Local Artists Top Competitions

Jaylene Johnson took high honours once again at the International Songwriting Competition (ISC). The singer/songwriter's "I Wish I Could Hate You", penned with expat Heather Longstaffe and Wendy Wills, is a finalist in the country category this year. Johnson is no stranger to the ISC, picking up honourable mentions in the country category two years in a row. 

The ISC receives over 16,000 entries from over 100 countries. The winners are chosen by a prestigious panel of celebrity and industry judges including Tom Waits, Tegan and Sara, Janelle Monae, and Monte Lipman (President, Universal Republic Records). More than $150,000 USD in cash and prizes will be shared by the winners.

Another Manitoba artist landed on top at a talent competition this year. Up-and-coming country pop singer/songwriter Maxine Peters won first place the second annual Manitoba Songfest for her song "Shame On Me". Peters, who is busy recording her debut EP with Chris Burke-Gaffney, picked up the trophy live on Shaw TV on March 2. The prize comes with on-air rotation for the winning song on CJ radio stations throughout Manitoba, eight hours of recording time at ClearLightSound, and and a profile on Shaw TV Winnipeg.