PRODUCTION MUSIC AWARDS LTD
RULES FOR ENTRY (2026)
Eligibility
All music submitted into Composition categories must have been first published by a production music library between 15 November 2023 and 19 November 2026 (the three-year period up to the 2026 awards ceremony). For the purpose of these rules, first published means made publicly available by a production music library for commercial licensing.
All music submitted into Sync categories must have been licensed into a production between 15
November 2024 and 19 November 2026.
Entry Ownership
Entries may only be submitted by the production music library or rights holder.
All entries must be fully registered with a recognised performing rights organisation (PRO).
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Music generated, either wholly or in part, by artificial intelligence (AI) tools is not eligible for entry. This
includes any track containing audio or musical elements created by AI systems.
Entrants may be required to provide assurances or evidence that AI was not used in the creation of
submitted works.
Music found to contain AI-generated content will be removed from the competition.
Writer Eligibility
All writers credited on a music submission must be human and must have contributed creatively to the creation of the track.
Any work submitted with non-human writers, or with writers who have not demonstrably contributed
creatively to the work, will be removed from the competition.
Entry Limits & Pricing
Each library may submit up to two entries per category.
Entry fees:
£155 + VAT (all categories except Composer Spotlight, Impact Award)
Submission Requirements
All entries must be submitted via the official awards platform before the stated deadline.
Entries must include all required media and metadata to be considered complete.
Sync entries must include video or supporting material demonstrating usage. Edited clips are permitted.
Permissions & Rights
Entrants must have full rights and permissions for all submitted materials, including audio and visual content.
The organisers are not liable for rights disputes arising from submitted content.
Category Viability
Categories receiving insufficient entries may be withdrawn. Entry fees will be refunded in such cases.
Judging Integrity
Judges must declare any conflicts of interest and abstain where necessary.
The organisers reserve the right to reassign entries to more appropriate categories.
General
All decisions made by the organisers are final.
Submission of an entry constitutes full acceptance of these rules.
JUDGING CRITERIA (2026)
Composition Categories
Entries will be judged blind and scored across four weighted criteria:
Composition (40)
Melody, harmony, structure and musical craft
Originality (20)
Creativity and distinctiveness within the genre
Production Quality (20)
Mix, balance, clarity and technical execution
Sync Utility (20)
Usability in media, editability, versatility and clarity of purpose.
Scores from all judges will be averaged to determine final rankings.
Sync Categories
Entries will be judged in context of their usage and scored out of 10 based on:
- Effectiveness of the music within the visual context
- Originality and creative impact
- Suitability and enhancement of narrative or message
Judging Process
A pre-screening round will reduce entries to a shortlist before final judging
Judges will only assess a curated selection of entries per category
Judging panels will include industry professionals across music, sync and production
Library representatives may participate as judges but will not judge categories in which they have entered
Final Decision
All results are determined by aggregated scoring and final review by the awards panel. The organisers retain ultimate authority over all judging outcomes.