$40k on offer in WAM songwriting competition

In what is one of Australia’s largest and most rewarding songwriting competitions, submissions for West Australian Music’s WAM Song of the Year has officially opened for 2016/17.

Over $40,000 worth of prizes are on offer to WA songwriters of all ages, levels and genres. The competition is split into 16 seperate categories, with each category offering winners a variety of prizes to help kickstart their music careers. The categories cover all genres in Blues/Roots, Country, Electronic, Experimental, Folk, Jazz, Metal/Heavy, Punk/Hardcore, Pop, Rock, Urban/Hip Hop and World, plus additional categories for Schools (14 Years & Under), Schools (15-17), Outstanding Indigenous and Outstanding Regional.

Winners of all the 16 categories will go in to the running to recieve the WAM Song of the Year grand prize. Included in the prize package is $3,000 in cash, a publishing and sync licensing deal with Perfect Pitch Publishing, 12-month Spotify subscriptions, $1,100 towards CD pressing, a Rode microphone package and much more.

Along with the prizes on offer, WAM Song of the Year also provides industry experience and invaluable recognition from Australian radio and media outlets.

The winners will be announced at an awards party held on Wednesday May 17 at the WA Maritime Museum. The City of Fremantle have come on board this year, joining APRA AMCOS as major partners of the WAM Song of the Year event.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt is enthusiastic about the competition and the platfform that it provides for young upcoming musicians.

"Fremantle is well known for its live music scene and the City is proud to support this fantastic event that recognises the song writing talent of our home-grown, original artists.”

Entries to the 2016/17 WAM Song of the Year competition close on Thursday February 9 at 5pm. For more information on the event, click here.