The Young Songwriter 2025 competition is OPEN for entries!
The big break! We’re calling all young songwriters aged 8-22. Star-studded judges, including Tom Grennan, GAYLE, Miranda Cooper, Nina Nesbitt, MNEK, Toby Gad, Calum Scott, Plested & Connie Talbot + fantastic prizes going for a song! (including a home studio set-up, recording studio session with a top producer & performing at The Young Songwriter 2025 showcase)
1st February 2025
Good news! The Song Academy Young Songwriter 2025 competition #SAYS25 is open for entries. We’re calling all young people aged 8-22 who love songwriting, singing, composing and creative writing to get their original songs ready to enter by the 31st March deadline. Entry is via our website https://www.songacademy.co.uk/says25/
In its 15th year The Young Songwriter 2025 (SAYS25) 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!
The Young Songwriter 2025 judges include: Tom Grennan, GAYLE, Toby Gad, Eg White, Miranda Cooper, Naughty Boy, MNEK, Calum Scott, Dan Gillespie Sells, Hannah V, Plested, Connie Talbot, Emily Phillips & Nina Nesbitt.
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 2025 showcase.
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!
Do you know any young people who are…
• Writing their own songs & want to get them heard?
• Secretly writing their own songs and need a bit of encouragement to share them?
• Creative & musical and would like to write 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.
The official sponsors of The Young Songwriter 2025 competition are PRS for Music, Spotify, Focusrite, Soundtrap and The Institute of Contemporary Music & Performance (ICMP).
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 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. It costs £15 to enter each song.
We’ve created some excellent songwriting resources for beginner to advanced young songwriters at https://www.songacademy.co.uk/songwriting-resources-for-young-people/
If you’d like our insightful feedback on your songs, before or after entering, send us your songs via https://www.songacademy.co.uk/song-feedback/
What Young Songwriter judges say about the importance of The Young Songwriter competition:
Amy Wadge (songwriter) ‘It’s been an absolute privilege to listen to so much young talent, this competition is so important not only to showcase young talent but to also give an opportunity to be heard by the music industry from a young age – I’m very confident that the future of music is in some of the songwriters I’ve listened to for this!”
Fraser T Smith (songwriter, & producer) says “With so much going on in the world, it’s never been more vital for young people to be able to channel their energy and emotions into something positive, which is what The Young Songwriter competition encourages and facilitates through songwriting. Every young person has something to say, a story to tell, or a message to share – that’s why Song Academy is so important to our community.”
Naughty Boy (songwriter, producer & DJ) says “Young songwriters are the future of music. A great song will always stand the test of time far beyond our years. I think this competition is important because every songwriter I’ve worked with was always waiting to be discovered.”
Tom Odell (songwriter) says “When I was 13 years old I started writing songs, and over the following years I became more and more obsessed with it. But the thing that always kept me awake at night was how to get them out there for people to hear them. This is why I think the Song Academy Young Songwriter competition is a great way to inspire and help through this process, and its something I wish had been around when I was starting out.”
Kenny Barber, Relationship Manager – Black Music, PRS for Music, said: “In supporting the voices that will shape our future industry, PRS for Music is investing not just in music but in the dreams, aspirations, and boundless potential of the next generation of songwriters and composers. We look forward to hearing the unique melodies, harmonies and lyrics that are entered and encourage all young people to seize this opportunity and submit their original songs!”
Rowena Atkins, Founder & CEO of Song Academy said “The Young Songwriter 2025 competition is a golden opportunity for young people to not only get recognition for their creative talent but also connect and be inspired by other aspiring young songwriters writing songs in their bedrooms around the world. We vision a world where all young people feel confident in who they are, celebrating their individuality, feeling empowered by sharing what’s important to them and creating their united future.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
SONG ACADEMY – The Sound Of Youth Empowerment
Founded 16 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, the monthly mentoring programme (The Ad Lib. Club) 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.
