Jazz is comprehensively understood as a transcultural form of music with a high proportion of improvisation.
Austria has a very lively jazz and world music scene. In order to pay more public attention to the creative musicians, the Austrian Music Council (ÖMR), together with mica-music austria, the Ö1 jazz editorial team, IG World Music and Porgy & Bess, was able to achieve the reorganization of an Austrian Jazz Award in 2024.
The Award is financed by
- Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS)
- Province of Carinthia
- Jam Music Lab Private University
In addition to the categories "Live Act", "Album" and "Newcomer", there will also be the category "High Impact Award" in 2025 (jury decision). All submitting artists and projects are automatically voting members of the "Academy" – provided they agree. 5 projects / albums / newcomers will be nominated per category. The nomination of one's own project or one's own person is permitted.
The categories and awards of the Austrian Jazz Award 2025 are:
"Best Live Act" (Music Project/Band/Ensemble/...)
-
1st place: € 10,000 prize money, Jazz Prize Ball + Concert on 26.11.2025 and 1 follow-up concert
-
2nd / 3rd place: € 1,000 prize money & Jazz Prize Ball
"Best Album" (Music Project/Album)
-
1st place: € 10,000 prize money + concert on 26.11.2025 and 1 1st follow-up concert
-
2nd / 3rd place: € 1,000 prize money & Jazz Prize Ball
"Best Newcomer" (person with all his projects)
-
1st place: € 5,000 prize money + concert on 26.11.2025 and 1 follow-up concert
-
2nd / 3rd place: € 1,000 prize money & Jazz Prize Ball
"Lifetime achievement to date"
Proponent Committee
of the Austrian Jazz Award 2025 (in alphabetical order):
- Andreas Felber – Ö1 Jazz Editor
- Christoph Huber – Porgy & Bess
- Harald Huber – Austrian Music Council (ÖMR)
- Katrin Pröll – IG World Music
- Sabine Reiter – mica / music austria
- Günther Wildner – Austrian Music Council (ÖMR)
Jury
The proponent committee of the Austrian Jazz Awards 2025 will nominate a six-member jury, which will be composed according to aspects of professional expertise and diversity, and will make a decision on the award on the basis of the nominees in the three categories.
Artists Upload Requirements
We invite you to upload your music projects. This means you will be taking part in the Austrian Jazz Award 2025 and will be visible in the long-term in the most comprehensive "Jazz & Global Music Library" of Jazz-Related Music Projects in Austria since January 2022”. It is also possible to submit only to the library and not apply for a prize.
The observation period for the Austrian Jazz Award 2025 begins on 26.08.2024 and ends on 25.08.2025.
You will need the following information or documents for each music project:
- Name of the music project
- Short text characterizing the project
- List of participating artists
- Photo of the music project
- 3 links (e.g.: audio /video, webpage, mica database, …)
For which category do you want to apply?
- "Best Live Act": Link to a cinematic documentation of a live performance during the observation period
- "Best Album": Link to an album released during the observation period
- "Best Newcomer": In addition to the film and/or album, a short text on the career path so far
All submitting artists and projects are automatically voting members of the "Academy" – provided they agree. 5 projects / albums / newcomers will be nominated per category. The nomination of one's own project or one's own person is permitted. The winners of the previous year will be invited to be part of the jury or the "Academy", but can only be nominated again the following year.
You also have the opportunity to contribute to the “Library of Jazz-Related Music Projects in Austria since 2022” without applying for one or more categories of the Austrian Jazz Awards.
Final Information
- Surname, first name of the submitter – will not be published
- Accessibility (tel.no., e-mail address) – will not be published
- Declarations of consent
Academy Registration Requirements
If you are professionally active in any form in the field of jazz/improvised music/world music in Austria - as a journalist, as an organizer, as a musician, as a teacher, as a label owner/producer, as a booker, as a sound engineer, etc. – we invite you to take part in the nomination process and contribute your expertise.
You will then have the opportunity to nominate 5 projects in each of the three categories "Best Live Act", "Best Album" and "Best Newcomer" from 1st to 15th September 2025. You also have the opportunity to encourage musicians or music projects to participate (submission deadline: 25th f August, 2025)
Please apply using the “Academy Registration” form. You will need the following information:
- Name, First Name
- Email address and phone number.
- Type of professional activity in the field (short description)
- Link to this activity
You will be notified as quickly as possible about your inclusion in the “Academy” (the nominating expert committee) of the Austrian Jazz Awards 2025. If we have any questions, we will contact you.