Dear Songwriter,

The entry deadline for The UK Songwriting Contest is midnight 30th September. Many of you have already entered your songs, but if you haven't entered a song yet, or you want to enter more songs, you still have time to submit. The 2017 UK Songwriting Contest is an opportunity to showcase your work to the music industry in London and the world, and to have your songs examined and marked by experts.

Entry forms are at the official contest website at http://songwritingcontest.co.uk Songwriters from every country can participate and everyone who enters this respected international contest is told the judges score for each song and gets an official UKSC Certificate with details of their song's achievements and placements. There are also valuable guaranteed gifts and prizes worth many times the entry fee for everyone who enters.

THE PRODUCTION AND MENTORING PRIZES
As part of the Grand Prize package renowned music producer Stuart Epps has agreed to work with the winner. Stuart has worked with some of the biggest names in the business including Elton John, Robbie Williams, Oasis, Led Zeppelin and many others. This is a unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work closely with, and be produced by, one of the best in the business! We will fly you (or drive you if you are close by) to London from wherever you are in the world to work with Stuart in one of his favourite London studios (or you can take the cash equivalent if you prefer!). Stuart has recorded a short video for the UKSC about this - watch it at https://youtu.be/ZDDVEQv8D6k  Top songwriter and coach Mark Cawley from Nashville will also offer a coaching prize to a lucky winner, so someone reading this will be in for a treat. One of the last winners of this coaching prize (a Lyrics Only category winner from Australia) ended up flying to Nashville to record with Mark as a result. Details are on the contest website.

AWARDS AND OPPORTUNITIES
There are new awards levels this year and we will feature the best songs and songwriters in each category online, on partner websites and in the media. The Mozart Awards will again be offered this year and, even better, as the UKSC is now the official submissions partner for The Commonwealth Song Contest, songs from this year's contest will be considered for that exciting new international song event when it launches next year in 2018.

TOP JUDGES
Grammy, Emmy, CMA and BRIT Award winning judges include the well known number one international chart topping Multi Platinum songwriter Shelly Peiken, the legendary Stuart Epps (Elton John, Robbie Williams, Oasis), producer and arranger Richard Niles (Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue, Take That, Mariah Carey), CMA Award winning country star Lucie Diamond, Oscar nominated TV and Film composer Jamie Sefari, the composer and Grammy and Emmy winner Kipper Eldridge (well known in the music business as Sting's producer), chart topping hit songwriter Mark Cawley (who will mentor one of the winners) and UKSC winner and Platinum Album artist Natalie Chua (who was signed by Simon Cowell and went Platinum when she won the UKSC).

CATEGORIES
The entry categories this year are: Pop, Lyrics Only, Singer-Songwriter, Rock, Adult Contemporary, Love Songs, Acoustic & Folk, Under 18s, Music Videos, Jazz & Blues, Country, Christian/Faith, R&B/HipHop/Rap, Instrumental, Open/Other Category, Indie, Electronic/Dance/Ambient, Christmas Songs, World Music and Retro. Full details and descriptions of the song categories are on the contest website at http://songwritingcontest.co.uk

HOW TO ENTER
Visit the official contest website at http://songwritingcontest.co.uk for the entry forms. Use these simple forms to enter your song in a few easy clicks. All songwriters from any country may enter.

We wish you every success in this year's event and in your future songwriting. Visit our website for full details and contact us at any time if you have questions. We will do our best to answer and advise.

With very best wishes,
From the UKSC Team.
www.songwritingcontest.co.uk

FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/uksongwritingcontest
COMMUNITY GROUP: www.facebook.com/groups/uksongwritingcontest

Dear Songwriter,
The UK Songwriting Contest 2017 is open and accepting entries everyone from aspiring beginner songwriters entering their first attempt at songwriting to experienced and published songwriters. 

PRIZES AND AWARDS UPDATE
Prizes this year include a recording session with top producer Stuart Epps in London, the chance to be personally coached by the number one hit writing songwriter Mark Cawley, the Mozart Awards and much more. A new prize, added this week, is official nomination and shortlisting for a place in the 2018 Commonwealth Song Contest! There are also new International Songwriter Awards (for non-UK songwriters) plus exciting new opportunities for lyricists - full details to be announced soon. There are also two new Awards Certificate levels this year: Special Mention and Higher Commended Entry.

