microphone with christmas trees lit up in the background

The Best Christmas Songs List: Popular Christmas Music

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Christmas songs are a beloved part of the holiday season, bringing warmth, nostalgia, and joy to homes around the world. Whether you’re decking the halls, wrapping gifts, or settling in by the fire, the right festive tunes can set the perfect mood. In this post, we’ll dive into the most popular Christmas songs of all time, celebrate iconic UK Christmas hits, and explore how you or your teen can create their own Christmas classics.

The 12 Most Popular Christmas Songs

These global favourites have become synonymous with the holidays, filling homes and hearts with festive cheer:

1. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey

This powerhouse ballad has topped the charts every December since its release in 1994. With its timeless melody and upbeat energy, it’s an undeniable holiday staple. Did you know that Mariah Carey supposedly makes over 2 million pounds a year from the song?

2. “Last Christmas” – Wham!

George Michael’s heartfelt vocals and the song’s bittersweet story make this a must-listen every year. In fact, it’s so popular that it has been streamed over 4 billion times. To celebrate its 40 year anniversary BBC has even made a film, WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped.

3. “Jingle Bell Rock” – Bobby Helms

This toe-tapping hit blends traditional holiday themes with rock-and-roll vibes. Your kids may recognise this song from Lindsey Lohan singing it in Mean Girls but the original song actually came out in 1957.

4. “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” – Michael Bublé

Personally, I think the whole Michael Bublé Christmas album is a classic, but this is definitely the most famous track. Bublé’s silky vocals breathe new life into this holiday classic, making it a playlist essential.

5. “White Christmas” – Bing Crosby

Who doesn’t love a bit of snow during the holiday season? This nostalgic tune is the best-selling single of all time, capturing dreams of a snowy festive season.

6. “Feliz Navidad” – José Feliciano

This catchy tune is always stuck in my head – even if it isn’t Christmas time. A bilingual Christmas anthem that uniquely combines simplicity and joy.

7. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” – Bruce Springsteen

Originally released in 1934 this song has been resung by the links of Michael Bublé, Mariah Carey, Frank Sinatra and…. Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen’s rock version brings a fresh twist to this cheerful track.

8. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Judy Garland

This sentimental classic has been covered by countless artists, yet Garland’s original in Meet Me in St. Louis remains unforgettable. Judy Garland may be too “old school” for your kids to remember but mention that Billie Eilish and Sam Smith have also had a go at it and they may recognise the tune.

9. “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” – Dean Martin

This playful duet adds charm and romance to the holiday repertoire. It’s the perfect track for Christmas karaoke!

10. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Gene Autry

Sung by parents around the world, it would be a challenge to find a child who doesn’t know this song. This song is perfect for family gatherings and brings to life a beloved Christmas character.

11. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – Darlene Love

Darlene Love’s iconic Christmas song, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), was originally recorded in 1963 and has since become a holiday classic. The song features Love’s powerful vocals and an emotionally charged plea for a loved one to return home for Christmas. Over the years, it has been featured on various Christmas albums, films, tv-series and performances, becoming a staple of festive playlists.

12. “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)” – Nat King Cole

Written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, the song is famous for its warm, cosy imagery of a perfect Christmas, with lyrics about chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Santa Claus coming to town. Nat King Cole’s smooth and rich voice adds a timeless charm to the song, making it a staple on holiday playlists year after year

The Top 10 Christmas Songs by UK Artists

The UK has given the world some of the most unforgettable Christmas tracks, each with its unique style and charm:

1. “Merry Xmas Everybody” – Slade

A high-energy anthem that captures the festive spirit of 1970s Britain. Its iconic opening shout, “It’s Christmaaaas!”, is impossible to ignore.

2. “Fairytale of New York” – The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl

A raw, emotional ballad that contrasts the joy and struggles of the season. The song, though never a UK Christmas number one, has remained a beloved classic, reaching the UK Top 20 twenty times since its 1987 release, including every Christmas since 2005.

3. “Step Into Christmas” – Elton John

Four years ago, Step Into Christmas gained a fresh audience on TikTok through the #StepIntoChristmas challenge, which amassed over 100 million views. A seasonal favourite, it was the ninth most-played Christmas song in the UK in 2009 and has re-entered the charts every December since 2011. Elton’s playful lyrics and lively melody make this song an instant mood booster.

4. “Wonderful Christmastime” – Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney is from the world-renowned band, The Beatles but when they broke up he struck out on his own. McCartney’s warm vocals and cheerful synth tune have made this a seasonal favourite.

5. “Stay Another Day” – East 17

Some say the boyband East 17 walked, so One Direction could fly. This heartfelt ballad became a surprise Christmas hit, capturing the mood of the holiday season.

6. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” – Band Aid

This is a charity single written in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to support relief efforts for the 1983–1985 Ethiopian famine. It was initially recorded by Band Aid, a supergroup formed by Geldof and Ure, featuring renowned British and Irish artists.

7. “2000 Miles” – The Pretenders

Okay so The Pretends are a British-American band but we still think it counts. A dreamy and melancholic tune, often overlooked but cherished by its fans.

8. “Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)” – The Darkness

This rock-infused track combines humour and holiday spirit in true Darkness fashion. Released on 15 December 2003, the song reimagines the typical Christmas tune, blending festive references to Santa and bells with Justin Hawkins’s signature falsetto.

9. “Driving Home for Christmas” – Chris Rea

A soothing ballad that perfectly captures the feeling of returning to loved ones for the holidays.

10. “Thank God It’s Christmas” – Queen

Unless you’re a die-hard fan you may not have known that Queen had a Christmas song. However, Freddie Mercury’s powerful voice shines in this reflective, celebratory anthem.

10 Newer Christmas Songs Your Kids Might Know (Released After 2010)

In recent years, a new wave of Christmas songs has taken over playlists and social media feeds, capturing the hearts of a younger generation. While timeless classics like “Last Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You” continue to dominate, these modern hits have introduced festive cheer to children and teens who might not resonate as strongly with older tunes. 

With catchy melodies, relatable lyrics, and viral moments on platforms like TikTok, these contemporary Christmas songs are becoming the soundtrack of the season for today’s youth.

1. “Mistletoe” – Justin Bieber

Beliebers unite, this song is the one for you. A romantic, acoustic-driven song released in 2011 that quickly became a holiday staple for younger audiences.

2. “Underneath the Tree” – Kelly Clarkson

This upbeat track released in 2013 captures the joy and magic of Christmas with Clarkson’s powerful vocals.

3. “Santa Tell Me” – Ariana Grande

Grande released her debut Christmas EP, Christmas Kisses, on December 17, 2013. But, this song is a 2014 pop favourite that blends festive cheer with a catchy melody and heartfelt lyrics.

4. “Everyday Is Christmas” – Sia

From Sia’s album of the same name (yes she has more than one Christmas song), this song brings a whimsical, uplifting energy to the season.

5. “Like It’s Christmas” – Jonas Brothers

The Disney Channel watchers of the world will know what I am talking about. This is a cheerful track released in 2019 that celebrates the love and warmth of the holidays.

6. “Cozy Little Christmas” – Katy Perry

A jazzy, light-hearted song about the joys of spending Christmas with friends and family.

7. “All I Want (For Christmas)” – Liam Payne

A heartfelt ballad that highlights the emotional side of the holidays. Tragically, Payne recently passed away, leaving behind a legacy of memorable hits and a devoted fanbase.

This song is a testament to his artistry and the way he could touch hearts, especially during the festive season. As we listen to this beautiful track, it serves as a poignant reminder of his incredible contribution to the music world and the joy he brought to so many fans worldwide.

8. “Christmas Tree Farm” – Taylor Swift

The real Swifties will know this song. Released in 2019 and inspired by her childhood on a Christmas tree farm, this song evokes nostalgic holiday imagery.

9. “Glittery” – Kacey Musgraves feat. Troye Sivan

Public service announcement: Spud can sing – but you probably knew that already! Glittery is a duet that feels intimate and magical, perfect for a cosy Christmas evening.

10. “Merry Christmas” – Ed Sheeran & Elton John

In 2021, at the age of 74 Elton John was still releasing music – and still releasing amazing music at that. This song is a fun and heartfelt collaboration filled with festive spirit, released to support charity.

