Enter Your Song

Entries for 2025 will OPEN June 1

Entries close 31st of August

Entry is FREE

The intention of the Judith Crossley Memorial Songwriting Award is to encourage people to write new songs about people, places, or events in South Australia.

Prize money of $300 is offered to the winner and $100 to each runner up as decided by the judges on the day of the Award Finals.

• Due to works at Willunga Oval this year, the competition will be run online. But, the winner will be given the opportunity to perform at the One Day Event in October. 

• The song must tell a South Australian story, or be about a person or place identifiable with South Australia.

• The song must be original in both lyrics and melody. Entirely AI generated works will not be accepted.

• The song should be written in a style that suits acoustic performance.

• The song must have been written within the previous two years.

• The song must not have been made commercially available as a recording or for radio airplay (including independent release), offered for commercial download, published or subject to recording or publishing agreements, and must not have won a prize in any other competition.

• You must be present for the performance of the song, as recorded for selection and in the finals. The song may be performed by you or another artist you organise independently. The song may be accompanied by acoustic instruments, or unaccompanied/a capella. The song may be performed solo, or with one other person providing vocal and/or instrumental support.

Ten finalists will be selected from entries received and their song will be adjudicated by an independent panel of judges.

The song will be judged on its merits as a song, not on the performance or the sophistication of the recording.

Copyright of the song is retained by the writer.

Judges will individually use the following marking criteria:

• Lyrics (Max points = 15)

• Melody (Max points = 15)

• Structure (Max points = 10)

• Originality (Max points = 5)

• Judges Points (Max points = 5)

Note: At the bottom of this page are some YouTube links which may be of assistance to you if you're having trouble creating an MP3 audio file.