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I'm just writing to thank you so very much for running the contest this year. I have spent the last seven and a half years of my life writing songs
and dreaming of making a living doing the thing I love -
Songwriting. After all that pleasant strife I am so glad to hear that someone out there can actually hear what I hear in my music! Even though I have always believed in
my songs I am still very surprised and thrilled that I got to the finals as I have NEVER entered a songwriting competition before let alone got mentioned ! Your claims of listening to THE SONG and not the perfection of the demo were true - and I salute your integrity. I have NEVER mastered any of my compositions to
broadcast level before, but you can be sure that after your encouragement I am certainly going to do so
soon.
I would like you to print this on your website to encourage others who are sat noodling on their guitars and pianos feeling that nothing will ever happen for them. Tell them not to give up and to enter the contest next year - I certainly will. Even if you
don't win - top music people are hearing your work and that's no gamble from where I 'm standing!
Thanks again, Julian Wilson, Finalist in 2005, Finalist and Semi Finalist in
2006, Semi Finalist and Highly Commended in 2007.
Website:
www.julianwilson.org
MySpace:
www.myspace.com/jwsongsmith
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Since the results I have had articles in the local
press and a feature on our local FM radio station 3TRFM. Best so far will be Saturday, when I will be interviewed live on BBC Radio Wiltshire by Sandy Martin, and with a bit of luck this will result in my first ever royalty! I have also made contact with Jodi Shaw in New York and Alison Hams in
Australia (UKSC winners and runners up). Looking at their
websites, they all seem very established professional musicians
compared to me, so this makes my position as runner even better
as I am very much an amateur! Paul Rogers, Runner Up
Visit
Paul's Website |
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Finally
- a contest that doesn't leave you left out in the dark. This contest displayed the results the way it should be
done. Will
enter again, very happy about the way this contest is run. Sal
Lima. Semi-Finalist in 2005
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I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you
for all the hard work you do in promoting songwriters. It's
great to show the world that there's still raw, untapped
talent out there. Catrin Lewis, Finalist. www.catacoustics.co.uk
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We would like to thank you for giving us and many others
alike the chance to be noticed and recognised for our
songwriting ability. It really is a great contest to enter and
a must for all up and coming songwriters. The contest in our
opinion was so well organised and we were constantly being
informed of the contests progress. A great opportunity for
everyone and well worth the £15 to enter. Thank you once
again! (We can't say thank you enough!) Lucy and Pearl, Songwriting
Partnership and UKSC Finalists 2004
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Thank you so much for your helpful
suggestions, thank you for the wonderful work that you and
your team are doing for songwriters. I will definitely enter
the contest again next year.
Marie Preston, Songwriter and UKSC Finalist Visit
Website |
| I was OVER THE MOON when I heard I'd won the
R&B category. I'm so pleased that my song was liked by the
judges and it's given me such a boost to my confidence! Nicky
Pitchers, Songwriter, Category Winner |
Just wanted to say that it
was an honor to participate in your contest which I will
recommend to other songwriters because in every moment you
showed to be very professional and
respectful with our work. You showed a lot of professionalism
acknowledging receipt and keeping us posted with all the
news about the contest. Thank you again and please consider me
a friend in Peru if you ever visit the land of the Incas. Cecilia
Ugaz, Finalist |
I am thrilled to be listed as a runner up with my song 'Safe'
!!.It is very encouraging for me to achieve this, and I will
be entering next year also !!
Mark Smith, Songwriter and Runner Up UKSC |
| I have enjoyed participating
in the competition and think you've done us all a marvelous
service...You've been very thoughtful in the manner in which
you handled the entire event. Electra Cliffton Smith –
Songwriter, UKSC Finalist |
| Thanks for the great job you
do in running this contest - particularly the excellent job in
communicating. No finalist songs for me this year but it was
nice to see that 3 out of 6 got through the first phase into the
semi finals. I think it is a great idea to list semi finalists -
please keep doing it. I'll be back next year to try to do
better. Bob Reid, Semi Finalist
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| Over the years I
have entered a lot of songwriting contests and competitions
- and I can honestly say, without any doubt, that this one is
THE BEST. Sonia Marsh - Runner Up, 2005 |
| I am overjoyed!!! It is a
great honor to be awarded this prize from the UK… thank you
so very much! Billy Byron - Songwriter, UKSC Category
Winner CA, USA Visit
Billy's Website |
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I was delighted to see my song "I Love That Feeling" get into the Semi Finals and would like to thank all of you for giving me and everyone else in the contest the chance to promote our music. I really enjoyed taking part in the
contest. Thank you also for the discount vouchers which will come in very handy. The UK Songwriting Contest is an excellent event and I look forward to entering again next year.
