Competition
The global age-positive songwriting competition for people age 50+
World Class
Prizes
Celebrity
Judges
Feedback
On Every Song
The Talent Is Timeless Annual Global Songwriting Competition
Jan - Feb Annually OPEN NOW
Live Your Musical Dreams
Tired of entering contests aimed at 20 year olds?
By shining a light on a 50+ years only stage, Talent is Timeless is on a mission to transform songwriting and music-making into a celebration of talent, age and life experience.
We offer once in a lifetime prizes, world-renowned celebrity judges and unlock industry opportunities that may have felt a past lifetime away.
How The Competition Works
| 1st Jan | Competition opens for entries |
| 28th Feb | Competition closes for entries |
| March-May | Songwriting experts evaluate thousands of song entries. Written song feedback is delivered. |
| May-June | Celebrity judges evaluate the top songs |
| July | Winners announced |
| Autumn | Prizes delivered |
“There is no limit, ceiling or starting age for talent and creativity.”
Judy Collins,
Grammy Winning Artist
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Universal Audio
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2026 Categories
We welcome submissions in the following genres, including:
- Acoustic (Singer-Songwriter)
- Blues
- Country
- Folk
- Jazz
- Musical Theatre
- Pop
- Rock
- Spiritual
- AI Songs
- Lyrics-Only entries.
2026 Prizes
1 x Global winner:
- Record your song at a world class studio (such as Abbey Road, Ocean Way Village Studios)
- Perform live at Talent Is Timeless events
- Record deal (UK-based) and full promotion of your winning song
- Filming of your story
- Publicity in the Talent Is Timeless community and beyond
- Equipment from our sponsors
12 x Genre winners:
- Studio time in your country
- Live music video
- Publicity in the Talent Is Timeless community and beyond
- Equipment & software
Celebrity Judges
Shortlisted songs will be heard by top industry professionals. Our celebrity judges to date include Grammy winners, chart-topping artists, and renowned songwriters. See all judges here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/judges/
What you get when you enter
- Feedback on your song so you can learn and grow as a songwriter
- Minimum 2 x judges per song so your progress never rests on 1 persons opinion
- Song Scorecard on your profile
- Progress tracking so you can see your song go through the rounds of judgement & feedback
- Digital certificate showing your entry & achievement level
Member Testimonials
Prizes
What Are The Prizes?
Record Deal
Studio Time
Travel / Flights
Music video
Equipment
Spotify promotion
Magazine reviews
Workshop
Mentoring
Genre Winners for UK, USA, Canada & Europe:
Studio day to record your winning song:
UK: Fieldgate Studio, Wales
EU: AudioPlanet, Poland
Canada: Chalet Studio, Nr Toronto
USA: Sound Temple Studio, Asheville, NC
Meet Our Winners
Every year Talent Is Timeless changes lives. The global winners gets a record deal and recording at world class studios. Genre winners get studio time and a live music video. And everyone who wins or places gets sent a plaque for their wall. Hundreds of people are long listed, hundreds are shortlisted, a few make it to the finals, and in 2025 we had over 30 individual winners who all received certificates, wall plaques and recognition within our community.
2025
'Sweet Dreams, Caroline'
Global Winner 2025: John Guy Barwick (USA)
At just 51, North Carolina-based songwriter John Barwick has already lived through several chapters of music, loss, and rediscovery. Joining Talent Is Timeless in December 2024, John entered the Pop category and won the Global Contest with his powerful song Sweet Dreams, Caroline.
The inspiration came from a heartbreaking news story. “I’d read a news article about a family who had lost their young children in a house fire. Obviously devastating, and as a parent myself it just stayed with me. How do you accept and move on from something like that? And what grace and understanding do people unfamiliar with this type of loss and grief extend to those who are adrift in or consumed by the darkness?”
2024
'Roadsigns'
Global Winner 2024: Jamie Manning (USA)
Jamie Manning, 59, from Boston, Massachusetts, won this year’s global contest with his emotionally charged song “Roadsigns.” The song tells the story of a man running from his family under the pressure of life’s struggles, only to realize what he left behind and decide to return home.
Jamie’s lyrical storytelling captures the inner conflict of a father balancing the demands of raising a child with special needs and navigating the complexities of life. Jamie comes from a musical Boston-Irish family, and his journey through music has always been closely tied to the personal challenges he has faced.
