International Songwriting Competition (ISC) Deadline Approaching — Final 2007 Judging Panel Is Announced

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is now accepting entries for 2007. One of the largest songwriting competitions in the world, ISC gives away over $150,000 in cash and prizes, including an Overall Grand Prize package of $25,000 (US) in cash and over $20,000 in merchandise. ISC offers artists the most exposure, the best judges, and the biggest cash prize, unmatched by any other songwriting competition. ISC winners benefit from extensive press and publicity, gaining exposure and recognition from an international music market of industry professionals and fans.

Of special interest to the world music community are the following categories World Music and Latin Music.

ISC announced a new category for 2007: Comedy/Novelty. Judging the new category will be comedy icons "Weird Al" Yankovic, David Cross (FOX TV’s Arrested Development), and Cheech Marin (Cheech and Chong). All original comedy, parody, and novelty songs are welcome in the new category. In all, ISC offers 19 different categories to enter: Pop/Top 40, AAA (Adult Album Alternative), Rock, Country, Americana, R&B/Hip-Hop, Blues, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Jazz, Gospel/Christian, Latin Music, Instrumental, Dance/Electronica, World Music, Children’s Music, Comedy/Novelty, Lyrics Only, Teen, and Performance.
 
 ISC is unique because of its judges. Since its inception, ISC has become internationally renowned for having the most prestigious judging panel of any songwriting competition in the world, offering entrants the unprecedented opportunity to have their songs heard by the industry’s top recording artists and influential music executives.
 
 Continuing in that tradition, the ISC 2007 judging panel includes recording artists Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Ray Davies (The Kinks); Julian Casablancas (The Strokes); Nelly Furtado; Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Ornette Coleman; Youssou N’Dour; Sean Paul; Jerry Lee Lewis; "Weird Al" Yankovic; Frank Black (Pixies); Robert Smith (The Cure); Cassandra Wilson; David Cross; Craig Morgan; John Mayall; Joe Satriani; Toby Mac; Michael W. Smith; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Hinder; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Cheech Marin (Cheech & Chong); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Macy Gray; Peter Hook (New Order); Paulina Rubio; and Tiesto
 
 Also judging will be music industry executives Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Steve Lillywhite (Producer – credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Peter Gabriel, and more); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami, pioneer of Latin radio); Angel Carrasco (President, 605 Discos and Sr. VP A&R, Sony BMG Latin America); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Nancy Wolpert (VP Home Entertainment and Nick Records, Nickelodeon/BMG); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People); and Paul Majors (CEO/Founder Majors Music)
 
 ISC is open to musicians, artists, and songwriters at every level from amateur to professional. Artists may submit as many songs as desired in each category or enter the same song in more than one category.
 
 Entries are accepted online or by mail. For more information or to enter ISC 2007, visit www.songwritingcompetition.com. The deadline is quickly approaching, so enter now.
 
 ISC 2007 sponsors include Electro-Voice, ASCAP, Berklee College Of Music, Cakewalk, Shure, D’Addario, Hear Technologies, Disc Makers, Sonicbids, Musician’s Atlas, Sibelius, Karian Studios, OnlineGigs, The Music Business Registry, Mediaguide, ArtistMonitor, Platinum Blue Music Intelligence, Alphabet Arm Design, George Stein, Esq., SongU, The Indie Bible, Shari’s Berries, and Taxi.