Each year ISC is privileged to assemble an outstanding judging panel, and the 2008 competition is no exception. Tom Waits, Darryl McDaniels (Run D.M.C.), Ray Davies (The Kinks), Loretta Lynn, and Jerry Lee Lewis, among others, have all signed on as ISC judges; the panel consists of highly respected recording artists and some of the most influential executives in the music industry. See below for a complete list of judges.

New this year is a Music Video category, and ISC has included the following prestigious industry executives as judges: Amy Doyle (Sr. VP of Music and Talent at MTV) and Rick Krim (Executive VP of Talent and Programming for VH1).

ISC accepts original songs from musicians, artists, groups, and songwriters at every level from amateur to professional. Go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com to enter songs via mail or online.

The complete list of 2008 ISC judges include:

Recording Artists
Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20); Chaka Khan; Tom Waits; KT Tunstall; Robert Smith (The Cure); Ricky Martin; Loretta Lynn; Neil Finn (Crowded House); Buckcherry; James Cotton; Jerry Lee Lewis; Craig Morgan; Ray Davies (The Kinks); McCoy Tyner; T-Pain; Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Mario; Pittbull;Michael W. Smith; Chris Hillman (The Byrds); John Scofield; Black Francis (The Pixies); Youssou N’Dour; John Mayall; DJ Tiësto; Paul Van Dyk; Jon Secada; Natalie Grant; Jeremy Camp; Matt Thiessen (Relient K); Angelique Kidjo; Sandra Bernhard; “Weird Al” Yankovic; and David Brenner

Music Industry Executives
Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Nick Burgess (Head of A&R, Virgin Records UK); Angel Carrasco (Sr. VP of A&R, Latin America Sony BMG and President, Discos 605); Cameron Strang (President, New West Records); John Echevarria (President, Universal Music Latino); Rick Krim (Executive VP Talent and Programming, VH1); Amy Doyle (Sr. VP of Music and Talent, MTV); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, Lost Highway); Jon Pikus (Director of A&R, MySpace Records); Mitchell Cohen (VP of A&R, Verve Music Group); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Dan Storper (President, Putumayo World Music); Rene Bell (Executive VP A&R, Sony BMG Nashville); Peter Strickland (Senior VP, Jack Records/Warner Bros.); Steve Lillywhite (Producer - credits include U2, The Rolling Stones, Morrissey, Peter Gabriel, and more); Douglas C. Cohn (Sr. VP, Music Marketing & Talent, Nickelodeon); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Betty Pino (DJ, WAMR Miami); Paul Majors (CEO/Founder Majors Music); Leib Ostrow (CEO, Music for Little People); and Dr. Demento (Radio Host of The Dr. Demento Show)

You may enter your songs into which ever category(s) you wish, and the complete list for this year includes: Pop/Top 40, AAA (Adult Album Alternative), Rock, R&B/Hip-Hop, Country, Americana, Gospel/Christian, Blues, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Jazz, Latin Music, Instrumental, Dance/Electronica, Comedy/Novelty, World Music, Children’s Music, Lyrics Only, Teen, Performance, and Music Video.

For more information, please go to http://www.songwritingcompetition.com

Thanks for taking the time to read about this opportunity, and we wish you all the best in your music.

Jim Morgan
ISC