The Young Songwriter 2024 competition is OPEN for entries!
Song Academy champions the next generation of creative leaders. Our mission is to inspire and connect the millions of young people across the world already writing songs in their bedrooms, as well as encourage all musical & creative young people who haven’t started writing their own songs, to write their first song!
The Young Songwriter 2024 judges include: Eg White, Miranda Cooper, Naughty Boy, MNEK, Lost Boy, Dan Gillespie Sells, Cathy Dennis, Hannah V, Plested, Jimmy Napes, Jon Maguire, Connie Talbot, Emily Phillips & Nina Nesbitt.
Good news! The Young Songwriter 2024 competition #SAYS24 is now open for entries! We’re calling all aspiring young songwriters, artists, musicians & producers aged 8-22 to get their original songs ready and enter via our website at https://www.songacademy.co.uk/says24/
In its 14th year The Young Songwriter 2024 (SAYS24) competition is the world’s leading songwriting competition for young songwriters to get their songs heard by leaders in the industry, get recognition & connect to a talented tribe of young songwriters across the world – as well as winning some incredible prizes. Prizes include a Focusrite Scarlet studio bundle (all-in-one studio recording set-up with Scarlett Solo interface, microphone and headphones) and Novation keyboard, Shure legendary SM58 and new MVX2U interface, a recording studio session with a top producer, one year membership of the Song Academy mentoring programme and performing at The Young Songwriter 2024 showcases. SAYS24 is aimed at both aspiring young songwriters who already have some experience, and those writing their first song!
We’re looking for pure, fresh songwriting talent. Songs will be judged on their originality, lyrics, melody, composition, and potential to be a smash hit! Songs can be across all music genres and be about anything. There’s no need to enter professional recordings, however a good recording can help to enhance the impact of songs.
You can enter up to 5 individual songs and up to 5 songs written as a group. To enter you’ll need to submit an mp3 audio recording and your lyrics for each song. Entry is via an online form on our website. We’ve created some excellent songwriting resources for beginner to advanced young songwriters at https://www.songacademy.co.uk/songwriting-resources-for-young-people/
The official sponsors of The Young Songwriter 2024 competition are Shure, PRS for Music, Focusrite, Soundtrap and The Institute of Contemporary Music & Performance (ICMP).
The stars align for Song Academy with SAYS24 judges including: MNEK – ‘Head & Heart’, ‘Where Did You Go?’ (written for: Zara Larsson, Dua Lipa, Joel Corry, Jax Jones, Beyoncé, Jess Glynne, Anne-Marie, Stormzy, Becky Hill, KSI, Mabel, Sigala, Rudimental, Jonas Blue, Little Mix, Selena Gomez, Olly Alexander, Craig David), Lost Boy (written for: Calvin Harris, Kylie Minogue, Tate McRae, Jung Kook, Ava Max, Sabrina Carpenter, Zedd/Kehlani and Bebe Rexha, Griff, Tom Grennan, Lewis Capaldi, Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora and K-Pop stars IVE), Naughty Boy – ‘La La La’ feat Sam Smith, ‘Runnin’’ (‘Lose It All) feat Beyoncé (written for: Emeli Sandé, Chipmunk, Tinie Tempah, Alesha Dixon, Professor Green, Tinchy Stryder, Rihanna, Cheryl Cole, Bastille). Eg White (written for: Adele, Sam Smith, Florence + The Machine, Dua Lipa, Pink, Olivia Dean, Tom Odell, Natalie Imbruglia, Ellie Goulding, Tom Misch, Jason Mraz, Joss Stone, James Blunt, John Legend, Tom Grennan, Paloma Faith, Celiné Dion James Morrison, Sigrid, Nick Jonas, Stormzy), Jimmy Napes (written for: Sam Smith, Disclosure, Clean Bandit, Taylor Swift, Tori Kelly, Mabel, Alicia Keys, Jessie Ware, Ellie Goulding), Miranda Cooper (written for: Girls Aloud, Sugababes, Alesha Dixon, Pet Shop Boys, Griff, Maisie Peters), Emily Phillips (written for: Florence + The Machine, Sigrid, John Newman, Rizzzle Kicks, Nicole Scherzinger, SOAK, Ruti, Connie Talbot), Cathy Dennis (written for: Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken), Plested (written for: Lewis Capaldi, Little Mix, Anne Marie, Niall Horan, Dermot Kennedy, David Guetta, Marshmello, Kygo, The Chainsmokers, Bastille, Clean Bandit, Mimi Webb, Calum Scott, James Bay), Nina Nesbitt, – ‘The Best You Had’ (written for: Ronan Keating, The Shires, Sigala, Jessie Ware). Dan Gillespie Sells, The Feeling band, – ‘Fill My Little World’, Connie Talbot – ‘Growing Pains’, Jon Maguire (written for: Calum Scott, Kodaline, Jax Jones, Rita Ora, The Stickmen Project, Scouting For Girls).
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.”
Paul Crognale, Associate Director, Global Marketing at Shure said “We are thrilled to join SAYS24 and empower the next generation of songwriters, producers, and musicians. While Shure has maintained its position as a leader in professional audio technology on the world’s biggest stages, we also want to recognize and support those starting out in their careers. By partnering with Song Academy, we have the chance to directly engage with young individuals, encouraging them to express themselves, be heard, and sound extraordinary.”
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 2024 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.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
SONG ACADEMY – The Sound Of Youth Empowement
Founded 15 years ago, Song Academy is the leading songwriting platform for young people aged 8-22. Our vision is for every young person, across all backgrounds to have faith in themselves. Song Academy uses the power of songwriting and community to empower young people to express themselves, finding their voice and their tribe.
Song Academy programmes include weekly songwriting clubs, holiday workshops, summer camps, song feedback reports, school songwriting workshops, mentoring programme and The Young Songwriter competition.
We nurture the next generation of creative leaders (young songwriters, artists, musicians, producers & creative thinkers) who will be shaping the future. We believe that Song Academy makes a significant addition to the pipeline of new talented songwriters/artists/producers – creating a diverse and equal music industry where mental health is a priority.
