Contests

The 2013 Australian Songwriting Contest is now open...find out how to enter on our homepage. Check out 2012 Results here!

Congratulations to the entrants who were are Top 10 Finalists in 2012 - as listed below:

AUSTRALIA CATEGORY

1 Anzac Morning by Justin Linkins VIC
1 Dunedoo Station by Kathy Coleman NSW
3 Thomas Alfred Marshall by Michael King & Gavin Marshall VIC
4 In His Field Of Gold by Jennifer Hannam VIC
5 Dinky Di Aussie by Phil Splitter VIC
6 I'm Almost Home by Fiona Karamanlidis SA
7 Down Under In Australia by Phil Splitter VIC
8 A Song Of Hope (New Year's Eve In Melbourne) by Jim Paterson SA
9 Home by Gary Keady & John Vallins NSW
10 Red Dirt Wanderer by Snez NSW

And for all the other Category results, please scroll down below the General Facts section!

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General Facts about the Australian Songwriting Contest:

The ASA’s Australian Songwriting Contest began in 1979, and is Australia’s longest running national songwriting contest for professional and amateur songwriters. Songs are submitted on CD or online(more ecomonical option) via Sonicbids or SongCentral,  and are judged by Music Industry experts on originality and craftsmanship. The song does not have to be performed by the songwriter, but it must be original and unpublished at the time of entry (i.e. the song must not be signed to a publishing company). The recording quality of material is not relevant to the judging process.

Professional song feedback can also be ordered by entrants. See Feedback Service under Members tab for more details.
Contact:
ASA National Office
Locked Bag 18/178
Newtown NSW 2042
Australia

Ph/Fax: 02 9516 4960
Email: asanationaloffice@asai.org.au

Results Archive:

2012

2011

2010

• 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999

Categories

There are 13 Categories in the Australian National Songwriting Contest, including an open-genre International Category which citizens from any country of the World can enter (including Australians). Most of the other Categories are genre specific, and are for Australian songwriters only. It is up to you as the entrant what category you enter your song in, although if the judges feel that a song has been mis-categorised by the entrant, they will re-enter it in a more appropriate category to give it a better chance.

Entries Are Anonymous

We ask manual entrants not to put identifying information on their entries, but if they do, their entry will be rendered anonymous before judging takes place. Online entries are also rendered anomymous before being judged. All songs are labels with idenifying numbers and song names only.

Three-tiered Judging

There are three levels of judging.

Preliminary Round -  All songs are heard by a team of at least 3 music industry judges. Every songwriter who makes the top 30 list of any of the judges, is short-listed in the preliminary round of the judging process and notified accordingly. Depending on how many of the judges pick the same songs, the size of the short list will vary.

The judges assess songs using the ASA criteria, to arrive at a total mark for each song from each individual judge. An equalising process is then used to rank the songs by giving 30 pts to the most favoured, and 29 the next and so on.  These rankings are then added together to give a final mark for that entry. So, for example, if a song scored 90 points as a final mark after using the ranking system, that would mean it was the top choice of three judges. If it scored 30 points, that would mean that only one judge absolutely loved it! Usually scores are much more varied than this. The ranking system ensures fairness to all entrants, by taking in to account that some judges may be low scorers or high scorers across the board.

Finalist Round – The Top 25 songs are then chosen from the shortllisted group, by a fresh panel of judges. These results are then put up on the website (usually 4-5 weeks before the National Awards Night).

The Top 10 placegetters are decided by a third group of judges (minimum of 3 respected music industry professionals per Category), who vote individually without consultation with each other. Their results are combined and equalised to give eventual Top 10, which are announced live to the audience at the ASA National Songwriting Awards. 

Results

Once the top ten placings are decided, the first place winners of the Major Open Categories and Youth Category will receive a phonecall and/or be notified in writing. This is so that they can be invited to perform at the Awards.

The remaining Top 25 Finalists for each Category are encouraged to attend the National Awards Night, where they can find out in person if they made it to the Top 10! Even those who don’t get into the Top 10 have a great time at this event, as they are able to hear the winning songs played live on the night, and network with other successful songwriters and industry people as part of the fraternity. As a major industry event, the ASA National Awards Night is important for serious songwriters.  Subsequently (usually within 48 hrs after the National Awards Night) the final Top 10 results will be posted on this site.