How To Write Your Own Christmas Songs

young girl singing at a competition

Creating a Christmas song is a unique challenge that allows for creativity and self-expression. Here’s how to get started:

1. Find Your Theme

Every great Christmas song has a strong theme. Think about what resonates with you:

  • Joy and celebration (Step Into Christmas).
  • Family and nostalgia (Driving Home for Christmas).
  • Heartbreak and longing (Last Christmas).
  • Charity and giving back (Do They Know It’s Christmas?).

2. Choose a Catchy Hook

The best Christmas songs are instantly recognisable. Your chorus should be simple and memorable, with lyrics that listeners can easily sing along to. For example, Slade’s “It’s Christmaaaas!” is iconic.

3. Add Festive Imagery

Include seasonal elements like snow, lights, carols, and mistletoe. Vivid imagery helps listeners feel the holiday spirit.

4. Incorporate Traditional Sounds

Use instruments or effects that evoke Christmas: sleigh bells, choirs, pianos, or strings. These details create a magical atmosphere.

5. Use Emotion

Whether it’s joy, nostalgia, or reflection, Christmas songs resonate when they connect emotionally with the audience.

6. Experiment With Genres

Christmas music isn’t limited to one style. Blend genres like pop, rock, R&B, or even rap to make your track stand out.

7. Refine Your Lyrics and Melody

Keep your lyrics concise and your melody uplifting. A strong opening line is essential for grabbing attention.

At Song Academy, we offer workshops and clubs to help young songwriters bring their ideas to life. Whether your kid wants to create a festive ballad or a quirky holiday anthem, our expert guidance ensures they’re on the right track.

Why not make songwriting part of your child’s Christmas holidays? It’s a rewarding creative outlet—and who knows, it might become the next big hit! Don’t forget to check out our Young Songwriter Competition to showcase their work.

Conclusion

Christmas songs are more than just music—they’re part of the memories we cherish during the holiday season. From timeless classics to modern UK hits, these tracks bring people together in celebration.

If your teen is inspired to create their own festive song, Song Academy is here to help. With our courses, clubs, and workshops, they can turn their ideas into something truly magical. Let this holiday season be the start of their musical journey.

So, press play on these iconic tracks, pick up a pen, and let the music of Christmas inspire you!

Christmas presents for young songwriters

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Get ahead and make sure you’ve the perfect Christmas presents for the young songwriters & musicians you know! We’ve suggested combinations of 2025 songwriting programmes and latest merchandise to guarantee success!

With 15 years experience our songwriting programmes & stylish Merch are ideal presents for aspiring young songwriters! Whether they’re from doting parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or godparents, these presents offer a unique and fun experience that not only nurtures their creativity but also cultivates lasting musical, lyrical and social skills and boosts confidence.

So, when your child’s grandparents, godparents or uncles and aunts ask ‘what does Matilda want for Christmas’ you can confidently respond with ‘a Song Academy present’!

YOUNG PEOPLE NEW TO SONGWRITING

Designed for young people who are musical & creative but haven’t yet started to write their own original songs.

SONG ACADEMY GIFT VOUCHERS SUGGESTIONS – OPTION A

  • £35 Fun & engaging songwriting video course for beginner songwriters. Scarlet and Brendan from Song Academy will talk you through each stage of the songwriting process to write your own song – from start to finish –deciding on a concept for your song, writing lyrics, improvising melodies, creating chord progressions and recording their song. There are useful worksheets for each stage of the process to make it really easy to write your song. You can send us your finished song at the end and we’ll send you a certificate!
  • £10 One song entry into The Young Songwriter 2025 competition
  • £22 A super soft Song Academy t-shirt to get you in the creative mood
  • £15 A stylish notebook to capture all your creative ideas

SONG ACADEMY GIFT VOUCHERS SUGGESTIONS – OPTION B

  • £85 Online songwriting workshop over two days (4 hours) where you’ll write your own original song with our professional songwriters. Small groups up to 4 young people.
  • £10 One song entry into The Young Songwriter 2025 competition
  • £42 A super soft Song Academy hoodie to get you in the creative mood
  • £15 A stylish notebook to capture all your creative ideas

YOUNG PEOPLE ALREADY WRITING THEIR OWN SONGS

Designed for young people who are already writing their own songs and wanting to level up their songwriting skills and meet like-minded peers.

SONG ACADEMY GIFT VOUCHERS SUGGESTIONS – OPTION A

  • £45 An insightful song feedback report. This is a golden opportunity for young songwriters to have a professional songwriter give them tips & advice on ways to develop their songs. Plus, importantly, it gives young songwriters a boost to their confidence & belief in their songwriting talents.
  • £85 Online songwriting workshop over two days (4 hours) where you’ll write your own original song with our professional songwriters. Small groups up to 4 young people.
  • £10 One song entry into The Young Songwriter 2025 competition
  • £42 A super soft Song Academy hoodie to get you in the creative mood
  • £15 A stylish notebook to capture all your creative ideas

SONG ACADEMY GIFT VOUCHERS SUGGESTIONS – OPTION B

  • £655 Joining our four day residential summer songwriting camp. Over 4 days they will immerse themselves in all parts of the songwriting process, from finding inspiration, lyric writing, melody improvisation and composition to producing and performing. Our expert team of top songwriters and producers all share a passion for inspiring the next generation. The perfect summer camp for young songwriters.
  • £10 One song entry into The Young Songwriter 2025 competition
  • £42 A super soft Song Academy hoodie to get you in the creative mood
  • £15 A stylish notebook to capture all your creative ideas

Have a look at all Christmas present options and how to purchase them

Want to win The Young Songwriter 2025 competition?

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Every year we get asked the questions “what type of song should I enter into The Young Songwriter competition?” and “do you have any songwriting tips?” so we thought we would put together some ideas and guidelines to help you write a winning song!

We’re looking forward to listening to your songs!  This post aims to give you an insight into what we believe are some of the important elements of a brilliant song.  Please also see our songwriting resources for young people.

The main things that we listen out for when judging The Young Songwriter competition entries are captivating melodies, evocative lyrics, a coherent structure, a catchy chorus, emotive performances, clever use of rhyme, a sense of anticipation, and strong concepts.

It’s important to say at the outset that songs which break all the rules and defy any expectation can be the biggest hits of all! Therefore, in as much as there are so called ‘rules’, feel free to bend and break them if you feel inspired to!

The power of songwriting is that no matter what inspired the songwriter to write a song, the listener interprets the song in their own unique way, and finds strength from the message and connection.

Here are some elements of the songwriting process which we think are important:

Have a strong theme/concept

One of the key components, and biggest challenges, of songwriting is trying to express common, relatable feelings in an original and interesting way. The more inventive you can be when describing your feelings or experiences (for example, the pressures and joys of growing up and living in our society), the better. It’s a great way to express yourself by talking about issues you are passionate about in an engaging way.

Young Songwriter competition entries always cover a huge spectrum of topics, from personal experiences and feelings, to wider issues involving the writer’s communities, or even the entire world. Looking back on prior years, a popular theme was the state of the planet and awareness of environmental issues such as climate change. Another theme that came up a lot was mental health, with songs exploring anxieties, depression, drugs, death and high expectations. We also received many entires that explored the need be who you are, embrace your individuality and go for your dreams. Many songs took a stand for equality and freedom from barriers. Love and heartbreak always feature highly in Young Songwriter entries, with many different spins: we broke up, we’re breaking up, we’re about to break up, we’re not going to break up, I wish I could break up with you, we didn’t break up, I wish I had someone to break up with. Also, songs about the pain of toxic relationships and unrequited love.

But not all songs have to be dramatic and poignant – many people wrote songs about aspects of everyday life, like nature, sunlight, boredom, society, the stars, anything! Through lyrics and harmony the seemingly banal can sometimes be lifted onto another plain. It is great to be able to find inspiration in ordinary things, and it’s an amazing skill to be able to present those things in a way that people find exciting.

Plested, one of the fabulous Young Songwriter competition judges gave a great songwriting tip ‘Try to find a word or a phrase that a lot of people say in everyday life but not many people have sung about”, then write a song about it.

Come up with an interesting song title

A song title is almost like a book cover, so make it interesting! Compare a heartbeat to a flashing light or the feeling of losing fear by roaring it away – the more inventive the concept around the ordinary, the better. Think of recent hits Dark Horse, Wrecking Ball, Pompeii – interesting titles and concepts talking about everyday feelings to do with fear, love and empowerment. It can also be a good way to start a song, having a strong title that sets the theme of the song can inspire more lyrics around it!

