Ruel Takes Home Top Honors in 2025 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition
Australian singer-songwriter Ruel has emerged as the winner of the highly coveted 2025 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, claiming the grand prize for his critically acclaimed single "The Suburbs." This prestigious honor comes with a substantial cash award of A$50,000 ($33,700), courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts, and Sony Music Publishing.
Ruel's victory marks a significant milestone in his already impressive career. The 16-year-old prodigy burst onto the scene in 2018 when he won the ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year with his debut single "Dazed & Confused." He has since broken multiple records, including becoming the youngest artist to sell out the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall and amassing over three billion streams.
This year's competition saw a remarkable 4,000 entries from 52 countries, with Ruel's song standing out for its exceptional emotional clarity, melodic strength, and contemporary songwriting craft. The judges praised "The Suburbs" for its ability to evoke powerful emotions and its enduring appeal.
Ruel will join an elite group of emerging talent in the music industry, including Ninajirachi, Louis Schoorl, and Jude York, who received significant prizes for their outstanding work. These awards not only recognize exceptional songwriting but also provide valuable support and resources to help these artists further develop their craft.
The 2025 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is a testament to the enduring power of music as a catalyst for creativity, innovation, and self-expression. With its impressive lineup of winners and participants, this competition continues to inspire a new generation of songwriters and artists around the world.
Australian singer-songwriter Ruel has emerged as the winner of the highly coveted 2025 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, claiming the grand prize for his critically acclaimed single "The Suburbs." This prestigious honor comes with a substantial cash award of A$50,000 ($33,700), courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts, and Sony Music Publishing.
Ruel's victory marks a significant milestone in his already impressive career. The 16-year-old prodigy burst onto the scene in 2018 when he won the ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year with his debut single "Dazed & Confused." He has since broken multiple records, including becoming the youngest artist to sell out the Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall and amassing over three billion streams.
This year's competition saw a remarkable 4,000 entries from 52 countries, with Ruel's song standing out for its exceptional emotional clarity, melodic strength, and contemporary songwriting craft. The judges praised "The Suburbs" for its ability to evoke powerful emotions and its enduring appeal.
Ruel will join an elite group of emerging talent in the music industry, including Ninajirachi, Louis Schoorl, and Jude York, who received significant prizes for their outstanding work. These awards not only recognize exceptional songwriting but also provide valuable support and resources to help these artists further develop their craft.
The 2025 Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is a testament to the enduring power of music as a catalyst for creativity, innovation, and self-expression. With its impressive lineup of winners and participants, this competition continues to inspire a new generation of songwriters and artists around the world.
just great, another talented artist is being ruined by the music industry 
ruel's prize money is like, what 30k USD? that's not even enough to pay for one month of rent in most cities 
and dont even get me started on the fact that he'll have to sign over his masters to apra amcos alberts and sony music publishing 
its just another example of how the system is rigged against artists 
omg i'm so hyped for Ruel!! he's like literally the next big thing 
his song "The Suburbs" is insane, it gives me chills every time i listen to it 
and to see these young artists get recognized and awarded for their work is truly inspiring 
ruel's win is a testament that music can bring people together and create something truly special 
. 50k isnt even that much, especially considering what these kids have to do on tour 
. plus its just one award in a long list of others... doesnt really mean anything when you think about it 
So Ruel took home the top prize in this global songwriting comp? No surprise there, his music is already on repeat in my room 24/7, I'm pretty sure the judges were just voting for themselves lol. But seriously, congrats to him and all the other talented winners - they're gonna be raking it in with that sweet A$50k prize 
Guess music is like therapy or something... or at least that's what I'm telling myself 
. He's always had that special somethin' with his songs. Reminds me of when I first heard him back in 2018... "Dazed & Confused" was like nothin' I'd ever heard before! Now, he's takin' the world by storm with "The Suburbs". That song just gets stuck in your head and makes you wanna feel all the feels 
his win is such a milestone for him and imo for music as a whole. these awards aren't just about the cash prize (although $33k is def nice 
! I mean, have you listened to "The Suburbs"? It's like he's tapped into something deep and real. His age just makes his talent even more impressive – 16 years old and already breaking records? Mind blown 
! Now, let's see what other amazing things Ruel comes out with next 
- the world is definitely watching his career closely