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The entry deadline for the International Songwriting Competition has been extended to November 1, 2012, due to high demand, organizers say. The annual contest really is kind of a big deal; judged by a panel of heavy hitters from diverse corners of the industry, winners in its 22 categories stand to receive over $150,000 in cash and prizes, with $25,000 in cash and $40,000 worth of goods going to the grand prize winner.

Judges include a plethora of industry execs and music-biz personalities, including wacky radio host Dr. Demento and Putumayo World Music chief (and New Orleans resident) Dan Storper. Some big-name artists are also on the panel – Tom Waits, Voodoo headliner Nas, Bernie Taupin, Anthony Hamilton, Avicii and Jeff Beck, among others, will all be listening to entries.

Note – as is perhaps evident from the sampling of judges listed – that the contest is not just for coffeehouse guitar-pluckers. Dance, electronica, hip-hop and R&B are among the genres that are invited to enter, alongside blues, rock and pop, and others. Performances, music videos and just plain lyrics also have a shot at winning prizes that include a Discmakers CD duplicator, Marshall amps, a custom guitar valued at $11,000, a studio package from Solid State Logic, and of course, lots of money.

And not incidentally, winners sometimes go on to proper industry success. Gotye, whose #1 hit “Somebody That I Used To Know” has been stuck in the head of anyone who does not live under a soundproof rock this year, is a past winner.

So, we ask you: which New Orleanian should try their luck before November 1?

Entry information can be found at songwritingcompetition.com.