The 16 to 19 year old entrants will compete with their original songs. Pic: Robert Bejil

A competition to give young people a route into the music industry has been set up in Lewisham.

To enter contestants must create and upload their own original song, which will be judged by a panel of professionals.

Deptford-based Midi Music Company have teamed up with Fame Music, an online competition platform, to create the Talent Clash competition for young people aged 16 to 19.

Wozzy Brewster, founder of Midi Music Company, said: “We’re looking for new music. Creating more opportunities for merging young people to be able to get their music heard, to see if there’s an audience for it and develop their performance skills.”

Mary Ellen Fenton, 28, marketing assistant at Fame Music, said: “What’s really unique about it is, we’ve put together a panel of celebrity judges and major people in the industry, so that way people who enter have a chance to be heard from people who can really make a difference.

“There’s a lot of areas where there’s young people who have hidden talents, but not really a way to get forward. We want to be able to give a chance to Lewisham.”

Brewster said: “Up to 10 artists will perform their tracks. This competition will let us know if there’s an interest, if we’ve run it right or need to change anything.

“The winner will have the opportunity to record at Abbey Road Studios, a video of their song along with digital distribution and perform live at Lewisham People’s day in July.”

The competition closes on March 8 and the winner will be announced on March 18 at Forest Hill School.

The panel of judges will be Paulette Long, who has worked with Mick Jagger and Ozzy Osbourne, Kevin Simpson, music publisher and manager of Jamiroquai, Mark Force, founder of Reinforced Records and Ellis Rich, founder of Independent Music Group.

Midi Music Company have previously worked alongside notable recording artists sucha s The Noisettes and Katy B.