David Suzuki wants you to write a song!

The 20th anniversary of the David Suzuki Foundation is coming in September.  To celebrate, they are launching Playlist for the Planet, which brings together some of Canada’s finest songwriters and performers, including Joel Plaskett, Bruce Cockburn, Broken Social Scene, k-os, Gordon Lightfoot, Randy Bachman (with Sarah McLachlan and Nikki Yanofsky), DOA, Tom Jackson, Johnny Reid, Raffi, LIGHTS, Jessie Farrell, Rush, the Trews, Great Big Sea, and Tanya Tagaq.

But since a clean, healthy, sustainable planet is something we all need, they are putting out a Canada-wide call for songwriters of all levels to bring their talents forward.

If you write songs, play in a band, or have a favourite group, make sure you join Playlist for the Planet on the CBC Radio 3 website — You could even win a Gibson guitar from Long & McQuade.

A Playlist for the Planet CD and downloadable album will be released by Universal Music this October. Maybe your song will be part of it. A song that will inspire us all!

If you want to hear some songs, upload your songs, or learn more about Playlist for the Planet, go to CBC Radio 3. New songs will be coming in all summer, so stay tuned on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Who can enter

Any Canadian songwriter who cares about our planet and would like to be on a nationally released major-label album. You can be a self-published or unpublished writer.

How to enter

• Go to the Playlist for the Planet page on CBC Radio 3.
• Follow instructions to upload your song. Only one song per artist, please. Be sure to click on the Playlist for the Planet icon when uploading your song. The song must be original and if published or distributed prior to competition, permission must be granted by appropriate parties.

They do not accept mailed CDs or music. All entrants must enter via the CBC Radio 3 site.

Deadline for entries

Contest opens June 17, 2010 and closes on August 15, 2010. All entries must be uploaded no later than 11:59 p.m. August 15, 2010.

Entry guidelines

Entrants must not submit more than one song.

If there is more than one writer per submission, all co-writers must agree for the song to be submitted, and must abide by all criteria to enter.

A combination of public voting and a panel of judges will determine contest winners.

The entrant warrants and represents that the song submitted is sole, exclusive and original works of the entrant and have not been paid for, published, released or otherwise distributed.

The David Suzuki Foundation shall have the right to use songs entered in the contest at its sole discretion, without reservation and without payment to broadcast the song, which comprises the lyrics and music of the entrant.

The rights, title, interest and copyright to the lyrics/music submitted remains with the entrant.

The David Suzuki Foundation has the right to publish entrants’ picture or likeness and name.

Entrants must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. The contest is not open to directors or employees of the David Suzuki Foundation, CBC Radio 3 or competition judges.

The contest is subject to all federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations that may be applicable. No purchase necessary.

All decisions made by the David Suzuki Foundation with respect to the acceptance of any entry and eligibility of entries shall be final and binding.