We just wanted to pass on this important press release to you and
Ottawa Blues, Jazz and Swing Guide, regarding the success of songwriters in the
world renowned International Songwriting Competition (ISC). We truly appreciate
your support in helping spread the recognition of these talented
songwriters!
Your Sincerely
Candace
Avery Founder/Director ISC
INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING
COMPETITION (ISC) ANNOUNCES 2012 FINALISTS
TOM WAITS, NAS, MARTINA
McBRIDE, JANELLE MONAE, DURAN DURAN, JEFF BECK, BERNIE TAUPIN, McCOY TYNER, AND
RECORD LABEL PRESIDENTS TO SELECT WINNERS
March 1, 2013 - Nashville, TN,
USA....The International Songwriting Competition (ISC), renowned as one of the
most prestigious songwriting competitions in the world, has announced the 2012
finalists. To view the list of finalists, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.
ISC
experienced a huge increase in entries in 2012, receiving over 20,000 entries in
22 categories of contemporary music from 119 countries worldwide. The entries
were narrowed down to 324 finalists who hail from 45 countries throughout the
world, from Pakistan to Latvia, from Ecuador to Tanzania, from Trinidad to
Ukraine, and everywhere in between. These finalists' songs have now been sent to
the panel of ISC judges who will select the final winners. Judges consist of
iconic music celebrities and high-profile music industry executives (see below
for complete list). Winners will be announced in April, 2013.
In addition
to the winners selected by the panel of judges, ISC opens voting to the public
to pick their favorite song. The ISC 'Peoples Voice' runs for the entire month
of March and is open for voting at http://www.facebook.com/internationalsongwritingcompetition.
Over
the years ISC has become a benchmark for songwriting talent, and winning ISC can
be a tremendous career booster. Winners have included artists such as Gotye,
Kimbra, Gin Wigmore, The Band Perry, Amanda Palmer, Andrew Bird, Kasey Chambers,
Gregory Porter, and many more. Many winners have gone on to be signed to record
label deals and have secured publishing deals, licensing deals, and distribtuion
deals, in addition to getting more gigs, fans, and recognition. Prizes include
over $150,000 in cash, merchandise, and services - including a Grand Prize of
$25,000 cash and $40,000 in additional prizes. ISC is open to amateur and
professional songwriters from all over the world, including bands and solo
performers.
The complete list of ISC judges includes:
Recording
Artists: Jeff Beck; Nas; Tom Waits; Bernie Taupin; Martina McBride; Duran Duran;
Janelle Monae; Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks; Robert Smith (The Cure); Bruce
Hornsby; Suzanne Vega; Michael W. Smith; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Mark Foster
(Foster The People); Alejandro Sanz; Gerald Casale (Devo); Bill Evans; Anthony
Hamilton; Brian Setzer; Avicci; Wynonna; Keane; Jeremy Camp; Tegan & Sara;
McCoy Tyner; Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show); Francesca Batistelli; Craig
Morgan; James Cotton; Robert Earl Keen; Black Francis (The Pixies); John Mayall;
Anoushka Shankar; Chris Hillman (The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers); Toots
Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals); Los Temerarios; Billy Currington; Sandra
Bernhard; Basement Jaxx; and Matt Thiessen (Relient K).
Industry
Executives: Dan McCarroll (President, Capitol/Virgin Label Group); Monte Lipman
(President, Universal Republic Records); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records);
Richard Stumpf (President, Imagem Music US); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President,
Alligator Records); Albert Schilcher (VP Music & Music Mktg, MTV
International); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP A&R, Latin America, Sony/BMG); Dan
Storper (President, Putamayo World Music Records and Putumayo Kids); Steve Smith
(VP of A&R, Aware Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins
Entertainment); Lori Tieg (VP of Talent, VEVO); Dr. Demento (Radio Host, The Dr.
Demento Show); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Kim Buie (Head of A&R, Thirty
Tigers); Douglas C. Cohn (Sr. VP, Music Marketing & Talent, Nickelodeon);
Allison B. Jones (VP of A&R, Big Machine Label Group); Jack Vaughn (VP,
Comedy Central Records); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); and
Jamie Masada (Owner, Laugh Factory).
Sponsors include: Presonus, Lowden,
Marshall Amplification, Grooveshark, Solid State Logic, Berklee College Of
Music, Mrs. Fields Cookies, Airplay Direct, DiscMakers, Thayers, SongU.com, The
Music Business Registry, Independent Mastering, Indie Venue Bible, George Stein,
Esq., Sonicbids, Songtrust, and Taxi