We’ve had many interesting song titles in The Young Songwriter competition past entries, including; Biting Into Ice, Concrete Sheets, Sneaks & Geeks, Dead Plants, Like Lava, T-shirt, Packet Full Of Noodles, Armour, Paperclips, Shine in the Darkness, Blue Fingertips, Burnt Peaches, Lies In Makeup, Sungrazer, Hijacked By Parasites, Reset, Little Alchemy, Dopamine, Me Myself and I, Mrs Ocean, Keyboard Warrior, Battlecry, Muddy Clear, Growing Gills, Swim Against The Stream, Muddy Boots & Messy Hair, Ode To Ego, Painting With Colour, Helvetica, Puppeteer, Head Full Of Clouds, Same Blood, Mindless Town, Can’t Buy Forgiveness, Cat And Mouse, Fading Rainbow, The Taste Of Dust.

Make the first four lines agree with your title

The great songwriter Ralph Murphy says it very well in his books on the laws of songwriting – if the first four lines of your first verse can link back to your title then you’re onto a winner. Take for example Roar by Katy Perry:

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath,
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess,
So I sat quietly,
Agreed politely,

Now you’re gonna hear me roar.

You create an expectation, and then you fulfil it. By doing this, you never lose sight of the message of your song, you keep in mind what you’re trying to say by always referring back to the title, thus never losing your listeners’ attention or the concept you’re expressing in your song. It also helps emphasise the message of the song and helps people remember it!

Have a good song structure

Here’s an example of a great song structure:

Introduction — An opening passage, either instrumental or vocals without lyrics

Verse I — Introduces the song’s message and sets the scene

Pre Chorus — Link between the verse and chorus
— Builds up both melodically and lyrically

Chorus — Main message of the song
— Catchiest part and most memorable part of the song (normally includes a ‘hook’)
— Most dynamic part of the song

Verse II — Continuing the explanation of the song

— Solidifying the message and introducing new imagery

— Lyrics change, melody stays broadly the same as verse 1, but you can tweak it a bit to keep it interesting!

Bridge or Middle Eight — A contrasting section that brings the song to a new level

— Rhythmically and melodically the song changes

— Looking at the message from a different view point
— Can build up tension leading up to the climax of the song

Chorus — Repeat (can add hooks to the outro of it)
Outro — The closing passage. It can be instrumental or vocal

Write engaging lyrics

Young Songwriter finalists write lyrics that show the listener a scene unfolding rather than simply telling the listener how they feel. American songwriter Jason Blume, who has had hits with Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, says whilst there are no rules to songwriting, there are tools to help you craft that perfect hit. And all you need is a simple AID – action, imagery, detail.

Action:

Use verbs (action or doing words) to help illustrate what is going on in your song. For example, instead of saying ‘I miss you and I’m sad’, try and show what missing someone and being sad looks like :

  • ‘I wipe the tears falling from my eyes’
  • ‘I clutch a tear stained picture of you’
  • ‘I drove by where we first met’
  • ‘I couldn’t walk through the door where we said our last goodbye’

The action words are ‘wipe’ ‘clutch’ ‘drove’ ‘walk’.

And instead of saying ‘I love you’ or ‘I’m in love’, why not show what a person in love does?

  • ‘I wrote our names inside a heart, engraved upon a tree’
  • ‘I hand picked and carried home 100 flowers for you and put a vase in every room’
  • ‘I sing your name like a favourite song’

The action words are ‘wrote’ ‘picked’ ‘carried’ and ‘sing’.

Write a list of action words down before starting on your next song and try and use at least 5 of them in your next song to show what your feeling.

Imagery:

Blume says ‘whilst you cannot see heartbreak you can see the images and actions that convey that a person is heartbroken’:

  • ‘She fell to her knees, laying flowers on his grave’
  • ‘He kisses her photo’
  • ‘His tears hit the floor like a waterfall of pain’

The images are ‘knees’ ‘flowers’ ‘grave’ ‘photo’ ‘tears’ ‘floor’ ‘waterfall’. Blume also states that by including ‘tangible items’ and nouns in your lyrics like ‘furniture, clothing, a car, a house, a specific place, food’, you enable your audience to enter your song.

Along with your list of action words, try and write down a list of images and every day nouns to try and include in your next song.

Detail: 

This is the third part of AID that will help you to show your listener what is going on in your song. This time we’re searching for adjectives and adverbs to help the listener visualise your song more clearly. For example, if we were to go one step further with some of our examples from the Imagery section above and add a bit more detail to the floor, or the grave, you have something like this…

  • ‘She falls to her knees on the cold, muddy ground and lays white lilies on his grave’
  • ‘He tenderly kisses the photo of their wedding day in his old rocking chair’
  • ‘His bitter tears slowly hit the wooden floor of his kitchen, like a cascading waterfall of pain’

Even with a few additional adjectives and adverbs, the scenes are much clearer to visualise; you can hear the creak of the old rocking chair, you can taste the bitter tears that fall onto the floor and see him in the kitchen, you can feel the cold muddy ground that she falls to – instantly you have transported your listener directly into the scene of your song, as if they are there with the singer, watching over what is happening.

So next time you’re stuck for lyrics, all you need is a little AID to help you on your way!

Play around with new melodies and chord sequences

Play around with different combinations until your find the melody you’re looking for. Choose a key for your song and then try out the I, IV and V primary chords as well as the  II III, VI and VII chords.

Hooks

It has been said that the most successful ABBA songs have 5 hooks in each of their songs. A hook is a musical idea, melodic instrumental part, rhythmic phrase or a vowel/consonant sound or word repeated, that catches the ear of the listener to draw them into the song and helps to create its ‘catchiness’. According to popular commercial music today, the more hooks you can introduce throughout the song, the catchier it will be, because it’s constantly enticing the listener and, most importantly, keeping them interested. Listen to the start of Dancing Queen and the vocal ‘ahh’s and piano part before the hooky first line of the chorus, or Jessie J’s Price Tag (It’s all about the money, money, money/We don’t need your money, money, money). Other songs with simple but strong hooks include One Kiss by Calvin Harris featuring Dua Lipa, or Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.

A lot of hooks are incredibly simple and may even be made by manipulating vocal parts, cutting them up or re-pitching them in an interesting way, songs that do this include Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith, or Stay High (the Hippie Sabotage remix of Habits) by Tove Lo. Try and think about hooks for your own song, either lyrically, melodically or instrumentally. They can be incredibly simple and consist of a couple of notes, or a bit more interesting, just make sure they stick in your head!

Rhythm

Rhythm is an important part of many songs, it’s what makes people dance, or makes them nod their head and tap their feet. A solid rhythm can be a hook in itself, and it will lay the foundation on which to base the rest of your song around. It will also determine what kind of song it is, is it a fun, dancey song that makes you want to dance, like Get Lucky by Daft Punk? Or is it a slow, wistful song that people will sway along to, like Imagine by John Lennon? It could even be a fast, uptempo song that sounds exciting and triumphant, like Feel The Love by Rudimental ft John Newman.  If the aim is to make the listener dance, try writing a song to the BPM of 120. If you’re writing a romantic acoustic song, experiment with different time signatures like 6/8 as this will get people swaying along to your song!

Another thing to experiment with is using triplets, it can open up a whole new world of melodic and rhythmic possibilities! A good example that we mentioned in the previous section about hooks is Latch by Disclosure featuring Sam Smith, you’ll hear the hi hat doing triplet rhythms where traditionally for that genre you would expect an even number of hi hats (either quarter notes, eighth notes or sixteenth notes).

Beats and rhythms also don’t have to be perfectly on beat, and often a beat that makes you want to dance will be a ‘swing’ or ‘shuffle’ rhythm, this is a technique that changes the length of notes to create a more uneven but interesting rhythm. An example of a swung rhythm is Ex’s and Oh’s by Elle King, hear how some of the hits are slightly late which gives a driving feel to the song.

