Scotland’s national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award is back for 2023, with eligible album submissions now open.
The SAY Award will return to Stirling’s Albert Halls for this year’s award ceremony, where the artist with the winning album will collect a £20,000 prize alongside the coveted title. Artists, labels and music fans can now submit eligible albums, for free, at www.sayaward.com – submissions close at midnight on Friday 21st July 2023.
2022 winner Fergus McCreadie, the first jazz/trad artist to ever collect the prize, will perform at this year’s prestigious Ceremony at Stirling’s iconic Albert Halls, in the heart of Scotland, on Thursday 26th October.
To be considered for The SAY Award 2023, eligible albums must have been released between 1st June 2022 – 31st May 2023.
Previous SAY Award winners include Mogwai, Young Fathers, Anna Meredith, Kathryn Joseph and more. Produced by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), The SAY Award has distributed over £330,000 in prize money to Scottish artists since its inception in 2012, with a record number of eligible albums submitted in 2022.
The SAY Award winner will receive a £20,000 prize and the prestigious title of Scottish Album of the Year, whilst nine runners up each receive £1,000, as well as bespoke prizes created by a Stirling-based artist through The SAY Award Design Commission. Additional awards including Modern Scottish Classic and the Sound of Young Scotland will also be distributed on the night, plus fans, journalists and artists will be treated to special live performances, including a set from 2022’s SAY Award winner, Fergus McCreadie.
Robert Kilpatrick, Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association said, “As we embark on our twelfth annual edition of Scotland’s national music prize, The SAY Award will once again work to celebrate and champion the strength, diversity and cultural impact of Scotland’s recorded output. Its role in instilling civic pride and driving audience development continues to play a vital part in how we understand our collective cultural identity as a nation, and it both encapsulates and articulates an ever-evolving idea of what Scottish music and culture is to those around the world.
“Just as crucially, The SAY Award prize fund continues to provide key financial support to Scottish artists. With multiple challenges caused by the cost of living crisis, this support is perhaps more vital than ever, and the SMIA is committed to seeing the continued value of music in Scotland with a firm focus on its life-affirming impact.
“Following an incredible Ceremony at Stirling’s Albert Halls last year, we’re delighted to return for a second year on Thursday 26 October. As of today, eligible album submissions are open, and tickets are on sale to attend 2023’s event. We’re over the moon to have last year’s winner Fergus McCreadie performing on the night, and we look forward to championing Scottish music’s rich past, invaluable present and vibrant future in the lead up to the event.”
Early-bird tickets for 2023’s ceremony at the Albert Halls, Stirling are on sale now via www.sayaward.com
1