Back in September and October I wrote an article encouraging submissions to the International Songwriting Competition (Deadline was October 16, 2006). The ISC judges included such notables as: Brian Wilson; Tom Waits; Rosanne Cash; Sean Paul; Mark Chesnutt; Jerry Lee Lewis; Frank Black (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure), etc.
Almost 15,000 songs by amateur and professional songwriters from 88 countries were submitted to the 2006 competition, confirming ISC's status as the world's leading global songwriting event. Entries were received from faraway countries such as Rwanda, Uzbekistan and Hungary, to the more common countries such as Canada, The USA, and the UK.
More than $150,000 in cash and prizes will be shared among the 56 winners, including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 (US) cash - the largest cash grand prize of any songwriting competition in the world.
This year's Grand Prize Winner is Scott Leger of Austin, TX, USA for his song "Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow."
(Image from wideawake.com)
Scott wrote the song after a personal friend’s disclosure of a cancer diagnosis. The song was meant both as a personal coping mechanism and as a tribute to cancer survivors across the world. Leger’s hope is that the song will encourage people everywhere to live life to its fullest, whether they're dealing with cancer or any other challenge. In addition to its lyrical content, the song's memorable chorus and strong pop sensibility resonated with the ISC judges, culminating in it being awarded this year's Grand Prize.
Leger’ is also the lead singer and main songwriter of the award-winning band, Wideawake. Wideawake's two releases, ‘Bigger than Ourselves’, and ‘Not So Far Away’ have sold well, and they have shared a stage with Switchfoot, Blue October, Third Eye Blind, Sister Hazel, Sheryl Crow, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Tears for Fears.
The other 18 categories in the competition provided a list full of winners. To see the complete list of all of the winners (and to hear their songs) go to www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm.
You can also browse other music making information on the site, especially information/promotion of a DVD that records a seminar on the music industry. The DVD covers beginner questions such as: Things to say (and not say) when an A&R person contacts you; What makes an Artist/Band signable, and How to improve your songwriting talent.
Swanktrendz would like to extend our congratulations to Leger as well as all of the entrants in the International Songwriting Competition
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