The Young Songwriter 2025 showcase for UK finalists aged 8-18
Star-studded judges, including Tom Grennan, GAYLE, Miranda Cooper, Nina Nesbitt, MNEK, Toby Gad, Calum Scott, Eg White, Freddy Wexler, Plested, Dan Gillespie Sells, Hannah V, Emily Phillips, Naughty Boy & Connie Talbot
1st August 2025
Don’t miss out on the best show in town! The Young Songwriter 2025 showcase is on Saturday 4th October, at The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London from 7pm to 9:30pm. This year’s competition attracted around a 1,000 high quality entries from aspiring young songwriters aged 8-22 across the world, both experienced young songwriters and those writing their first song.
On the 4th October, the top finalists of The Young Songwriter 2025 competition will be performing their award winning original songs. If you have musical children or if you just love listening to live new music, make sure your get your tickets and be inspired and entertained!
The Young Songwriter 2025 showcase will be compered by new music presenter and producer Honor Morrison. The list of performers is shown below.
Tickets are available to purchase for The Young Songwriter 2025 showcase. Early bird prices are: Seats in the stalls £25 (+VAT). Seats on the balcony £20 (+VAT). From 5th September prices are: seats in the stalls £30 (+VAT). Seats on the balcony £25 (+VAT). All seats have an excellent view of the stage. The venue address is The Tabernacle, 34-35 Powis Sq, W11 2AY, Notting Hill, London. Please email contact@songacademy.co.uk to purchase tickets.
Emily Phillips, songwriter and lead judge of The Young Songwriter 2025 competition said “This year just under a 1,000 songs were submitted to the Young Songwriter Competition 2025. It has been a total pleasure to come across new talent and some great songs from young songwriters in the UK and around the world. The process of judging is not an absolute or determining factor in the value of a song – The Beatles were turned down 5 times by record labels before landing a deal!
That said, we try to be as rigorous as possible in deciding which songs are selected. Concepts, lyrics, melody, structure, originality and harmony are some of the aspects that we listen out for, but also, sometimes simply the X factor, which is a mysterious indefinable quality a song can have. In other words, in some cases, a hunch or a feeling might be what persuades us to choose one song over another.”
Official sponsors of The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2025 competition are Spotify, YouTube Music, PRS for Music, Focusrite, Soundtrap and ICMP.
What Young Songwriter judges and partners say about the importance of The Young Songwriter competition:
Amy Wadge (songwriter) ‘It’s been an absolute privilege to listen to so much young talent, this competition is so important not only to showcase young talent but to also give an opportunity to be heard by the music industry from a young age – I’m very confident that the future of music is in some of the songwriters I’ve listened to for this!”
Fraser T Smith (songwriter, & producer) says “With so much going on in the world, it’s never been more vital for young people to be able to channel their energy and emotions into something positive, which is what The Young Songwriter competition encourages and facilitates through songwriting. Every young person has something to say, a story to tell, or a message to share – that’s why Song Academy is so important to our community.”
Naughty Boy (songwriter, producer & DJ) says “Young songwriters are the future of music. A great song will always stand the test of time far beyond our years. I think this competition is important because every songwriter I’ve worked with was always waiting to be discovered.”
Tom Odell (songwriter) says “When I was 13 years old I started writing songs, and over the following years I became more and more obsessed with it. But the thing that always kept me awake at night was how to get them out there for people to hear them. This is why I think the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition is a great way to inspire and help through this process, and its something I wish had been around when I was starting out.”
Jacqueline Ankner, Head of Songwriter and Publisher Partnerships, said: “We’re excited to support The Young Songwriter 2025 competition and their dedication to nurturing aspiring young songwriters and the next generation of creative leaders.”
Kenny Barber, Relationship Manager – Black Music, PRS for Music, said: “In supporting the voices that will shape our future industry, PRS for Music is investing not just in music but in the dreams, aspirations, and boundless potential of the next generation of songwriters and composers. We look forward to hearing the unique melodies, harmonies and lyrics that are entered and encourage all young people to seize this opportunity and submit their original songs!”
