2016 International Songwriting Competition (ISC)

2016 International Songwriting Competition (ISC)

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) today announced its panel of judges for the 2016 competition. Included on the panel are many iconic, high-profile recording artists as well as Presidents, CEOs and A&R reps from Atlantic, Warner Bros., Sire, RCA, Glassnote, Island, Razor & Tie, Sony Music Latin, Interscope, Concord Label Group, Warner Music Nashville, Alligator, Wind-Up, Provident, Capitol, Black River, New West, Virgin/EMI, Word, and many more.

Entries are open now via ISC's online platform or through the mail. ISC is open to both amateur and professional songwriters and offers 23 categories for artists to enter. A total of 71 winners share in more than $150,000 in cash and prizes including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash and much more in merchandise and services.

Entering ISC offers the opportunity for an artist or songwriter's music to be heard by an elite panel of recording artists and music executives who are the decision makers that can influence and launch careers. Monty Lipman, CEO and Chairman of Universal Music Group, says that "We're always been impressed with the talented songwriters who participate in the ISC. This is a great A&R source to find new artists."

This year ISC has added a new category aptly called Unpublished. Music publishing is a major source of revenue for songwriters, so ISC is taking steps to open the doors for songwriters by having established, high-profile publisher listen to the finalists' songs and select the winners in that category. 'We all know how difficult it is to access music publishers, so we are really excited about offering this opportunity to our entrants," says Candace Avery, ISC Founder and Director.

Winning ISC is a distinction that has propelled many artists to achieve greater success, including getting record and publishing deals, licensing agreements, gigs, and much more. Past winners have included: Vance Joy; Bastille; Gotye; Lindsey Stirling; Kimbra; The Band Perry; Andrew Bird; Passenger; Gin Wigmore; Missy Higgins; King Charles; For King And Country; and many more.

The complete list of 2016 judges includes:

Recording Artists
Chris Cornell; Tom Waits; American Authors; Lorde; Sara Evans; Ziggy Marley; Donovan; Joe Bonamassa; India Arie; Bastille; Keane; Hardwell; Danilo Perez; Afro Celt Sound System; Gerald Casale (Devo); Ryan Bingham; Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.); Joy Williams (The Civil Wars); Matt Maher; Jesse & Joy; Martie Maguire (Dixie Chicks and Courtyard Hounds); Kaskade; Mike Stern; Carlos Vives; Rickie Lee Jones; Vijay Iyer; Ana Barbara; Fat Joe; John Mayall; Luis Fonsi; Salif Keita; Mariana Vega; Jay Farrar (Son Volt / Uncle Tupelo); Art Alexakis (Everclear); Ray Benson (Asleep At The Wheel); Nicholas Gunn; Jordan Feliz; Far East Movement; Femi Kuti; and more.

Industry Executives:
Craig Kallman (Chairman/CEO, Atlantic Records); Dan McCarroll (President, Warner Bros. Records); Seymour Stein (Chairman/CEO, Sire Records); Daniel Glass (President, Glassnote Records); John Esposito (Chairman/CEO, Warner Music Nashville); John Burk (President, Concord Label Group); Afo Verde (Chairman, Sony Music Latin); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Nate Albert (Executive VP of A&R, Capitol Records); Aaron Bay-Schuck (President of A&R, Interscope Records); Nick Burgess (Senior VP of A&R, Virgin/Emi); Mike Easterlin (President Fueled By Ramen / Roadrunner Records); Gordon Kerr (CEO, Black River Entertainment); Josh Bailey (Senior VP of A&R, Word Entertainment); Craig Balsam (Co-Owner, Razor & Tie/ Washington Square / Kidz Bop); Colin Barlow (Managing Director, RCA UK); Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Nate Albert (Executive VP of A&R, Capitol records); Mike Flynn (Sr. VP of A&R, Capitol Records); Richard Stumpf (CEO, Atlas Publishing); Richard Gottehrer (Founder / Chief Creative Officer, The Orchard); Steve Yegelwel (Senior VP, Island Records); Steve Greenberg (CEO, S-Curve Records); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, New West Records); Jamie Masada (OwnerJason McArthur (VP of A&R, Provident Label Group / Sony Music Ent.); Laura Margolin (Publishing, Glassnote Records); Albert Schilcher (VP Music & Music Marketing, MTV International); Jacob Edgar (Founder, Cumbancha); Cyndi Nelson (General Mgr., Zanies Comedy Club); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Jamie Masada (Owner, Laugh Factory); Claire S. Green (President, Parents' Choice Foundation); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); Julie Kertes (General Manager, National Parenting Publications Awards, NAPPA); and more.


ISC isponsors: Adam Professional Audio, Berklee College of Music, CAD Audio, Celebrity Access, D'Addario, Dark Horse Institute, Disc Makers, Gauge Precision Instruments, Gig Salad, LANDR, Lowden Guitars, Marshall, Musicians Institute, Sessions, and SongU.com.