Those who recieve nominations for the Songwriter of the Year and the Rudy Brandsma Award will be notified prior to the Awards Night.

In the event of a tied mark, entries are awarded equal placings and any prizes will be split between the entrants.

Judging Criteria

Songs are judged on aspects of the songwriting craft:

• lyrics
• melody
• structure
• arrangement
• and originality

Because the major concern of the Association is songwriting, the songs are not judged on the performance or the quality of the recording.
The ASA chooses the judges but is not responsible for their decisions. The ASA selects the winner of the Songwriter of the Year from among the Category Winners, and the Rudy Brandsma encouragement award from among member songwriters who have done well in the competition, or who display some outstanding element that cannot be overlooked.

For the Australian Songwriting Contest rules and regulations, and list of prizes, please check this year's Enrty Form. 

2012 TOP 10 Finalists cont...

BALLAD CATEGORY 

1 My Hesitation by Jacques Mario Gentil & Rick Hart VIC
2 He Still Remembers by Kathy Coleman NSW
3 This Time by Melia Naughton and Nerida Naughton NSW
4 You're Everything by Magdalena Macdonald VIC
5 Where The Willows Weep by Glen Naylor VIC
6 Because I Loved You by Susan Muranty, Ritchie Neville & Sven Tydeman NSW
7 Not My Island by Rebecca Moore NSW
8 A Love Song by Katie Hardyman NSW
9 Buccaneer by Stuart Hall NSW
10 The Last Time by Elisa Kate NSW

CONTEMPORARY POP / DANCE

1 Highlights by Brian M Chapman VIC
2 The Way It Was by Jesse Marantz VIC
3 Lost In The Middle by Sam Korn NT
4 A Love Song by Katie Hardyman NSW
5 I Said It Was Alright, But It's Not OK by Aislinn Sharp QLD
6 She's Comin Down by Brad Gandy WA
7 Brand New Shoes by Loren Kate Steenkamp SA
8 Over by Matt Allen WA
9 It's A PC 21st Century New Millennium Romantic Arrangement by Andrew Horabin WA
10 Love This Life by Danny Hooper SA

 COUNTRY CATEGORY        

1 I'm Missing You by John Greenwood & Jason Greenwood VIC
2 Why Don't We Meet Half Way by Tahlia McGahey NSW
3 The Comfort Of A Stranger by John Walsh & Mike Carr NSW
4 Roadtrippin' by Rhiannon Corby NSW
5 Reminisce by Craig Morrison & Nichole Morrison NSW
6 Cold Wind Rising by Danielle Karis NSW
7 Country Song by Danny Hooper SA
8 5.49 by Melia Naughton and Nerida Naughton NSW
9 Give Me Time To Talk To Jesus by Leo Taylor VIC
10 The Dark Horse by Jim Paterson SA

FOLK ACOUSTIC CATEGORY

1 Waiting by Andrew Winton WA
2 Into His Arms Again by Andrew Winton WA
3 Disappointed by Andrew Winton WA
4 The Tide by Rebecca Moore NSW
5 When This All Comes Down by Andrew Winton NSW
6 Christmas In A Cage by Sharlene Rainford NSW
7 I Think It Means Something by Andrew Winton WA
8 Faithful by Robert Cini QLD
9 Travelled For Miles by Loren Kate Steenkamp SA
10 How Love Can Feel by Karen Guymer VIC
10 I Can't Unlove You by Susan Muranty, Ritchie Neville & Sven Tydeman NSW

INSTRUMENTAL CATEGORY

1 Mr Dudley by Andrew Winton WA
2 One Eyed Cat by Mark Tinson NSW
3 Reef Madness by Mark Tinson NSW
4 Bunny Run Through An Easter Tunnel by Manjia Luo NSW
5 The Storm Mark by Tinson NSW
6 Daddy's Daughter by Katie Hardyman NSW
7 Flight Of The Albatross by Fiona Joy Hawkins NSW
8 The Dark Road (Part 2) by John Trager & Michael Zammit VIC
9 Storm by Allan Pan VIC
10 The Stumble by Mark Tinson NSW

