The search for WA’s most talented songwriters has kicked off with the launch of West Australian Music (WAM)’s Song of the Year 2021 competition presented by Act Belong Commit!
First held in 1989, WAM’s Song of the Year showcases the intricate craft of songwriting that lies at the heart of WA’s diverse, contemporary music gems. Open to all ages, levels and genres, the competition provides a rare exposure opportunity for WA songwriters to have their music heard by industry professionals and bolster their careers with over $45K in prizes on offer. With previous winners of the competition including Stella Donnelly, Beni Bjah, Kučka, Little Birdy, Abbe May, Luke Steele and Carla Geneve, WAM is excited to once again share this career-propelling opportunity with the WA music community!
The competition is open to all West Australian songwriters, bands, and producers from 10am WST Thursday 14 January to 5pm WST Thursday 11 February. Song of the Year 2021 features 17 categories, including; Blues/Roots, Country, Electronic, Experimental, Folk, Global, Hip Hop/New R&B, Jazz, Heavy/Metal, Punk/Hardcore, Pop, Rock and Act Belong Commit, plus extra categories for Schools 14 Years & Under, Schools 15-18, Outstanding Indigenous and Outstanding Regional. All winners will be celebrated at the WAM Song of the Year Awards Night, with one song selected to win the coveted grand prize.
WAM is excited to be continuing their partnership with Healthway and sharing the value of the Act Belong Commit message for mental wellbeing. An easy strategy to support positive mental health in our daily lives, the competition encourages songwriters to act, belong and commit through the process of songwriting and engaging with the local music community. The returning Act Belong Commit song category provides an opportunity to reflect on this message of positive mental health, welcoming songs of any genre that explore the relationship between mental wellbeing and the Act Belong Commit message – from talking about the importance of community and connectedness, the journey to improve your mental health and lifestyle, or the enjoyment in having attained this.
Healthway A/CEO Lorna Pritchard said Healthway is proud to partner with West Australian Music to deliver the Song of the Year 2021 competition presented by Act Belong Commit. “Through this partnership local musicians can connect with one another, and participate in the songwriting process to reflect and tune in to their own mental health and wellbeing,” Ms Pritchard said.
To help songwriters engage with the message, WAM and Act Belong Commit are presenting a series of free Song Sessions workshops and forums at Vinyl Café, featuring award-winning WA songwriters crafting a new song together. The fortnightly songwriting workshop series features collaborations between Grace Barbé & Timothy Nelson, Ofa Fotu & Adrian Dzvuke, Carla Geneve & Sam Blitvich (Sly Withers) and Hyclass & Kruger James, and kicks off on Thursday 28 January. More information on Song Sessions can be located here.
This year’s competition sees an incredible set of prizes on offer to support winners in their future music endeavours. Entrants also have the opportunity to receive personalised feedback on their songs from leading music minds Anna Laverty, Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe), Sam Ford (Tone City Recording Studio) and Tenille Elkins (APRA AMCOS/NM TAFE) via the song evaluation option.
Grand prize includes:
- $3,000 cash
- 100 x colour vinyl 7 inches pressed courtesy of XVinylX and Vinyl Café
- Radio ad campaign fromRTRFM
- A two-day recording and production session with Best Sound Engineer/Producer (studio) WAMAward recipient,Andy Lawson of Debaser Studio
- A national media servicing campaign for a single or release throughFirestarter Music
- 250 posters distributed byThe Poster Girls
- The opportunity for a publishing & sync licensing deal withPerfect Pitch Publishing, plus a tutorial in publishing and licensing and ongoing industry mentoring
- 1 complimentary 1 x night’s stay at theAlex Hotel
- 4 x 3 month Spotify premium subscription codes
- A $100 voucher for Mega Music
- Photo shoot including photo editing frommusic photographer Cam Campbell from @placeorpoint
- WAMFest performance offer
- Two passes toWAMCon
The first runner-up will receive a $1,500 cash prize towards their next career move, and a $100 voucher to spend at Mega Music. The second-runner up will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a $100 voucher for Mega Music, plus both runners-up will each receive two passes to WAMCon and a 3-month premium subscription to Spotify.
Category prizes include:
- $500 cash prize and a free day of recording or mixing with some of WA’s best recording engineers and producers
Entries for WAM Song of the Year 2021 presented by Act-Belong-Commit are open from 10am WST Thursday 14 January to 5pm WST Thursday 11 February via the Song of the Year website.
WAM recognises the generous support of our Song of the Year partners and sponsors.
You can find out more about our incredible sponsors HERE
PRESENTING PARTNER
CATEGORY SPONSORS: Clancy’s Fish Pub Fremantle, Nannup Music Festival, Rosemount Hotel, Badlands Bar, Sorrento Strategic Music
PRIZE SPONSORS: Alex Hotel, Debaser Studio, Firestarter Music, Mega Music, Perfect Pitch Publishing, @placeorpoint, RTRFM, Spotify, The Poster Girls, XVinylX and Vinyl Café
STUDIO SPONSORS: Artisan Music, Blackbird Sound Studio, Blondel Recording Studios, Debaser Studio, Forest Studios, Fremantle Recording Studios, John Butler Studio, Lolly Box Music, Pavement Studios, Poons Head Studios, Real2Reel/James Newhouse, Shanghai Twang Studios, Soundbaker, Sumo Sound Studios, Tone City Recording Studio, Tunafish Recording Company, Vision Studios.
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