The global age-positive songwriting competition for people age 50+
World Class
Prizes
Celebrity
Judges
Free
To Enter
The Talent Is Timeless Annual Global Songwriting Competition
November to March Annually
To Connect And Inspire Songwriters Age 50+
By shining a light on a 50+ years only stage, we are focusing on promoting acoustic music makers, pairing you with one in a lifetime prizes, world-renowned celebrity judges and unlocking industry opportunities that may have felt a past lifetime away.
We all know that the media discriminates against more mature generations. Talent is Timeless is on a mission to transform songwriting and music-making into an age-positive endeavour, setting you up to celebrate your age, wisdom, experience and most of all, talent. We want to encourage people to begin their careers in the music industry without feeling that age is a barrier.
By supporting you, we support change and create a chance to change perspective.
How The Competition Works
| 1st Jan | Competition opens for entries |
| 31st March | Competition closes for entries |
| April-May | Masters level songwriting interns from the top music institutions in the roll (Berklee, NYU Steinhardt, Tileyard etc.) evaluate thousands of song entries |
| June | Celebrity judges evaluate the top songs |
| July | Winners announced |
| Autumn | Prizes delivered |
"It's Never Too Late To Be What You Might Have Been."
GEORGE ELIOT
Do you have an original song ready to be shared with the world?
It’s time to dust off your notebook, or tune that guitar, or sit at your piano and ignite that musical fire inside. The Talent is Timeless competition is here to give YOU the platform you may have missed out on, and to open the doors to your songwriting possibilities.
What Are You Waiting For?
If you’re 50+ years of age, have written an original song in an acoustic genre style and can record a video or audio file of your song, you’re who we’re looking for to shake up the music industry and change the tide.
With some incredible prizes and even more impressive judges, your time is now.
Prizes
What Are The Prizes?
Record Deal
Studio Time
Travel / Flights
Music video
Equipment
Spotify promotion
Magazine reviews
Workshop
Mentoring
National 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
Our Judges to Date
Our Winners
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 Rd 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
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.
Talent Is Timeless Global Winner 2022 - Radio Stranger (Kelly Brightwell & Woody Moran) with 'Bare Boards'
Bare Boards - Music Video
Our Other 2022 Winners
Global Winner
Canadian Winner
UK Winner
USA & Members Choice Award
2021
Talent Is Timeless global winner 2023 - Fergus McNeill with '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.
