New YouTube Channel
Check out our newly updated and redesigned YouTube Channel and watch videos of winners, finalists, semi finalists, commended entries, videos of the UKSC judges and more... The winner of this year's new professional music video shoot and production prize will also be featured on the YouTube channel and elsewhere on the web later this year. We recommend subscribing to the channel while you are there to see tips on which contest videos to watch, different categories entries, which ones you have already seen etc. The video in this news item is of UKSC judge Kipper Eldridge recording with Connie Talbot and it is in the Judges section on the YouTube Channel. Visit the UK Songwriting Contest at YouTube at http://youtube.com/uksongwritingcontest

Christmas Songs  NEW CATEGORY FOR 2013!
Many, if not most, songwriters have tried writing a Christmas song - even Paul McCartney and John Lennon each had a go. Every songwriter knows that if they are successful these songs can be huge money spinners with repeat sales every year, and they are among the biggest grossing songs in the world. In past years UKSC entrants entered their Christmas songs in various categories such as Open, Christian and others depending on the style of the music. There have been some outstanding entries in past years - for example "Bloody Good Xmas" which won the Acoustic/Folk category in 2010 (and then shot to number two in the Amazon download charts). Now, in 2013, there is a special new UK Songwriting Contest category just for these songs. Details and entry forms are at www.songwritingcontest.co.uk

The 2013 UK Songwriting Contest opens for entries on 5 May. The 2013 UKSC starts accepting entries on 5th May. Prizes in 2013 include a professional studio production plus a video shoot and video production package with world class musicians under the personal direction of the directors and producers at MOA Studios, mentoring and advice from UKSC producers, professionally designed CD artwork, valuable International Song Copyright Registration packages, promotion to the music industry on the "Best of UKSC 2013" album, valuable SongU.com and Broadjam memberships worth over £45 (US $75) for every songwriter who enters, personalised certificates for every entrant, music software, music books, full Guild of International Songwriters and Composers memberships and more. Full details and entry forms are on the UK Songwriting Contest website at http://songwritingcontest.co.uk

Everone who enters a song has the genuine chance to be noticed and discovered by the music industry in London and they will have their songs listened to, rated and scored by industry professionals. The UKSC's Grammy, Emmy and BRIT Award winning judges include Sting's producer Marc "Kipper" Eldridge, Elton John's producer Stuart Epps, Britney Spears' musical director Simon Ellis and the acclaimed producer and arranger Richard Niles. Many entrants have received royalty earning radio play for their entries and many more have been featured in the press, in radio interviews and on prime time TV and many entrants have been published, or have been signed and/or produced by top industry figures who closely follow this event looking for new talent. In the words of the UK's Channel 4 Television: "The UK Songwriting Contest does what it says on the tin! This is a real chance for new songwriters to break into the music business". All songwriters, beginners or experenced, from any country in the world, are invited to take part in this prestigious, popular and important songwriting event. Enter at http://songwritingcontest.co.uk