The SAY Award

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The SAY Award Scotland's national music prize; celebrating the cultural impact of outstanding Scottish albums. Learn more at sayaward.com

Produced by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), The SAY Award exists to:

– Enrich Scotland’s cultural identity by recognising, rewarding and championing the strength and diversity of Scotland’s recorded output; past, present and future.
– Stimulate a national focus on music by providing an annual focal point to celebrate it; driving audiences, instilling civic pride and increasing cul

tural confidence.
– Inspire the listening, learning, playing and creation of music, especially by young people, to ensure the continued vibrancy of Scottish music both now and in the future.
– Enhance the profile, reputation and credibility of Scotland’s artists and music industry; both domestically and internationally.
..in order to strengthen and increase the value of Scotland’s music industry on the world stage: economically, socially and culturally. Placing artistic merit before sales history, genre or record label affiliation, The SAY Award dispenses with categorisation, opting instead for the creation of a bold, unifying platform from which Scotland’s most outstanding albums – across all genres – can be celebrated, discovered and championed. With previous Longlist titles featuring hip-hop, rock, alternative, traditional, folk, classical, dubstep, reggae, pop and jazz, The SAY Award accommodates Scottish music in all its influential, inspiring and idiosyncratic glory. Wielding a £20,000 prize for the winner, 9 runner-up prizes of £1,000 each and a design commission which highlights the enduring links between music, art and design in Scotland, The SAY Award is respected by artists, valued by the industry and is responsible for both a surge in musical discovery and an explosion of impassioned debate on social media.

Our SAY Award alumni Frightened Rabbit are asking fans to help contribute to a documentary about the band, focussing on ...
12/04/2024

Our SAY Award alumni Frightened Rabbit are asking fans to help contribute to a documentary about the band, focussing on the era of ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ album. 🎶 🌟

Originally planned for the album’s ten-year anniversary in 2018, the project is now moving forward and seeking contributions from the band’s community to capture the profound legacy of Frightened Rabbit through the eyes and hearts of fans. 🤍✨

We’ve pulled out the moment the band accepted our inaugural Modern Scottish Classic Award in 2021 specifically for this album from our archives to help this cause. This album was selected as our winner by the 20-strong Longlist that year. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ⭐

To get involved send all your content to [email protected] with the subject line 'Frightened Rabbit Fan Material' alongside your name, location/date of footage, brief description of the moment or any personal anecdotes associated with it. 📷 ⚡

For updates on the project, follow + on Instagram 👏 🖤

Happy Burns Night! 🥃 💙 Scotland has a rich history of creativity, with Robert Burns being among one of the first creativ...
25/01/2024

Happy Burns Night! 🥃 💙

Scotland has a rich history of creativity, with Robert Burns being among one of the first creative pioneers to help bring Scotland to the creative world stage. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ✨

What better way to celebrate Scottish creativity than soundtracking your Burns Night to the 20 outstanding Scottish albums Longlisted for last year’s – https://spoti.fi/47TJNCq

15/12/2023

‘Take me wandering through these streets, where bright lights and angels meet..' 👼 🖤

Check out the amazing Brownbear performance featuring our SAY House Band of ‘New Shoes’ by Paolo Nutini - from the 2023 Modern Scottish Classic Award winning album ’These Streets’. 💫

One of our favourite moments at the Ceremony The Albert Halls, Stirling this year! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ✨

Watch in full on YouTube - https://youtu.be/l2dLSr6rR7s

08/12/2023

We still can’t get over this moment at the Ceremony The Albert Halls, Stirling this year 🎶 ✨

Celebrating our Modern Scottish Classic Award winning album - ‘These Streets’ by Paolo Nutini performed by Becky Sikasa featuring our SAY House Band 💙

Watch in full on YouTube 👇
https://bit.ly/3uQduXn

Welcome in the New Year at Edinburgh's Hogmanay First Footin’ on January 1st 2024 🎊  Featuring our 2023   shortlised art...
10/11/2023

Welcome in the New Year at Edinburgh's Hogmanay First Footin’ on January 1st 2024 🎊

Featuring our 2023 shortlised artists Becky Sikasa, Bemz, Cloth and Sound of Young Scotland winner No Windows, in partnership with 🙌 ⭐

🎟️ - https://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/

It’s been 1 whole week since our amazing   Ceremony The Albert Halls, Stirling  💙Here’s some of✨The People of SAY ✨ shot...
02/11/2023

It’s been 1 whole week since our amazing Ceremony The Albert Halls, Stirling 💙

Here’s some of✨The People of SAY ✨ shot on film by our collaborator Spit in Stirling. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 📸

30/10/2023

🎬 "I'll be back!"

