Competition Rules
** Please ensure you have read and understood the rules fully before you enter your songs**
1) Who Can Enter?
1.1 Competition is open to residents anywhere in the world
1.2 Entrants must be 18 or over by 1st May 2018
1.3 Competition is not open to songwriters who have had material released
by a major label after 1st January, 2012, or songwriters who have been party to a major label
publishing deal after 1st January, 2012.
A major label is any of the following companies and/or their subsidiaries
or companies in which they have a major shareholding:
Universal Music Group
Sony Music Entertainment
Warner Music Group
or
Any large independant publisher
1.4 Former and current members of The Songwriting Academy Platinum Mentoring Program
may enter the competition but no songs may be entered into the
competition that have been written with mentors or where feedback from mentors
has been incorporated into the song.
2) How To Enter
2.1 Entrants may enter as many songs as they wish
2.2 In the event of two co-writers submitting the same song, the first received entry only will be allowed
2.3 Entries must be submitted in the following way.
Please see our video which gives full instructions (coming soon)
i - Label your song(s) clearly as ENTRANT NAME - SONG NAME
ii - Create a dedicated Soundcloud or similar online webpage for your entry
iii - Do not include any other songs on the page which are not part of your entry
iv - On your Soundcloud page, go to More, then Edit and then copy and past your lyrics
v - State clearly all co-writers (if applicable) involved in the song
vi - Share the page with us by sending the link to
[email protected]
vii - We advise you set your playlist to ‘private’
2.4 We would appreciate entrants using their best effort to make high quality
recordings of songs i.e. clear recordings with no background noise
2.5 Entries may be recorded on a mobile device or handheld
dictaphone but lyric and melody must be audible to the listener
2.6 No video entries will be accepted. Writers selected for the regional heats will be
determined by audio entries only
2.7 No personal communication from entrants will be responded to by our judges
2.8 The Songwriting Academy will not be able to offer refunds once a song has been submitted
3) Regional Heats - Tuesday 19th September to Tuesday 26th September
3.1 A maximum of 9 entrants will be moved forward to each of 6 regional heats
3.2 Entrants successful in reaching regional heats will be required to showcase two songs live
3.3 Entrants may employ session singers or musicians to showcase their songs
or they may perform themselves
3.4 A maximum of two performers will be allowed per showcase
3.5 No backing tracks, pre-recorded instruments or vocals will be allowed in regional heats
3.6 Songs will be judged individually and an aggregate score (from all judges)
for both songs showcased will determine the winning songwriter
3.7 2 winners will be selected per regional heat to be moved forward to the semi finals
3.8 Whilst we will try and place successful entrants in a regional heat that is close by to where you live,
this is not always possible and entrants should be prepared to travel if required.
4) Semi Finals - Friday 13th and Saturday 14th October
4.1 Each semi final will feature 6 regional heat winners
4.2 Each semi finalist will again have the opportunity to showcase two songs,
with the same regional heat rules applying
4.3 Songwriters will be chosen from each semi final to compete in London for the final
4.4 All entrants must be able to attend the semi finals in person
4.5 Whilst we will try and place successful entrants in a semi final that's close
by to where you live, this is not always possible and entrants should be prepared to travel if required.
5) Final - Sunday 30th October
5.1 The final 4 songwriters will showcase 3 songs each at the final in London
5.2 Finalists will be allowed to use a maximum of 4 performers or use backing tracks to showcase their songs
5.3 As with the regional heats, each writer will be judged on the
aggregate score of their individual songs, but with an overall bonus score from the judges
5.4 All entrants must be able to attend the final in person which will take place on Sunday 30th October
1) Who Can Enter?
1.1 Competition is open to residents anywhere in the world
1.2 Entrants must be 18 or over by 1st May 2018
1.3 Competition is not open to songwriters who have had material released
by a major label after 1st January, 2012, or songwriters who have been party to a major label
publishing deal after 1st January, 2012.
