British songwriter Julian Gardner, alongside co-writers J.O.Y. and Paddy Hunt, has won the coveted Overall Grand Prize at the 29th Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Hailing from Wales, UK, Julian is the first British artist to achieve this remarkable honor, marking a historic moment for the competition. Previous winners have hailed from the USA, Canada, and Australia.

“I’m over the moon to be chosen as the 2024 USA Songwriting Competition Overall Grand Prize Winner! I was speechless when I heard the news,” said an elated Julian Gardner. “It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by the USA Songwriting Competition in this way. This win puts amazing light on my musical project and makes all the hard work worthwhile. Thank you!”

Julian’s journey to this accolade began with an honorable mention in the 2023 competition for his single “Problem.” Undeterred, he refined his craft, leading to the creation of “Higher than Love,” the song that earned him the Best Dance/Electronica category award and the Overall Grand Prize. This achievement underscores Julian’s dedication and artistic growth.

Additional Winners Shine Bright

The Overall Second Prize went to Skylar Springer and Kayliann Lowe from Brick, NJ, for their song “Stubborn,” while Liddy Clark of St. Louis, MO, secured the Overall Third Prize with “My Best Friend’s Getting Married.”

Other notable winners include:

• Bill DiLuigi, Steve Dean, and Billy Montana: Winners of the Best Country Award. Their combined songwriting credits include hits recorded by Bonnie Tyler, Garth Brooks, and Sara Evans.

• Kristen Ford and Ani DiFranco: Honorable Mention recipients for their song “White Man’s Dream.”

The complete list of winners and finalists can be found at www.songwriting.net/winners.

USA Songwriting Competition Alumni Earn Grammy Nominations

Three winners of the 2024 USA Songwriting Competition have been nominated for Grammy Awards:

• Ron Korb (Best Global Music Performance)

• Lucy Kalantari (Best Children’s Music Album)

• Wouter Kellerman (Best New Age Album)

Lucy Kalantari previously won a Grammy for Best Children’s Album in 2019, while Wouter Kellerman, a two-time Grammy winner, celebrates his third nomination.

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards will be presented on February 2, 2025.

About the USA Songwriting Competition

The USA Songwriting Competition has a storied legacy of propelling songwriters to success, with winners securing record deals, publishing contracts, and chart-topping hits. Notable alumni include:

• Andrew Jannakos (2020): Signed to Sony Music Nashville/RCA Nashville; reached #65 on the Billboard Hot 100.

• Priscilla Renea (2017): Her songs have been recorded by major artists such as Ariana Grande, Rihanna, and Selena Gomez.

• American Authors (2013): Their hit “Best Day of My Life” reached #1 on the Billboard Charts and achieved 6x Platinum status.

The 30th Annual USA Songwriting Competition is now accepting entries. For more information, visit www.songwriting.net.