Australian singer-songwriter Tones And I has won the International Songwriting Competition’s 2019 grand prize for her song “Dance Monkey,” as judged by a panel that included Coldplay, Tom Waits, Nancy Wilson of Heart, Tanya Tucker, Cam, American Authors and Irma Thomas and several music industry executives.
With the honor, Tones And I (aka Toni Watson) is awarded $25,000 in cash and nearly $45,000 in additional prizes.
“My life has been a rollercoaster since releasing this song, and to get this recognition is an honor,” Tones And I said in a statement. “I wrote this song on my own and for my friends, and I never imagined it would have become as big as it has. Thank you so much, I’m very proud to have written this song.”
“Dance Monkey” is one of six songs on Tones And I’s 2019 EP, “The Kids Are Coming” (Elektra).
Tones And I joins an impressive list of past ISC grand prize winners: Illenium, Vance Joy, Bastille, Gotye, Lindsey Stirling, Kimbra, The Band Perry, Kehlani, Faouzia, Gregory Porter, Fantastic Negrito, Passenger, Lupe Fiasco, Gin Wigmore, Missy Higgins, For King and Country, Dean Lewis; etc.
Established in 2002, ISC is the world’s largest international songwriting competition, receiving more than 18,000 entries from 140 countries in 2019. More than $150,000 in cash and merchandise is awarded to 71 winners in 23 categories covering all genres of music.
For a complete list of 2019 winners and to hear the winning songs, visit songwritingcompetition.com/winners.
Entries are now open for the 2020 competition. For more information and to enter, go to songwritingcompetition.com.