Critically acclaimed Singer-Songwriter from Tulsa, Oklahoma, John Moreland won top honors at the 30th Annual USA Songwriting Competition with his song “Visitor”.

John Moreland earned his first music career entry on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts last year at #83, thanks to his featured appearance on Zach Bryan’s “Memphis, The Blues.” Moreland has opened for established artists such as Jason Isbell, Dawes, and Patty Griffin. 

The Overall Second Prize went to Justus Montgomery, Landon Wall, Ethan Anderson & Gary Frost, from Nashville, TN  with their song “Makeup”. 

The Overall Third Prize went to Eli Golden & Matt Anthony from New York, NY with their song “The 1”. 

Other notable winners include: Fyütch & Aura V who not only won the Best Children’s Category but also a current Grammy nominee for Best Children’s Music album.

Michael Berardi, along with co-writer Cheryl Berardi won the Best Novelty/Comedy Award. Michael wrote Alabama’s first hit song with his brother Richard. He has over 200 songs published, many were recorded by major artists, including Alabama, Greg Allman, Billy Preston, Ronnie Spector, Gene Pitney, Trini Lopez, Al Martino, Pia Zadora, Jane Oliver, among others.

Helle Hansen and Frans Bak won the Best Lyrics Award for “Softer Than You Know”.  After receiving an honorable mention award in the USA Songwriting Competition with her song in 2024, Helle regrouped and went to work on a new song “Softer Than You Know” with Frans Bak. The hard work paid off to win the Best Lyrics category award of the competition. The complete list of winners and finalists can be viewed at: www.songwriting.net/winners 

FOUR GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Four winners of the USA Songwriting Competition have received Grammy nominations: Fyütch & Aura V (2025 USA Songwriting Competition Children’s music winner), Ron Korb (2024 USA Songwriting Competition Instrumental winner from Canada),  Flor Bromley (2024 USA Songwriting Competition Children’s music winner), Joanie Leeds (2013 USA Songwriting Competition Children’s music winner) are nominated for the upcoming Grammy awards: 

~Ron Korb (2 nominations: Best Global Music Performance)

~Fyütch & Aura V (Best Children’s Music Album) 

~Flor Bromley (Best Children’s Music Album)

~Joanie Leeds (Best Children’s Music Album)

Joanie Leeds, from New York, NY, won a Grammy Award for Best Children’s album at the 2021 Grammys. This is her second nomination.

Ron Korb has performed on two albums that won two Grammy awards in 2023. This is his second Grammy nomination.

Fyütch and his daughter Aura V, is a 7 year old singer. This is their first Grammy nomination. 

Flor Bromley is also a first time nominee. 

See the list of Grammy nominations here: variety.com/2025/music/news/grammy-nominations-2026-complete-list-kendrick-lamar-gaga-1236572363/ 

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will be presented on February 1, 2026. 

ABOUT USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION

USA Songwriting Competition has a long history of having winners getting recording and publishing contracts, have their songs placed on the charts as well as having their songs placed on film and television. 

2020 top winner Andrew Jannakos was signed to Sony Music Nashville/RCA Nashville records and hit #65 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. The 2022, 2021 and 2020 top winners had their winning songs receive radio airplay. 

The 2017 top winner Pricilla Renae has her song recorded by Ariana Grande and that song hit #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts last year, her songs have been recorded by other big name artists such as 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. 

2013 winner American Authors were signed to Island Records, and hit #1 on the Billboard Charts and went 6X Platinum, selling over 10 million copies worldwide.

In its landmark year, the 31st Annual USA Songwriting Competition is currently accepting entries. For more information, visit: www.songwriting.net/

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