August 24, 2006 – The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is now accepting entries for 2006. One of the largest songwriting competitions in the world, ISC offers entrants a chance to share in 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, 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.

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.

(Judges are listed below)

The ISC 2006 judging panel includes:
Tom Waits; Brian Wilson; Sean Paul; Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Mona Scott-Young (President, Violator Records); Jerry Lee Lewis; Cassandra Wilson; Robert Smith (The Cure); Craig Morgan; Rosanne Cash; John Mayall; Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse); John Scofield; Mark Chesnutt; Amy Ray (Indigo Girls); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); MercyMe; Macy Gray; Tiësto; Peter Hook (New Order); Frank Black (Pixies); Jeff Stinco (Simple Plan); Medeski Martin & Wood; Charlie Musselwhite; Blue Man Group; Steve Lillywhite (Senior VP A&R/Producer, Columbia Records – credits include U2, Rolling Stones, Peter Gabriel, etc.); Angel Carrasco (President, Discos 605/Sr. VP A&R Sony/BMG Latin America; Larry Willoughby (VP A&R, Capitol Records, Nashville); Alexandra Patsavas (Owner, The Chop Shop Music Supervision - credits include The OC, Grey’s Anatomy, Without A Trace, Carnivale, Rescue Me); Barbara Sedun (VP Creative, EMI Music Publishing Canada); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD); Danny Epstein (Music Supervisor, Sesame Street/Sesame Workshop); Tara Griggs-Magee (Executive VP Gospel/Urban Music, Sony Records); Emily Wittmann (Vice-President, Nick Records); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music For Little People); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR and pioneer of Latin music radio); and Manolo Gonzales (Senior VP, Regional Mexican A&R and National Promotion, Univision Records).

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 2006, please visit www.songwritingcompetition.com. The deadline for submission is October 16, 2006.

ISC offers 18 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, Lyrics Only, Teen, and Performance.

ISC 2006 sponsors include ASCAP, Epiphone, Berklee College Of Music, D’Addario, Shure, Fishman, Sam Ash, Cakewalk, Hear Technologies, Disc Makers, Sonicbids, Musician’s Atlas, Sibelius, Planetary Group, OnlineGigs, The Music Business Registry, Mediaguide, ArtistMonitor, George Stein, Esq., Alphabet Arm Design, and Taxi.

(via official Press Release.)