The immensely talented Shortlisted artist Joesef shares his first impressions on our host city Stirling. Thanks to The Albert Halls, Stirling for having us 🙌

29/10/2023

The big moment when Young Fathers scooped The Scottish Album of the Year Award prize 👏 🎉 in The Albert Halls, Stirling.

A hugely special evening celebrating Scottish music, and the cultural impact and contribution of outstanding Scottish al...
29/10/2023

A hugely special evening celebrating Scottish music, and the cultural impact and contribution of outstanding Scottish albums 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 💙

Thank you to all our partners, team, artists and fans who helped make The SAY Award 2023 so incredible ⭐️ 🙌

📸 Shot by Cameron Brisbane + Euan Robertson

28/10/2023

🎬 Shortlisted Bemz tells us his favourite tracks from his nominated album 'Nova's Dad'.

26/10/2023

📢 The ✨ WINNER ✨ of The Scottish Album of the Year 2023 is 👇

🏆 Young Fathers
🎶 'Heavy Heavy'

🎧 Stream the brilliant Scottish album now sayaward.com

Check out these Shortlisted legends! 😍A selection of the Shortlist live from Stirling at tonight's   Ceremony The Albert...
26/10/2023

Check out these Shortlisted legends! 😍

A selection of the Shortlist live from Stirling at tonight's Ceremony The Albert Halls, Stirling 🙌 follow along on Twitter using for all the news + BTS 👏

26/10/2023

Ahead of this evening's Ceremony, we wanted to once again congratulate this year's incredible Shortlist 👏 🏆

The Shortlist was whittled down from a record-breaking 437 eligible albums. A truly outstanding achievement 😍 🎶

Good luck to the nominees, we cannot wait to celebrate the strength, diversity and cultural impact of the Scottish music industry this evening in The Albert Halls, Stirling.

26/10/2023

This evening, we're thrilled to return to The Albert Halls, Stirling for The Scottish Album of the Year Award Ceremony 2023 🙌 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏆 🎉

Follow along on Twitter via for all the news and behind the scenes. Who do you want to see scoop the big prize? Let us know in the comments 👇

These ✨Ceremony Memories✨ have got us like ❤️‍🔥🥳Describe your   excitement in 3 emojis… GO!
25/10/2023

These ✨Ceremony Memories✨ have got us like ❤️‍🔥🥳

Describe your excitement in 3 emojis… GO!

25/10/2023

We are proud to celebrate our incredible Sound of Young Scotland finalists at this year's Ceremony, supported by Help Musicians, Youth Music, + Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland + .

⭐️ Danny Cliff music
⭐️ No Windows
⭐️ Pearling
⭐️ Pippa Blundell
⭐️ Queen of Harps

The winner, revealed at this year's The Albert Halls, Stirling Ceremony, A huge thank you to our judging panel: Tamara Schlesinger, (Stephen) McAll, Seonaid Aitken, Rebecca Vasmant, Ray Aggs, Emma Aikamhenze, Joe Rattray, Shaheeda Sinckler, Alasdair Taylor, Jocelyn Si + Calum Stewart.

Join us this 26 October.
Tickets at sayaward.com 💙

25/10/2023

In just ONE DAY we welcome you to The Albert Halls, Stirling for The Scottish Album of the Year Ceremony 2023 🎉

We cannot wait for huge performances from Becky Sikasa, Brownbear, Dead Pony, Fergus McCreadie - Pianist, + TAAHLIAH plus the winner presentations 👏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

24/10/2023

The countdown is on! We will reveal The Scottish Album of the Year 2023 The Albert Halls, Stirling on 26 October.

A huge thank you to our amazing judging panel: Adem Holness, Andrea Gibb, Ariel Cohen, Becci Scotcher, Charles Jeffrey, Gordon Smart, John Rostron, Katie Goh, Laura Boyd, Pete Sparkes & Titania Altius.

Good luck to our incredible Shortlist: Andrew Wasylyk, Becky Sikasa, Bemz, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Brooke Combe, Cloth, Hamish Hawk, Joesef, Paolo Nutini & Young Fathers.

24/10/2023

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Just TWO DAYS TO GO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 until The Scottish Album of the Year Ceremony 2023 The Albert Halls, Stirling 🎶 💙

A huge thanks to our outstanding partners for their support 🙌Scottish Music Industry Association, Creative Scotland, YouTube Music, Seabass Vinyl, Ticketmaster United Kingdom, Help Musicians, hmv, Fopp, PPL - Phonographic Performance Ltd, Spotify, Go Forth Stirling business improvement district, , Youth Music, Music Declares Emergency, Tiny Changes, The Golden Lion Hotel Stirling, BBC Scotland, The Skinny, The List.

