SAE and BayFM Unveil ‘BaySounds’ – A New Song-Writing Contest to Elevate Local Musicians

SAE Creative Media Institute, in collaboration with BayFM, is excited to announce the launch of ‘BaySounds,’ a novel song-writing competition designed to spotlight the burgeoning talent of emerging musicians in the Northern Rivers region. This initiative invites artists aged 16 and above to showcase their original compositions, with submissions accepted on the SAE website until Sunday, 16 June 2024.

The grand prize winner will enjoy the privilege of having their song professionally recorded, mixed, and mastered at the state-of-the-art SAE Byron Bay recording studios by an SAE audio lecturer and talented final year students. Additionally, the winning track will receive rotational airplay on BayFM, and the artist will have a special opportunity to perform live at SAE’s Open Day event on Saturday, 17 August—broadcast simultaneously on BayFM.

The judging panel for BaySounds features esteemed figures such as Dirk Terrill, SAE Senior Lecturer; Ange Kent, President, and broadcaster at BayFM; and Nathan Kaye, BayFM broadcaster and musician, who together bring a wealth of industry experience and insight.

Dr. Luke McMillan, General Manager at SAE, emphasized the significance of this collaboration: “SAE has a proud history of nurturing talents who excel across the global music scene. With BaySounds, we aim to continue this legacy by empowering local artists and providing them with a platform to shine.”

Dirk Terrill expressed excitement about the dual benefits of the competition: “BaySounds not only gives emerging artists valuable exposure but also enriches our students’ educational experience by involving them in real-world, professional activities.”

Ange Kent elaborated on how BayFM supports local music: “During the competition, we’ll feature songs from local artists on-air, with a special showcase of the top 10 entries after the competition concludes. The live performance opportunity for the winner underscores our commitment to promoting live local talent.”

Nathan Kaye shared his enthusiasm for discovering new artists: “BaySounds is a fantastic platform for artists to hone essential skills needed for festival and grant applications, and to effectively present themselves to the music industry.”

For those interested in participating, entries for BaySounds are now open. For more information or to submit your song, please visit sae.edu.au/baysounds. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your music career and potentially broadcast your talent across the Northern Rivers and beyond.

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