Production

The Young Songwriter competition entries are mainly judged on the song itself rather than the production, but there are some entries that use the production to help present their song in a stronger way. For example, a more pop/electronic entry might rely on solid drum sounds and more bass than an acoustic entry. Both are totally acceptable approaches and it’s important to note that you do not need incredible production skills and a top mix in order to submit a successful song, many of the best songs ever written would still be just as good whether they were produced fully or just played on one instrument!

Recording

We receive many different styles of recordings, many people record themselves at home, even in their bedroom with a phone! We understand that not everyone has access to recording studios or fancy equipment, and much like the production, if your song is strong it will shine even without an expensive or time consuming recording process. The most important thing is that the recording is clear enough for our judges to hear the individual parts, try to avoid recording in noisy environments that may make your recording difficult to hear, or distract from the song itself. You can record elements separately and combine them in a DAW (SoundTrap, Logic, Pro Tools, Reaper, Ableton or any other suitable software) or record with one microphone in one go, whichever you feel most comfortable with!  If recording onto voice memos be sure to sing as clearly as possible as the judges don’t want to miss out on hearing your amazing lyrics. That goes for all recordings.

THE POWER OF SONGWRITING IS THAT NO MATTER WHAT INSPIRED THE SONGWRITER TO WRITE A SONG, THE LISTENER INTERPRETS THE SONG IN THEIR OWN UNIQUE WAY, AND FINDS STRENGTH FROM THE MESSAGE AND CONNECTION.

Check out our insightful song feedback service to make sure your songs are the best they can be before entering The Young Songwriter 2025 competition!

More information on The Young Songwriter 2025 competition.

Young Songwriter 2024 Trophies

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Discover the clever design concept behind this year’s Young Songwriter trophy, by Finnian Smith, product designer, songwriter & bespoke tailor

Last year, I designed The Young Songwriter 2023 collection of trophies with these concepts in mind; to make each one an identical shape, to signify that we, as songwriters, have a unified goal of creating music; each trophy was adorned with a unique pattern because, though connected by our shared journey in creating music, each of us, our perspectives, processes and experiences are unique which should be not just acknowledged, but celebrated.

Most prominently, I embedded a philosophy passed to me by a wonderful, wise and storied musician – Ricky Lee Braun; these are just containers, empty vessels emulating acoustic musical instruments, but they represent the fact that what inspires us to create music doesn’t come from tangible material objects, but from within ourselves.

This year, the trophy designs still uphold each of these concepts, however, further layers of conceptualisation have been added in hope that they might offer some food for thought for this year’s clutch of talented young songwriters…

When producing this collection of trophies, I ran into some manufacturing mishaps. I’m incredibly lucky and thankful to say that my friend, Lauren and her father very kindly came to the rescue and helped me with some essential last minute fabrication… resulting in the lovely, glassy surfaces of the trophies. When offered a bag to protect these delicate pieces in transit, a thought flashed through my mind; I opted to just throw all the pieces in my bag (which I think perplexed Lauren slightly), knowing full well that they’d probably wind up getting scratched and scraped as I travelled around London – lo and behold, I was right, but it was all intentional, I promise!

As any guitarist will tell you, it’s a uniquely gut wrenching experience when you gouge that first imperfect ding in your lovely shiny guitar! But slowly over time, as the dings and scrapes and scratches keep accumulating, you come to realise that these imperfections don’t detract from the instrument, they’re what gives it its unique personality – and what make it yours. Each mark has its own story which stems from an experience, just like the trophies travelling every corner of London and now displaying their own unique set of scrapes and scars and imperfections. For creative people, perfectionism can stand in the way of our creativity. I’d like these trophies to remind you that imperfection should be part of your creative process. Be messy, be playful, be explorers… the imperfections will ultimately make your songs unique and embody your personality.

One thing that I think everyone can agree on is that it’s incredibly encouraging that young people are still interested and flourishing in the art of songwriting. In today’s world of increasing digitisation and mechanisation, it’s vital that organic creative practices like songwriting are propagated and supported for younger generations.

When I was a young songwriter, the promise of the Internet, streaming and the easiness of releasing your music to reach audiences was promised to us. For better or worse, it worked. And yet, we now see that these tools, such as streaming, have brought a devaluation of music and left greater inequality throughout the industry.

And today, further tools are being introduced that these young songwriters are going to have to be aware of. As such, the colourful pattern backgrounds of each of these trophies was created by me with the help of artificial intelligence. My own relationship with this technology is that of an optimistic skeptic, but there’s no doubt that this technology will increase its reach into the creative fields. How that plays out is still unclear, but what is crucial is that our young creators are conscious of it, respect it and develop their own relationship with it; is it a powerful tool to boost your creative abilities, or is it something more invasive?

I love utilising randomness and happy accidents in my creative practice, and as this was an exercise in fast creative turnaround (I made them the night before the awards!) I found that AI provided a productive springboard for me to quickly explore ideas. Each design was chosen by me depending on what instantly resonated, relinquishing my overthinking, tinkering and, honestly, my responsibility. I was merely the curator, if not the creator. Each recipient will have their own emotional reaction to their trophy; from loving it, right through to hating it and everything in between, perhaps even a combination of feelings about it. The point isn’t so much whether you like it or not, but to encourage you to think about how it makes you feel, and to remember that your creative journey is always in an elaborate dance with the world around you.

Congratulations to all the 2024 participants, and keep writing, the world will always need songwriters!

The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 live showcase

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A must see event to inspire musical & creative young people! The top finalists of The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 competition and special VIP guests will perform their original songs at the iconic Tabernacle in Notting Hill, London. The winners will be announced on the night. Don’t miss out, book your tickets soon!


The inspirational Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 live showcase will be held on Saturday 21st September 7pm – 9:45pm at The Tabernacle, 34-35 Powis Square, Notting Hill, London W11 2AY. The Young Songwriter 2024 competition top finalists plus VIP guests will be performing their original songs live.

The showcase celebrates the inventiveness & creativity of young people and the power of songwriting to help young people find their voice and find their tribe. The future is bright and diverse!

We are delighted that the showcase will be compered by radio star Jodie Bryant and Song Academy team member, Lexi Du Buclet. Jodie is a leading figure in the UK’s music scene, known for her consistently sold-out events ‘Discover Live’ and her continuously expanding social media presence. She passionately champions the most promising emerging artists. Lexi is an R&B and soul singer-songwriter from Chicago. She has caught the attention of music industry leaders, landing her on stages and records and fostering her passion for writing music and singing from the heart. Lexi runs some of the Song Academy songwriting club, holiday workshops & songwriting workshops in schools.

The list of Young Songwriter 2024 young songwriters performing on the 21st September is shown below.

How to book your tickets

To book your seats at this unique event send an email to contact@songacademy.co.uk. Seats in the tiered seating cost £22.50 and for seats in the gallery are £17.50. All seats have an excellent view of the stage. There is limited availability so we suggest you book soon. E-tickets will be sent out the week before.

About The Young Songwriter 2024 competition

The Song Academy Young Songwriter competition is the leading international songwriting competition for young people aged 8-22. This year attracted over 1,000 high quality entries. Song Academy gives the unheard youth a voice and platform to express themselves and be heard. The standard of finalist songs entered this year was exceptionally high. To select the top songs we listened for inventiveness, creativity & bravery with lyrics & melodies illuminating our imaginations. Young people have a unique way of expressing themselves, they are a new generation experiencing life in the most vivid and visceral way.

SAYS24 Star Judges include Cathy Dennis, Lost Boy, MNEK, Eg White, Jimmy Napes, Naughty Boy, Emily Phillips, Plested, Jon Maguire, Nina Nesbitt, Connie Talbot, Kenny Barber and Dan Gillespie Sells.

Official sponsors of The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 competition are Shure, PRS for Music, YouTube Music, Focusrite, Soundtrap and ICMP.

Official partners are Ditto Music, IK Multimedia, Amazing Radio,First News, MUSIC:ED, songhouse, and Music News.

The winners will receive trophies designed & created by Finnian Feez a designer, musician, songwriter and graduate of Central Saint Martins.

SAYS24 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 the top producer Charlie Thomas, one year membership of the Song Academy mentoring programme and performing at The Young Songwriter 2024 showcase.

Naughty Boy (songwriter, producer, DJ and SAYS24 judge) 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 (singer songwriter and Young Songwriter judge) said “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 it’s something I wish had been around when I was starting out.”

