The John Lennon Award is an annual competition open to student songwriters and composers of contemporary musical genres including alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronica, R&B, and experimental. Established in 1997 by Yoko Ono in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, this prestigious award honors the memory of John Lennon and supports talented emerging songwriters. Three scholarships totaling $20,000 are awarded each year for the best original songs submitted to the competition.
Scholarship Details
- Total annual award of $20,000
- Three individual scholarships awarded annually
- Judged by a panel of music publishers, songwriters, musicians, and executives
- Works can be in any contemporary music genre, including alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronica, R&B, and experimental
- Administered by BMI’s Vice President, Creative, New York Samantha Cox and Director, Creative, New York Tim Pattison
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be between the ages of 17 and 24 as of February 15th
- Must be a resident of the United States or its territories
- May only submit one application per BMI Foundation awards program
- May not submit the same musical work to more than one BMI Foundation awards program
- Works must not be assigned to any major music publisher or record label
- Previous winners of the John Lennon Award are not eligible (Honorable mentions may apply again)
Co-Written Works
- Co-written works can have no more than 3 total writers
- All co-writers must meet the eligibility requirements
- Only one songwriter of record must submit the application
- Songwriters can only be the writer of record on one submission
- Awards will be split evenly among co-writers
- Only songwriters should be listed as co-writers (performers and producers should not be listed)
Application Process
- Prepare your original song for submission
- Ensure that the work is unpublished and not under contract with a major music publisher or record label
- Submit an online application through the BMI Foundation portal
- If the work is co-written, list all co-writers on the application
- Submit supporting materials as required by the application portal
- Ensure the application is submitted before the deadline on February 15th
The John Lennon Award is one of the most prestigious opportunities for emerging songwriters. If you have a passion for songwriting and want to gain recognition from some of the top professionals in the music industry, apply today and share your creative vision with the world!