Gibson Gives teams with John Lennon Songwriting Contest

Partnership celebrates Lennon’s 80th birthday with live virtual events and giveaways

In honor of John Lennon’s 80th birthday, the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (JLSC) have announced a partnership with Gibson Gives — the charitable arm of Gibson, the iconic American instrument brand — to support musicianship, music education and songwriting for people of all ages. Among the initiatives, 24 Lennon contest winners will receive an Epiphone LTD Edition Les Paul Quilt Top Pro and an Epiphone Zenith Masterbilt Acoustic Round Hole. Songwriters, artists and bands are encouraged to enter the 24th annual JLSC with over $300,000K in cash awards and giveaways. All entrants will also qualify for weekly contests, offering additional gear giveaways including a Gibson guitar.

October 9th would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday. His contributions to music, culture, activism, art and fashion resonate to this day. In celebration, the Lennon Bus and Contest will have a virtual Imagine Party on October 9th on the Lennon Bus’ Instagram Live. The special show will feature celebrities, JLSC winners, Lennon Bus participants and educators. Tune in to hear in depth stories around John Lennon’s Gibson guitars and the songs he wrote with them, as well as giveaways and promotions.

“While venues, live music and events are on hold, we’re focused on the songwriting contests and providing songwriters with even more gear each week while they are stuck at home. Contest entries help support Lennon Bus programs and Gibson Gives shares the same commitment to the next generation of players,” shares Brian Rothschild, co-founder and executive director of both the Lennon Bus and the JLSC.

“Gibson Gives is all about inspiring, creating, and supporting music one guitar at a time,” says James ‘JC’ Curleigh, CEO of Gibson. “This is our opportunity to ‘imagine’ what could be possible for future musicians by partnering with the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, especially during this challenging era.”

In honor of John Lennon, The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international songwriting contest that began in 1997 to give songwriters an opportunity to express themselves, gain recognition, and get their music heard. The JLSC is made possible by Yoko Ono Lennon and supportive sponsors including Gibson.

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is the premiere non-profit state-of-the-art mobile Pro Audio and HD video recording facility that provides hands-on experiences for students of all ages. In its 23rd year of touring, the Lennon Bus features the latest audio and video technology, gear and products. The Lennon Bus travels across the U.S. and Canada year-round, providing free tours and workshops at schools, retailers, festivals, on tours with headlining artists, and at major industry conferences. Lennon Bus Europe began providing these same opportunities to the young people of Europe when it launched in Liverpool, UK in May 2013.

Gibson Brands, the world’s most iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for more than 100 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, with a premiere acoustic facility in Bozeman, MT, Gibson Brands has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson Brands portfolio includes Gibson, the number one guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, Kramer, Steinberger, and the Gibson Pro Audio Division, KRK Systems. Gibson Brands is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson Brands.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com