2012 NAMM Showcase Winners

As Session II, 2011 comes to a close, we have also chosen the winners to the Lennon Bus and Wanna Play? showcase at the 2012 NAMM show.

A BIG Congrats goes out to:

Alma Desnuda

Morgan Karr

Alma Desnuda and Morgan Karr both won acoustic Epiphone John Lennon EJ-160 Guitars courtesy of Epiphone.

Check them out on the Wanna Play? stage at the 2012 NAMM Show next January along with tons of other great acts. While you're there, also give some love to the Lennon Bus; take a tour, make some friends and, most importantly, keep music alive!

Lennon's 71st Birthday Mini Contest!

Click To Enter

We're looking for songwriters to submit original songs to the JLSC of any genre that pay respect to the legacy of peace and hope that John Lennon began 71 years ago.

Submit a song to the JLSC between Tuesday September 27th, 2011 and Tuesday, October 18th, 2011 and you'll be entered for the chance to win a new electric Epiphone "Inspired By" John Lennon Casino guitar (MSRP $1665)

If you enter the Lennon 71st Birthday Mini Contest, you will also be entered into Session II, 2011 of the JLSC.

Winners will be announced Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

And the Winners for Session I, 2011 Are...

A HUGE Congratulations to all of our Session I, 2011 winners! Additionally, we'd like to thank all of you who entered!

Please note that Session II, 2011 s open and accepting entries until December 15, 2011! Please visits: www.jlsc.com for more details about the contest or to enter.

Meghan Trainor Wins Our Valentine's Day Love Song Promotion!

Congratulations to Meghan Trainor, the winner of our Valetntine's Day Love Song Mini Contest. For submitting the best original love song, Meghan won a brand new Epiphone Casino electric guitar and a Mackie Amp! 17-year-old Meghan has been writing, performing, and producing her own music since she was 13, including her JLSC award winning “Learning To Say I Love You.”

Be sure to keep checking the JLSC for more special opportunities!

DEADLINE TODAY!

Today is the last day to enter your song(s) to win a fully professional Lennon Bus Live music video recorded on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus at Warped Tour!



Head over to sonicbids to get more details and take advantage of our special promotion.

Enter now!

Session II Now Open With Special 2 Week Promotion! Win the Opportunity to Create Your Very Own Music Video at WARPED TOUR!

We are currently running a promotion for all those who enter their song(s) by June 29th, 2011 on Sonicbids. You can opt-in to win a fully professional Lennon Bus Live music video recorded on the Lennon Bus at Warped Tour. 1 artist will be selected to join the Tour Bus during one of its Northeast/East Coast date, and 1 artist will be selected for a Mountain/West Coast date. Selected band members will also get Warped Tour VIP experience.

Please head over to Sonicbids for more information about the JLSC and to take part in this special 2 week promotion!

DEADLINE: Tomorrow, June 15, 2011

...That's right, Session I, 2011 closes TOMORROW so be sure to enter your song(s) asap to compete for our biggest prize package yet, totaling over $275,000 in cash and prizes for our winners! For a quick prize preview, the Song of the Year Prize is a $20,000 check!

Head on over to JLSC.com to learn more about the contest, our prizes, and esteemed panel of judges.

It's time to Enter!

Third Nature - the Grand Prize Winner of Musician's Friend presents the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Video Challenge, Records on the Lennon Bus!

Third Nature spent some time recording on the Lennon Bus this past weekend in Saratoga Springs, NY! As Grand Prize Winners of the video challenge, Third Nature won: a one-day video and audio recording session on the Lennon Bus, their music on over 17,000 movie screens around the US, courtesy of Sonicbids and over $7,500 in music gear from Gibson, Epiphone, Audio-Technica, Mackie & Avid!

Check in at www.jlsc.com for more special events and thanks again to everyone who entered!

Meet the 2010 Lennon Award Winners!

We would like to congratulate all 12 of our Lennon Award Winners! Click their names to check out their personal sites, or simply click their category to listen to their winning song!

Pierre Mongeon - Children's

Lauren Strange - Country

Marius Njølstad - Electronic

Mia Friedman - Folk

Wayne Robinson - Gospel/Inspirational

MC Psalmist - Hip-Hop

Tony Lechner - Jazz

Juan Aguirre - Latin

dbClifford - Pop

Brandon K. Knox - R&B

Eliza Callahan - Rock

Chris Jacome - World A big thanks to all of you who voted in the 2010 Lennon Awards! Session I, 2011 is still open. Be sure to check out www.jlsc.com for more information about the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and ways to enter!

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus presents: The Alabama Gospel Music Songwriting Contest Grand Prize Winner Results!

