The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition Is Now Open
The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition returns for its 10th anniversary with a swag of cash prizes and a brand new award.
The prestigious contest, an annual search for the best talent from around the globe, introduces a new category, the American Songwriter Spotlight Award, for songwriters outside of Australia and New Zealand.
Supported by American Songwriter, the international music media company, the inaugural winner will score A$1,500 and a feature in the 35-year-old title.
Returning this time are cash prizes for 1st place (A$50,000, thanks to APRA AMCOS, Alberts and Sony Music Publishing), 2nd place (A$10,000, courtesy of Banki Haddock Fiora) and 3rd place (A$5,000 courtesy of Aon), and the AMPAL Emerging Songwriter Prize (A$5,000 from Australasian Music Publishers Association Limited – AMPAL).
Admissions are now open to creators from anywhere, with songs written in any language.
Named after the legendary songwriters and founding members of The Easybeats, Harry Vanda and the late George Young, the competition has honoured a range of songwriting talent, from Thelma Plum (2020), to Matt Corby and Dann Hume (2019), Amy Shark (2018), Gretta Ray (2016), Husky Gawenda (2014), Isabella Manfredi (2013), Kimbra (2011) and Megan Washington (2009).
The most recent winner, announced in March of this year, was Genesis Owusu for “Gold Chains,” co-written with Andrew Klippel, Kieran J Callinan, Michael Di Francesco and Julian Sudek.
Each song entry carries with it a $50 fee, with 100% of that sum benefiting the services of Noro Music Therapy. Through that process, songwriters have contributed more than A$1.8 million to Noro since 2009.
“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,” comments Noro CEO Belinda Leonard.
“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.”
Last year’s contest raised A$192,000 from 3,837 entries that came in from an all-time high 64 countries, organisers say.
Adds Leonard, “I’d like to thank American Songwriter for supporting the promotion of the prize and its very first winner on their platform.”
Official music credits database Jaxsta is on board to provide promotion and outreach to songwriters worldwide.
Entries close 11.59pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. The judging panel will be “announced soon.”
Visit vandayoungsongcomp.com for more.
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