The UKSC judges are some of the biggest and best names in the business, winners will be featured and widely promoted, and there is also much more on offer including guaranteed prizes for everyone who enters worth many times the entrance fee.
Full details and entry forms are at http://www.songwritingcontest.co.uk - visit now for full details of this popular international songwriting event. Contact us at any time if you have questions. (And look out for some new Insiders' Songwriting Tips blogs from the UKSC that will be starting very soon).
Best wishes,
The UK Songwriting Contest Team
www.songwritingcontest.co.uk

This is a short announcement to say that the UKSC 2017 Session One results are now online. If you entered songs in Session One of this year's UK Songwriting Contest you can now check to see if you made it into the Semi Finals.

We have also introduced more Awards Levels this year with "Special Mention" and "Higher Commended Entry" Certificates in addition to the Commended Entry and Participant Certificates of previous years.

Session Two is now open for entries until September.

Visit the UKSC website at www.songwritingcontest.co.uk  for full details.

SESSION ONE RESULTS
The judges have been working hard, everything is being checked and double checked, and there is only one week to go until the UKSC first session results are published. On 31st July you will know which first session one entries made it to the semi finals. If you didn't enter songs in session one, or you did enter some but you find out on the 31st that they didn't get through to the semi's this time, you still have the chance to enter some new songs (or a rewrite of the same song) into Session Two. The second session remains open for everyone until September.

NEW CERTIFICATES
This year we will issue a new Highly Commended Entry Certificate for songs that were very close to making the semi finals but didn't quite get through. This is in addition to the usual Commended Entry Certificates.

SONG CRITIQUES?
The UKSC has always provided judges scores, certificates and positions in the event.This year we are also looking to see if it is possible to offer top quality professional and expert song assessments and critiques for songwriters - something many people have asked for - at a reasonable and very affordable price. This is a very difficult thing to get right and do well, so we will be posting questionaires and polls soon to to find out exactly what songwriters want and expect from a service like this, and we will also ask about your experiences with these types of services. Look out for this soon on our Facebook Page and in future emails.

MUSIC FOR CHARITY
The UKSC donates to Music Aid each year and this year we will team up as a Music Aid Official Partner, joining iTunes and Apple, to make additional donations for every song entry we receive through the MA site. Look out for the special UKSC page on the Music Aid website for this. Every entry made from there will trigger an additional donation and you can also use Music Aid to buy all your iTunes tracks or anything from Apple Music knowing that you are supporting UNICEF (and other charities) at no cost to yourself. Visit at www.musicaid.org/uksc

PRIZES
We have some great prizes this year including an all expenses paid trip to London from anywhere in the world (or cash equivalent - you choose) for a recording session with top producer Stuart Epps, personal mentoring and coaching from number one hit songwriter Mark Cawley and so much more. All this is described in details on the contest website at www.songwritingcontest.co.uk

That's it for this update. We wish you every success in your songwriting and we look forward to hearing your songs and reading your lyrics.

Very best wishes,
UKSC Team
www.songwritingcontest.co.uk

Songwriters,

Do you want your song results early? Like next month?

Enter your songs before the 30 June deadline and you will know next month if you have made it into the semi finals of this year's UK Songwriting Contest. You can take advantage of the low entry fee, which has been kept at only £15 for this session! This fee must rise soon as production and judging costs have increased but we guarantee it for your entry. The top judges are waiting for your songs and the panels are ready.

There are lots of exciting new plans for 2017, including the production prize with Stuart Epps, an all expenses paid trip to London (or take the cash), studio sessions, the introduction of a new excellent optional song critique and analysis service (we will announce details soon) plus Live Streaming of winners and finalists songs in an Awards special. So if you haven't entered your songs yet, or you have entered but you want to enter more songs, don't forget that the last day for entries is 30 June.

The entry forms and full details are at www.songwritingcontest.co.uk. International entries from all countries are welcome, and you can contact us with your questions at any time.

Best wishes,
The UKSC Team

The next deadline is 30th June - the last day of this month. There are only days left to enter. There are great prizes this year and we will announce results from this session next month in July, so if you enter now it won't be long before you know if your song made the semi finals.