INTERNATIONAL CATEGORY

1 Do U Miss The Heat by Debra M Gussin & Stacy Hogan USA
2 In Love With Fallin' In Love by Susan Hewitt & Andrew Basquille IRE
3 Walk Away by Susan Hewitt & Debra Farris IRE
4 Bird On A Powerline by Eric Erdman USA
5 Love Won't Let You Down by Michael McGee USA
6 Is That You by Debra M Gussin & Rik Howard USA
7 If Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right by Eric Erdman USA
8 The Devil Wants Another Dance by Mark Keller USA
9 Like There's No Tomorrow by Michael McGee USA
10 You Don't Look Good In Lies by Michael McGee USA

LYRICS CATEGORY

1 Incomplete by James Cunnack VIC
2 Walking Through Life Together by Joe Ciangura VIC
3 That's How You Do Lonesome by Vanessa Selwyn NSW
4 We Both Want To Be Right (About Who Was Wrong) by Steve Montgomery NSW
5 Never Went Away by Paul Dillon NSW
6 People Like Us by Steve Montgomery NSW
7 Meandering by Cill Van Der Velden NSW
8 Hell's Gate by Roman Sapkota NSW
8 No Time To Weep by Denise Silk SINGAPORE
10 Memories Of You by Steve Montgomery NSW

OPEN

1 Another Lifetime The Bostocks QLD
2 Building Bridges Karen Guymer VIC
3 Rainbow Song Snez NSW
4 Moving On Willie McCracken NSW
5 Taking The Long Way Home Christopher Pye QLD
6 Back In Town Paul Owen, Sabrina Alison & Roger Corbett NSW
7 Simple Sum Danielle Karis NSW
8 This Is The Way I Feel Stacy Tierney NSW
9 The Way It Was Jesse Marantz VIC
10 When I Fall Steven Lymburn VIC

ROCK INDIE CATEGORY

1 Little Joy by Kerryann McKittrick NSW
2 Time On Your Clock by Brad Gandy WA
3 Too High by Andrew Winton WA
4 Pleasure And The Pain by Sam Korn NT
5 Clarity by Peta Evans-Taylor NSW
6 Sunny Daze by Diana Clark VIC
7 Been Down by Danny Hooper SA
8 Happy Andrew by Winton WA
9 The Way It Was by Jesse Marantz VIC
10 Rock Man by Graham Hull QLD

SONGS FOR CHILDREN

1 The Caterpillar Song by Greg J Bryant SA
2 Father's Day by John Littrich, Neil McCann & Paul McGee NSW
3 Freeze by Stacy Tierney NSW
4 Don't Misbehave by Elizabeth Cornwall & Nick Howard NSW
5 Down On The Farm by Rhonnie Tant & Darrel Bruce Beasant QLD
6 Coo-ee by Kathy Prosser NSW
7 The Happy People Song by Leo Kahans VIC
8 Here We Go Round Tonight by David Harrison WA
9 Say G'day by Phil Splitter VIC
10 You Gotta Make It Happen (The PopAngels Theme Song) by Elizabeth Cornwall & Nick Howard NSW

SPIRITUAL CATEGORY

1 My Prayer by Andre Leong WA
2 Free At Last by Jacques Mario Gentil VIC
3 Looking For You by Lola Brinton NSW
4 When He Comes by Jacques Mario Gentil VIC
5 Compassion by Dexter Moore NSW
6 Fallen Angel by Elisa Kate NSW
7 Little Joy by Kerryann McKittrick NSW
8 My Secret Hiding Space by Andre Leong WA
9 The Lord's Lost Sheep by Robert Imeson NSW
10 Five Thousand People by John Littrich, Neil McCann & Paul McGee NSW

 YOUTH CATEGORY

1 Step Into The Dark Frank Dixon VIC
2 Summertime Kaitlyn Thomas VIC
3 I Wish Kaitlyn Thomas VIC
4 The High Life Kim Garmaroff NSW
5 Come Home Jena Marino & David Fornaro VIC
6 Got Me Saying Madeline Perrone VIC
7 Remember Elizabeth Cornwall & Nick Howard NSW
8 I Love My Style Taylor Pfeiffer SA
9 Born To Die Kelly Griffith NSW
9 Gotta Move On Jourdain Wongtrakun VIC