Judges Also Include Music Industry Execs From Top Record Labels: Atlantic, Columbia, Capitol, Motown, Sony, Warner, Arista, Curb, Glassnote, and More
Called “the songwriting competition to take note of” by The New York Times, ISC awards more than $150,000 in cash and prizes, shared by 74 winners in 24 categories, including an overall Grand Prize consisting of $25,000 (US) cash, and much more.
Winning ISC is a distinction that has helped many artists go on to achieve greater success. Previous winners have included: Tones and I; Illenium; Vance Joy; Bastille; Fantastic Negrito; R.LUM.R; Gotye; Lindsey Stirling; Kimbra; Dustin Lynch; Faouzia; The Band Perry; Kehlani; Gregory Porter; Passenger; Gin Wigmore; Missy Higgins; For King & Country; Tenille Townes; Adrienne Lenker (Big Thief); Jordan St. Cyr; Tommy Castro; Andrew Bird; Omar Sosa; and many more.
“There are many songwriting competitions in the world, but ISC is the only one whose entrants have the opportunity to have their music heard by a judging panel that includes the top echelon of legendary recording artists/songwriters and high-profile music industry executives,” said Candace Avery, Founder and Director of ISC. “Our judges have consistently told us how much they love listening to the new generation of songwriters and are amazed by the depth of songwriting talent – and we are grateful for their perspective and participation.”
The list of 2022 judges includes:
Recording Artists: Mariah Carey; Gloria Estefan; Coldplay; Tom Waits; Joe Hahn (Linkin Park); Jeremiah Fraites (The Lumineers); Hozier; Trevor Daniel; Brantley Gilbert; James Adam Shelley (Founding Member, American Authors); Tenille Townes; NEEDTOBREATHE; Kristian Bush (Sugarland); Laura Pausini; Ian Felice (The Felice Brothers); Lonnie Liston Smith; Blackbear; Sara Evans; Rosanne Cash; Sidewalk Prophets; Steve Lillywhite; Nancy Wilson (Heart); Krewella; Glen Ballard; ACRAZE; Danilo Perez; Above & Beyond; Chayanne; Sam Feldt; Oumou Sangaré; Jack DeJohnette; Tim Rice-Oxley (Keane); Dave Koz; Sugaray Rayford; James McNally; Jordan St. Cyr; Gordon Goodwin; Chris August; Joe Louis Walker; Ashwin Batish; Carter Burwell; Nicholas Gunn (Limelght); Margaret Cho; and Jimmy Pardo (Comedian)
Industry Judges: Briony Turner (Co-President, Atlantic Records UK); Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records); Daniel Glass (President/Founder, Glassnote Records); Richard Stumpf (CEO/Founder, Hawkeye Music Group); Ed Vetri (President, Wind-Up Records); David McTiernan (Senior Director, Artist & Label Relations, Vevo); Greg Johnson (VP of A&R, Columbia Records); Golnar Khosrowshahi (President, Reservoir Media Management); Will Speer (Managing Director, Magic Star Records/Sony); Lanre Gaba (Co-President of Black Music, Atlantic Records); Nate Albert (EVP of A&R, Capitol Records); Will McDonald (VP A&R, Elektra Music Group); Kim Buie (VP of A&R, New West Records); Shawn Barron (VP of A&R, Motown); Dan Chalmers (Head Of Music, YouTube, EMEA); Kate Labrel (VP of A&R, Warner Records); Christopher Muller (Global Head of Music Partnerships, YouTube); Jacob Edgar (Founder, Cumbancha); Matt D’Arduini (Sr. VP of A&R /GM, Last Nite Records/Arista Records); Joel Timen (VP of A&R and Publishing, Curb/Word Entertainment); Cory Robbins (Founder/President, Robbins Entertainment); Samantha Jervey (Director A&R, Capitol Christian Music Group); Julie Kertes (Editor/General Manager, Hot Diggity Media); Jacqueline Post (Head of Publishing, Connection Music Publishing); Ben Kramer (Global Lead, Artist and Label Development, YouTube); Leib Ostrow (Founder/CEO, Music For Little People); Katherine Dines (Advisory Board and Magic Penny Award Chair, Children’s Music Network); Claire S. Green (President, Parents’ Choice Foundation); Julia Beyer (Director, ARC Music Productions International); Benjamin Groff (President, Brill Building Music Publishing); Tamara Conniff (EVP, Roc Nation Music Publishing); Carl Caprioglio (Founder & CEO, Oglio Entertainment); and Elena Epstein (Director, National Parenting Product Awards)
For more information and to enter, go to: https://www.
The unrelenting pop-punk renegades hailing from Towson, Maryland has been around since 2003 and have since undertaken an exquisite evolution. They’ve always forged on towards an upward direction, lifting their craft through transformative sonic landscapes in a seamless, impeccable manner.
