TOP 5 SONGS OF THE YOUNG SONGWRITER 2024 COMPETITION
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.
