Toto Award for Music 2021: Call for Applications

TOTO MUSIC AWARD 2021

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

TOTO FUNDS THE ARTS (TFA) invites entries for its seventeenth 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 31st August 2020 at the latest.

Contemporary original music from all parts of India, in any genre and language, composed by an individual or a band/project 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 innovates and 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 (OCI) card-holders are not eligible.

Age Restriction: Under 30

Since the motivation behind the award is to identify and encourage young talent, all members of the band/project must be born on or after 1 January 1991.

Originality & Collaborations

All entries must be original compositions composed and written entirely by the band/project. All tracks must be published under the band name or artist moniker. The band/project must own the rights to all submitted music and recordings.

Jury

Over the past sixteen 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 our jury, who are 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

If your music has lyrics 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 that the spirit of the award is to foster relationships with the artists, we ask that all correspondence with TFA be conducted directly by the artist themselves, even if they have a manager. Please apply only if this is acceptable to you.

How to Apply for the TOTO Music Award

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

2. You will see an Application Form for the 2021 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 three of your best tracks for review  only via Soundcloud. You need to sign up and upload your music to Soundcloud, if you haven’t already, in order to apply. This is a requirement. The application form will accept a Soundcloud link for each track. The artist name displayed in the Soundcloud track must be the same as that of the applicant. Try to use your most recent work, ideally released within the last one year.

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

Your submitted links should be available on Soundcloud until the announcement of the winner in early 2021. Unless you have won this TOTO Award earlier, you are eligible to apply again, but if you are re-applying, do 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.

The Toto Music Award is supported by Badri Vishal.