Cameron Ingram, Semi Finalist in 2005
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I'm delighted to be a finalist and quadruple semi-finalist in this year's UKSC.
I was impressed by how well-run the contest was and fully intend to enter again.
I'm not after personal fame, but the press coverage of my songwriting was very
gratifying and will be extremely useful for my credibility when pitching songs
in the future. Many thanks, I'm still glowing about it all several weeks later!
Kate Salisbury. Finalist and semi finalist in 2005
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Many thanks for taking the
time to reply - I have always been impressed with the way UKSC
has handled its follow up (I have even made a special
reference to this on my website - see www.soulsoothingmusic.co.uk
I am impressed with your promptness and politeness and efforts
at encouraging sensitive souls like me. I really appreciate
your positive efforts to promote budding songwriters like
myself Joe Lannon UKSC Semi
Finalist in 2005.
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Firstly, THANK U THANK U THANK U for having this contest and allowing
songwriters the chance to have their music heard.
Secondly, THANK U THANK U THANK U for recognition of some of my own songs.
Cheers to y'all from the Asian Yank, Lijie
Website:
www.lijiemusic.com
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The UK Songwriting Contest is a great way for North American songwriters / artists to obtain a reliable and valued response to their music in the UK.
This credit, is great to include in your press kits for labels and radio
etc. Thanks! Semi finalist in dance music - artist, producer,
writer Rhayne Retieff www.rhayne.com
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| In this day and age, it's
great to see there are still legitimate contests out there -
Jennifer Vazquez - Singer/Songwriter USA www.jennifervazquez.com |
| After the results came out I started by contacting BBC
Radio Newcastle, and to cut a long story short, they have invited me onto the
'More Than Soul' show, presented by Paul Wappat. I am beyond thrilled!
These are amazingly fantastic times and I have you to thank for raising my game a few notches! I now use the
'UKSC double finalist' phrase in all my correspondence when dealing with musicians, artists, potential sponsors and companies, etc.
I hope you will always keep this going, as I think you make many songwriters' efforts worthwhile.
Fareez Shuib, Double Finalist in 2005
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Thanks for a really well
organised contest with a superb level of communication at each
stage. I am delighted that 3 of my songs made it to the finals
this year especially as I am an amateur 'home studio writer'
without access to professional recording facilities. Peter
North, Songwriter and UKSC Finalist
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Just a note of thanks for running
such a professional contest for aspiring artists. At my first
attempt at lyric writing I was a double finalist. John
Coughlan, Songwriter, UKSC Finalist.
Website:www.lemontoplyrics.com |
| I'm over the moon about this...This is an
amazing honour - I was getting a bit down hearted about the
whole music business as I seemed to be hitting my head off a
brick wall. Thank you again for this great opportunity.
(Within days of the results Tom's song was play listed with
daily plays on
Austrian national radio) Tom McCreery, Category Winner
2004 Visit
Tom's Website |
| Thank you very much for voting my song a
finalist. It's refreshing to know that you must have given it
a thorough listen - I know it's not the most immediate of
songs. Thanks. Kris Wilkins, Songwriter and UKSC
Finalist |
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I just wanted to say hello and a massive thanks to everyone
at the UK Songwriting contest. I am absolutely thrilled to have won the instrumental category, and following your advice, have contacted local press and radio who have been most responsive. This is the first time
I have sent my music out to anyone so I was genuinely stunned when
I saw the results. I am still in a state of elated shock! I will be singing the praises of the UK Songwriting contest from all the highest rooftops here in Leeds. Thank you all again.