2023
'Good Days, Bad Days'
Global Winner 2023: Tanya Walker
A vibrant and mesmerising Welsh performer, Tanya Walker sings with authentic self – expression, her emotional and enchanting delivery of beautifully crafted piano driven songs, laying bare feelings for all to feast upon.
Winner of the PRS/ FOPP Best Singer-Songwriter award for the South West & Wales, Tanya has represented the PRS in Beijing in the creation of new music with global artists from China & Hong Kong & has supported Tim Minchin at Hay Festival in the performance of her multi-disciplinary Arts Council funded musical work ‘Breaking the Fearwall’ following a sell out performance at Brecon Cathedral.
Tanya is now thrilled to have been named as Global winner of the ‘Talent Is Timeless Songwriting Competition’ and will be recording her winning song ‘Good Days, Bad Days’ at Abbey Road Studios in late September.
As well as a singer, songwriter, musician and performer, Tanya is also a professional choir & singing workshop leader with over 38 years of experience & is based in Brecon. She leads five community choirs in Wales, is a vocal and performance coach and supports young people living in Rhondda Cynon Taf into music & the creative industries on behalf of RCT County Borough Councils SONIG Youth Music Industry Project.
Read her letter to the Talent Is Timeless community here
Our Other 2023 Winners
2022
'Bare Boards'
Global Winner 2022: Radio Stranger
(Kelly Brightwell & Woody Moran)
Americana artist Kelly Brightwell and folk-rocker Woody Moran have fused their talents, writing and performing together as Radio Stranger. This Portland, OR based act serves up catchy melodies and heartfelt messages with their collection of Eclectic Acoustic Pop tunes. Their sound is reminiscent of The Civil Wars, Birds of Chicago, The Swell Season, and the UK band The Shires.
They entered the Talent Is Timeless 2022 competition on a whim and to their surprise found out they won, months later!
Talent Is Timeless was able to deliver their prizes by flying them to Abbey Road Studios in October 2022 for their recording and filming sessions and their winning track ‘Bare Boards’ was released on 17th Feb 2023.
Bare Boards - Music Video
Our Other 2022 Winners
Global Winner
Canadian Winner
UK Winner
USA & Members Choice Award
2021
'Bloodrush'
Global Winner 2021: Fergus McNeil
In March 2021 Glaswegian Criminologist Fergus McNeill became the first ever national Talent Is Timeless songwriting competition winner with his touching song ‘Bloodrush’.
Among the prizes he won for first place was a record deal with Jam Records, recording at Abbey Road Studios and play listing in all 600 Caffe Nero branches across the country.
'Bloodrush' - Music Video
Words and music: Fergus McNeill
Drums and Percussion: Louis Abbott
Backing vocals: Saskia Griffiths-Moore
Piano and backing vocals: Donna Maciocia
Electric guitar: James Mackay
Vocals and acoustic guitar: Fergus McNeill
Violin: Jill O’Sullivan
Double bass: Thomas Holder
Engineered by: William Baker
Produced by: Kris Gorski, Audioplanet
Mastered by: Magdalena Piotrowska, Hear Candy
Videography by Carl Russ-Mohl (Muphovi Ltd)
‘Bloodrush’ is available on all streaming platforms.
Our Judges to Date
FAQs
About the Contest
What is Talent Is Timeless?
Founded in 2020, Talent Is Timeless is the world’s largest community of songwriters over 50, with 26,000+ members. It’s a global songwriting contest dedicated to uncovering hidden talent and dismantling age barriers in the music industry.
How long has the contest been running?
2025 marks our 5th annual contest. We’ve received over 10,000 song entries since our founding in 2020.
Pre-Registration Basics
What is pre-registration?
Pre-registration is a free way to secure your spot for the 2025 contest and receive early access to all contest information before entries open in January.
Does pre-registration cost anything?
No, pre-registration is completely free with no obligation to enter the contest.
What do I get by pre-registering?
Pre-registration gives you:
- Priority notification when entries open
- Early access to entry details and pricing
- Direct link to the submission portal when it launches
- Advance information about what you’ll need to prepare
- Updates about prizes and opportunities
When do I need to pre-register by?
Pre-registration is open now until the contest launches in January 2025.
Timeline and Process
What happens after I pre-register?
You’ll receive updates about the contest, including entry requirements, submission guidelines, and a direct link to the submission portal when it opens.
Does pre-registering guarantee my spot in the contest?