On Monday, May 16th, the 3 contest finalists, Jim Lowe, Wayne Robinson, and Marquita Anthony performed live at Railroad Park in Birmingham, Alabama alongside Ruben Studdard at a benefit concert to help those affected by the April 27th Tornado. Aside from great performances and hugely appreciated donations, Jim Lowe was announced as the Grand Prize Winner of the contest!

Congratulations to Jim! As a Grand Prize Winner, Jim has won an additional Avid Prize Package totaling almost $3,000 (MSRP) consisting of an Mbox, PT 9 Academic, Sibelius 6 Professional, Axiom 49 keyboard controller, a pair of M-Audio CX5 monitors, and a Luna II microphone. Additionally Jim's Grand Prize winning song will be entered into the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and eligible to win the $20,000 Song of the Year!

Thanks again to everyone who entered! Be sure to check in at www.jlsc.com for more special opportunities!

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus presents: The Alabama Gospel Music Songwriting Contest Finalists Results!

Congratulations to our 3 finalists, Wayne Robinson, Marquita Anthony and Jim Lowe!

As finalists they have won, an Avid Finalist Prize Packages, totaling over $1,000 (MSRP) consisting of PT 9 Academic, Sibelius 6 Professional and an Oxygen 25 keyboard controller.

Additionally, one of the three finalists will be selected as the Grand Prize winner, receiving an additional Avid Prize Package totaling almost $3,000 (MSRP) consisting of an Mbox, PT 9 Academic, Sibelius 6 Professional, Axiom 49 keyboard controller, a pair of M-Audio CX5 monitors, and a Luna II microphone. Additionally the Grand Prize winning song will be entered into the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and eligible to win the $20,000 Song of the Year!

Thank you to all of you who entered! Please follow us on http://www.jlsc.com for more special opportunities!

Shaping Electronic Music in Germany

Perhaps not as well known now as the French electronic scene, Germany has been producing electronic music acts for decades and has provided inspiration for many artists the world over.

In the late 60's and early 70's an early form of electronic music was formed by mixing the regular rock band instrumentation with electronic instruments and experimental production effects such as those used by the Beatles. Germany branded this genre Kosmische Musik. The term encompassed German electronic groups such as Tangerine Dream, Faust and Kraftwerk.

After the Berlin Wall fell, many recently vacated Eastern Bloc buildings became refuges for DJ's and the underground dance and rave scene. In 1991, Berlin held it's first Mayday Music Festival which has grown into one the the largest electronic music events in Europe. The idea was simple: A huge underground rave based off of a theme composed by the Members of Mayday. The first festival reached an estimated crowd attendance of 5,000. In 1992, they more than doubled that number with around 12,000 attendees. High profile artists like Aphex Twin, Moby and The Prodigy have all performed at Mayday festival and similar Mayday Raves have been set up in Poland and Russia.



German music has had an act emerge in every sub genre of electronic music. You may have heard of such artists as KMFDM, Wumpscut, Rammstein, Apparat, ATB, Digitalism and former JLSC Finalist, Maison Vague. Many of the new groups, like Maison Vague, have talked about how, without the groundwork laid out by artists like Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream, the inspiration for the electronic sound coming out of Germany just wouldn't be there.

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Presents: The Alabama Gospel Music Songwriting Contest

In celebration of Alabama's great Gospel history, the John Lennon Songwriting Contest wants you to upload your original songs for your chance to shine as a songwriter! Please visit http://www.jlsc.com/alabama_gospel.php for further information regarding this contest as well as submit your songs and lyrics! You could win one of three Avid Finalist Prize Packages, totaling over $1,000 (MSRP) consisting of PT 9 Academic, Sibelius 6 Professional and an Oxygen 25 keyboard controller. One of the three finalists will be selected as the Grand Prize winner, receiving an additional Avid Prize Package totaling almost $3,000 (MSRP) consisting of an Mbox, PT 9 Academic, Sibelius 6 Professional, Axiom 49 keyboard controller, a pair of M-Audio CX5 monitors, and a Luna II microphone. Additionally the Grand Prize winning song will be entered into the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and eligible to win the $20,000 Song of the Year!


As always, the entries will be considered by a panel of esteemed and celebrity judges. Many of you may be familiar with Ruben Studdard, winner of American Idol's 2nd season. He will be both judging your entries as well as performing!



Accompanying Ruben with the judging will be Renowned conductor and arranger Dr. Henry Panion, III (Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Gospel Goes Classical), Kevin Bond, Kurt Carr, Dorinda Clark-Cole (Clark Sisters), Cedric Dent (Take 6), Steven Ford (Richard Smallwood, The Winans), and Aaron Lindsey (Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp), along with Gospel Jazz great Ben Tankard.

