- Call opens
- Deadline
- Announcement
- Album release
The Call
Who can apply
The NEOS × GERYON Album Release Award is open to composers working in any area of contemporary music, from anywhere in the world, who are 35 years old or younger on the submission deadline.
There is no application fee.
What to submit
Applicants should submit a complete album program of up to 75 minutes, conceived as a coherent release rather than a collection of unrelated works.
The application should include:
- an artistic concept explaining the album’s overall approach;
- scores of the proposed works, where applicable;
- a private link to the complete audio recordings (SoundCloud, Bandcamp, or a similar service);
- program notes, where applicable;
- a biography of the composer;
- biographies of the principal performers or ensembles.
The recordings are an important part of the selection process and should give the jury a clear sense of both the music and the album as a complete artistic project.
Applicants supply the recordings themselves. The award supports the preparation and release of an existing recorded project and does not fund new recording sessions.
Recording requirements
Studio recordings, live recordings, and electronic works are all welcome, provided they are suitable for professional release.
All recordings required for the complete album must be fully recorded and edited, and ready for mastering.
Recordings may be submitted at a minimum bit depth of 16 bits and a minimum sample rate of 44.1 kHz, with 24-bit files preferred where available.
At least 70% of the proposed album’s total playing time must consist of recordings that have not previously been commercially released.
Applicants must hold, or be able to secure, all necessary recording, performance, publishing, and other rights and permissions required for release.
What the award includes
The selected project will receive a complete album release on NEOS Music at no cost to the composer.
The award includes:
- cover, digipak, and booklet layout in the widely recognized NEOS design;
- liner notes by professional writers (if desired);
- physical release on CD;
- worldwide digital release;
- audio restoration (where needed);
- high-definition mastering by GERYON;
- worldwide distribution through NEOS;
- international promotion and public relations support.
Unlike regular NEOS productions, which usually have to be financed by third-party contributions, the costs associated with preparing and releasing the selected album are covered by the award program.
NEOS × GERYON Digital Compilation
The jury will select the winning album project from a shortlist of ten composers. The other nine shortlisted composers will each be invited to contribute one work to the NEOS × GERYON Digital Compilation—an opportunity to share their music with listeners around the world, at no cost to them.
Mastered by GERYON, the compilation will be released in high-resolution audio across all major streaming platforms and made available for purchase through NEOS Bandcamp, with downloadable digital album art and liner notes.
NEOS will support the release with dedicated promotion and public relations, bringing further attention to the selected composers and their music. The compilation will be released exclusively in digital format.
Timeline
Applications will be accepted through the online form from to .
After the submission deadline, the international jury will review the eligible projects and select the winning album.
The winner will be announced on , with the album scheduled for release on .