The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition Returns, Applications Open For 2025
The first prize winner of this year's prestigious songwriting award will take home a career-changing $50,000.
Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition winner Amy Shark (Credit: Bobby Rein)
A few months after announcing the winner of the 2024 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, Australia’s own soul singer-songwriter WILSN, the competition returns in 2025—and applications are now open.
First launched in 2009, the competition celebrates and awards the world’s most impressive songwriting talent, with entry fees going on to support Noro Music Therapy, an organisation dedicated to transforming lives through music. Since its inception, the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition has raised over $2 million in support of the therapeutic organisation.
The 2024 edition attracted songwriters from over 52 countries; the entry fee is AUD$50 (US$33) per song, with submissions accepted worldwide.
Early Bird competition entries are now open until Monday, 25 August, allowing entrants to submit three songs for the price of two.
As a press release notes, entries across all stages of a songwriter’s career are welcome. Songs of any language, genre, or production stage—demo, fully produced, released, or unreleased—are encouraged, as long as the songs are written or co-written by the entrant.
Submissions for this year’s contest close on Monday, 15 September. You can enter the competition here.
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This year, the first prize winner will take home a career-changing $50,000. The artist who comes in second place will win $10,000, and the third-place winner will receive $5,000.
In addition to those prizes, the competition offers a $5,000 special prize exclusively for unsigned and unpublished Australasian songwriters. Another ten prizes of $1,000 each will be awarded to promising songwriters. Other prizes are a white Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute guitar, a Neumann TLM 102 studio microphone, and Neumann NDH30 headphones.
Notable winners of the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition include Australian artists such as Amy Shark (pictured above), Gang Of Youths, Gretta Ray, Matt Corby, Thelma Plum, Ruel, Baker Boy, MAY-A, Genesis Owusu, Mallrat, King Stingray, and many others.
David Albert, CEO of Alberts, said, “Drawing entries from 52 countries last year, the Vanda & Young Global Song Competition is a truly global platform for songwriters at any stage of their careers.
“From emerging talent to established acts, it offers an opportunity for artists to share their story and sound with the world, carrying forward Vanda & Young’s legacy and enduring influence. Alberts is proud to continue its long-standing support of the competition, celebrating musical vibrancy and innovation.”
Belinda Leonard, CEO of Noro Music Therapy, added, “Every song submitted to the Vanda & Young Competition becomes a lifeline for someone in need. When songwriters pour their hearts into their craft, they're not just creating music – they're creating healing.
“Thanks to this competition, we're able to bring music therapy to 2,500 clients every week, from toddlers taking their first steps to centenarians sharing their final melodies.”
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