A major label is any of the following companies and/or their subsidiaries
or companies in which they have a major shareholding:
Universal Music Group
Sony Music Entertainment
Warner Music Group
or
Any large independant publisher
1.4 Former and current members of The Songwriting Academy Platinum Mentoring Program
may enter the competition but no songs may be entered into the
competition that have been written with mentors or where feedback from mentors
has been incorporated into the song.
2) How To Enter
2.1 Entrants may enter as many songs as they wish
2.2 In the event of two co-writers submitting the same song, the first received entry only will be allowed
2.3 Entries must be submitted in the following way.
Please see our video which gives full instructions (coming soon)
i - Label your song(s) clearly as ENTRANT NAME - SONG NAME
ii - Create a dedicated Soundcloud or similar online webpage for your entry
iii - Do not include any other songs on the page which are not part of your entry
iv - On your Soundcloud page, go to More, then Edit and then copy and past your lyrics
v - State clearly all co-writers (if applicable) involved in the song
vi - Share the page with us by sending the link to
[email protected]
vii - We advise you set your playlist to ‘private’
2.4 We would appreciate entrants using their best effort to make high quality
recordings of songs i.e. clear recordings with no background noise
2.5 Entries may be recorded on a mobile device or handheld
dictaphone but lyric and melody must be audible to the listener
2.6 No video entries will be accepted. Writers selected for the regional heats will be
determined by audio entries only
2.7 No personal communication from entrants will be responded to by our judges
2.8 The Songwriting Academy will not be able to offer refunds once a song has been submitted
3) Regional Heats - Tuesday 19th September to Tuesday 26th September
3.1 A maximum of 9 entrants will be moved forward to each of 6 regional heats
3.2 Entrants successful in reaching regional heats will be required to showcase two songs live
3.3 Entrants may employ session singers or musicians to showcase their songs
or they may perform themselves
3.4 A maximum of two performers will be allowed per showcase
3.5 No backing tracks, pre-recorded instruments or vocals will be allowed in regional heats
3.6 Songs will be judged individually and an aggregate score (from all judges)
for both songs showcased will determine the winning songwriter
3.7 2 winners will be selected per regional heat to be moved forward to the semi finals
3.8 Whilst we will try and place successful entrants in a regional heat that is close by to where you live,
this is not always possible and entrants should be prepared to travel if required.
4) Semi Finals - Friday 13th and Saturday 14th October
4.1 Each semi final will feature 6 regional heat winners
4.2 Each semi finalist will again have the opportunity to showcase two songs,
with the same regional heat rules applying
4.3 Songwriters will be chosen from each semi final to compete in London for the final
4.4 All entrants must be able to attend the semi finals in person
4.5 Whilst we will try and place successful entrants in a semi final that's close
by to where you live, this is not always possible and entrants should be prepared to travel if required.
5) Final - Sunday 30th October
5.1 The final 4 songwriters will showcase 3 songs each at the final in London
5.2 Finalists will be allowed to use a maximum of 4 performers or use backing tracks to showcase their songs
5.3 As with the regional heats, each writer will be judged on the
aggregate score of their individual songs, but with an overall bonus score from the judges
5.4 All entrants must be able to attend the final in person which will take place on Sunday 30th October
6) Terms
6.0 The judges decision is final at all times
6.1 Entrants agree to being recorded, filmed and interviewed for any use, commercial or otherwise,
by The Songwriting Academy or any parties authorised by The Songwriting Academy
6.2 Dates and locations are subject to change.
6.3 We reserve the right to amend the rules should we need to do so.
6.1 Entrants agree to being recorded, filmed and interviewed for any use, commercial or otherwise,
by The Songwriting Academy or any parties authorised by The Songwriting Academy
6.2 Dates and locations are subject to change.
6.3 We reserve the right to amend the rules should we need to do so.
7) Privacy
7.0 By entering this competition does not effect any ownership of copyright for the entrant
