Profile of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition

JLSC or The John Lennon Songwriting Contest

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is held every year in two sessions and is open to both amateur and professional songwriters across the globe. The said contest started in 1997.

In this competition, you can enter your song/s in any of the 12 categories which includes Country, Children's, Electronic, Folk, Gospel/Inspirational, Hip Hop, Instrumental, Jazz, Latin, Pop, R&B, Rock and World,

Entrants must complete and submit an application form along with a copy of the song in mp3, CD or cassette format, plus a lyric sheet. There is an entry fee to join this contest and submitted songs should be 5 minutes or less in length. Participants can submit songs to multiple categories; song submissions must be original. You can upload your entries online or send it through mail provided it is postmarked before the deadline. Please visit the JLSC Web site for more information on rules and regulations.

Songs will be judged based on composition, lyrics, melody and originality.

The winners will receive cash and/or various in kind prizes. In all there will be 72 finalists, 24 grand prize winners, 12 Lennon Award winners and the Warped Tour prize for a winning band. There will be one Song of the Year winner who will receive $20,000 plus other prizes.

Session II is still open and the deadline for submission is on December 16, 2012, midnight Pacific Time. Winners of this session will be announced in March 1, 2013.

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest has an amazing lineup of judges; they include Natasha Bedingfield, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, The Bacon Brothers, Bob Weir and Ken Komisar (Vice President of A&R at Sony Music).

For more information on The John Lennon Songwriting Contest's rules, deadline of entries, etc., visit their official Web site.

Reference

JLSC. (2012). In The John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Retrieved from http://www.jlsc.com/index.php

In the words of musician Tim Finn "The joy of songwriting only gets messed up if you are trying to follow up a big success, or you are trying to create a hit single, or if you have conscious thoughts of a particular outcome for the music."

Here are some related songwriting articles to get you started:

The Songwriter As A Storyteller - Learn what details to include in your song to make it more compelling.

The Parts of a Song - You've heard about the verse, bridge, chorus, refrain, coda, etc. These are all parts of a song; here's a concise explanation of each part.

Strong Opening Lines - Some of the best songs are those that have strong opening lines; here's how to come up with yours.

A Word on Titles - Suggested ideas on coming up with catchy song titles.

Which Comes First, Melody or Lyrics? - When writing a song which comes first, the melody or lyrics? Learn the answer here.

What is a hook? - Definition of the word "hook" as used in music, with examples for further reference.

What is a riff? - Definition of the word "riff" plus some song samples.

Other Song Forms - Other types of lyric writing strategies and guidelines.

Song Collaborations - It is a common practice among musicians to collaborate on songs. Sometimes these collaborative works become huge hits and along the way long-lasting friendships are made.

They Write the Songs - Get to know the men and women behind some of your favorite timeless songs through these profiles.