Taking Applications - The 23rd Annual USA Songwriting Competition

Entries are now accepted for the 23rd Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Songwriters and Composers vie for a chance to win a top prize of $50,000 worth of cash and merchandise such as music gear. Winning songs will be receiving radio airplay. Songwriters can enter in 15 different song categories such as: Pop, Rock/Alt, Folk, R&B, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Instrumental, etc.

USA Songwriting Competition is sponsored by: Sony, D'Addario Strings, Recording Magazine, New Music Weekly, Loggins Promotion, Airplay Access, Audio-Technica, Presonus, Sonoma Wireworks, SongTrust.com, KJug Guitars, Acoustic Cafe Radio Show, Discmakers, CDBaby, KJug Guitars, Storyblocks and Berklee College of Music.

CURRENT WINNERS
Priscilla Renea Hairston (see pictured) of Los Angeles, California has won the Overall Grand Prize and First Prize in the Pop category in the 22nd Annual USA Songwriting Competition with her song "Family Tree" along with songwriters Boots Ottstad and Ben Burgess. This is her first win in any Songwriting Competition. Her winning song "Family Tree" is a touching mid-tempo song based on a true story on Priscilla's turbulent early life.

Additionally, she co-wrote a song "Love So Soft", which was recorded by Kelly Clarkson, received a nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards (please watch the Grammy awards this coming Sunday!). The song hit #47 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

Priscilla was signed to Capitol Records in 2009. She is also a professional songwriter, her songs she has written reads like who-who's in Pop music. Her songs were recorded by Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Fifth Harmony, Demi Lovato, Rihanna, Madonna, Selena Gomez and Chris Brown. Several of her songs have hit the Billboard Hot 100 Charts.

Her hits she wrote include co-writing the song "Timber", recorded by Pitbull, the song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 2013, certified six times Platinum, making it the biggest hit she has co-written so far in her career. Her other notable hits that she wrote or co-wrote include "Worth It", recorded by Fifth Harmony (#12 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts), "California King Bed" recorded by Pop superstar Rihanna (#37 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts).

The Overall Second Prize went to Folk songwriters Hope Schneir and Justin Schneir of Camarillo, CA with their song "Lay You Down".

The Overall Third Prize went to Aubrey Logan and Lisa Cole Bass of Bellevue, WA with her song "Pity Party". This is the fifth consecutive year that all top 3 winning songs are written by more than one songwriter.

ABOUT USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION
USA Songwriting Competition has been honoring songwriters from all over the world. Winners came from Australia, Japan, Canada, UK, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, USA, etc. Past winners have gotten recording contracts, getting their songs on film, TV as well as getting cuts with major artists. The 2013 Top winner rock band "American Authors" hit #1 on the Billboard Charts and went Double Platinum, selling over 2 million copies. The 2007 winner Air Gold hit Top 10 on the Billboard charts with his winning song 6 months after his win. The 2005 Winner of the Country category had his winning song cut by Country Superstar Faith Hill. The 2005 winner of the Pop category was signed by Interscope Records. Our 2008 winner appeared on David Letterman TV show and got signed to a record label.

In its landmark year, the 23rd Annual USA Songwriting Competition is currently accepting entries. This is a great opportunity for songwriters. For more information, visit: http://www.songwriting.net

Source: http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=201734

Ray Brown Jr Shines On New International Jazz Recording

SRI Jazz is proud present a new album by Ray Brown Jr, cementing his place as one of the leading jazz vocalists performing today. Called a cross between Billy Eckstein and Al Jarreau, Ray Brown Jr. is the heir-apparent to the title of the best smooth jazz vocalist of our time and is the "Featured Artist" on the label's website http://www.srirecords.com

His new album is simply titled "This Is Ray Brown Jr.", as it showcases this superb artist as he glides through thirteen creative renditions of classic jazz and blues songs combined with Ray's warm and charming vocals making it this one of the best vocal jazz albums of the year.

Ray is one of those rare journeymen singers who, like his famous Mother (Ella Fitzgerald), is more at home performing than anywhere else. Most recently he has been working non-stop throughout Europe, Australia and the Ukraine (where this album was recorded) to sold out shows of adoring audiences with a terrific band of talented musicians who are thrilled to be working with this amazing artist.

"This Is Ray Brown Jr" was recorded at Fonia Recording Studios, Lviv, Ukraine during March & August 2017 with engineer Yuriy Melnik. Ray's band of veteran musicians included Yuriy Seredin on piano, Andrew Arnautoff on bass, Frank Parker on drums, Dimitry Kovalenko and Vlad DeBriansky (on loan from the American Music Academy) on guitars, Bogdan Humeniuk on saxophone and Andy Valentine on percussion.

"I've worked with some of the greatest names in Jazz and I've worked with Ray for many years and, as far as I'm concerned, this is Ray's best work. This album is the culmination of the talents of Ray Brown Jr. and his years of non-stop performing. The man just keeps getting better as he is never satisfied and always wants to improve. This album ranks up there with his critically acclaimed SRI Jazz duets album, Friends And Family", stated Shelly Liebowitz, veteran producer and label President.

SRI Jazz, SRI Records and Flamingo Jazz are all part of SRI Label Group, celebrating twenty years of providing quality, collectible Blues, Jazz, Country and Rock & Roll from major artists past and present. As one of the first websites on the internet to offer great new and collectible music, srirecords.com has established itself as a music pioneer on the internet. With industry veteran Shelly Liebowitz at the helm, SRI has strived to provide a standard of excellence in the world of music.