Their most recent full-length album, ‘Wake Up, Sunshine’ stands to be their most hopeful work. Released in 2020, it represented the band in their most comfortable, uplifting form. While the band has never really stayed the same, they’ve been consistent with the way they carried their music through fearless and unforced experimentation, striving to be the best version of themselves with every album.
PULP: Your latest album ‘Wake Up, Sunshine’ is feeling quite encouraging – could you elaborate more on how the record came to life?
ALEX: We decided to rent a house in the desert and all live under the same roof for most of the album-making process. It felt very natural, and I think it really reconnected us to the band in a way we didn’t necessarily expect. We had so much FUN making this music, and I think that really shows.
PULP: You’ve said the album is a reminder of “coming to terms with who you are” – is that a mindset you’ve always had? Or did the difficult past couple of years bring it on?
ALEX: The record’s a reflection of the times, looking inward at ourselves and where we are as people now in our 30’s making music and living this crazy dream, but we wrote and recorded the album before the pandemic, and before things started to feel really difficult for everyone… But I think as the world changed so drastically, some of the songs on the record evolved to have new meanings for people, and that helped it connect even more. We just hope it brought people comfort in difficult times.
PULP: You’ve mentioned before that it’s been a long time since the four of you made a record under one roof, is it something you’ve paid a lot of thought to?
ALEX: It felt really important to go through that process at the time. We all needed to remind ourselves what we love so much about being in this band together.
PULP: What are some other lyrical themes on the record?
ALEX: I think it explores love, vices, betrayal, and generally just how we fit into the world as individuals.
PULP: What’s the most powerful track for you and the others each?
ALEX: That’s a tricky one! It’s hard to choose. But Basement Noise really feels special to us. It’s a reflective song about the beginnings of the band and an appreciation for how far we’ve come. The adventure never ends.
PULP: Is there a specific influence for this record?
ALEX: I look at Wake Up, Sunshine as a celebration of all the eras of All Time Low, so I think we were our own biggest influence on that one.
PULP: What have you learned about yourself over this pandemic break?
ALEX: That I play way too much Fortnite.
PULP: Did any of you have worries as you got back to the studio?
ALEX: I think we all had some worries that we might’ve forgotten how to make music but we’re already proving ourselves wrong on that!
PULP: Do you have any goals that you would like to achieve now that the tour (or concert) industry is back on its feet? How excited are you to be back in Manila soon?
ALEX: Just keep playing shows, bringing people together and having a great time celebrating individuality and community. We are SO SO excited to finally be coming back.
PULP: Any special messages you’d like to leave for your Manila fans?
ALEX: We love you so much! Thank you for continuing to support us the way you do, and we cannot wait to play for you all!
ALL TIME LOW LIVE IN MANILA, with special guests CHICOSCI, is happening on August 15, 2022, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Gates open at 6:00 PM, show starts at 7:00 PM.
Tickets on sale at all SM Tickets outlets nationwide and online via www.smtickets.com. Tickets are priced at P9,500 (Royalty), P6,500 (VIP A), P5,000 (VIP B), P4,500 (Patron), P4,000 (Lower Box A), and P3,500 (Lower Box B). Ticketing service charges apply.
For more show information, visit www.pulp.ph and keep your eyes glued to our PULP LIVE WORLD social media accounts:
Progression, or more generally, change, is a constant in music; in order to adapt and survive, you must grow and develop – and no band knows that more than midwestern metal act Of Virtue. What began as a humble, promising metalcore act born from the blistering chill and barren fields of mid-Michigan has erupted into an internationally recognized and critically acclaimed alternative powerhouse. From opening slots on regional metalcore tours to reaching #28 on Billboard’s Current Hard Music chart, performing in over 30 countries across three continents and accruing a staggering 6 million plus streams on Spotify alone, Of Virtue’s growth is nothing short of jaw dropping.
Today, Of Virtue released their second single via Arising Empire called ‘Hypocrite‘! Produced by Andrew Baylis (Sleeping With Sirens) & Evan McKeever (VRSTY), mixed and mastered by Dan Braunstein, known for his work for Spiritbox, Dayseeker, Volumes and visualized by Dana Willax & Orie McGinness (Bad Omens, Wage War, Kingdom of Giants) this blistering new track by modern metal experience Of Virtue will hit you straight in the face and leaves no doubt that this 4 piece is going to blow up pretty fast.
“Hypocrite is all about the negativity building up inside of us. Everything that you hate about yourself, looking at you in the mirror. We know who we are but we refuse to change, eroding our potential by burning bridges in the meantime.” – Of Virtue
Follow the band’s socials:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Official Website
Please wait for further announcements. Thank you!
