Toto Music Award 2020: Call for Entries

TOTO MUSIC AWARD 2020

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

TOTO FUNDS THE ARTS (TFA) invites entries for its sixteenth TOTO Music Award for young musicians and bands. The winner, to be decided by an eminent panel, will receive a cash award of Rs 60,000.

Entries should be submitted by 27 August 2019 at the latest.

Contemporary original music from all parts of India, in any genre and language, is welcome. In the past TFA has received entries in genres ranging from rock, jazz, hip-hop, heavy metal and electronic to instrumental and folk, being sung in English, Hindi, Kannada, Bengali and several other Indian languages. Although it is never easy to compare diverse entries, our experience is that talent and potential have a way of standing out regardless. TFA tends to reward music that explores new territory in the Indian music scene in the hope that the recognition and the cash award can help sustain it. The jury comprises individuals with plenty of music experience as well as an open ear for new sounds.

Nationality

Only Indian citizens resident in India are eligible for the award. (Overseas Citizen of India card-holders are not eligible.)

Age Restriction: Under 30

Since the spirit of the award is to identify and encourage young talent, applicant/s must be born on or after 1 January 1990.

Originality & Collaborations

All entries must be original compositions composed entirely by the applicant/s. All tracks must be released under the band or artist moniker. Applicant/s must own the rights to all submitted music.

Jury

Over the past fifteen years, the Toto Music Award has come to be coveted by young musicians because it recognises excellence. It helps you to see where you stand among the best upcoming musicians in the country, and to get your music heard and appreciated by veterans in the field. The jury, which changes every year, will assess musical content as well as the potential of the artist/band.

Recording Quality

Professional grade studio recordings are not a requirement, but with recording gear so easily accessible these days, we do expect a basic standard to be met. We believe that the recording process is an important one for musicians to hone their craft. We therefore expect to hear some effort being put into the recordings and arrangements, even if they are just home recordings.

Language

Songs sung in any Indian language are welcome. However, if the songs are sung in languages other than Hindi or English, applicants are encouraged to send in translated lyrics to help the jury reach a better verdict.

Labels & Artist Management

Artists working with labels or professional management are permitted to apply. However, given the spirit of the award, we ask that all correspondence with TFA be conducted directly by the artist himself/herself instead of by the manager. Please apply only if this is acceptable to you.

How to Apply for the TOTO Music Award

The application process is fully online.

1. Go to: https://forms.gle/qgzwNSs5eW23aCwq6

2. You will see an Application Form for the 2020 TOTO Music Award.

3. Artist Details: Fill in all fields as required so that we have your artist details.

4. Music: We require you to submit 3 of your best tracks for review. You need to put them up on soundcloud.com (this is a requirement!) and the application form will accept a link for each track. The artist name shown in the soundcloud track must be the same as that of the applicant.

5. Images: 3 print resolution pictures of the artist/band, if possible in performance, will need to be uploaded in the appropriate section of the form.

Your submission should be available on soundcloud until after the Awards Ceremony in early 2020. Unless you have won this TOTO Award earlier, you are eligible to apply again, but please submit new work for consideration.

Further queries: totomusicaward@gmail.com.

The Fine Print: The decision of the TFA jury will be final and cannot be contested in any forum. We reserve the right to add your submitted tracks to soundcloud playlists that we may use to showcase and publicise some of our favourite entries. 

Toto Funds the Arts (TFA) is a not-for-profit public charitable trust set up in memory of Angirus Toto Vellani, who was intensely passionate about music, literature and films. 

TFA encourages and supports emerging talent in the arts in India.