Mark Heslegrave, Category Winner 2005
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I was so thrilled to see I had made it as a finalist and also seeing two of my songs had reached the Semi finals. I never imagined I would have got this far!! I really don't know what to say other than thank you. Thank you so much.
Jacqueline Brearey, Finalist and Semi Finalist
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| I am thrilled to find one of our entries listed as a
finalist in the Jazz/Blues category and thank all of you for
your work in making this such an enjoyable event to be a part
of. This is the first year that we have entered our songs and
this result has inspired us even further to get writing! We
will certainly be preparing our entries for next year! Thank
you once again for giving us the chance to have our music
heard. Julie and Richard Tranfield, Finalists |
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I wish to thank you and the team for giving me the exposure
through this great competition. Al James - Singer/Songwriter, UKSC Finalist Visit
Website
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| This is great news... I started today by
having this info up on my web site. Thanks for your
thoughtfulness and support. Rhayne Retieff, Semi-Finalist
2005, Canada. Visit
Website |
| Thanks for taking the time to write and the
encouraging words. Something tells me that you folks
really do care about this contest and the artists who entered.
I hope this contest exceeds your expectations in the coming
years.
Jim Gietzen. Songwriter. USA. |
| Just to let you know, after our success in the UKSC
the local press coverage has been tremendous, pretty much every newspaper and magazine has featured our band, and venues are currently asking us to play as much as possible. The confidence it has given us cant be underestimated.
Well done on a well organized and fantastic contest guys. Lois Homewood
and the band No Direction www.no-direction.com |
| Only 2 days after achieving a finalist place in the Miscellaneous category and 2 semi-final placings I have been interviewed by
the local press and will be interviewed on the Pat Marsh show for BBC
Radio Kent where they will play some of my tracks. Thanks for the
opportunities this contest is presenting already and thanks for obviously listening -
"Candy Carousel" is not the most obvious of songs and by far the least
accessable of those I entered, so its clear to me that you judge each song on its merits.
Many thanks, James Edge, 2005 Finalist and Double Semi
Finalist
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May I thank you for doing such a marvellous job in this contest.
Even though I did not make it to the finals this year I will definitely
return next year.
I particularly want to thank you for your sensitivity and understanding
for those of us who did not make the mark this year. I think your
compassion for the non-finalists has somehow made me felt renewed and
rejuvenated. I look forward to the coming year and will move forward with
unprecedented zeal and energy. Once again thank you. Jonas Lee,
triple semi finalist in 2005.
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| Thank you ever so much. I've been blessed with 2 songs making it to the finalists board 2005 and I am truly over the moon!!!
I feel absolutely fantastic. It has come at a perfect moment in my career
and I am now hopefully on the road to bigger and better things.
Also, it's not very often that people
are so efficient and I very much appreciate all your help. Thank you once again, I appreciate it from the bottom of my
heart. Fareez Shuib, Double Finalist in 2005 | |
| This is
amazing! Less than 24 hours after contacting BBC Radio Kent with the news that I had made it as a twice-finalist in The UK Songwriting Contest, the newsdesk came back to me and
organised an interview. Later that day the piece was broadcast
on a radio programme featuring an interview with the pop
singer Lulu. Being a finalist in the UKSC, allied with the
industry recognition behind it, has given me the confidence
and credibility to take the next step in my career. Rudi
Cazeaux, Finalist. Rudi's
Website
NOTE: Rudi is just one of many UKSC
contestants who have had radio play (and royalties!) because
of a finalist or semi finalist position in the
UK Songwriting Contest. See the Contestants' News Page for more details.
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I am
sending this e-mail to thank everyone involved with the UKSC
for organising such a great competition. There must be a
tremendous amount of work involved but you still managed to
keep everyone updated with what was going on. I look forward
to entering again next year, and as a finalist it has given me
a real boost in confidence. I will recommend this contest to
everyone I know involved in songwriting/music, as a great
competition to enter. You provide an invaluable way of getting
a foot in the door of the music industry which is otherwise a
very difficult business to gain access to. Once again a very
big thank you. David Flatt, UK, Songwriter and UKSC Finalist
in 2004
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Thanks for running a great contest with excellent
communication. I was amazed to be a finalist in my first year of entry. I also
gained a diploma recently thanks to the email you sent me about this.
