ISC Extends Deadline – Submit your entries by December 1, 2008

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has extended its submission deadline until December 1, 2008. ISC will continue to take online, mail-in, and MySpace entries until this date. All entries must be postmarked or uploaded online on or before December 1, 2008. So, if you have not already entered ISC and wish to do so, you still have time to enter.

ISC gives away over $150,000 in cash and prizes to 62 winners in 20 categories. The Overall Grand Prize includes $25,000 (US) in cash – the largest cash Grand Prize of any songwriting competition in the world. ISC is open to all levels of amateur and professional songwriters throughout the world.

For more information and an entry form, go to www.songwritingcompetition.com.

Legendary Music Artists Team Up With Record Label Executives To Judge ISC

A total of 55 high-profile music icons and industry executives have joined together to judge the 2008 ISC. Consistent in its tradition of having such esteemed judges, ISC continues to raise the bar for songwriting competitions. The opportunity to have these judges hear ISC entrants’ songs offers an unprecedented chance to access these hard-to-reach, influential decision-makers – the movers and shakers in the music industry.

Candace Avery, Founder and Director of ISC, states, “ISC judges really enjoy discovering new talent and helping aspiring artists move to the next level in their career. Many of our judges have reached out to entrants and helped them to achieve their aspirations. Also, ISC is particularly excited about the recent signing of ISC’s Grand Prize winner Gin Wigmore to Islands Records (in Australia and New Zealand) and Universal Records (in the USA). We are thrilled that Gin’s success is a direct result of her winning ISC.”

ISC judge Robert Smith, lead singer of The Cure, talks about his participation in the competition. “Judging the competition, I was astounded at the quality and range of abilities on show – the originality, honesty, and depth of so many of the words, the charm, vivacity, and catchiness of the tunes, and the often staggering energy, skill, and intensity of the performances – the talent left me at times breathless! Judging ISC was a real pleasure.”

The complete ISC judging panel includes recording artists Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20); Chaka Khan; Tom Waits; KT Tunstall; Robert Smith (The Cure); Ricky Martin; Loretta Lynn; Neil Finn (Crowded House); Buckcherry; T-Pain; James Cotton; Jerry Lee Lewis; Craig Morgan; Ray Davies (The Kinks); McCoy Tyner; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Michael W. Smith; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Mario; Black Francis (The Pixies); Youssou N’Dour; John Mayall; DJ Ti�sto; Paul Van Dyk; Jon Secada; Natalie Grant; Jeremy Camp; Matt Thiessen (Relient K); Pittbull; Angelique Kidjo; “Weird Al” Yankovic; Sandra Bernhard; and David Brenner.

Also judging are industry executives Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Nick Burgess (Head of A&R, Virgin Records UK); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP of A&R, Latin America Sony BMG and President, Discos 605); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); John Echevarria (President, Universal Music Latino); Rick Krim (Executive VP Talent and Programming, VH1); Amy Doyle (Sr. VP of Music and Talent, MTV); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, Lost Highway); Jon Pikus (Director of A&R, MySpace Records); Mitchell Cohen (VP of A&R, Verve Music Group); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Rene Bell (Executive VP A&R, Sony BMG Nashville); Peter Strickland (Senior VP, Jack Records/Warner Bros.); Steve Lillywhite (Producer – credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Morrissey, Peter Gabriel, and more); Douglas C. Cohn (Sr. VP, Music Marketing & Talent, Nickelodeon); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami); Paul Majors (CEO/Founder Majors Music); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music for Little People); and Dr. Demento (Radio Host of The Dr. Demento Show).

ISC Sponsors include: Luna Guitars, Berklee College Of Music, Shure, D’Addario, M-Audio, Griffin Technology, Hear Technologies, Po Boy Drums, Thayers, Disc Makers, ASCAP, Phase One Studios, Stuph Merch, Sonicbids, Sam Ash, Alphabet Arm Design, Shari’s Berries, Taxi, George Stein, Esq., The Music Business Registry, SongU.com, Sibelius, and Onlinegigs.