Win $50K: Entries open for world’s largest charity songwriting comp

Image: 2014’s winner Husky Gawenda 

The world’s largest songwriting contest for charity is back with entries now open for the biennial Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition.

Past winners Megan Washington (2009), Kimbra (2011), The Preatures (2013) and Husky Gawenda (2014) have all taken home the cash prize of A$50,000 thanks to Alberts and APRA AMCOS.

Meanwhile songwriters including Gang of Youths frontman David Le’aupepe, Meg Mac, and Catherine Britt have previously received the second place cash prize of A$10,000 thanks to AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers Association). There’s also a A$5,000 cash prize for third place, courtesy of sponsor, AEG Ogden.

Le’aupepe said he believes truly “good” artists will subject themselves to the rigors of scrutiny and competition.

“While a songwriting contest isn’t a completely empirical and objective litmus for one’s artistic proficiency, it’s a tremendous apparatus for testing one’s faculties and confidence,” he said. “If the money isn’t a good enough motivator, pitting yourself against people who are probably better than you at what you do should be.”

The Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition raises funds for not-for-profit organisation Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia (NRMTA). Artists are charged a A$50 entry fee for each song they put forward with all profits going directly towards the work of NRMTA.

Since its inception in 2009, the competition has raised over half a million dollars for NRMTA through four events.

Brett Cottle, APRA AMCOS Chief Executive said in a statement: “The competition provides a platform for songwriters and 100% of the funds raised go to Nordoff-Robbins so they can continue to transform lives through music.”

David Albert, Managing Director of Alberts said: “The competition is one that is very close to our hearts. It raises vital funds for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia, provides exciting opportunities for local and overseas songwriters, and pays tribute to two of Australia’s greatest ever songwriters.”

Visit vandayoungsongcomp.com for more information and terms and conditions. Entries close at 11.59pm (AEST), 13 July 2016.

This year’s competition will be judged by a panel of local and international songwriters and industry professionals. See below for the full list: