SCOTLAND’S national music prize, the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, has invited the public to ‘Have their SAY’ and vote for their favourite Scottish album of the past year.
The SAY Award’s 72 hour public vote is now open, meaning music fans can back their favourite Longlisted album to secure its place on 2025’s Shortlist and win a minimum prize of £1,000. 10 Shortlisted albums will then be in the running for the coveted title of Scottish Album of the Year, as well as the winning prize fund of £20,000.
The public vote is now open via www.sayaward.com – music fans have 72 hours to back their favourite record, with albums in the running from Scottish artists including: Be Charlotte, Brooke Combe, Faith Elliott, Jacob Alon, Kathryn Joseph, Mogwai, Rebecca Vasmant and more. Voting closes 11.59pm Wednesday 15th October.
Music fans can vote once per person, choosing between 20 albums on The SAY Award Longlist. The album with the most public votes will be guaranteed a place on the 10-strong Shortlist, taking home a minimum prize of £1,000 and remaining in the running to win the £20,000 first prize. The other 9 albums making up the Shortlist will be decided by a panel of judges.
2025’s judging panel includes Jenny Niven (Director and CEO, Edinburgh International Book Festival) Ben Wynter (Director of Business Development and Partnerships, Association of Independent Music), Joel Mills (Music Director, British Council), Glaswegian artist Trackie McLeod and more, with the judging panel chaired by music and culture journalist Arusa Qureshi.
The SAY Award Longlist
Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman’ Ash Grey and the Gull Glides On’
Be Charlotte ‘Self Help and Fictional Doubts’
Brooke Combe ‘Dancing At The Edge Of The World’
Cloth ‘Pink Silence’
Constant Follower ‘The Smile You Send Out Returns To You’
corto.alto ‘30/108’
Faith Eliott ‘dryas’
Hamish Hawk ‘A Firmer Hand’
Jacob Alon ‘In Limerence’
Kai Reesu ‘Kompromat vol.i’
Kathryn Joseph ‘WE WERE MADE PREY.’
kitti ‘Somethin’ In The Water’
Maranta ‘Day Long Dream’
Matt Carmichael ‘Dancing with Embers’
Mogwai ‘The Bad Fire’
Rebecca Vasmant ‘Who We Are, Becoming’
TAAHLIAH ‘Gramarye’
The Joy Hotel ‘Ceremony’
Walt Disco ‘The Warping’
Zoe Graham ‘TENT’
The Shortlist will be announced Thursday 16th October, with the SAY Award winner exclusively revealed live at 2025’s Ceremony, taking place in Dundee for the first time ever on Thursday 6th November at the city’s Caird Hall. The Ceremony will host performances from Scottish talent including Longlisted artists Brooke Combe and corto.alto, Dillon Barrie, 2024 SAY Award winners rEDOLENT and more to be announced. Buy tickets for The SAY Award Ceremony now via www.sayaward.com.
Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) said, “The SAY Award public vote is the chance for music fans to have their say in the determination of the Shortlist. From the 20 outstanding Scottish albums that made this year’s Longlist, the public’s choice will automatically be guaranteed a place in the 10-strong Shortlist, along with a minimum prize of £1,000.
“Best of luck to each of this year’s nominees – we eagerly anticipate which records will make the Shortlist, and we look forward to the exclusive announcement of this year’s winner at The SAY Award Ceremony next month, taking place in our incredible new home of Dundee’s Caird Hall. We hope to see you there!”