Many of our past finalists are now making waves in the industry, including Gayle, Matilda Mann, Oscar Lang, Lexie Carroll, Wasia Project, Cassa Jackson, Oscar Welsh, Natalie Shay, Joshua Shea, Tom A. Smith, Andrea Turk, Cathy Jain, Sebastian Croft, Miriam Nyarko, Sophie Griffiths, Rosie Sullivan, Melanie Baker, Alien Blaze, Sweet Mylo, Hetta Falzon, Conor Marcus, Sophie DeMasi & Mullally.    

Past Young Songwriter Live Showcase Performers

Dylan Roberts | Dylanroberts.co.uk

Young Songwriter 2024 Live Showcase Performers (not in running order)

FIRST KISS – BETHAN TUDOR

HEARTBREAK MELODIES – BEN M MANSELL

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – TESS GOODFELLOW

STARLIGHT OF MY LIFE – LEONORA SIMMONDS-HEINS

U AND I – REY

FELL FOR YOU – SAMUEL KHANNA

MAKE IT GO SLOW – LOIS BROOKS

PRINCESS – STORM HENSHAW

SHE KNOWS – THE MONUMENTALS

TEARING AT THE AIR – STRING ‘N’ BONE

WE NEVER SAW IT COMING – JOHNNY BEAU

A LETTER TO THE MOON – ISLA MAE

SCREEN SURRENDER – TAMSIN HENDIN

FRIO – CHUKSY AND DREAMM

GOD’S STARGIRL – SOPHIA SAUDI

HIT REWIND – SAFFRON

LITTLE MAJOR – MIA WHITE

SERIOUS – SOPHIE FERIANI

SUMMER FEELING – JUST THE BRAVE

ALBATROSS – FREDDY GILLMORE

BO PEEP – JEM WAX

BREAKFAST ON THE ROOF – ELLIE EVANS

GIRL ON A WALK – HAMISH OGILVY

RIGHT HANDS – BORRELLE

SECONDS – JAS RATCHFORD

To book your seats at this unique event send an email to contact@songacademy.co.uk.

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.

The Young Songwriter 2025 competition is open for entries from the 1st February until the 31st March 2025. Get your songs ready!

TOP 5 SONGS OF THE YOUNG SONGWRITER 2024 COMPETITION

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The Young Songwriter 2024 judges include: Eg White, Naughty Boy, MNEK, Lost Boy, Dan Gillespie Sells, Cathy Dennis, Plested, Jimmy Napes, Jon Maguire, Kenny Barber, Connie Talbot, Emily Phillips & Nina Nesbitt.

Drumroll please! The top 5 songs of the hotly contested Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 competition, in its 14th year, have now been revealed. This year’s competition attracted over 1,000 high quality entries (a 20% increase on 2023) from aspiring young songwriters aged 8-22 across the world, both experienced young songwriters and those who’ve written their first song.  Song Academy is turning up the volume on empowering & uniting youth across the world!

The judges wanted to make a special note of how impressed they were with all top 10 songs and how all should be unbelievably proud. One judge saying “The creativity it takes at their age to have concepts and structures and composition, is outstanding”.

Emily Phillips, songwriter and lead judge of The Young Songwriter 2024 competition said “The judges final zoom meeting is the final frontier of judging. I as chair am faced with a panel of some of the most successful songwriters and producers in the world, some of whom I’ve had the honour of writing with myself! It is quite something to hear everyone’s thoughts on the songs, knowing they have paid their full attention to the finalists. Everybody’s reasons and feelings are aired and discussed, and between us we make the most democratic decisions possible. That said, there is an unquantifiable wildcard of a process going on, where intuition over judgement often wins the day, and on that basis, some unexpected songs push through at the last minute. It is an exciting meeting to have, and testament to Rowena’s (the founder of Song Academy) incredible energy, commitment and perseverance to ensure that the best young new songwriters are given a chance to be heard, enjoyed and admired.”

Past Young Songwriter finalists have included: Gayle, Matilda Mann, Oscar Lang, Lexie Carroll, Wasia Project, Cassa Jackson, Tom A. Smith, Natalie Shay, Joshua Shea, Andrea Turk, Oscar Welsh, Cathy Jain, Sebastian Croft, Sophie Griffiths, Rosie Sullivan, Melanie Baker, Sweet Mylo, Hetta Falzon & Conor Marcus.

The Young Songwriter 2024 competition attracted a diverse group of aspiring young songwriters, helped this year by the bursary from UK Music, the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. Gender breakdown was: 62% of entrants were girls, 32% boys, 6% preferred not to say or had a unique gender identification. Entries were from across the entire UK/Ireland (71%) and around the world (29%).  Age breakdown was: 11% aged 8-12, 21% aged 13-15, 41% aged 16-18 and 27% aged 19-22. 75% were from across the UK/Ireland (62% outside of London) and 25% internationally.

Listen to the finalist songs on the Song Academy SoundCloud account!  Plus the top 5 songs and young songwriters are SHOWN BELOW.

The top 5 finalists will be invited to perform at The Young Songwriter 2024 live showcase held at The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London, on Saturday 21st September 2024.  In addition to these 20 finalists we’ve chosen another 5 finalists across the categories to perform. The winners will be announced on the night of The Young Songwriter 2024 showcase. Tickets to the showcase will be on sale from the 12th July. Click here for all information on The Young Songwriter 2024 live showcase and the invited line-up of performers.

The top 5 finalists of the international categories will be part of our online international showcase on Sunday 22nd September at 2pm GMT, with the winners being announced at the international showcase.

Stay tuned to our social channels to hear the announcements first!

Naughty Boy (songwriter, producer, DJ and SAYS24 judge) 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.”

The next opportunity for young songwriters aged 11-18 is joining one of our residential songwriting summer camp from 7-10th August, in Surrey. There are a limited number of places available so please contact us soon! Click here for more info on our songwriting summer camps.

In addition, we offer an insightful song feedback service at a discounted price for all SAYS24 entrants. Plus there are fantastic opportunities of joining our songwriting clubs and holiday workshops in the Autumn and our exclusive mentoring programme, Ad Lib. Click here for more information on how we can help you develop your songwriting talents. . Check out our website for all opportunities.

Official sponsors of The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 competition are Shure, YouTube Music, PRS for Music, Focusrite, Soundtrap and ICMP.

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 19-22 YEAR OLDS * TOP 5

ALBATROSS – FREDDY GILLMORE

BREAKFAST ON THE ROOF – ELLIE EVANS

GIRL ON A WALK – HAMISH OGILVY

RIGHT HANDS – BORRELLE

SECONDS – JAS RATCHFORD

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 16-18 YEAR OLDS * TOP 5

A LETTER TO THE MOON – ISLA MAE

FRIO – CHUKSY AND DREAMM

GOD’S STARGIRL – SUFEEYAH

LITTLE MAJOR – MIA WHITE

SCREEN SURENDER – TAMARA HENDIN

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 13-15 YEAR OLDS * TOP 5

FELL FOR YOU – SAMUEL KHANNA

MAKE IT SLOW – LOIS BROOKS

PRINCESS – STORM HENSHAW

TEARING AT THE AIR – STRING ‘N’ BONE

WE NEVER SAW IT COMING – JOHNNY BEAU

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 8-12 YEAR OLDS * TOP 5

FIRST KISS – BETHAN TUDOR

HEARTBREAK MELODIES – BEN M MANSELL

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – TESS GOODFELLOW

STARLIGHT OF MY LIFE – LEONORA SIMMONDS-HEINS

U AND I – REY

SELECTED UK/IRELAND FINALISTS TO ALSO PERFORM AT THE YOUNG SONGWRITER 2024 LIVE SHOWCASE

BO PEEP – JEM WAX

HIT REWIND – SAFFRON

SERIOUS – SOPHIE FERIANI

SHE KNOWS – THE MONUMENTALS

SUMMER FEELING – JUST THE BRAVE

CATEGORY:  INTERNATIONAL, 19-22 YEAR OLDS * TOP 5

I WROTE THIS SONG – LINDSAY LIEBRO

MY ????!!?!?? THERAPY – LAST MINUTE

OVERTHINK – MARLON VICENTINI

SERIOUS – QUEEN MAHORO

THIRTY SECONDS – ALEXINE

CATEGORY:  INTERNATIONAL, 13-18 YEAR OLDS * TOP 5

ETERNAL – EDEN

JUST A PHASE – SUMMER BENNETT

MATCHBOOK – SUMMER BRENNAN

WILDFLOWER – ZACHARY ZWELLING

WISHING STAR – DERE ARAT

CATEGORY:  INTERNATIONAL, 8-12 YEAR OLDS * TOP 5

HAPPILY EVER AFTER – LILIA ASHA WHEELER

HARD TO BREATHE – LEYLA SABO

THE TOP – MUTSAWASHE CHIPOYI

THIS IS ME – ANLI STRYDOM

WITHOUT YOU – ELLIE VERTIACHIKH

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.