Here is a "must see" video from two UKSC judges: CMA Award winner Lucie Diamond and Oscar Nominated film composer Jamie Serafi talking about what it is like to be a UKSC judge. They also talk about the songs that are entered in the contest and the songwriters who enter...  they made this message for UKSC songwriters three years ago but the comments and tips are just as useful and well worth watching today. Watch at
http://youtu.be/xWSOsUuSZ1U

Enter your songs before the 30th June deadline at www.songwritingcontest.co.uk 

The Deadline is approaching...

The deadline for entry in The UK Songwriting Contest 2017 session one is 30th June - the last day of this month. We will announce results from this session next month, so if you enter now it won't be long before you know if your song made the semi-finals. If you haven't entered yet, or you have entered and you want to enter more songs, don't forget that the last day for your entries is midnight 30th June.

Check out this year's prizes and the UKSC judges at http://songwritingcontest.co.uk and watch a video message to all entrants from well known music producer Stuart Epps at https://youtu.be/ZDDVEQv8D6k

Visit the official contest website at http://songwritingcontest.co.uk for the entry forms. With these easy to use forms you can enter your song in a few quick clicks. All songwriters from any country can enter recordings, videos and lyrics.
We wish you every success in this year's event and in your future songwriting. Contact us with any questions and we will be happy to advise and help.
Best wishes,
UK Songwriting Contest
songwritingcontest.co.uk

NEWS UPDATE AND NEW PRIZES FOR UKSC 2017

Number one hit songwriter Mark Cawley (pictured) will give one-on-one personal coaching and mentoring to a lucky UKSC entrant this year. Mark is a UKSC judge with a wealth of experience and he has worked with and written for some of the biggest artists in the world. Other great prizes this year include an all exenses paid trip to London (or cash equivalent) to record with top producer Stuart Epps. Check out all the great prizes at www.songwritingcontest.co.uk

The UKSC is one of the most popular and prestigious international songwriting events in the world. It was founded with The BRIT Trust and other important music bodies in 2002 to discover and nurture new songwriting talent, and many entrants have gone on to successful music careers and major deals. See the Success Stories section on the official UKSC website for details.

UKSC judge and well known producer Stuart Epps has made a short video especially for UKSC entrants. He talks about his experience with songwriting, and with famous songwriters, and about the songs he hears that have been entered in the UK Songwriting Contest. Watch it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDDVEQv8D6k

In keeping with its original aims of supporting and discovering songwriting talent the UKSC entry fee is the lowest of all the world's major songwriting events. Many say it is the best event. And there is certainly no better value contest that you can enter your songs in. Check out the full details and all the great prizes at www.songwritingcontest.co.uk

Best wishes from,
The UKSC Team

Prizes in the 2017 International UK Songwriting Contest include an all expenses paid trip to London (or cash equivalent) with a photo session at the famous Abbey Road crossing and a recording session in a London Studio with top British music producer Stuart Epps. For songwriters it really doesn't get much better than that! Check out this prize and all the other great prizes at http://songwritingcontest.co.uk

Stuart Epps has worked closely with some of the biggest names in music including Elton John, Robbie Williams, Oasis, Led Zeppelin, George Harrison and many more. He is also a UKSC judge. Other UKSC judges include Platinum album, number one hit writing, Grammy, Emmy, CMA and BRIT Award winning producers, artists and songwriters.

Even if you do not win one of the main prizes you will still receive guaranteed gifts worth $100, have your work examined and rated by UK music professionals, see the scores awarded by the judges for your songs and receive a UKSC Certificate for each song entered. This international competition is regarded by the music industry as one of the very best, and most prestigious, in the world -  and it has the lowest entry fee of any major songwriting event.

SONGWRITERS: Enter your songs, recordings or lyrics, in the best international songwriting event and be noticed by top music industry judges at http://songwritingcontest.co.uk

UKSC 2017 NOW OPEN FOR ENTRIES

The International 2017 UK Songwriting Contest is now open for entries. Check out the prizes, which include an all-expenses-paid once-in-a-lifetime trip to London to see the sights, meet UK music professionals and record with famous music producer Stuart Epps in one of his favourite London studios.

There are also many other great prizes plus guaranteed valuable gifts for everyone who enters a song. Everyone gets to know the judges score for each song and every song entered receives a UKSC Certificate. Meet the top music industry judges, read about the 20 different song categories, and get the entry forms and full details at the official UKSC website at  www.songwritingcontest.co.uk