Dear Songwriters,

As the sun sets on another exciting chapter of the Talent is Timeless songwriting competition, we’re thrilled to announce that the submission phase has officially come to a close! We’re buzzing with excitement to share some fun statistics and insights with you all.

First off, let’s celebrate the incredible global reach of our community! This year, we received just under 5500 entries from songwriters spanning across the globe. The United Kingdom (38%) and the United States (48%) gaev us the most entries. But the talent doesn’t stop there—countries like Sweden, Canada, and Australia made impressive showings, adding their unique flair to the competition.

Now, let’s dive into the heart of our community—the songwriters themselves. Our participants represent a diverse range of ages, with the youngest entrant being 50 and the oldest a seasoned 91. Despite the varied ages, the most common age among our participants is 53.

Collaboration is key in the world of music, and our community is no exception. While co-writers were named in only 532 entries, we’re inspired by the spirit of teamwork and camaraderie that shines through in each collaborative effort.

When it comes to professions, our songwriters wear many hats. From musicians and retirees to teachers and artists, the diversity of our community is truly remarkable. Special mention goes to the unique professions listed, including ‘feckless’ and ‘Native American Tribal Chief’—proof that creativity knows no bounds!

Now, let’s talk about what’s next. The task of judging and sorting through the competition entries begins, and we anticipate it will be a couple of months of intensive work to go through the rounds. Our dedicated team of judges will carefully evaluate each submission, considering its creativity, originality, and emotional impact. We’ve designed a multi-round process to ensure that every entry receives the attention it deserves, while also providing constructive feedback to our participants.

While we process the songs in multiple rounds, we’ve made the decision to only notify entrants when their song reaches the longest (top 20% of entries), the shortlist (top 25 or so songs), and then the winners. We believe in nurturing the creative spirit of each songwriter, and we want to ensure that every participant feels valued and supported throughout the competition journey.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone for bearing with us during the untimely technical issues we encountered in the final days of the contest. Your patience and understanding are truly appreciated, and we’re grateful for your unwavering support.

As we embark on this exciting journey of discovery and celebration of talent, we encourage you to continue supporting each other’s creative endeavors. Remember, beneath each entry lies a wish, a hope, and a dream, and together, we can uplift and inspire each other to new heights.

Lastly, we want to express our gratitude to those who have generously donated to our JustGiving page. Your contributions are the lifeblood of our community, enabling us to keep the competition free and accessible to all aspiring songwriters. If you havent made a donation yet please consider supporting what we do here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/2024tist

Stay tuned for further updates as we progress through the competition rounds. Until then, keep creating, keep dreaming, and keep sharing your music with the world.

With love and gratitude,

Saskia and the Talent is Timeless team