TOP 10 SONGS OF THE YOUNG SONGWRITER 2024 COMPETITION

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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.

Drumroll please! The top 10 songs of the hotly contested Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 competition, in its 14th year, have now been revealed. This year’s competition attracted over 1,000 high quality entries (a 20% increase on 2023) from aspiring young songwriters aged 8-22 across the world, both experienced young songwriters and those who’ve written their first song.  Song Academy is turning up the volume on empowering & uniting youth across the world!

Emily Phillips, songwriter and lead judge of The Young Songwriter 2024 competition said “Each year, the hardest part of judging is selecting the top 10 from the top 30. By this point there is an attachment to all the chosen songs and therefore letting any go can be painful! The top 10 are carefully chosen to reflect the eclectic genres and the myriad qualities we are looking for within the songs. Originality, lyrical depth, melody, concepts, energy, confidence…the list goes on! The process of judging is not an exact science and given that the Beatles were turned down by 7 record companies, I hope the infallibility of the judges will give those whose songs haven’t made it to the top 10, even more confidence to continue writing. It is great fun judging the competition and I am so excited to have uncovered some wonderful talent and amazing new young writers. Good luck to everyone!”

Past Young Songwriter top 10 finalists have included: Gayle, Matilda Mann, Oscar Lang, Lexie Carroll, Wasia Project, Cassa Jackson, Tom A. Smith, Natalie Shay, Joshua Shea, Andrea Turk, Oscar Welsh, Cathy Jain, Sebastian Croft, Sophie Griffiths, Rosie Sullivan, Melanie Baker, Sweet Mylo, Hetta Falzon & Conor Marcus.

The Young Songwriter 2024 competition attracted a diverse group of aspiring young songwriters, helped this year by the bursary from UK Music, the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. Gender breakdown was: 62% of entrants were girls, 32% boys, 6% preferred not to say or had a unique gender identification. Entries were from across the entire UK/Ireland (71%) and around the world (29%).  Age breakdown was: 11% aged 8-12, 21% aged 13-15, 41% aged 16-18 and 27% aged 19-22. 75% were from across the UK/Ireland (62% outside of London) and 25% internationally.

Listen to the top 10 songs on the Song Academy SoundCloud account!  Plus the top 10 songs and young songwriters are SHOWN BELOW.

This year, since there are four age groups in the UK/Ireland category, we’ll be announcing the top 5 finalists in each category on the 11th July. These top 5 finalists will be invited to perform at The Young Songwriter 2024 live showcase held at The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London, on Saturday 21st September 2024.  In addition to these 20 finalists we’ll choose another 5-10 other finalists across the categories to perform. The winners will be announced on the night of The Young Songwriter 2024 showcase. Tickets to the showcase will be on sale from the 12th July.

The top 5 finalists in each age group of the international category will also be announced on the 11th July. These top 5 finalists will be part of our online international showcase on Sunday 22nd September at 2pm GMT, with the winners being announced at the international showcase.

Stay tuned to our social channels to hear the announcements first!

Naughty Boy (songwriter, producer, DJ and SAYS24 judge) 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.”

The next opportunity for young songwriters aged 11-18 is joining one of our residential songwriting summer camps from 7-10th August, in Surrey and 14-17th August in North Yorkshire, UK. There are a limited number of places available so please contact us soon! Click here for more info on our songwriting summer camps.

In addition, we offer an insightful song feedback service at a discounted price for all SAYS24 entrants. Click here for more information on how we can help you develop your songwriting talents.

Official sponsors of The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 competition are Shure, YouTube Music, PRS for Music, Focusrite, Soundtrap and ICMP.

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 19-22 YEAR OLDS * TOP 10

ALBATROSS – FREDDY GILLMORE

BO PEEP – JEM WAX

BREAKFAST ON THE ROOF – ELLIE EVANS

CLOSE – LYDIA SHUTE

FREAK! – SHE’S MINE

GIRL ON A WALK – HAMISH OGILVY

MIRROR IMAGE – HARRY LUKE

RIGHT HANDS – BORRELLE

SECONDS – JAS RATCHFORD

YOU DON’T WANT ME ENOUGH – DAISY PEACOCK

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 16-18 YEAR OLDS * TOP 10

A LETTER TO THE MOON – ISLA MAE

BACK TO SOHO – BILLY HOWARD

DARKNESS OF DECEMBER – ALEX LYONS

FRIO – CHUKSY AND DREAMM

GOD’S STARGIRL – SUFEEYAH

HIT REWIND – SAFFRON

LITTLE MAJOR – MIA WHITE

SCREEN SURENDER – TAMARA HENDIN

SERIOUS – SOPHIE FERIANI

SUMMER FEELING – JUST THE BRAVE

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 13-15 YEAR OLDS * TOP 10

DROWNING IN LOVE – ARÑAV

FELL FOR YOU – SAMUEL KHANNA

MAKE IT GO SLOW – LOIS BROOKS

OH, THE SIMPLE THINGS – JOSEPH DAVIS

PRINCESS – STORM HENSHAW

SHE KNOWS – THE MONUMENTALS

SUPERNOVA – SAMMY ATTOUCHE

TEARING AT THE AIR – STRING ‘N’ BONE

WASTE OF TIME – CORA HARKIN

WE NEVER SAW IT COMING – JOHNNY BEAU

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 8-12 YEAR OLDS * TOP 10

BOOM BOOM NO – YAELLE PRELI

DAVE IN THE BUSH – DJANGO EVANS COHEN

FIRST KISS – BETHAN TUDOR

HEARTBREAK MELODIES – BEN M MANSELL

HEDGEHOGS – GRETA RAWSON-COURAGE

HELLO – GEORGE HILTON

PICK UP THE PHONE – MICHELE LEVINSKI

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – TESS GOODFELLOW

STARLIGHT OF MY LIFE – LEONORA SIMMONDS-HEINS

U AND I – REY

CATEGORY:  INTERNATIONAL, 19-22 YEAR OLDS * TOP 10

ALONE – TDM

CALIFORNIA – ALLY CRIBB

DIRECTIONS – MAYA

I WROTE THIS SONG – LINDSAY LIEBRO

LANDLINE – BENJAMIN LEUNG

MY ????!!?!?? THERAPY – LAST MINUTE

OVERTHINK – MARLON VICENTINI

POURING INTO YOU – ANGE-BELLA

SERIOUS – QUEEN MAHORO

THIRTY SECONDS – ALEXINE

CATEGORY:  INTERNATIONAL, 13-18 YEAR OLDS * TOP 10

DELUSION – EDIE YVONNE

ETERNAL – EDEN

JUST A PHASE – SUMMER BENNETT

LOST – ORYAN BOROCHOV

MATCHBOOK – SUMMER BRENNAN

PILE OF DOLLS – INDI-LEE

RAGNAROK COMES – LILIAN VAN WYK

TELL ME – CASSIA YAP

WILDFLOWER – ZACHARY ZWELLING

WISHING STAR – DERE ARAT

CATEGORY:  INTERNATIONAL, 8-12 YEAR OLDS * TOP 10

CHOOSE LOVE – REMY ADAIR

EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD – HARLEY DOW

HAPPILY EVER AFTER – LILIA ASHA WHEELER

HARD TO BREATHE – LEYLA SABO

NINE ONE ONE – SAGA

REALLY LIKE THE DAY – SIERRA

SHINE – AASTHA VAKIL

THE TOP – MUTSAWASHE CHIPOYI

THIS IS ME – ANLI STRYDOM

WITHOUT YOU – ELLIE VERTIACHIKH

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.

TOP 30 SONGS OF THE YOUNG SONGWRITER 2024 COMPETITION

/in , , , /by

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.

