John Lennon Award

The John Lennon Award is an annual competition for student songwriters and composers of contemporary musical genres. Established by Yoko Ono in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, it awards three scholarships each year for the best original songs submitted. The competition accepts works in genres including alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronica, R&B, and experimental. Entries are judged by a panel of music publishers, songwriters, musicians, and executives.

Three individual scholarships sharing a total annual award of $20,000; recognition by industry judges.

Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 24 as of the deadline, residents of the United States or its territories, and students. Works must be unpublished, not under contract with a major music publisher or record label, and entrants may submit only one application per BMI Foundation awards program. Co-written works may have up to three writers and all co-writers must meet eligibility requirements.

Prepare an original, unpublished song and submit an online application through the BMI Foundation portal; list co-writers if applicable and provide required supporting materials before the deadline.