By James Blakely

I have always been a fan of competition. It makes people polish and rework their trade. No matter if it is Coke vs Pepsi or the Gibson and Fender, competition lets the product or service become better.

There is no difference with musicians. Competition drives songwriters to create more interesting music. It allows songwriters to think about the audience of the song and to more clearly communicate your thoughts.

Songwriting competitions also give your music exposure to people who can help your career. Usually the people judging these competitions are knowledgeable about what music is in demand. The judges are usually looking for unidentified talent. Music industry people also look at who is being recognized.

One of the most recognized competitions is the International Songwriting Competition (ISC). ISC has many categories including a lyrics only category for lyricists.

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is an annual musical competition whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of songwriters on all levels, and promote excellence in the art of songwriting.

Amateur and professional songwriters and musicians are invited to participate. ISC is a great opportunity for songwriters to win cash and prizes, further a music career, and gain recognition and exposure in the music industry.

Songwriting competitions are usually not very expensive to enter. Usually being less than $50 dollars and entry. This year the International Songwriting Competition is $30 for the first song and $20 each additional song. That is a good investment.

If you gat a great song and think it has hit potential then you should definitely send it in. Your not going to get any attention if noone in the music industry hears it. You will never know if you will win unless you give it a shot.