Submissions for The W Awards are now open!

Artists and producers who have been active* between April 1st, 2021, and March 31st, 2023 will be considered. These categories recognize creators whose eligibility-year release(s) (tracks, singles, or albums) achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape, specifically on digital media platforms.

One recording artist will be considered for Solo Artist of the Year.
Two recording artists will be considered for Duo Artist of the Year.
Three to fifteen artists will be considered for Group Artist of the Year.

One to fifteen producers assuming one Producer name will be considered for Producer of the Year. Executive and associate producers are not eligible.

Not Eligible:

• Artists who have been credited only as featured artists.
• Choirs, choruses, and large band ensembles (16 or more members).
• Non-music-performing video performers (e.g., dancers, actors).
• Musical craftspeople (songwriters, engineers, producers, art directors, remixers, notes writers, etc.).
• Any person active in public life whose entered recording was not intended to be the subject of a commercial
release.
• A group carrying on the name and tradition of a previous group that would be ineligible due to number of recordings or prior breakthrough, even if the personnel changes.
• A group that would be ineligible due to number of recordings or prior breakthrough, even if it changes its name.

*Active means at least one (1) record (one single track with a runtime of under 10.00 minutes), that has been commercially released and is available for sale within the eligibility period. This does not include records that were originally released outside of the eligibility period and then released again within the eligibility period.

Artists who have commercially released a record/album between April 1st, 2021, and March 31st, 2023 will be considered.* Albums entered for consideration in this Category should represent the best overall achievement by the performer(s), album producer(s), engineer(s)/mixer(s), and songwriter(s).

One record, including its Artist(s), Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s), will be considered for Record of The Year.

One album**, including its Artist(s), Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s), will be considered for Album of The Year.

Not Eligible:

• Records/Albums who have been credited only as featured artists.
• Non-music-performing video performers (e.g., dancers, actors).
• Associate producer(s) or executive producer(s).
• Any person active in public life whose entered recording was not intended to be the subject of a commercial release.

*At least one (1) record/album that has been commercially released and is available for sale within the eligibility period. This does not include records/albums that were originally released outside of the eligibility period and then released again within the eligibility period.

**Album, as defined by the Williams Entertainment Institute, is a collective body of work with a runtime of at least 30.00 minutes and a minimum of seven (7) tracks, but a maximum of twenty-three (23) tracks.

Artists who have been active* between March 1st, 2022, and February 28th, 2023 will be considered. These categories recognize creators whose eligibility-year release(s) (singular tracks) exemplifies artistic excellence in vocal or instrumental performance, with or without visuals or accompaniment.

One recording artist’s participation in a musical display of excellence will be considered for Best Solo Performance.
Two recording artists’ participation in a musical display of excellence will be considered for Best Duo Performance.
Three to fifteen artists’ participation in a musical display of excellence will be considered for Best Group Performance.
Sixteen or more artists’ participation in a musical display of excellence will be considered for Best Ensemble Performance.

*Active means at least one (1) record, that has been commercially released and is available for sale within the eligibility period. This does not include records that were originally released outside of the eligibility period and then released again within the eligibility period.

Composers who have been active* between April 1st, 2021, and March 31st, 2023 will be considered. These categories recognize creators whose eligibility-year compositions exemplify artistic excellence in vocal or instrumental performance. The award is not contingent upon the visuals themselves, but the presence of visuals is required.

A composer who displays artistic excellence throughout all of their works within the eligibility year will be considered for Best Composer-In-Visual.

A composer who displays artistic excellence within a single work will be considered for Best Score-In-Visual.

*Active means at least one (1) composition that has been commercially released (as part of a soundtrack in a motion picture, an accompaniment to an advertisement, or featured in a video game) within the eligibility period. This does not include records that were originally released outside of the eligibility period and then released again within the eligibility period as part of the motion picture, advertisement, or video game.

Creators who have been active* between April 1st, 2021, and March 31st, 2023 will be considered. These categories recognize excellence in music videos. Music videos released online during the current eligibility period, and that are synchronous or predominantly synchronous to a commercially released recording are eligible as long as they are recognized by the artist and/or the record label as the official video for an individual track.

Fan videos or re-edits that are not recognized by the artist and/or the record label as the official video are not eligible, nor are multitrack videos or visual albums.

A creator who displays artistic excellence within a track that accompanies a visual element will be considered for Best Music Video.

A creator who displays artistic excellence within a track that accompanies a visual element, but is independent of the music, will be considered for Best Visuals.

*Active means at least one (1) video/visual that has been commercially released within the eligibility period. This does not include videos/visuals that were originally released outside of the eligibility period and then released again within the eligibility period.

Artists who have commercially released a record between April 1st, 2021, and March 31st, 2023 will be considered.* Albums entered for consideration in this Category should represent the best overall achievement by the performer(s), album producer(s), engineer(s)/mixer(s), and songwriter(s) in lyricism, flow, syncopation, theme, and originality, modeled after the patented Five Category, Ten Point scale created by WGMCorp./JLVWII.

One record, including its Artist(s), Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s), will be considered for Best Lyrical Record.

One record, including its Artist(s), Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s), will be considered for Best Flowing Record.

One record, including its Artist(s), Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s), will be considered for Best Syncopated Record.

One record, including its Artist(s), Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s), will be considered for Best Thematic Record.

One record, including its Artist(s), Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s), will be considered for Best Original Record.

*At least one (1) record that has been commercially released and is available for sale within the eligibility period. This does not include records that were originally released outside of the eligibility period and then released again within the eligibility period.