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DEPOT Sound Schools Songwriting Competition 2026

Depot Sound is excited to announce the 2026 Schools Songwriting Competition presented by Electric Kiwi and SAE.

Submit Audio Entry Submit Songwriting Entry


The competition is open to all Intermediate and Secondary students in Tāmaki Makaurau. This competition has always been about celebrating young voices, creativity, and the power of original music. This year, we’re taking things a step further.
We’ve invited an international panel of judges from across the music industry, including:

Amine Ramer – Music Supervisor Los Angeles/ Auckland

Samantha Santoyo – Koze Music Publishing Los Angeles

AJ Weaver- Cosmic Jelly (Los Angeles)

More about the Judges

The winning songs won’t just stay local — they’ll have the chance to be heard on the world stage. Winners will receive two days of free professional recording time at DEPOT Sound and will also have the option to be represented by Koze Music (Los Angeles), one of the leading sync agencies in the world. That means the finished songs could be pitched for placement in film, TV, video games, and advertising campaigns worldwide.

The DEPOT Sound Schools Songwriting Competition is about more than just prizes — it’s about creating opportunities, building confidence, and connecting young songwriters with real industry pathways.

Dates

Entries close: September 30th 2026
Winners announced: November 2026

Divisions

Junior: Years 7–10
Senior: Years 11–13

Prizes

1st place in each division: Two days of recording time at Depot Sound

Runner-up in each division: One day of studio recording time at Depot Sound

Your song mixed, mastered and ready to share!

How to Enter:

Audio Submission Form:

Make a Submission

Songwriter Submission Form:

Make a Submission

Amine Ramer – Music Supervisor Los Angeles/ Auckland

As a music supervisor and consultant, Amine Ramer has influenced the sound and mood of feature film, documentaries and award-winning television series for over a decade. Ramer’s success can be attributed to he careful selection of significant artists, ranging from the unknown o the popular, and her keen sensibility to create a visceral experience by connecting sight with sound.

A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Ramer credits her career path to her upbringing in an environment that encouraged the development of individuality and seeking out the new rather than following trends.

Credits include “Tīna”, “Flint Town”, “Crip Camp”, “Jay & Silent Bog Reboot”, “Baby Done”, “Weeds”, “The Signal”, “The November Man”, “Faking it”, “Richard Pryor – Omit the Logic”, “The Lovers and The Despot”, “For A Good Time Call”
Board Member of the Guild of Music Supervisors

Samantha Santoyo – Koze Music Publishing Los Angeles

Samantha Santoyo is a Sync and Publishing Manager specializing in identifying and placing music across film, TV, ads, games, sports, and beyond. She began her career at various music blogs, reviewing thousands of submissions and naturally cultivating a keen ear and eye for standout talent – all while maintaining a fan-first, artist-focused mindset.

At Koze Music, Samantha now strategically pitches a diverse catalog of over 40,000+ songs from over 2,000 indie artists and labels around the globe, and is committed to sharing her industry insights to help artists confidently navigate the evolving sync and publishing landscape.

AJ Weaver- Cosmic Jelly (Los Angeles)

AJ leads partnerships at DISCO, where over the past five years she’s helped shape product and strategy across artist tools, catalog discovery, and industry partnerships spanning creation to distribution.

She’s also the founder of Cosmic Jelly, an artist collective and incubator that’s brought together 300+ artists through writing camps in LA, Brooklyn, London, Guadeloupe, and Toronto. Outside of work, AJ surfs and makes music under the name Josephine, touring as a synth and percussion player with bands including Pink Skies, 26Fix, and Sugar Pit.

Submissions open:

July 9 @ 8:00 am – September 30 @ 5:00 pm

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please read the competition Terms & Conditions before uploading your submission.

1. The Writers (composers & lyricists) must be:

  • Resident in New Zealand.|
  • School-aged individuals, under 20 years of age, or attending Intermediate or Secondary level education in Auckland New Zealand.
  • Students from various educational settings including public, private, homeschooling, and alternative education programs.

2. The work must be an original popular song. It must NOT be an arrangement or adaptation of a traditional non-copyright work or any other original work

3. Entries – The following will be required:

  • Completion of an official entry form.
  • An mp3, m4a, WAV or AIFF file uploaded of the work nominated.
    Entries must be received by DEPOT Sound no later than Wednesday 30th September 2026.

4. General

  • Only ONE song may be submitted on an official entry form by or on behalf of any one writer and must comply with conditions 1 and 2.
  • The exception being a writer in a band may also submit a solo work.
  • The song and the recording of the song can be performed and played by anyone as long as it is on a non-professional basis. It is not necessary for the writer(s) to feature on the recording.
  • All decisions of the judges will be binding on DEPOT Sound and the entrants.
  • In the event of more than one writer having collaborated in writing a competition winning work, the relevant prize will be allocated equally between the writers.
  • DEPOT Sound shall have the right to interpret the above conditions and to determine all issues arising out of this contest. Any such interpretations and determinations shall be final.
  • Unless specifically requested the copies of the entry recordings and lyrics will be retained by DEPOT Sound.
  • The entrant shall grant permission for replication, mechanical reproduction, broadcast, internet streaming and downloading and communication of the recording of the song to the public.
  • DEPOT Sound will have the right to print the name and likeness of any entrant in publicity in respect of the competition and all matter incidental thereto.
  • The entrant agrees to be bound by DEPOT Sound’s entry procedures, rules and regulations established in this entry form. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

Enter Now

Audio Submission Form:

Make a Submission

Songwriter Submission Form:

Make a Submission