The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has announced its 2007 finalists and semi-finalists. Selected out of over 15,000 entries from 100 countries, they represent all genres of contemporary music. 3 South Africans are among the Finalists. 

This year's competition is the largest yet for ISC, with the biggest growth coming from entries outside the USA. For the first time ever, a majority of finalists and semi-finalists come from outside the USA, from countries as far away as Tanzania, Kazakhstan, Mariana Islands, Peru, Hungary, and many more. This year, 53% of finalists and 54% of semi-finalists come from outside of the USA. This embodies the true spirit of ISC and establishes it as the largest international songwriting competition in the world.

Over $150,000 (U.S.) in cash and merchandise will be awarded to 59 winners, including an Overall Grand Prize winner who receives $25,000 in cash (the largest cash Grand Prize of any songwriting competition in the world) and over $25,000 in prizes.

Winners are selected by a panel of high-profile judges and will be announced in April, 2008. ISC judges include executives from ten record labels (including the presidents of Epic and Universal Records) and celebrity recording artists. One winner will also be selected as part of the ISC Peoples' Voice which invites the public to listen to and vote for their favorite ISC finalist. To listen to all the finalists' songs and cast your vote, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/pvwelcome2007.htm

 

The complete panel of 2007 judges include: Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Julian Casablancas (The Strokes); Nelly Furtado; Ray Davies (The Kinks); Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Ornette Coleman; Youssou N'Dour; Sean Paul; Jerry Lee Lewis; "Weird Al" Yankovic; Black Francis (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Cassandra Wilson; David Cross; Craig Morgan; John Mayall; Joe Satriani; Toby Mac; Michael W. Smith; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Hinder; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Cheech Marin (Cheech & Chong); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Macy Gray; Peter Hook (New Order); Paulina Rubio; Tiesto; Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Steve Lillywhite (Producer - credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Peter Gabriel, and more); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami, pioneer of Latin radio); Angel Carrasco (President, 605 Discos and Sr. VP A&R, Sony BMG Latin America); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Nancy Wolpert (VP Home Entertainment and Nick Records, Nickelodeon/BMG); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People); and Paul Majors (CEO/Founder Majors Music).

2007 Sponsors include: Electro-Voice, ASCAP, Berklee College Of Music, Cakewalk, Shure, D'Addario, Thayers, Sam Ash, Hear Technologies, Disc Makers, Sonicbids, Musician's Atlas, Sibelius, Karian Studios, OnlineGigs, The Music Business Registry, Mediaguide, ArtistMonitor, Platinum Blue Music Intelligence, Alphabet Arm Design, George Stein, Esq., SongU, Shari's Berries, The Indie Venue Bible, and Taxi

 

For information and to enter ISC, go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com