We reveal The Scottish Album of the Year on Thursday, from our incredible 10-strong Shortlist 😍 🎉 From our Shortlist, wh...
23/10/2023

We reveal The Scottish Album of the Year on Thursday, from our incredible 10-strong Shortlist 😍 🎉

From our Shortlist, who's your Scottish Album of the Year? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏆

We are getting very excited for this year's   Ceremony in The Albert Halls, Stirling on Thursday 26 October. Here's some...
21/10/2023

We are getting very excited for this year's Ceremony in The Albert Halls, Stirling on Thursday 26 October. Here's some of our favourite memories from last year's Ceremony in Stirling 😍

🎫 Final tickets at sayaward.com 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏆

Tune into BBC Scotland tonight from 8PM for a   special looking ahead to the Ceremony at The Albert Halls, Stirling on T...
20/10/2023

Tune into BBC Scotland tonight from 8PM for a special looking ahead to the Ceremony at The Albert Halls, Stirling on Thursday night 🙌 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 👇

Shereen & Phoebe shine a light on the Intro artists in the running for 2023's SAY Award.

Weekends were made for record shopping 😍 What's your favourite thing about stepping into those musical havens?
20/10/2023

Weekends were made for record shopping 😍

What's your favourite thing about stepping into those musical havens?

We cannot wait to return The Albert Halls, Stirling, on 26 October for The Scottish Album of The Year Ceremony. This yea...
19/10/2023

We cannot wait to return The Albert Halls, Stirling, on 26 October for The Scottish Album of The Year Ceremony.

This year's ceremony will see Becky Sikasa, Brownbear, Dead Pony, Fergus McCreadie - Pianist + perform as well as some secret performances 😍 👀

We will celebrate incredible Scottish albums, including Paolo Nutini's 'These Streets' who is this year's Modern Scottish Classic winner in association with YouTube Music. We will also reveal this year's Sound of Young Scotland winner 👏

Be there, tickets on-sale now via: https://www.sayaward.com/

We are delighted to reveal the low-carbon concrete awards created by Stirling-based maker Stuart Blackman of Brutal Conc...
19/10/2023

We are delighted to reveal the low-carbon concrete awards created by Stirling-based maker Stuart Blackman of Brutal Concrete Workshop, funded by The SAY Award Design Commission. 🏆 💙 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Handmade in the shadow of the Wallace Monument in the very heart of Scotland, Stirling-based Stuart Blackman expertly crafts unique forms from low-carbon concrete.

Thank you Stirling Council for your support. 📸 Clair Irwin

19/10/2023

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Just ONE WEEK TO GO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 until The Scottish Album of the Year Ceremony 2023 The Albert Halls, Stirling 🎶 💙

A huge thanks to our outstanding partners for their support 🙌 Scottish Music Industry Association, Creative Scotland, Stirling Council, YouTube Music, Seabass Vinyl, Ticketmaster United Kingdom, Help Musicians, hmv, Fopp, PPL - Phonographic Performance Ltd, Spotify, Go Forth Stirling business improvement district, , Youth Music, Music Declares Emergency, The Golden Lion Hotel Stirling, BBC Radio Scotland, The List.

Tickets for this year's Ceremony are on-sale now via sayaward.com.

We cannot wait for this year’s Ceremony The Albert Halls, Stirling on 26 October. It’s got us reminiscing our favourite ...
18/10/2023

We cannot wait for this year’s Ceremony The Albert Halls, Stirling on 26 October. It’s got us reminiscing our favourite Stirling gigs, what’s yours? 📍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❤️‍🔥

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Since its inauguration in 2012, The SAY Award has grown to become Scotland’s most popular and prestigious music prize.

Wielding a £20,000 prize for the winner, 9 runner-up prizes of £1,000 each and a design commission which highlights the enduring links between music, art and design in Scotland, The SAY Award is respected by artists, valued by the industry and is responsible for both a surge in musical discovery and an explosion of impassioned debate on social media. Placing artistic merit before sales history, genre or record label affiliation, The SAY Award dispenses with categorisation, opting instead for the creation of a bold, unifying platform from which Scotland’s most outstanding albums – across all genres – can be celebrated, discovered and championed.

With previous Longlist titles featuring hip-hop, rock, alternative, traditional, folk, classical, dubstep, reggae, pop and jazz, The SAY Award accommodates Scottish music in all its influential, inspiring and idiosyncratic glory. From mainstream platinum sellers to self-released left-field debut records, The SAY Award has illuminated Scotland’s music scene with the ambition, credibility and commitment our artists’ endeavours so richly deserve.

The SAY Award is a Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) production, delivered in 2020 in partnership with Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, YouTube Music, Sweetdram, 54EP, PPL, Ticketmaster and Summerhall, with Music Declares Emergency being the award’s Charity Partner.