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INFORMATION FOR HEAD TEACHERS, MUSIC & ENGLISH TEACHERS
THE LEADING SONGWRITING COMPETITION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WORLDWIDE
In its 15th year, the prestigious Song Academy Young Songwriter 2025 competition has opened for entries (until the 31st March) and we’d love your pupils to have the opportunity to enter – both pupils already writing their own songs and those who haven’t started but would love to write their first song!
Our mission is to help all young people, around the world, find their voice and find their tribe through writing their own songs & getting them heard.
The benefits from being part of our unique community are far reaching, especially the positive boost to mental health.
All teachers say that it’s exciting to have the goal of entering our competition for their pupils to work towards.
Please see below for info on the competition and songwriting resources for teachers.
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The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2025 competition – 1st February to 31st March
Prizes going for a song!
Calling all young songwriters, singers & musicians! Have you written your own original songs? Do you fancy writing your first song?…Then get ready to enter The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2025 competition! Open to young people aged 8-22, worldwide, this is your chance to shine.
There are star-studded judges (including Tom Grennan, Gayle, Miranda Cooper, Calum Scott, Toby Gad, Nina Nesbitt, MNEK & Connie Talbot & fantastic prizes (including a home studio set-up, recording studio session with a top producer & performing at The Young Songwriter 2025 showcase).
Head to www.songacademy.co.uk/says25/ for details, songwriting tips and guidance. We’re looking forward to listening to your songs!
It’s so easy to enter The Young Songwriter 2025 competition (SAYS25)!
SAYS25 has 7 categories for young people worldwide: UK/Ireland 8-12 year olds, UK/Ireland 13-15 year olds, UK/Ireland 16-18 year olds, UK/Ireland 19-22, International 8-12 year olds, International 13-18 year olds and International 19-22 year olds.
You determine the age group by how old you are on the day you enter your song into the competition. If you co-wrote a song with a friend in an older age group, please enter this song in the older age group. If you wrote a song and have a friend in an older age group playing an instrument/singing then please enter this song in your age group.
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. Each song entry costs £15 to cover administration & judging costs. Please submit an individual entry form for each song.
Pupils/parents can submit entry forms or teachers can submit entry forms for a number of pupils and either pay individually for the entries or contact Song Academy and we’ll send an invoice for the total number of entries (email: contact@songacademy.co.uk).
There are two options for sending your audio recordings. Option 1: Upload an MP3 file of the audio recording when sending your entry form. Make sure your audio file is titled ‘your song title_your name’ Option 2: Select the dropdown option of ‘Soundcloud’ on your entry form and after submitting your entry form send your song recording via SoundCloud. Make sure your audio file is titled ‘your song title_your name’.
Songs can be in any genre and about anything that’s important to you.
KEY UPCOMING DATES
1st February – 31st March 2025: Entry period of The Young Songwriter 2025 competition
20th May 2025: Announce the top 30 finalists
10th June 2025: Announce the top 10 finalists
August 2025: Our residential summer songwriting camps – in SURREY 6th to 9th August 2025, in NORTH YORKSHIRE 13th to 16th August 2025
19th September 2025: The Young Songwriter 2025 UK showcase (for 19-22 year olds category)
4th October 2025: The Young Songwriter 2025 UK showcase (for 8-12, 13-15 and 16-18 year olds categories)
5th October 2025: The Young Songwriter 2025 International online showcase
PAST YOUNG SONGWRITER FINALISTS
Being a self confessed bedroom musician the Young Songwriter competition has given me the opportunity to take my songs into the real world.
It encourages young people to believe in themselves.
The Young Songwriter Competition is a great way to generate excitement and interest around songwriting in school. It allows young people who make their own music to have their songs heard and appreciated – and to hear songs made by other like-minded musicians. It’s also a great way for young songwriters to build their networks and find collaborators. The showcase performance is always inspiring, and the trips to the Young Songwriter workshops at YouTube space have been aspirational. Thank you, Song Academy!