SAY Award opens applications for The Sound of Young Scotland Award

A search for new Scottish talent has officially launched with The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award opening applications for The Sound of Young Scotland Award.

Article Source: SAY Award
Last Updated: 31 July 2024 10:30

31st July - The country’s national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, has opened applications for The Sound of Young Scotland Award.

Artists can apply for The Sound of Young Scotland Award for FREE via www.sayaward.com until midnight on Wednesday 21st August.

The next generation of Scottish talent can apply to win a funding package worth up to £10,000 to support the creation of their debut album, as well as gain the coveted title of the Sound of Young Scotland at this year’s prestigious SAY Award Ceremony in Stirling. The award is supported by Help Musicians, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland and Youth Music, with the aim of stimulating and supporting the future of Scottish music. The package includes; cash grants for studio/production costs, in-kind use of The Tolbooth in Stirling (inc. the studio, venue space for filming etc.), a performance slot at 2025’s SAY Award Ceremony, 250 vinyl pressings of their debut album from Seabass Vinyl and much more.

Plus, The SAY Award has revealed over 300 eligible albums have been submitted and are now being considered for 2024’s prize. Albums from artists including Mercury Prize nominated Barry Can’t Swim, Siobhan Wilson, The Snuts and more were submitted, with all 300 albums now being considered for Scotland’s national music prize and the £20,000 prize.

The Sound of Young Scotland Award is now in its fourth year, having supported and championed some of the country’s brightest emerging talent. Previous winners include LVRA (2021), Berta Kennedy (2022) and No Windows (2023). To be eligible for the award, artists must be: 18 – 25, have never released an album and be a ‘Scottish’ artist (born in Scotland, 50% of core members born in Scotland, or have made Scotland their creative base for the past two years). View full eligibility criteria and prize fund conditions at www.sayaward.com

The Sound of Young Scotland Award winner will be unveiled at the prestigious SAY Award Ceremony in Stirling’s Albert Halls on Thursday 24th October, alongside the winner of The Scottish Album of the Year Award and the Modern Scottish Classic Award. A limited number of early-bird Ceremony tickets are on sale now via www.sayaward.com

Morag Macdonald, Youth Music Initiative Manager at Creative Scotland, said: “The Sound of Young Scotland Award is a life-changing opportunity that platforms Scotland’s most exciting young musicians while supporting one act to realise their ambitions of creating a debut album. With support from the Scottish Government, the Youth Music Initiative recognises the value and importance of this award in removing barriers to access for young people in music and take this significant step in progressing their career in music.”

2024’s funding package includes:
• Cash grants totaling £5,500 to go towards activities such as studio hire costs, session musician fees, equipment rentals and more.
• In-kind use of The Tolbooth’s recording studio in Stirling – up to 6 days recording time and 3 days mixing/mastering, or use of venue space for filming and photo requirements
• A performance slot at 2025’s SAY Award ceremony, one of the biggest nights in Scotland’s musical calendar, in front of industry professionals, journalists and music fans
• A bespoke art prize from The SAY Award Design Commission
• 6 hours of one-to-one business advice from industry experts, arranged via Help Musicians
• Online meet-ups with other Help Musicians’ awardees and industry guests, arranged via Help Musicians
• Invites to online peer drop-in spaces with other musicians, arranged via Help Musicians (optional)
• Access to a healthy practice session delivered by BAPAM, arranged via Help Musicians (optional)
• A run of up to 250 vinyl pressings of the album created via the prize; provided in-kind by Seabass Vinyl, Scotland’s first vinyl pressing plant

The cash grants provided via The Sound of Young Scotland Award include support directly from:
• Help Musicians’ Next Level Award, designed to support musicians ready to pursue a career-changing opportunity.
• Youth Music’s NextGen Fund; designed to support early-stage musicians and wider music adjacent creatives to invest in their own projects and make their ideas happen.

A cross-genre judging panel of 11 previous SAY Award nominees will review eligible Sound of Young Scotland Award submissions, whittling applicants down to five. The five finalists will be announced alongside The SAY Award Shortlist, before the judging panel reconvenes to choose the final winner.

