The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the world’s most prestigious and notable songwriting competition, is now open for Session II of its 2017 competition. Although performance is not a criterion for the judging, the list of previous winners is a who’s who of songwriters/performers including Meghan Trainor, American Authors, Magic!, Gaby Moreno, Peter Cincotti and Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry.
Contestants can enter online at JLSC.COM, via mail or through Sonicbids until the December 15, 2017 deadline. Winners will be announced on the JLSC website on March 1, 2018. Open to amateur and professional songwriters, the original song entries may be in any of 12 musical categories. Judges include such notable writers/artists as Fergie, Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), George Clinton, Bob Weir, Jim Steinman (Bat Out of Hell), Sheila E and Sean Paul as well as producers Detail (Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, Drake) and multi-GRAMMY winning Jack Joseph Puig (Florence & the Machine, Lady Gaga, U2, Rolling Stones).
The 2017 contest offers over $300,000 worth of cash awards and prizes with winners from each category vying for the coveted $20,000 ‘Song of the Year.’