Gang of Youths, DMA’S, MAY-A and others shortlisted for Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

Gang of Youths, DMA’S, MAY-A and Genesis Owusu figure in the shortlist for the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, unveiled early Thursday (Feb. 17).

The Top 40 is boiled down from a total of 3,837 songs from 64 countries, organisers say, with the entry process raising $192,000 for good causes.

The coveted praises carries much more than bragging rights.

A first-place cash prize of $50,000 will be awarded to the winning songwriter, courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts and Sony Music Publishing, while second place earns $10,000, by way of legal experts Banki Haddock Fiora.

A gift of $5,000 will go to the third place recipient, thanks to Aon.

More than half the shortlisted numbers are the work of unpublished songwriters, with one of those poised to score the $5,000 AMPAL Emerging Songwriter Prize, provided by Australasian Music Publishers Association Limited (AMPAL).

Continuing a new tradition, ten of the Top 40 finalists will receive a runner-up prize of $1,000, a present from an anonymous donor wishing to help songwriters during the pandemic.

Winners in the comp, which is open to songwriters from anywhere, doing all kinds of music, will be announced in March.

Named after the legendary songwriters and founding members of The Easybeats, Harry Vanda and the late George Young, the competition has honoured a range of songwriting talent, from Thelma Plum (2020), Matt Corby and Dann Hume (2019), Amy Shark (2018), Gretta Ray (2016), Husky Gawenda (2014), Isabella Manfredi (2013), Kimbra (2011) and Megan Washington (2009), and others.

Each song entry carries with it a $50 fee, with 100% of that sum benefiting the services of Noro Music Therapy.

Since the contest launched in 2009, those entries have contributed nearly $1.6 million for the music charity.

The judging panel this time included a mix of artists, producers, media and music industry professionals, including KLP, Jenny Morris, Anna Lunoe and employees from Double J, The Industry Observer, Billboard, reps from the three majors, and Jaxsta, which this year helped promote the competition to its worldwide network of songwriters and music creators.

Visit vandayoungsongcomp.com for more.

2021 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition Top 40: