Entries are now being accepted for the 25th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Songwriters and Composers vie for a chance to win a top prize of $50,000 worth of cash and merchandise such as music gear. Winning songs will receive radio airplay. Songwriters can enter in 15 different song categories such as Pop, Rock/Alt, Folk, R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Instrumental, etc.
USA Songwriting Competition is sponsored by Fender Guitars, GHS Strings, Audio-Technica, PreSonus, Guitar Player Magazine, Recording Magazine, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, Airplay Access, FL Software, Sonoma Wire Works, Berklee College of Music, DiscMakers, CD Baby, Final Mix Software, Singer Express, AAS (Applied Acoustic Systems), Pearl Snap Studios, School of Rock and Berklee College of Music.
CURRENT WINNERS
Jamie Alimorad and Gino Vannelli won the top award (Overall Grand Prize) as well as Best Pop Song award at the 24th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Singer-songwriter Jamie Alimorad teamed with Grammy-nominated Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Gino Vannelli, and Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Ross Vannelli. Gino is known for his Top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit "I Just Wanna Stop" and Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Living Inside Myself."
“Hopefulness in the middle of troubled times is easy to imagine in song form but difficult to write about convincingly. Word by word, line by line, like coaxing someone from the precipice of a high tower. I am pleased to have been co-writer with Jamie on ‘Brighter Days’ (and most of the album)” said Gino Vannelli.
"It's an incredible honor to win the 24th Annual USA Songwriting Competition! I'm so proud of ‘Brighter Days’, and its message. To anyone going through a dark time, know there are brighter days ahead. Thank you to Gino Vannelli and Ross Vannelli for bringing this song to life, my family, friends, and all those who have made this possible. Love to you all", Jamie Alimorad, Top Winner of 24th Annual USA Songwriting Competition.
The Overall Second Prize of the USA Songwriting Competition went to Jeff Roe, Ryan Griffin, Jason Duke and Selby Copeland of Nashville, TN, with their song "We Made It." The song also won Best Country Song. Griffin and Duke are professional songwriters known for writing the song “Dibs,” recorded by country star Kelsea Ballerini. "Dibs" hit #1 on the Billboard Country Charts.
The Overall Third Prize went to Dave Pettigrew & Scotty Wilbanks of Ridgewood, NJ, with their song "Why Won't You Love Me."
ABOUT USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION
USA Songwriting Competition has a long history of having winners getting recording and publishing contracts, have their songs placed on the charts as well as having their songs placed on film and television, and winning Grammy Awards.
USA Songwriting Competition Honorable Mention winner (2017 Competition) and finalist (2018 Competition) Lucy Kalantari of New York, NY won a Grammy for "Best Children's Album". Her album "All The Sounds" by Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats are winners at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
2018 Winner David Wilcox received radio airplay for his winning song “We Make the Away by Walking”.
2013 winner American Authors were signed to Island Records, and hit #1 on the Billboard Charts and went Double Platinum. The top two winners of 2011: Nenna Yvonne and Alexander Cardinale were signed to Interscope Records after their win. The 2007 winner Ari Gold hit Top 10 on the Billboard charts with his winning song. The 2005 Winner of the Country category had his winning song cut by Country Superstar Faith Hill. The 2005 winner of the Pop category was signed by Interscope Records; she went on to hit Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album charts. Our 2008 winner appeared on David Letterman TV show and was signed to a record label.
Christopher Tinn (USA Songwriting Competition First Prize winner, Instrumental category in 2014, Finalist in 2010) won two Grammy Awards for his classical crossover album Calling All Dawns in 2011.
Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer (USA Songwriting Competition 2011 First Prize winner, Children’s music category) have earned two Grammy Awards for their recordings “cELLAbration: a Tribute to Ella Jenkins” in 2004 and for “Bon Appétit!” in 2005. Their CDs “Postcards” and “Banjo Talkin’” were both Grammy Awards nominated in the Best Traditional Folk Album category. They have received a total of 12 Grammy nominations so far.
In its landmark year, the 25th Annual USA Songwriting Competition is currently accepting entries. For more information, visit: songwriting.net.