Please note that The Alabama Gospel Music Songwriting Contest is only open to Alabama state residents and students, if you fit this criteria and are interested in entering our contest, please go to http://www.jlsc.com/alabama_gospel.php for further details and to enter!

If you are not a resident of Alabama, you need not be discouraged as Session I of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest is still open and accepting entries! If you would like to enter our Session I songwriting contest, please visit http://www.jlsc.com for more details on rules and how to enter.

JLSC Winner Nabs Second Juno Award for Sophomore Album

The biggest night in Canadian music took place this past weekend in Toronto, ON, and two-time Grand Prize Winner (Gospel Category), Greg Sczebel, was among the star-studded list of winners, including Neil Young, Arcade Fire and Justin Bieber. The soulful singer/songwriter, who was also the winner of the JLSC’s “Toby Gad Experience”, claimed the trophy for “Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year” - the same award he won in 2005 for his debut independent release, “Here to Stay”.

Still buzzing from his win, Sczebel notes that the nomination in this category came as a bit of a surprise to some of his fans. “I’ve had a few fans say they were surprised that my album was nominated in this category because it sounds nothing like a typical Gospel album. But the fans and industry in both the Gospel and mainstream Pop scene have been so supportive of this album, which I think is a testament to the power of music…it can cross borders of any kind if it resonates with listeners.”

Sczebel’s national recognition comes fresh off the heels of receiving 9 nominations in the British Columbia Interior Music Awards, including Pop Album of the Year, Single of the Year for his song “I’ve Got That Feelin” and R&B/Soul Album of the Year.

Lennon Award Voting!

The Grand Prize Winners from the 2010 contest are listed below, please vote as they will now compete head to head to determine the 12 Lennon Award Winners!
You may vote once per category per day. Voting is open March 28th - April 27th and the 12 Lennon Award Winners will be announced on May 1st, 2011. Each of the 12 Lennon Awards winners win $1000 in Mackie, Ampeg or Blackheart products, and 1000 custom CD's printed in full color 6 panel digipaks courtesy of Disc Makers worth $1990! Then all 12 Lennon Awards Winners are eligible to win a Mackie Mixer, a pair of Mackie Studio Monitors AND the $20,000 Song of the Year!

JLSC Winner Andrew Belle Boards The Bus And Moves The Crowd At SXSW

Andrew Belle made a strong impression on the JLSC with his song "The Ladder," which won him the JLSC Pop Grand Prize. Needless to say Belle continued to wow us with his performance at the Gibson Guitar Showroom at SXSW. Check out the pictures below of his performance and visit on-board the Lennon Bus. Also check out his song "The Ladder" HERE

Announcing the Winners of the Musician's Friend presents The John Lennon Songwriting Contest VIDEO CHALLENGE!

Final judging just wrapped up for the Musician's Friend presents The John Lennon Songwriting Contest Video Challenge. With the hundreds of videos submitted—all packed with incredible talent—we're so glad the voting wasn't left to us.

In the final round, our panel of celebrity judges chose the coveted 3rd, 2nd, and Grand Prize winners based on Presentation, Originality and Creativity, Melody, Vocal Ability and Music, Lyrics and Entertainment.

After 1000s of votes & a grueling review by our judges, we're pleased to announce our WINNERS!



GRAND PRIZE - Third Nature of Saratoga Springs, NY
Lost for Now
Watch the Video

Third Nature is - Tom Best (Drums), Will Dowling (Bass), and Merrick Noyes (Keyboard). Third Nature’s sound depends heavily on the mutual trust of the band mates and their ability to communicate almost telepathically. It is apparent to any audience member at a Third Nature show how close the band mates are musically and personally. Making use of floating synthesized melodies, a thumping bass drum, and euphoric undulating bass lines, Third Nature creates a tangible energy at live shows that keeps crowds sweating and dancing the night away. Third Nature has become the “band to see” for Skidmore college students. Even amongst a student body that has diverse musical tastes, Third Nature has been able to appeal to anyone and everyone who wants to get down. To put it simply, Third Nature knows how to throw the best party in town. Third Nature’s history is rich despite its youth and limited touring experience. Each of the members has known one another, in some way, for their entire lives. Keyboardist Merrick Noyes and drummer Tom Best grew up in the same small town in northwestern Connecticut. As cousins, Noyes and bassist Will Dowling grew up together and fostered each other’s musical development since they first picked up instruments. Dowling met and befriended Best when the trio began to attend the same high school in 2004. They have been playing together ever since. Find them on Facebook or MySpace.