While pre-registration doesn’t automatically enter you in the contest, it ensures you’ll be among the first to know when entries open and how to submit your songs.
Technical Questions
What's the age requirement?
All contestants must be age 50 or older by March 31st, 2025 to be eligible to enter the contest.
When does my song need to have been written?
For most categories, there are no time restrictions on when the song was written – it could be a recent composition or one you wrote years ago. Full category-specific guidelines will be provided when the contest opens.
Eligibility Requirements
What's the age requirement?
All contestants must be age 50 or older by March 31st, 2025 to be eligible to enter the contest.
When does my song need to have been written?
For most categories, there are no time restrictions on when the song was written – it could be a recent composition or one you wrote years ago. Full category-specific guidelines will be provided when the contest opens.
Can I enter songs I co-wrote with others?
Yes! Co-written songs are welcome. You just need to:
- Have permission from your co-writer(s) to enter the song
- Be at least 50 years old yourself by March 31st, 2025 (co-writers can be any age)
- Be able to provide co-writer details and permissions if requested
Do all co-writers need to be over 50?
No! Only the person entering the contest needs to meet the age requirement. Your co-writers can be any age.
If I wrote the lyrics but someone else wrote the music, can I enter?
Yes, as long as:
- You have permission from your collaborator(s)
- You clearly credit all contributors
- You meet the age requirement yourself
What about songs I wrote before turning 50?
You can enter songs written at any age, as long as YOU are 50+ by March 31st, 2025 when entering them in the contest.
General Contest Questions
Is this contest only for new/original songs?
This information will be provided when the contest launches in January 2025. Pre-registering ensures you’ll receive the full submission guidelines.
Can I perform a cover song?
Details about eligible song types will be shared when the contest opens. Pre-register to receive complete entry requirements.
International Participants
Can I enter from outside the UK?
Yes! This is a global contest open to songwriters over 50 from any country.
Do songs need to be in English?
Full guidelines about language requirements will be provided when the contest opens in January 2025.
Technical & Submission
What kind of recording quality will I need?
Recording requirements and technical specifications will be shared with pre-registered participants before the contest opens.
Can I submit more than one song?
Yes! There’s no limit to how many songs you can submit when the contest opens.
Community & Support
Can I get help with recording my song?
Once you pre-register, you’ll gain access to information about our community and available resources for contestants.
Will I get feedback on my songs?
Yes! All entries receive personalized feedback from expert judges, plus scores and detailed feedback in your profile.
Professional & Industry
Do I need to be a professional musician to enter?
No! We welcome songwriters of all experience levels, from beginners to professionals. The only requirement is being 50 or older.
What if I've never entered a song contest before?
That’s perfectly fine! Many of our contestants are first-time competition entrants. We provide clear guidelines and support throughout the process.
Copyright & Songwriter Rights
Who owns the rights to my songs if I enter?
You retain 100% of your copyright and rights to your songs. This contest was founded by a songwriter for songwriters – we respect and protect your creative work.
Will entering affect my ownership of my songs?
Absolutely not. You maintain complete ownership and control of your songs. The contest is designed to uplift and promote songwriters, not to acquire any rights to your work.
Can I still perform, sell, or license my songs during and after the contest?
Yes! Your songs remain entirely yours. You can continue to use, perform, sell, or license your songs however you wish.
Does pre-registering or entering give the contest any rights to my music?
No. The contest is created to champion songwriters and their work, not to claim any rights. You retain all rights to your creative work.
Contest Mission & Values
What's the philosophy behind Talent Is Timeless?
Founded by a songwriter who was fed up with ageism in the music industry, Talent Is Timeless is dedicated to:
- Celebrating mature songwriters
- Dismantling age barriers in music
- Creating genuine opportunities for songwriters over 50
- Building a supportive community of creative artists
How is this contest different from others?
This contest was created by a songwriter who understands the importance of protecting artists’ rights. We focus on:
- Respecting songwriters’ ownership of their work
- Providing real opportunities and industry connections
- Offering constructive feedback from expert judges
- Building a supportive community of mature artists
- Challenging age-related barriers in the music industry
After Pre-Registration
How often will I receive updates?
We’ll send occasional updates about contest preparation and important announcements, with increased communication as we approach the January launch.
What if I need to update my contact information after pre-registering?
You’ll be provided with instructions on how to update your information in your confirmation email.