Rowena Atkins, Founder & CEO of Song Academy said “The Young Songwriter 2025 competition is a golden opportunity for young people to not only get recognition for their creative talent but also connect and be inspired by other aspiring young songwriters writing songs in their bedrooms around the world. We vision a world where all young people feel confident in who they are, celebrating their individuality, feeling empowered by sharing what’s important to them and creating their united future.”
Next opportunities for young songwriters
Apply to join our monthly mentoring programme, Ad Lib. The place for talented young songwriters (aged 13-18) to learn about the music business from leaders in the business. Click here for more info and how to apply.
Join our holiday songwriting workshops (in London and online). Click here for more info on Autumn half-term and Christmas workshops.
Send us your songs for our insightful song feedback. Click here for more information on how we can help you develop your songwriting talents.
Feel and look awesome in our new range of Song Academy merchandise! Click here to view the full range.
YOUNG SONGWRITER 2025 SHOWCASE PERFORMERS
ANGEL DUST – LAILA HOLLIS
COCOA & GIN – THE POWER OF TWO
CURSE OF LOVE – MACY O
DEAR DIARY – TABITHA BUCHAN
DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO – HANLEY WEBB
DOUBLE DENIM BALLERINA – THE CLAES
DREAMS – MIA TIKARI
DROP LIKE A STONE – STRING ‘N’ BONE
FEELING JUNE – JOHNNY BEAU
FIREFLIES – FREYA CORMACAN
GHOST – ISABEL MARIA
GREEN EYES – LIZZIE HILL
HURT YOU BAD – MICHELLE LEVINSKI
I’M LIVING HERE! – REESE HARRIS
INVISIBLE – LEONORA SIMMONDS
MANSPLAINING – DEAD SHEEP
MY MAHOGANY GUITAR – MINNA WILLIAMS
ONLY WHEN IT’S EASY – SAMUEL KHANNA
OVERTHINKING – MAYA MARTIN
OWN GAME – ISLA SMITH
SUPERHERO – AYONA ELLORA
SUPERSONIC LOVE – MAX WINFIELD
THIS IS THE GIRL – ANNABELLE WARD
TIME FLIES – JOEL WOODSHORE
WHY – LIV LAYNE
NOTES TO EDITORS:
SONG ACADEMY – The Sound Of Youth Empowerment
As the world’s leading songwriting platform for young people, Song Academy plays a vital role in inspiring 1000’s of young people to fulfil their creative potential. Founded 16 years ago, Song Academy nurtures and develops young aspiring songwriters, giving them the chance to develop important creative and social skills.
Song Academy has developed excellent songwriting programmes and services, including songwriting clubs, workshops, residential summer camps, a song feedback service, mentoring programmes and the highly prestigious and competitive annual International Young Songwriter Competition.
Many of the past Young Songwriter finalists and Song Academy programmes alumnae are now making waves in the industry, including Gayle, Lexie Carroll, Wasia Project, Matilda Mann, Cassa Jackson, Natalie Shay, Tom A. Smith, Andrea Turk, Rosie Sullivan, Hetta Falzon and Conor Marcus.
Song Academy also plays a vital role for the Music Industry, not only in discovering new talent, but also by adding revenue streams for professional songwriters, producers, musicians, music venues and recording studios.
Song Academy has the support of some of the world’s most renowned songwriters and producers as mentors and judges; Fraser T Smith, Miranda Cooper, Eg White, MNEK, Tom Grennan, Calum Scott, Cathy Dennis, Jimmy Napes, Dan Gillespie Sells, Emily Phillips, Hannah V, Plested, Jon Maguire & Toby Gad.
Song Academy is sponsored by some of the biggest brands in the music industry, including PRS for Music, Spotify, Focusrite & Shure.
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES at Song Academy
Apply to join our monthly mentoring programme, Ad Lib. The place for talented young songwriters (aged 13-18) to learn about the music business from leaders in the business. Click here for more info and how to apply.
Join our holiday songwriting workshops (in London and online). Click here for more info on Autumn half-term and Christmas workshops.
Send us your songs for our insightful song feedback. Click here for more information on how we can help you develop your songwriting talents.
Feel and look awesome in our new range of Song Academy merchandise! Click here to view the full range.
