Please read the following Rules and Regulations carefully:

1. Anyone may enter the contest and international entries are welcome. There are no limitations on age or nationality.

2. Each song submitted must be contestant's own original work and shall not infringe any copyrights or any other rights of any third parties. Songs may have multiple co-writers. It is the entrants responsibility to check that all recordings and files are playing correctly before submitting their work and the UKSC will judge entries as Lyrics Only if the recording is missing or is faulty and does not play (or in the case of email and online entries is of an unacceptable file type).

3. Contestants may enter as many songs in as many categories as they wish. The same song may be entered in more than one category (with a separate entry fee required for each category). Entry fee is non-refundable. Cassettes, CDs, lyric sheets and email attachments will not be returned and will be destroyed under supervision after the contest. The UKSC is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, postage due, stolen, or misappropriated entries.

4. Songs will be judged based on composition, lyrics, melody, and originality. The quality of performance and production is not a consideration. All entrants retain their full ownership rights and all copyrights to all songs submitted.

5. All prizes are non-transferable and will be awarded to the first name as it appears on the entry. In the case of co-writers the fair division and distribution of prizes among writers is the responsibility of the winners. Responsibility for the fulfilment and delivery of prizes resides with the relevant partners and sponsors and the UKSC shall take no part in any disputes therein arising. Certificates will be available for all entrants on the contest website after results are published. The UK Songwriting Contest reserves the right in its sole discretion to substitute any and all prizes with prizes of comparable value.

6. Entry in The UK Songwriting Contest constitutes permission to use winners names, likenesses, recordings, videos and voices for promotional and publicity purposes on The UK Songwriting Contest websites and on other third party websites and in publicity and promotional materials and press releases. This permission can be withdrawn by the entrant at any time upon written request.

7. By participating in the contest entrants agree to be bound by these rules and by any subsequent published revisions of these rules and by the decisions of The UK Songwriting Contest which are final in all matters relating to the contest.

NOTES FOR POSTAL ENTRANTS:
Postal entries must include the following (does not apply to email or online entries):
(A) A signed and completed entry form for each song entered (or photocopy).
(B) Recordings of your songs on cassette or CD. (Not required for Lyrics Only entries).
(C) A clearly written or printed Lyric Sheet. (Not required for Instrumental entries).
(D) A cheque, postal order or international money order to cover £15 per song entry - OR cash (£15 Pounds, 25 Euros or $30 US Dollars per entry) OR proof of online payment.
Multiple entries/categories should all be sent in one package with the total entry fees covered by one payment and each song entry requires a separate entry form. CDs and cassettes should be clearly marked with the song titles and categories and songwriters names. It is the entrant's responsibility to ensure that track listings are correct and the track number should also be noted on the entry form in the space provided. Lyric sheets should contain the song title and songwriter's name. All correspondence, including entry confirmation, is sent to the email address supplied on the entry form.

NOTES FOR EMAIL ENTRANTS: Payment confirmation, our receipt and the Entry Instructions Email are all sent to the address used to pay at PayPal. Audio files MUST be in mp3, wma or wav format only. All other file types will be rejected. If the wrong file type is submitted, or if no audio file is submitted, the entry will be judged as a Lyrics Only entry. There are no refunds for entrants who have paid, had their entry processed and a place booked with the judges, but who fail to provide an acceptable form of their song entry by the contest deadline.

There is more information on postal and email entries in the FAQ/Info section and on the entry page on this website.