Thanks again. Rob Bell Dip.Mus www.rob-bell.co.uk
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My songs are no better today than they were yesterday but now I am filled full of
optimism for the future knowing that others out there do actually take me more seriously than I had at first supposed they would. Recognition from music professionals certainly does have a psychological effect on the people around you - once again I can only thank you for what you people are doing out there.
Julian Wilson, Finalist.
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Not only have you made my day, but also
reminded me how valuable it is to keep trying at
that in which we believe. Thank you once again and looking
forward to the next contest.
Maria Stride, UKSC Finalist |
| I would like to say a BIG thank you for
my finalist achievement in your songwriting contest (R&B
and Hip Hop). I am really happy to have achieved as much given
that fact that I used my home computer to produce every single
aspect of the song I sent in. Oluyemi Asaolu, Songwriter and
UKSC Finalist 2004 |
| Thank you, so much, for
having taken the trouble to reply to me in such a kind way. What
you have done for me, in sending a couple of my songs to the
right kind of contacts, is more than I dared to hope for. Gordon
Dent, UKSC Finalist |
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I would like to thank everyone at the UK Songwriting Contest
for judging me runner-up and finalist in the 2003 competition.
I am delighted...this result has given me great encouragement.
Mike Doody, Finalist and Runner Up |
| We are really pleased to be
in the runners up of the Pop Category. Believe me it's great
to be recognised. Once again thanks very much to all those
involved. Ian Gibbs and Terry McCreith, UKSC Finalists |
| Please may I thank you for all your hard
work & for keeping us all so well informed. What a great
competition! Crissie Patient, UKSC Finalist |
| I would just like to express my appreciation for the way in which the contest was organized and run. From a contestant's
point of view it was not intimidating. Rather, your whole approach, each step of the way, was one of encouragement and reassurance, relaxed but superbly professional.
Andrew Taylor, Double Semi-Finalist |
| Firstly I would like to say THANK YOU!!
I am still really shocked to find out that I am a UKSC
winner. I have never entered a competition before, and I chose
to enter this contest because it's focus is purely on talent,
and songwriting ability, so I feel truly honoured to have won.
It has only been a few days since the result were posted on
your site, but the South London Press has already run the
story which is great! The most important thing is the
feeling of appreciation, and that industry professionals
believe that my work is good. It's lovely when friends and
family believe that you have talent, but it's even better when
those in the music biz think so too. Thank you. Bianca
Rose, Category Winner 2005.
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| I very much appreciate your passing on my lyrics! I also
want to tell you that I am very impressed with the way the
contest was run. Richard J. Hamersma, Finalist |
I was absolutely blown away when I found
out (at 2.38am) that I was a finalist in two of the categories this year.. My first time of entering... It's a
great acknowledgement.. ThanX for the musical lift... Val Kelly -
Rock/Indie and Miscelleneous Finalist 2005
Visit
Val's Website |
Since becoming a finalist in this years songwriting contest I have received a lot of publicity as a result. I have had write ups in two local newspapers and an interview on BBC
Radio Norfolk in the past week. I have gigs pending locally and a tour in Ireland, both
as a direct result of the contest. Most importantly, the contest has given me a much needed boost to get out there and promote my
songs - using the contest results as a tool to do this. I'd like to say thanks to the organisers for their
encouragement to all the
contestants and for keeping us so well informed at every stage of the
contest. I'm already planning what I will be entering next
year! Mandy Durrant, Finalist in 2005. |
As a psychiatrist and a songwriter, having been through a number of engagements
in the music biz, I again want to say how impressed I have been with the PROCESS
of your contest, particularly the intellectual rigor, efficiency, and empathy
that is evident.
Jim Williford (a.k.a. Geem) The Foyer - Glebula Entertainment
USA. Semi Finalist in 2005. | |
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