Drumroll please! The top 30 songs of the hotly contested Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 competition, in its 14th year, have now been revealed. This year’s competition attracted over 1,000 high quality entries (a 20% increase on 2023) from aspiring young songwriters aged 8-22 across the world, both experienced young songwriters and those who’ve written their first song.  Song Academy is turning up the volume on empowering & uniting youth across the world!

Emily Phillips, songwriter and lead judge of The Young Songwriter 2024 competition said “Over 1,000 songs were submitted this year to The Young Songwriter 2024 competition. Once again I have had the privilege of discovering new talent in the next generation of young songwriters. It is the most amazing feeling to come across songs written by children, teenagers and young adults that make you stop and think, or lose yourself. The imagination of children knows no bounds and channelling this energy into songs is a wonderful and creative vehicle for self expression. The Song Academy is one of the leading platforms in the world for young people to find an audience for their songs, and also, for the young writers to benefit from a panel of experienced judges to help feedback and reflect on their work.

This year, as usual, the topics vary from the deeply personal, to family, to love, to anguish, to existential crises such as war or climate, to pure eccentric fun, and also to serious teenage issues. I get a real insight into the preoccupation of a generation, and sometimes I find that these feelings and ideas are written and recorded into something of great beauty. The production on some of the songs can be distracting from the pure analysis of a song, although at other times the production supports and makes the song. There are many variables at play when judging, so although I am listening out for great melodies, lyrics, concepts, structure, originality and musicality, there are other intuitive factors at play when I judge, which may lead me to choose a song which defies any logic or explanation, such is the enigmatic power of Music.

I, along with Song Academy, encourage all young songwriters to collaborate with other songwriters. Collaboration is a great way to increase the skillsets required to write, by giving songwriters instant feedback, more objectivity on ideas, the chance to share ideas and build upon them, to have fun while writing and also to learn from each others strengths and weaknesses. Despite songwriting and collaborating professionally for the last 17 years, I still look forward to every session and always learn from my co-writers.

I’d like to sum up by thanking Rowena who runs Song Academy for giving so many young writers the chance to have their songs shared and listened to, and for helping support and encourage the next generation of songwriters.”

The Young Songwriter 2024 competition attracted a diverse group of aspiring young songwriters, helped this year by the bursary from UK Music, the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. Gender breakdown was: 62% of entrants were girls, 32% boys, 6% preferred not to say or had a unique gender identification. Entries were from across the entire UK/Ireland (71%) and around the world (29%).  Age breakdown was: 11% aged 8-12, 21% aged 13-15, 41% aged 16-18 and 27% aged 19-22. 75% were from across the UK/Ireland (62% outside of London) and 25% internationally.

Listen to the top finalists’ songs on the Song Academy SoundCloud account!  Plus the top finalists’ songs and young songwriters are SHOWN BELOW. The International 8-12 year olds and 19-22 categories will wait until the top 10 announcements as they had fewer entries.

The top 10 finalists of all categories will be announced on the 11th June.  The UK/Ireland winners will be announced on Saturday 21st September 2024 at The Young Songwriter 2024 live showcase held at The Tabernacle, Notting Hill, London.  The International winners will be announced at the online showcase on Sunday 22nd September at 2pm GMT. Stay tuned to our social channels to hear the announcements first!

Naughty Boy (songwriter, producer, DJ and SAYS24 judge) 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.”

The next opportunity for young songwriters aged 11-18 is joining one of our residential songwriting summer camps from 7-10th August, in Surrey and 14-17th August in North Yorkshire, UK. There are a limited number of places available so please contact us soon! Click here for more info on our songwriting summer camps.

In addition, we offer an insightful song feedback service at a discounted price for all SAYS24 entrants. Click here for more information on how we can help you develop your songwriting talents.

Official sponsors of The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2024 competition are Shure, YouTube Music, PRS for Music, Focusrite, Soundtrap and ICMP.

