Yolanda Soares
INAUGURAL YEAR RECIPIENTS
A production in which the artist has given their soul and talents for the continued sake of, the art of, The Music Album. Consequently producing one of the best CD’s in the world, at a time when the instant gratification of “web music” is a quick fix for the less committed!
Only eight awards are to be issued in this inaugural year of 2009, from a total of nearly 2000 international submissions.
The award recipients will be announced annually each year to coincide with the January MIDEM trade exposition. Thus gaining maximum impact and exposure to the industry for the recipients.
Albeit competitive, it is certainly prestigious and will provide an opportunity for independent artists who are not necessarily signed with major recording companies, to gain international recognition, publicity and exposure.
The judging criteria will be based on:
CONCEPT - Where it all begins! With the purpose to create something unusual, completely different, using original ideas.
With concept in mind you could look to the likes of The Music Albums of the last 50 years, from artists as multifarious as; Floyd, Oldfield, Beatles, Stones, Pistols, Yes, Bush (Kate that is!), Mac (Rumours that is!)... and we left so many out!
Productions which were often conceptualized, before the projects began recording.
But in some cases, the concept materialized through the process!
That said, not all music albums are strictly “concept albums”! The humble songwriter’s album can have a concept. Put simply, New Songs from the Penn of John Smith!
The manifestation of an excellent concept can be reflective, contemplative or it could well stimulate debate!
MUSIC - Wonderful songs and tunes, executed with accomplished musicianship, captured with extreme recording quality all mastered for optimal listening.
DESIGN - Design concepts, originality of design... don’t believe there is only so much you can do with a CD cover these days!
The immediate visual presentation of The Music Album is where the game of successfully licensing music is won... and sadly, often lost!
PROMOTION - As has always been the case, promotion is the unsung hero of any CD. Without this element any CD, no matter how good will just be propping up someone's bed!
Too many artists spend a great deal of time and money on CD projects that never see the light of day purely because of zero promotion!
From nearly 2000 CDs received in the course of the year 2008.
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