The UKSC is a prestigious international songwriting event that is rated very highly by the music industry. It was formed with The BRIT Trust (the BRIT Awards charity) and other music industry professionals and bodies to discover and encourage new songwriting talent. All songwriters from every country are welcome to submit songs. Full details and entry forms are online at UK Songwriting Contest.

The contest judges are leading music professionals and include Platinum Album awardees, members of The Grammys selection panels, globally successful songwriters, music academics, top music producers and the Head of Songwriting and Music at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute. The UKSC is well known for its supportive and friendly community of fellow songwriters and many entrants have gone on to international success. Every song entered is carefully examined and receives a Star Rating from the judges. Entrants also receive an Award Certificate with the position reached in the event. Visit the UKSC website for full details and the entry form and see the many genuine testimonials from participants.

Music Aid UK was involved in the formation of the UKSC in 2002 and we recommend this long running songwriting competition as the most supportive and helpful for new songwriters. We thank the UKSC for donating part of every entry fee to help and support Music Aid International and its causes.

Website:  UK Songwriting Contest

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World Concert Day was the global music event from Music Aid International that raised funds for the World Health Organization's Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund, local hospices and many other causes during the Covid-19 Pandemic years. It was live on every April 26th in 2020, 2021 and 2022 with participating artists supporting and fundraising for UNICEF The United Nations Children´s Emergency Fund, The Breathe Life Campaign, Amazon Watch, Doctors Without Borders, Save The Children, the British National Health Service NHS, and the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The event also showcased and raised funds for many local charities, causes, hospices and community projects. Below is a montage of some of the many artists who participated in World Concert Day.

It was intended that the event would only run during the Covid Pandemic years and there is no event this year in 2023.  But a number of artists and organizations are now asking if the event can be brought back in future years and have expressed interest in taking part or staging something similar. If you have any thoughts on this contact us or leave comments on Music Aid International´s Facebook or Twitter pages.

Read more about World Concert Day, the causes and the artists here.

 
APRIL 26
In the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 , April 26 was a day for musicians, artists and fans to support causes they care about. During these three years there was an emphasis on UNICEF, health issues, children´s charities, war victims and local charity projects and hospices. On this day fans shared their favorite artists, artists performed live and promoted their releases, activists campaigned for a cause, fundraisers supported local charities and hospices and people around the world organized concerts and streamed live performance from kitchens, gardens, living rooms and music studios. Events were shared using the hashtag #worldconcertday with dedicated websites at worldconcertday.org and worldconcertay.com

Read more about the event and the many artists involved here.

Copyright theft happens every day and copyright registration may provide the insurance that you need to help you protect your valuable creative work and enforce your legal rights.

​The following information is taken from Music Aid's resources and services partner, The SCO Song Copyright Organization. For more details about copyright laws, registration forms, and tips about protecting your songs visit SongCopyright.org.

The international laws relating to song copyright state that your songs are your creative work and your property. This legal principle of ownership means that the writer controls and owns all rights relating to the use and reproduction of the song - including the right to sell or assign the copyright and ownership to another individual or company. This is the law under international legal agreements and it is the basic principle of copyright that is accepted throughout the world. Most countries have formalised the principles of copyright outlined above by signing up to an international agreement known as the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. It was first adopted in 1886 as an agreement to honour the rights of all authors who are nationals of countries that are party to the convention. The current version of the convention is the Paris Act of 1971. The convention is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). A search on the internet will show a number of sites with up to date lists of the countries that have signed. This international agreement provides legal protection to the authors of original works where these works have been presented in a tangible, fixed and physical form of expression.This agreement makes it very clear that as soon as your song, music or lyrics are written down, or recorded as a sound recording, they are automatically copyrighted and the writer(s) has/have full legal ownership. This is a very important point. It is not enough to compose a song in your head and keep it in your memory - it must also exist in a physical and tangible form, a form that others can see or hear, for the copyright rules to apply. So under the Berne Convention you officially and legally own the copyright in your work as soon as you express it in a tangible and verifiable form. This protection applies to both published and unpublished works.

For more information about copyright for songwriters, the legal issues, practical advice and tips, visit the SCO at SongCopyright.org.

YOUR DONATION
​100% of your donation supports the work and causes you see on this website. This includes providing educational scholarships, supporting Child Aid projects, establishing local centers in underprivileged areas, health initiatives, support for young musicians, music events that benefit many charities, and supporting local music therapy and aid centers. Your donations allow us to continue this work and it could not continue without your help. Browse this website to learn more about the wide range of activities that Music Aid International works with and supports.

DEDICATIONS
You can also dedicate your donation to honor the memory of a special person, or to draw attention to a special cause. Thank you for your support.