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 19-22 YEAR OLDS * TOP 30

ALBATROSS – FREDDY GILLMORE

ALL MY GHOSTS ARE BLEEDING – RUBY COOKE

AMBIVALENT LOVE – CHARLIE HEWLETT

BEAUTIFUL CLOUD – LEO MAIN

BO PEEP – JEM WAX

BREAKFAST ON THE ROOF – ELLIE EVANS

CLOSE – LYDIA SHUTE

COMFORT CHAOS – ROMY TAYLOR

DOWN LOW – ED GENT

EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY – JAKE ST ANGE

EVERYDAY PEOPLE – NAT DEMPSEY

FREAK! – SHE’S MINE

GIRL ON A WALK – HAMISH OGILVY

GRACEFUL TOUCH – ANNEKA SHELLEY

GREENER – CONNIE CLAXON

LANDMINES – ISOLABELLA

LIFE LINE – JAKE THOMPSON

MIRROR IMAGE – HARRY LUKE

PHOEBE – BEA PENGELLY

POINT OF VIEW – FLINTZ AND T4YLOR

RIGHT HANDS – BORRELLE

SECONDS – JAS RATCHFORD

SPACEMAN – TABLE 4 1

STILL ASKING WHY – DANNY CLEMENT

TANGLED – EVE CHRISTINA

THIS TOO SHALL PASS – HOLLY LAWLESS

VILLAIN – MALAIKA

VOID – CHESS

WHAT’S A GIRL GONNA DO – MARIANNE LEIGH

YOU DON’T WANT ME ENOUGH – DAISY PEACOCK

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 16-18 YEAR OLDS * TOP 30

A LETTER TO THE MOON – ISLA MAE

ADDICTED – SAMUEL HANN JONES

AFTERLIFE – OSCAR BROWN

AUTUMN OF ADOLESCENCE – ASHER SAIPE

BACK TO SOHO – BILLY HOWARD

BRUNETTE EXPERIMENT – LYLA FOREMAN

CASINO – GAIA & ANNIE

DARKNESS OF DECEMBER – ALEX LYONS

DOLLS HOUSE – SASHA FORD

FRIO – CHUKSY AND DREAMM

GOD’S STARGIRL – SUFEEYAH

GOOD GIRL BAD – LARA, GEORGIE & VERSHANTI

GOODBYE – LAUREN HOBBS, BETHAN ESDAILE

HEADLIGHTS – NOT SO CLEVER BAND

HIT REWIND – SAFFRON

HOPELESS – FLO WILKES

I BET YOU KNOW – LAUREN ROSE

I’LL LOVE YOU JUST THE SAME – BENJY SAIA

KNIVES – DAISY

LITTLE MAJOR – MIA WHITE

LITTLE THINGS – LIZZIE HILL

MOON EYES – SHAAN BHASKAR

PIECES – TERI OFON

SCREEN SURENDER – TAMARA HENDIN

SERIOUS – SOPHIE FERIANI

SUMMER FEELING – JUST THE BRAVE

TEMPORARY REMEDY – ETHAN LAW

THE GOLDEN DAYS – CARA FLYNN

THIS LIFE TODAY – THE CHYNES

WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME – KITTY CROCKER

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 13-15 YEAR OLDS * TOP 30

BEING YOU – NAD

CANDLES – JAYDEN M

CARBON MONOXIDE – OLIVIER DANTE

DESPERATE – MAYA MARTIN

DROWNING IN LOVE – ARÑAV

FELL FOR YOU – SAMUEL KHANNA

FORGIVENESS – ISLA JADE

HELPING HAND – NOAH BEHAN

HYMN FOR YOUR TOWN – KIT BOTTOMLEY

JOURNEY – JOSIAH CASTRO

LIFE LIKE THIS – SHANELLE AND MICHELLE

LIFE WORTH LIVING – ROBBIE HOPE

LOOK UP HIGH – SHANELLE RUDRIGO

MAKE IT SLOW – LOIS BROOKS

MARY – LILY-MAE

NOT ENOUGH – ROBYN JONES

OH, THE SIMPLE THINGS – JOSEPH DAVIS

OLD SOLDIER – JOEL WOODSHORE

PRINCESS – STORM HENSHAW

SAVE YOU MONEY – SHOEHORN

SHE KNOWS – THE MONUMENTALS

SOMEONE IN TUNE – JACK STRICKLAND

SUBMERGED – WILLOW WHITLEY

SUPERNOVA – SAMMY ATTOUCHE

TATTOOED SKIN – ROMY WOODWARD

TEARING AT THE AIR – STRING ‘N’ BONE – BEN GUTHRIE AND HUGO GUTHRIE

TYPE OF DAYS – THE HEIGHT

WASTE OF TIME – CORA HARKIN

WE NEVER SAW IT COMING – JOHNNY BEAU

WHY DO WE WHISPER – BENEFIT OF THE SHOUT

CATEGORY:  UK/IRELAND, 8-12 YEAR OLDS * TOP 30

‘CAUSE I LOVE YOU – AMBER RUSHER

ALONE – ELENI VAROUTSI

BACK UP SINGER – ELISA MCEVOY

BETTER WORLD – MAYA DICKIE KEDAR

BOOM BOOM NO – YAELLE PRELI

CLOSED DOORS – WILLOW LLEWELYN

DAVE IN THE BUSH – DJANGO EVANS COHEN

FIRST KISS – BETHAN TUDOR

FOUR SEASONS – MICHELLE GOSSEN

HEARTBREAK MELODIES – BEN M MANSELL

HEDGEHOGS – GRETA RAWSON-COURAGE

HELLO – GEORGE HILTON

I DON’T THINK YOU’RE ANYWHERE – BETTY ABLETT

IT TAKES LOVE – LEO NADARAJAH

OCEAN – CHARLEY

PICK UP THE PHONE – MICHELLE LEVINSKI

PLANE – AYONA ELLORA

RAT-A-TAT TAT – ALANNAH GEORGE

REBORN – GEORGIA RUSSELL

REGRET – HARRIS HUNTER

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – TESS GOODFELLOW

STARLIGHT OF MY LIFE – LEONORA SIMMONDS-HEINS

THE BEACH  – HORATIO WILMOTT

THE POWER – HELENA NISSAN

THINK OF YOU – EDITH UNDERHILL

U AND I – REY

WALLS – JAHNEL MARSEGLIA MENDY

WEDNESDAYS – LILY CLARKE

WRITTEN IN THE COSMOS – MILO DELLAL

YOU WANNA LOOK AT STARS – MAX OVENDEN

CATEGORY:  INTERNATIONAL, 13-18 YEAR OLDS * TOP 30

10 YEARS – ZIPZ

ALL OF US – MASON TRUEBLOOD

AVALANCHE – RENYI LIU

BETTER DAY – MONIQUE RASO

CALL IT LIKE IT IS – ORION OVERSTREET

DELUSION – EDIE YVONNE

DON’T WANNA KNOW – CHARLOTTE MOORE

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY – ADDILY 

ETERNAL – EDEN

FAH – PREMCHAI SNIPER

HAPPY DAYS – SONG SISTERS

HE’S ABLE – JANESSA SMITH

HELEN – SARAH PARMET

HOW DO YOU KNOW – NÚRIA FOREMAN

JUST A PHASE – SUMMER BENNETT

LIKE A HAIRPIN – SIAN

LOST – ORYAN BOROCHOV

MATCHBOOK – SUMMER BRENNAN

MY BEST – TINA LAROSA

PICTURE ME – MEGAN CHIPOYI

PILE OF DOLLS – INDI-LEE

RAGNAROK COMES – LILIAN VAN WYK

SUGARPILL – CORA BURCH

TELL ME – CASSIA YAP

WATCHING YOU BE YOUNG – KIRRA ALEXIS

WILDFLOWER – ZACHARY ZWELLING

WILL YOU BE MINE – ELKA VANEVSKI

WISHING STAR – DERE ARAT

WISHING YOU LOVE – TRIOFECTA

YOU ALREADY GOT MY HEART – SARAH MAY

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.

Recording Your Songs To Enter Them Into The Young Songwriter 2024 Competition

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As a songwriter, learning how to record and produce your own songs is a great skill to have. It can be as easy as singing your song into your phone and sending this recording! Shure have written a special interactive guide for us and here are some examples of home studio setups, with 1 being the most simple and 5 being the most complex.

Shure’s Interactive Guide

Shure, a lead sponsor of The Young Songwriter 2024 competition have written a special interactive guide for us, containing songwriting tips from real-life songwriters, microphone info as well as some recording tips. Winners of SAYS24 will receive a legendary Shure SM58 microphone and new MVX2U interface (to connect your mic into your computer with an XLR to USB connector).

https://content.shure.com/story/says24/

Home Studio Setups

  1. The most simple – recording yourself performing your song using either the voice memo app on your phone or a tape recorder to capture the raw performance as it sounds in the room.
  2. Using a USB microphone with your computer to capture your performance, possibly adding a few simple effects afterwards to enhance the recording.
  3. Using music production software/a DAW to record the individual parts of your song separately. For example, a USB microphone and an adaptor/cable to connect a guitar/keyboard/MIDI keyboard directly into your computer, resulting in multiple recorded tracks that will be mixed together.
  4. Music production software/DAW using an audio interface, allowing for multiple instruments/voices to be recorded at once either by plugging microphones into the XLR inputs or jack leads into Hi-Z inputs. This can be combined with multiple virtual instruments controlled via MIDI in the DAW.
  5. A full studio setup, including 16 or more input channels, giving you the ability to record several instruments with multiple microphones, including live drums, live piano, guitar amps and strings, at the same time. This setup may also include a MIDI interface in order to control several synths and/or drum machines at the same time. This would also usually be accompanied by a monitoring setup that allows for multiple headphone mixes for different musicians.

Some of the most well known brands for home studio setup audio interfaces include Focusrite, Universal Audio, M-Audio and Presonus. The pros and cons will depend entirely on your needs, but it’s a good idea to research every bit of kit as thoroughly as possible as they all have their own unique selling points. As for microphones, the most well known brands are Shure, Rode, AKG, Audio Technica and Sennheiser. As with the audio interfaces, it’s a good idea to research microphones, and it may be more important as different microphones work better for different sources. A microphone that is good for vocals, may not be great for mic’ing a guitar amp, for example.

Why use a USB microphone?  The first step up from using your phone to record voice memos would be a USB microphone. These range in price and quality, but typically will sound better than a phone microphone or standard computer microphone. You can use it to record the different parts of your song in separately, then mix them together in a DAW, which brings us to the next question…

Why use a DAW?  A Digital Audio Workstation, or DAW, is a piece of software that allows for the recording, layering and processing of audio files. It is the heart of most modern setups, and DAWs are a cheaper, efficient alternative to expensive large format mixing consoles. Some bigger studios may still use traditional style consoles, but many will still record into a DAW via an audio interface instead of recording to tape.

Why use an audio interface?  Audio interfaces have many benefits over USB microphones or plugging a microphone directly into your computer. First of all, they are dedicated units that are built to record audio at a high quality without introducing unwanted noise or artefacts that you might get when using USB microphones. Most interfaces also have independent gain controls so you can set the gain of your microphone and get a comfortable level using a physical control on the interface itself. Audio interfaces can also have multiple inputs, something which isn’t usually possible (or is very difficult) without using one, so they increase the possibilities of your studio with each extra input. Lastly, most interfaces use XLR and jack inputs, that allow you to easily plug in a variety of instruments or microphones, including guitars, keyboards, drum machines. If the interface has a phantom power feature, it means you don’t have to have an extra phantom power supply for your microphone.”

Click here to enter your songs into The Young Songwriter 2024 competition before this Sunday 31st March!

No barriers to entering The Young Songwriter 2024 competition

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Break barriers, break beats: UK Music offers 100 bursary entries to The Young Songwriter 2024 competition 

Exciting news for equal opportunity! UK Music, the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry, is offering a bursary to support 100 aspiring young songwriters from the UK to enter The Young Songwriter 2024 competition!

Thanks to UK Music’s support, these 100 sponsored song entries are exclusively for aspiring songwriters aged 8-22 who are facing obstacles in participating in The Young Songwriter 2024, yet are passionate about songwriting and sharing their voices with the world.

To take advantage of this offer please send an email to contact@songacademy.co.uk asking for a free entry.

In its 14th year The Song Academy 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!

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.

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. The entry fee per song without the bursary is £10 per song. Click here for all information and how to enter.

The official sponsors of The Young Songwriter 2024 competition are Shure, PRS for Music, Focusrite, Soundtrap and The Institute of Contemporary Music & Performance (ICMP).

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.

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