The Sound of Young Scotland Award is supported by Help Musicians, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland and Youth Music, with the aim of stimulating and supporting the future of Scottish music. Help Musicians is a charity for professional musicians of all genres, giving them the support they need at all stages throughout their career, whilst Youth Music is the country’s leading young people’s music charity, believing that every young person should have the chance to make, learn and earn in music. The Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative is administered by Creative Scotland and aims to provide access to music-making opportunities for children and young people who may not normally have the chance to participate. Together, the three organisations will support the delivery of this year’s Sound of Young Scotland Award; paving the way for future generations of Scottish musicians to thrive and contribute to the country’s world-class recorded output.

The Sound of Young Scotland Award winner will also receive a bespoke prize created by a Stirling-based artist via The SAY Award Design Commission. Expressions of interest for Stirling-based artists are open until Monday 5th August, with local creatives encouraged to design an award with sustainability at its forefront. To enter the Design Commision visit www.sayaward.com/designcommission

The SAY Award is a Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) production. The SAY Award 2024 is delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, Stirling Council, Stirling Alive with Culture, Seabass Vinyl, Ticketmaster, Help Musicians, HMV, FOPP, PPL, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative, Youth Music and Music Declares Emergency.

The SAY Award’s charity partner is once again Scotland’s national children’s and young people’s mental health charity, Tiny Changes, set up in memory of Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison to help young minds feel better.

Now in its thirteenth year, previous winners of The SAY Award include; Young Fathers ‘Heavy Heavy’ (2023), Fergus McCreadie ‘Forest Floor’ (2022), Mogwai ‘As The Love Continues' (2021), Nova ‘Re-Up’ (2020), Auntie Flo ‘Radio Highlife’ (2019), Young Fathers ‘Cocoa Sugar’ (2018), Sacred Paws ‘Strike A Match’ (2017), Anna Meredith ‘Varmints’ (2016), Kathryn Joseph ‘Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood I’ve Spilled’ (2015), Young Fathers ‘Tape Two’ (2014), RM Hubbert ‘Thirteen Lost & Found’ (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat ‘Everything’s Getting Older’ (2012).

Early-bird SAY Award Ceremony tickets on sale now via www.sayaward.com £18 + booking fee

Don’t miss The SAY Award 2024 news - follow the award on social media across Twitter @SAYaward, Instagram @sayaward, Facebook @SAYaward and TikTok @thesayaward

Image: SYS 2023 winners No Windows
Image credit: Euan Robertson

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Fife News

Fun for all the family at the 36th annual Scottish Game Fair

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Scottish Game Fair is back for its 36th year at Scone Palace, taking place 4th - 6th July 2025.

Free Glorious Grass gardening workshop for children at Dobbies

Dobbies Garden Centres are welcoming children across the UK to join in on the fun this May to uncover all there is to know about grass at its free Little Seedlings Club workshop.

DofE Award participants supported by RSM UK Foundation share their achievements at visit

Young people with ASN from Woodmill High School, Dunfermline and Glenwood High School in Glenrothes welcomed Kelly Adams a trustee of the RSM UK Foundation to share their achievements.

New Bluey collection comes to cinemas for the May Bank Holiday

Bluey at the Cinema: Let's Play Chef Collection will be playing in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from Saturday 3rd May, just in time for the Early May Bank Holiday weekend.

New and exclusive Heritage Planting and Afternoon Tea experience comes to Dobbies

Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a new hands-on planting and afternoon tea experience inspired by the RHS Chelsea Garden Show and Dobbies' 160-year heritage.

Stories of inspiring young women sought by charity

The Young Women’s Movement, Scotland’s national organisation for young women and girls’ leadership and rights, is seeking nominations for its tenth annual 30 Under 30 list.

Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns next weekend with a supersized celebration

Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April for its biggest event yet with an extended site and more vendors than ever before!

New Spring Dinners from Baern at Bowhouse

Baern, an award-winning bakery and café based at Bowhouse, are offering a laid-back yet thoughtful seasonal Dinner Series on 19th, 26th April and 3rd May.

Trusts join forces to explore complexities of the Battle of Culloden

The National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust have teamed up to give an insight into the complexity of the Battle of Culloden in a pair of podcasts this April.

Love Your Lawn with Dobbies

Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a very special FREE Grow How event in stores across the UK this May in partnership with Alzheimer's Research UK to mark Dementia Action Week.