About the Video
Lost for Now was created using a stop-motion compilation of light paintings composed of thousands of photographs with exposures lasting 15 to 30 seconds each. It was produced, filmed, and edited by Calder Wilson, with dedicated contributions from Tom Best and Will Dowling. Thank you also to Ripley Sager, Alex Darell, and Will Sargent for their help. The video was shot in and around the Skidmore College campus in Saratoga Springs, New York and was made possible in part by the Skidmore Student Opportunity Fund. For more information on the video, including screen shots in full resolution, visit @ http://calderwilson.com/

Third Nature's Grand prize includes a one-day video and audio recording session on the Lennon Bus, their music on over 17,000 movie screens around the US, courtesy of Sonicbids and over $7,500 in music gear from Gibson, Epiphone, Audio-Technica, Mackie & Avid!




2ND PLACE - Colin Hatch of Provo, UT
Answer the Phone
Watch the Video

"I’ve always had a passion for songwriting and great hooks. I grew up playing the piano and guitar and listening to The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Beck, and Radiohead. Right now, I’m a Media Music Major at Brigham Young University and I’m the lead singer/multi-instrumentalist for the band Tighty Willis. I’m always writing songs and looking to improve the ones I’ve already written. I was so floored when I found out I placed second in the contest. Thanks to all of you who voted and thanks to Musician’s Friend! Look up Tighty Willis on Facebook and iTunes". Colin's 2nd place prize includes an Epiphone Inspired By Lennon Casino guitar and a $1,000 Musician’s Friend Gift Certificate!





3RD PLACE - Michael Swenson of Largo, FL
Dark Visions & Ghostly Dreams
Watch the Video

Michael Swenson was born in Clearwater, FL. He comes from a very musical family. His mother is a pianist and opera vocalist and his father is a vocalist and plays guitar. Growing up, Michael was exposed to many different kinds of music... classical, jazz, rock, musicals... you name it. He studied french horn and concert percussion and began to play the drums in a band with his brother Steven during his high school years. He has played in jazz combos, orchestra pits, and many different bands and commercial projects since then.

Michael has been mostly a studio musician over the last 8 years and is now moving into his own untitled personal project... of which the song "Dark Visions & Ghostly Dreams" is a part. More announcements regarding an EP will be made in the coming months.

Michael still resides in the Tampa Bay area with his wife Melissa, his son Miles.... and their Catahoula Leopard Dog named "Chupacabra".

"I am absolutely humbled to have gotten third place in this contest. There were many talented people that entered and I am so grateful! Thank you Musician's Friend and the amazing judges at the JLSWC! Also thank you to everyone who voted for me, my good friend Tommy Platt for producing this track with me, and my beautiful and talented wife Melissa Kolmar (who encourages me daily and made me promise to enter this contest!). This is so encouraging as I embark on making my first EP before this summer. Thanks again!!"

Michael's 3rd place prize includes an Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500MCE guitar and a $500 Musician’s Friend Gift Certificate!

Song Of The Year, "The Ransom" Performed At NAMM By Madison Violet

Valentine's Day Special! Enter your Love Song to WIN BIG!

Pour your heart into an original Love Song for your chance to win big this Valentine’s day! Enter your Love Song into the John Lennon Songwriting Contest between February 2nd and February 15th, 2011, and you’ll also be entered for the chance to fall in love with a new Epiphone Casino electric guitar (MSRP $1190) and a Blackheart Amp!

Grand Vanity performs on the Lennon Bus Stage at NAMM

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest's exclusive partner Sonicbids, was out to find one lucky band to perform at the 2011 NAMM Show. This years winner, Grand Vanity, performed on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus stage and won an Epiphone John Lennon EJ-160E guitar and a Blackheart BH5H amp with a matching BH112 cab!
Check out their performance!

Song Of The Year Winner Madison Violet Performs At NAMM

This year the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus made its annual stop at the 2011 NAMM show in Anaheim, CA. It was a landmark year, announcing AVID’s partnership with the Lennon Bus, and having Grammy nominated artist and JLSC judge Natasha Bedingfield perform! But perhaps the best moment was welcoming John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Song of the Year winners Madison Violet onstage to play their winning song "The Ransom". Check out photos from the event, and make sure to check back for video!

Photo L-R: SVP of Marketing at AVID- Ron Greenberg. Lisa MacIsaac and Brenley MacEachern of Madison Violet. Grammy nominated artist- Natasha Bedingfield. Former New York Yankee- Bernie Williams. Executive Director of the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and John Lennon Songwriting Contest- Brian Rothschild.


Madison Violet performs on the Lennon Bus Stage.


On-board the Lennon Bus with Brian Rothschild and Madison Violet.


Madison Violet with their $20 000 check in front of the Lennon Bus.

Announcing: Congratulations Collette! Winner of the May We All Shine On! Original Holiday Song Contest

Collette's winning song "Keep Christmas Alive" can be heard by clicking the image below!
As the winner, Collette will be receiving Sibelius 6, an Apple iPod Shuffle and a new Epiphone Guitar!