2025 Australian Songwriting Contest

I was on annual leave for several weeks in May, holiday-ing at home for the most part.  It was a chance to relax, re-set and catch up on a few missions.

One mission was to enter six songs in the 2025 Australian Songwriting Contest.  It's my fifth time entering and I wanted to put in a cross-section of my work, so chose songs that fit six different categories.  

I chose to enter my latest three songs - "Till It's Gone" (Ballad), "What Am I Worth" (Spiritual) and "Beat Of The Clock" (Folk).  These three songs are all different in the way they sound, their structure and subject matter.  

I also entered two earlier songs. "Mona" is a good fit for Comedy/Novelty and "Going Home" went into the Australian category.  I still like my older songs.  I produce and perform newer songs but when listening to my older stuff, I feel they remain relevant.  

"Breathe, Miss Sunshine" made it to the Top 30 list previously, when I first entered the contest in 2020.  It consistently gets a good audience reaction, so I'm giving it another chance in the Open section this year.

The rules state:  "A single song can be entered into multiple categories, or into another year of the Contest. There are different judges for each category and they vary from year to year, so this means that a song may get through in one category or in one year when it may have missed out in another." 

I have never paid the additional fee for feedback on my entries.  Being shortlisted is enough validation. I've entered 16 songs previously - 10 of those have been shortlisted, with two progressing to Top 30 status. 

We'll see what happens this year.

What motivates me to enter?  Well, I believe the songs are good - and people express more appreciation for the songs than they would if just being nice. 

Receiving praise from other songwriters is significant. I regularly participate in two online songwriting groups.  Responses to my songs continue to be positive with particular songs being requested.  Along the lines of "Can you play ..., it's a really good song".  One guy comments on differences between produced and performance versions, so obviously listens to both.  It's encouraging.