AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

2006 International Songwriting Competition (ISC)

One of the most prestigious and respected songwriting competitions in the world, ISC welcomes original songs from musicians, artists, bands, and songwriters at every level from amateur to professional. ISC gives away over $150,000 in cash and prizes, including an Overall Grand Prize package of $25,000 (US) in cash and $20,000 in merchandise. This is the largest cash
Grand Prize in any major songwriting competition. ISC winners also benefit from extensive press, publicity, and increased exposure.

ISC is now accepting entries for the 2006 competition. All entries must be postmarked on or before October 16. Entry forms and instructions for entering are available on our website, or call us at 615.251.4441 for more information. You may enter online or by mail.

For more info and to enter, go to:
http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/entry.htm

ISC is the perfect opportunity for artists to not only win great prizes but also to gain exposure and publicity for their music and to help further
their careers. "We've always been impressed with the talented songwriters who participate in the ISC. This is a great A&R source to find new artists."
- Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records).

ISC has been renowned for its prestigious judging panels throughout the history of the competition. Continuing in this tradition, the 2006 judging
panel welcomes many new judges this year, offering entrants an unprecedented opportunity to have their music heard by some of the most respected recording artists and decision-makers in today's music industry.

The complete list of ISC judges includes:

Recording Artists:

Tom Waits; Brian Wilson; Sean Paul; Jerry Lee Lewis; Craig Morgan; Mark Chesnutt; Rosanne Cash; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Macy Gray; John Mayall; Frank Black (Pixies); Charlie Musselwhite; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); MercyMe;
Robert Smith (The Cure); Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse); John Scofield; Medeski Martin & Wood; Cassandra Wilson; Peter Hook (New Order); Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan); Blue Man Group; and Ti'sto (Producer/Remixer/DJ).

Music Industry Executives:

Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Steve Lillywhite (Sr. VP of A&R, Columbia Records/Producer - credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, and Peter Gabriel); Larry Willoughby (VP A&R, Capitol Records Nashville); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Tara Griggs-Magee (Executive VP of Gospel/Urban Music, Sony Records); Dan
Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Angel Carrasco (President of 605 Discos and Sr. VP of A&R, Sony BMG Latin America); Alexandra Patsavas (Owner, The Chop Shop Music Supervision - credits include The OC, Grey's Anatomy, Without A Trace, Carnivale, Rescue Me); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami/Pioneer of Latin radio); Manolo Gonzalez (Sr VP of Regional Mexican A&R and National Promotion, Univision Records); Barbara Sedun (VP Creative, EMI Music Publishing Canada); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Danny Epstein (Music Supervisor, Sesame Street/Sesame Workshop); Emily Wittmann (VP, Nick Records); and Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People).

ISC offers 18 categories that you may enter, including: Pop/Top 40, Rock, Americana; AAA (Adult Album Alternative), Jazz, Latin, Country, R&B/Hip-Hop, Blues, World Music, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Gospel/Christian, Instrumental, Dance/Electronica, Children's Music, Lyrics Only, Teen, and Performance.
Entrants may submit as many songs as they wish in the same category or in multiple categories.

In addition to all the great prizes, each year ISC also produces a compilation CD of its winners and sends it to record labels, publishing companies, and film and tv companies. The CD is used to promote the winners and to help them gain more exposure for their music. This year, ISC received over 450 requests for the CD from A&R reps and executives from companies such as Universal Music, Atlantic Records, Capitol Records, EMI, Jive Records, Motown Records, RCA, Columbia Records, Sony BMG Music Labels Group,
Warner Bros, Epic Records, Cherry Lane Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony Urban Music, The Island Def Jam Music Group, Zomba Music Publishing, Maverick Records, ABC, MTV, NBC, Palm Pictures, Revolution Studios, Twentieth Century Fox, and many more.

This was posted on the gogirls Yahoo Groups listserv.