In a major shift, the renowned Unsigned Only Music Competition is evolving to become the Unsigned Only Music Awards, signaling an exciting new chapter for the global community of emerging artists.
For over a decade, Unsigned Only has provided an invaluable platform for independent musicians, offering them the chance to showcase their talent to industry professionals, win cash prizes, and gain exposure on a global scale. The transformation to the Unsigned Only Music Awards goes beyond a simple name change — it marks a broader, more inclusive recognition of exceptional musical talent and aims to help unsigned musicians break into the mainstream music industry while awarding their unique contributions to the world of music.
“We are thrilled to unveil the Unsigned Only Music Awards as the next chapter in our mission to empower and celebrate independent musicians," said Candace Avery and Jim Morgan, Founders of Unsigned Only. “This marks the next step in a journey we began 12 years ago, and we are excited to award independent musicians for the talent, passion, and dedication that they pour into their work.”
The Unsigned Only Music Awards will continue to offer an incredible lineup of judges consisting of well-known music artists and high-profile industry professionals. More categories have been added, and each category will have one winner, such as Best Rock Artist, Best Country Artist, Best Latin Artist, etc. – as well as Best Male Vocalist and Best Female Vocalist. One artist will be named Artist of The Year and will be awarded a $20,000 cash (US) prize plus studio time at the renowned Church Studio in Tulsa, OK. All winners will be awarded a stunning custom, abstract sculpture/award designed by Society Awards, known for designing and manufacturing high-profile entertainment awards, such as the Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and more. Receiving such a prestigious award is a milestone for an artist, reflecting their dedication, creativity, and hard work – and will empower and motivate them to continue striving for excellence.
Judges include an array of high-profile musical artists including Aimee Mann, LeAnn Rimes, Robert Smith (The Cure), Jill Scott, Ruthie Foster, Chris Culos (O.A.R.), The Devil Makes Three, Janiva Magness, Miles Kane, I Am They, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Chaerin Kim, and more. Also included are industry professionals from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Seattle Times, DownBeat, Guitar World, Pandora, Yahoo, and many more.
Unsigned Only is sponsored by The Church Studio, Play MPE, and Music Business Registry.
For more information, including how to enter, visit https://unsignedonly.com/.