For additional information contact Shelly Liebowitz by email at shelly@srirecords.com or visit http://www.srirecords.com

Source: http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=201047

High Definition Music Card in now sponsored by Microsoft

Then you go to the movie and hear the sound from behind you it is just like wearing your 3D sound glasses. Now try to imagine music in this 3D glasses where each individual sound has its unique location in 3 Dimensional space. My name is Alexander Golberg Jero, and I am the First Winner of the world-famous First Surround Music Awards for the Best New Surround Music Composition, presented by United Entertainment in 2002. I have composed more than 200 high definition audio titles, all critically recognized. This is my new format for representing the multichannel audio to the consumer market produced with the support of many technology consumers groups for the future of music industry.

My project is not only innovative: it is a game-changer in the industry that will revolutionize it and its approach. It covers all main parts of music production, distribution, and marketing, which makes it an amazing opportunity for people with different skills. It mainly includes these three broad areas: music product distribution, content development, and artist marketing. These will be supported by major record labels: this means that the intellectual properties of musical and lyrical content will, of course, be protected.

The exciting promotion of the project will be enhanced by the star presence of new Celebrity artist, a well-known presence in the industry, who is an expert in music tech and has dedicated his life working with new and cutting-edge sound technologies. Their involvement is something that is a guarantee in itself regarding the quality of the project and the team behind it.

This project is not only an innovative opportunity and a unique challenge: it is a new way of perceiving and conceiving the music industry. This project brings the concrete possibility of a radical change in the industry through new amazing and exciting technologies. The new format of representing the multichannel audio to the consumer market with the aid of these technologies will give whoever is involved in the project the chance to contribute to a change that will benefit every aspect of the industry.
Website: http://www.highdefinitionmusiccard.com

Source: http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=201007

"I Wanna Be David Cassidy," New Tribute Song to Late Music Icon, Is Released

"I Wanna Be David Cassidy" by Ken Sharp, a new tribute song to the late ‘70s music and television icon, has just been released as a digital single with a limited-edition vinyl 7-inch 45 RPM single also in the works.

"I've been a major fan of David Cassidy and The Partridge Family for 47 years and was so rocked and saddened by David's sudden and tragic passing, I felt I needed to do something more than mourning his passing to honor his memory and what he meant to me. And then it came to me, write a song…While the girls wanted to be with David Cassidy, I wanted to be like him and ‘I Wanna Be David Cassidy' captures my long-standing admiration for his enduring artistry."

Penned and performed by Ken Sharp, an L.A. based singer/songwriter with four acclaimed albums to his credit, the song was written on the day Cassidy passed away and was recorded over two marathon sessions at Reseda Ranch Studios in Reseda, CA and The Manor in Toluca Lake, CA. Produced by Ken Sharp and Fernando Perdomo (Dave Kerzner/Jakob Dylan/Linda Perhacs), the song features musical backing by Sharp, Perdomo and Rob Bonfiglio (Wanderlust/Wilson Philips).

"I Wanna Be David Cassidy" premiered worldwide on renowned DJ Rodney Bingenheimer's radio show on Sirius XM's "Underground Garage" on November 26, 2017, the day after it was finished.

Sharp forged a friendship with Cassidy through the years, working with the artist on his 2007 autobiography, Could It Be Forever?: My Story, and co-penning liner notes for various Partridge Family releases, The Partridge Family Album, Up To Date, Sound Magazine and Shopping Bag, as well as contributing liner notes and interviews for Come On Get Happy: The Very Best of The Partridge Family. More recently, Ken and his band opened a show for David Cassidy in February 2017 at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA, which was one of the last shows Cassidy ever performed.

Ken Sharp's latest album, 2015's New Mourning, landed on numerous best albums of 2015 lists and earned raves in The Huffington Post, American Songwriter, Music Connection, Goldmine, New Depression and more.

Jetfighter Records and Sofa King Vinyl have partnered to release a limited 7-inch 45 RPM single of "I Wanna Be David Cassidy" b/w "Let's Be Friends." 100 copies need to be reserved for this pressing to happen. The release will be mastered for vinyl from the original 24-bit mixes and all who pre-order will get a download of both songs. https://qrates.com/artists/SofaKingVinyl/items/14834

All proceeds from the single will be channeled to David's charity of choice, The Alzheimer's Association (https://www.alz.org).

Credits:
Ken Sharp: lead and background vocals, 12-string electric guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, bell tree, handclaps
Fernando Perdomo: drums, bass, electric guitar, handclaps, tambourine
Rob Bonfiglio: harpsichord, background vocals
Recorded at Reseda Ranch Studios, Reseda, CA and The Manor, Toluca Lake, CA
Produced by Ken Sharp and Fernando Perdomo
Cover Art by John Sellards

Related Links:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-wanna-be-david-cassidy-single/1317645842
https://kensharp.bandcamp.com/track/i-wanna-be-david-cassidy-2
https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Ken_Sharp_I_Wanna_Be_David_Cassidy?id=Bdvbbqssn7ag3gtyaqvwg37demu
https://qrates.com/artists/SofaKingVinyl/items/14834

Media Contact:
Company Name: Forward Motion Music Group
Contact Name: Ann Rinaldi
email: ann@acrmanagement.com
phone: (252) 402-5395
location: Savannah, GA, United States
website: www.acrmanagement.com

Ken Sharp
Official website: http://ken-sharp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KenSharpMusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ken.sharp/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/ken-sharp/id261310426
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-v7D7GlsT9HvXxL_WUhGCQ
Bandcamp: https://kensharp.bandcamp.com

Source: http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=201063