Exclusive child planting event in honour of National Childrens Gardening Week

Dobbies Garden Centres are celebrating National Children's Gardening Week by welcoming families along to its Children's Planting and Afternoon Tea experience on Saturday 31st May.

The Proclaimers join in celebrations for landmark anniversary of sight loss charity

Scottish rock legends the Proclaimers have joined in the celebrations to mark the 160th anniversary of one of the country’s sight loss charities.

BBC Introducing comes to TRNSMT Festival, bringing 20 rising stars

Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT has announced the BBC Introducing Stage, previously River Stage, will showcase 20 of the most exciting emerging artists in the country.

The hoppiest time of the year at the National Trust For Scotland

The National Trust for Scotland is hopping into spring as it hosts 40 Easter egg trails at the special places in its care in April!

Top comedian and Scottish brewer team up in search of best Scottish banter for upcoming book

Innis & Gunn joins forces with top Scottish comedian Marc Jennings to find Scotland's funniest pub stories for 'The Book of Pub Banter & Confessions'.

Spring into gardening: Dobbies free April workshops

Garden Centre invites gardeners to get hands-on with wildflowers and springtime celebrations.

JADE and Myles Smith join TRNSMT 2025 lineup

Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT has revealed five new artists to the Glasgow Green billing, including two of the hottest UK acts right now, JADE and Myles Smith!

Doors to historic sites across Scotland set to open next month

More than 30 historic seasonal sites across the country will reopen to visitors from Tuesday 1st April, as Historic Environment Scotland marks the start of its spring/summer season.

Theatrical screenings take centre stage at Vue this spring

To coincide with World Theatre Day this Thursday (27 March), Vue venues in Scotland are bringing a selection of British productions to the big screen this spring.

Scottish youth hostelling charity launches initiative reviving funded breaks for disadvantaged young people and families

An organisation that runs youth hostels across Scotland is launching an initiative to provide free stays for disadvantaged young people and families.

TRNSMT reveals 18 big dance acts for Glasgow Green

BBC Radio 1 Dance is taking over the much-loved Boogie Bar to bring some of the best dance music to Glasgow Green this summer on 11-13th July!

UB40 ft. Ali Campbell brings legendary vibes to Kelpies Live at Helix Park

UB40 ft. Ali Campbell are set to light up Falkirk as part of Kelpies Live at Helix Park, marking a triumphant return to Scotland for one of music's most iconic acts.

Aldi calls on children to design a poster for food action week

To mark Food Waste Action Week (17th – 23rd March), Aldi is calling on children in Scotland to design a poster that encourages people to reduce food waste.

Giant gold girder stuns Scots as competition heats up

With three 18-carat golden girders worth £10,000 still out there, IRN-BRU unveils giant hanging girder to encourage Scots to get on the hunt!

Architect awarded extended contract for major St Andrews West development

Award-winning architecture and design practice Studio LBA has been appointed for the next residential phase of the St Andrews West masterplan development.

Family fun awaits at Vue venues across Scotland this Easter break

From Wallace & Gromit to Sonic the Hedgehog, there’s plenty to enjoy at Vue venues across Scotland this Easter break.

The Shoregate Launches a Chefs Travels Tasting Menu

The Shoregate in Crail has launched a five-course tasting menu of flavours from around the world, inspired by Head Chef Craig McAllister’s travels during his career.

Foodies alert! Loch Lomond Springfest is back

Loch Lomond Springfest, one of Scotland's biggest FREE food festivals, is back on the 5th and 6th April at Loch Lomond Shores!

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has curated a unique experience to help guests unwind

To mark World Sleep Day, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts is introducing the Sleep Retreat Essential Spa Break, designed to help guests prioritise rest and relaxation.

Paisley Food and Drink Festival has all the ingredients for the perfect foodie day out!

Paisley Food and Drink Festival returns next month and looks set to be the biggest yet with an extended site and more vendors than ever before.

Popular Listings

Adam Smith Theatre Alhambra Theatre Dunfermline Carnegie Hall Corn Exchange Cupar Kings Theatre Kirkcaldy Lochgelly Centre PJ Molloys Rothes Halls Teasses Estate The Byre Theatre St Andrews

SAY Award opens applications for The Sound of Young Scotland Award

A search for new Scottish talent has officially launched with The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award opening applications for The Sound of Young Scotland Award.

Sponsored Links

Latest Fife News

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

Popular Events

Popular Listings