FAQ
Lyrics4Life | Songwriter Competition - Because even lyrical geniuses have questions.
đ¤ The Basics
Q: What is Lyrics4Life?
A: Lyrics4Life is a non-profit songwriting competition that exists to celebrate the art of the written lyric and the power of a song. Â We are based in the National Capital Region, but open to contestants coast-to-coast-to-coast. Â
Think of us as the talent show your high school never had â except the audience gets to be the judge, and your music gets to help support the CHEO Foundation and other community partners. Â Along with some cool prizes for the winners.
The main event will be hosted by the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino - Ottawa on February 25th, 2027.
Q: Who can enter?
A: If you've got a song in your soul and words on a page, you're our kind of people. The competition is open to songwriters of all ages, genres, and experience levels. Whether you've been writing since you could hold a pencil or just scribbled your first verse last Tuesday â welcome.
Q: Do I have to be a professional musician to enter?
A: Absolutely not. In fact, some of the most powerful songs ever written were penned by people who couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. This is a lyric competition â your words and stories are the stars of the show. Â
Please note that entries must be a complete song, not just the words.
Q: Is there an entry fee?
A: Yes, there will be a small entry fee. Please keep an eye out for the competitionâs official rules when theyâre posted. Rest assured, weâre not trying to finance anyoneâs yacht. Weâre a non-profit, so our style leans more towards âcampfire chicâ than âgala fundraiser.â
âď¸ Submissions
Q: How do I submit my song?
A: Once weâre all set (with a target of August 2026), the âRegister to Competeâ link will be up and running. You can then upload an audio or video file and send it off. After that, treat yourself to a cup of teaâyouâve earned it!
Q: Can I submit more than one song?
A: Yes, you can submit more than one song. Â Please note that only one song per contestant will be chosen to be a finalist and perform at The Main Stage event.
Q: Does my song need to be polished and refined?
A: Not at all! A grammy-worthy production isnât requiredâweâre really interested in your words, your story, the melody and how unique it is, not how you recorded it. Just make sure the submission is an audio or video of the whole song. Â
Q: Can I submit a song I wrote years ago?
A: Yes! Old songs are welcome here. If it's original, it's eligible. That heartbreak anthem you wrote in 2009 finally has its moment.
Q: What if my song has a swear word in it?
A: While we appreciate your commitment to authentic expression, please know that these songs will be performed in front of a family friendly audience in support of the CHEO Foundation. Â When in doubt, ask yourself: "Would I sing this at my grandmother's birthday?" If the answer is a hard no, you may want to reconsider.
Q: Can I use AI to write my lyrics?
A: No. Full stop. This is a competition celebrating human creativity. AI-generated submissions will be disqualified. We're not anti-technology â we just believe your story deserves to be told in your own words.
Q: Who owns the song after I submit it?
A: You do.  Always.  Please refer to our Terms of Service at lyrics4life.ca/terms-of-service for the official policy on this. Â
đ Judging & Results
Q: How are submission entries evaluated?
A: Submission entries are evaluated by a panel of experienced music industry professionals, songwriters, and educators. They assess originality, emotional impact, lyrical craft, and overall composition. They do not judge based on how many times you've listened to your own song on repeat. Â
Weâll have three amazing finalists in each categoryâYouth, Emerging Artist and Working Musician. The top two will get to shine on stage with the house band at the Main Event in February 2027! And just in case anything comes up, weâve got a backup for each category to ensure the show goes on smoothly.
The final judging will be a fun, audience-driven experience as the evening progresses. To keep things fair, weâll limit each person to one vote.
Q: What do I win?
A: Weâre still figuring out the prizes, so keep an eye out for more info! But, beyond the cool stuff, youâll get the awesome feeling of sharing your art with the world. (And hey, we know that doesnât exactly pay the rent, so weâre working hard to make sure the prizes are pretty good.)
Q: When will Finalists be announced?
A: The finalists in each category will be announced mid-January 2027. Â
Q: Do I need to make my own way to Ottawa?
A: Yes, unfortunately, weâre still working our way up and canât afford to fly contestants to Ottawa right now. Weâre hoping to change that in the future, but for now, youâll need to travel to Ottawa on your own.
Once weâve announced the finalists, weâll chat about the specifics with them. Each finalist will need to travel to Ottawa for two events: January 30th and 31st for the rehearsal weekend, where theyâll get to work with the house band, and February 24th and 25th for the final rehearsal and the main event.
đ Rules & Eligibility
Q: Can I enter if I co-wrote the song with someone else?
A: Absolutely! Weâre happy to accept co-written songs. Just remember to include one lead songwriter in the entryâthatâs the person weâll be working with. Weâd prefer not to coordinate with everyone for the event. Feel free to give group hugs, but theyâre not required.
Should you be the lucky one who wins in your category, prizes received will be awarded to the lead songwriter, we'll leave it up to you on how you want to share with any collaborators.
Q: What if I'm under 18?
A: No problem; we've got a category for you. Â Entrants under 18 will need parental or guardian consent. Please review the age requirements on the competition page. Some of the best songwriters in history started young â we're here for it.
Q: Can judges or Lyrics4Life staff enter the competition?
A: No. That would be a little awkward for everyone involved, wouldn't it?
Q: What happens if I miss the deadline?
A: Unfortunately, late submissions cannot be accepted. All deadlines are final. We suggest setting three alarms, telling a friend, and maybe tattooing the date on your forearm. (That last one is optional.)
đ Website & Technical
Q: I'm having trouble submitting my entry. Help?
A: First, take a deep breath. Then try clearing your browser cache, switching browsers, or checking your internet connection. If the problem persists, reach out to us at craig@lyrics4life.ca and we'll do our best to sort it out before the deadline.
Q: Is my personal information safe with you?
A: Yes. We take your privacy seriously. Please review our full Privacy Policy at lyrics4life.ca/privacy-policy. The short version: we don't sell your data, we don't spam you, and we're not secretly a data mining operation disguised as a songwriting competition.
Q: Do you have a newsletter?
A: We do! Sign up to stay in the loop on competition announcements, winner spotlights, and the occasional dose of songwriting inspiration. We promise to only show up in your inbox when we actually have something worth saying.
đŹ Still Have Questions?
Q: My question isn't answered here. Now what?
A: We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line at craig@lyrics4life.ca  and a real human being (not a bot, not an AI, not a very well-trained golden retriever) will get back to you as soon as possible.
"The song is ended, but the melody lingers on." â Irving BerlinÂ
We hope your questions are ended too â but our inbox lingers on, always.