British Songwriter Julian Gardner along with co-writers J.O.Y. and Paddy Hunt won top honors at the 29th Annual USA Songwriting Competition, making him the first from UK to win the top award. Julian hails from Wales, UK. Top winners in past years hail from USA, Canada and Australia.

“I’m over the moon to be chosen as the 2024 USA Songwriting Competition Overall Grand Prize Winner! I was speechless when I heard the news. It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the USA Songwriting Competition in this way. I’ve been on a great musical journey so far, though sometimes tough at times, and this really has put some amazing light on my musical project that really makes it all worth the hard work. It means so much to me to be validated like this and win the greatest songwriting competition in the world. I feel so proud and honored with this amazing news! Thank you”, said a jubilant Julian Gardner.

After receiving an honorable mention award in the USA Songwriting Competition with his single “Problem” in 2023, Julian regrouped and went to work on a new song “Higher than Love”. The hard work paid off to win the Best Dance/Electronica category award of the competition and also the grand prize overall Winner of the USA Songwriting Competition in 2024. This makes his win so gratifying.

The Overall Second Prize went to Skylar Springer and Kayliann Lowe, from Brick, NJ with their song “Stubborn”.

The Overall Third Prize went to Liddy Clark from St. Louis, MO with her song “My Best Friend’s Getting Married”.

Other notable winners inlcude: Bill DiLuigi, along with co-writers Steve Dean and Billy Montana won the Best Country Award. Bill DiLuigi has songs recorded by Bonnie Tyler, Blessed Union of Souls, and Johnny Lee. Steve Dean has co-written six number one hits on the Billboard Country Charts. Billy Montana has written number one hits on the Billboard Country Charts, recorded by Garth Brooks, Sara Evans and Lee Brice.

Kristen Ford from Nashville, TN along with world renowned Alternative/Folk Artist Ani Difranco won an honorable mention award with their song “White Man’s Dream”. The complete list of winners and finalists can be viewed at: songwriting.net/winners

THREE GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Three winners of the USA Songwriting Competition have received Grammy nominations: Ron Korb (The current 2024 USA Songwriting Competition Best Instrumental winner, from Canada), Lucy Kalantari (The current 2024 USA Songwriting Competition Best Children’s music winner), Wouter Kellerman (2017 USA Songwriting Competition Best Instrumental Winner) are nominated for the upcoming Grammy awards:

–Ron Korb is nominated for Best Global Music Performance
–Lucy Kalantari is nominated for Best Children’s Music Album
-Wouter Kellerman is nominated for the Best New Age Album

Lucy Kalantari, from New York, NY, won a Grammy Award for Best Children’s album at the 2019 Grammys. This is her second nomination.

Wouter Kellerman, from Johannesburg, South Africa, has won 2 Grammy awards in the past: in 2014 and again in 2022. This is his third Grammy nomination.

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards will be presented on February 2, 2025.

ABOUT USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION

USA Songwriting Competition has a long history of having winners getting recording and publishing contracts, have their songs placed on the charts as well as having their songs placed on film and television.

2020 top winner Andrew Jannakos was signed to Sony Music Nashville/RCA Nashville records and hit #65 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. The 2022, 2021 and 2020 top winners had their winning songs receive radio airplay.

The 2017 top winner Priscilla Renea has her song recorded by Ariana Grande and that song hit #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts last year, her songs have been recorded by other major label artists such as Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Fifth Harmony, Demi Lovato, Madonna, Selena Gomez and Chris Brown. Several of her songs have hit the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

2013 winner – Rock group “American Authors” were signed to Island Records, and hit #1 on the Billboard Charts and went 6X Platinum, selling over 10 million copies worldwide.

In its landmark year, the 30th Annual USA Songwriting Competition is currently accepting entries. For more information, visit:  songwriting.net

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