. Finalists will be announced in February, 2009, and winners will be announced in April, 2009. Please do not call the ISC office to inquire about winners as it will slow down the process. If you do not receive an email, please check the website for updated information. |
| Does
ISC give feedback? ISC does not give feedback or a critique to entrants. Please do not ask for this service. |
| Does
ISC notify entrants about the status of their entry during the process? ISC will not be notifying any artists as to the judging status of their entry. In the past, ISC notified entrants if they made it to the next round. Unfortunately, due to confusion caused by this process, ISC no longer will be doing this. All entrants will be notified in February regarding the announcement of finalists. Then, in April, winners will be announced. |
| What
are the requirements for eligibility for the Teen category? The only requirement is that all entrants in the teen category must be 18 yrs. old or younger by December 31, 2008. If there are multiple songwriters, they must all adhere to this age requirement. Entrants may be from any country. Please be sure to have your parent or guardian sign the entry form! Please note that in order to attend Berklee College of Music's 5-Week Summer Performance Program, the First Place winner of the Teen category must be at least 14 years old when attending. |
| What
kind of music can I enter into the Teen category? You may enter any kind of music (for example: rock, pop, folk, blues, jazz, country, instrumental, etc). You do not need to specify the genre of music on your application. |
| If I entered last year, can I enter again this year? Yes, and you can enter either the same song(s) or new songs. Since we have many new judges this year, it will be "new ears" listening to your entries. We have had numerous instances where entrants have entered the same song from year to year with different outcomes. |
| Am
I allowed to enter songs that have been entered into other songwriting
competitions? Yes, we welcome all songs, even if they have been entered (whether they won or not) into other songwriting competitions. |
| Do
you have any specific instructions for the entry? Please put all your songs on one CD or tape. It is more affordable for you and easier for us. Please make sure the names of the songs are clearly marked on the CD or tape case. If you are sending a CDR, please put a piece of masking tape on the spine of the case and write your name in black magic marker. Use a regular-sized case, not an ultra-thin one. Use the same procedure if you are sending in a cassette tape or video. Also, please make sure that the entrant's name is clearly marked directly on the CD, CDR, tape, or video. Finally, it will help us if you insert a track listing into the CD or tape case. |
| Do
I have to enter recorded music or can I just enter sheet music? It is necessary to enter recorded music except for the Lyrics Only category which is judged solely on the lyrics, no music. The Lyrics Only category is one of ISC's most popular category, making ISC one of the most prominant lyric songwriting contests in the world. |
| How
do I enter lyrics only? Please send in two copies of the lyrics typed or neatly written. They do not need to be accompanied by music, but if you prefer, you may also send in the song on CD or tape. Do not include sheet music, chords, or any other kind of musical notation - only the lyrics. If the lyrics are in a language other than English, please include the English translation, if available. You do not need to specify the kind of music the lyrics are written for, but if you want to, that's fine with us. It will not affect the judging process in any way. |
| Does
ISC own my song once I have entered it? No, absolutely not. The entrant retains ALL rights to the songs, and ISC does NOT own the song or any rights to it. |
| May
I enter a song that I wrote if the rights to it are owned by a publishing
company? Yes, but make sure to get permission from the publishing company. If the song is selected as a winner, you will be required to send ISC their signed approval. |
| May
I enter a song that has been released before on a CD? Yes, of course, as long as you own the rights to the song, or can get permission from the copyright owner. |
| May
I shop a song to a record label or publishing company that has been
entered into ISC? Yes, of course. Since ISC has no ownership in any song entered, you may continue to do business as usual with any song entered into ISC. In fact, we encourage you to be proactive and do whatever you can to gain success with your songs. |
| If
I am entering from outside the US, what type of payment do you accept? We cannot accept personal check if your bank is from outside the USA. However, we do accept bank checks, international money orders, credit cards, or PayPal if you enter online. Please do not send us personal checks with the word "US Funds" written in next to the amount. Also, we cannot do transfers of monies into our bank account. |
| If
I am Canadian, can I send in a personal check and just write in "US Funds"
on the check? We cannot accept personal checks with the words "US Funds" written in next to the amount. We only accept bank checks, international money orders, a credit card, or PayPal if you enter online. |
How
can I enter online? |
| What
is the ISC Compilation CD? ISC produces a Compilation CD of the Grand Prize winner and all the First Place winners. If the Lyrics Only winner has a recorded song, it may also be included. The CD is not for sale, and is used for publicity and promotional purposes only. It is sent out to A&R, press, radio, and more. Since it is not sold, there are no royalties paid to artists on it; however, all songwriters will retain full rights to their songs. The purpose of the Compilation CD is to heighten awareness and increase exposure for all winners, and most importantly, to help them further their careers. |
| What
is the People's Voice? The People's Voice is an additional way to win prizes and recognition. It is completely separate from the regular winners that are selected by ISC judges. Once ISC announces the finalists, their songs are put up on the website for a month, and the public is invited to vote for their favorite song. The finalist who receives the most votes wins a lot of great prizes (stay tuned for an update on People's Voice 2008 prizes). |
| Do the judges listen to all the entries, or is there a screening process? There is a screening committee that listens to all entries and selects the group of finalists which are then sent to the judges. The judges then select the winners from this group of finalists. The screening committee is comprised of ISC staff who are all qualified music business professionals with extensive experience in songwriting and music. ISC does not utilize any outside screeners. The screening process is carefully and respectfully implemented with the goal of selecting the best songs to send on to the judges. |
How
long has ISC been in existence? Click here for a bio of the Founder/Director. |