Yesterday, as we announced the ten outstanding Scottish albums making up this year’s SAY Award Shortlist, our sector was yet again propelled into further uncertainty. 281 cultural organisations across Scotland (including us) have been anxiously awaiting decisions on Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Funding Programme for 2025–28, which were due later this month. Unfortunately, yesterday’s announcement has…

 The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) has today revealed the 10 Shortlisted albums now in the running for 2024’s Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, with the winner set to gain the coveted title along with the £20,000 first prize. Plus, Martyn Bennett’s final studio album ‘Grit’ is announced as the winner of 2024’s…

Scotland’s national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, today reveals the 20 outstanding Scottish albums on 2024’s Longlist. Featuring 11 debut albums, previous SAY Award winners, Mercury Prize nominees and an eclectic range of genres, The SAY Award Longlist in alphabetical order is:  Afterlands We Are the Animals in the Night…

Our latest letter to the Culture Secretary, Angus Robertson, following his written response to our open letter on the culture funding crisis. (6 September 2024)

In less than 24 hours, more than 1,000 artists and music industry professionals have signed an open letter to Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, calling for the urgent reinstatement of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals and Youth Music Funds, and assurance that the planned £25 million increase in cultural funding for 2025 is secured…

The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) is urgently calling on artists, industry professionals and music businesses from across Scotland and the wider UK to sign an open letter to First Minister John Swinney. The open letter is in response to the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals and the delayed reopening of the…

Yesterday, Creative Scotland announced the closure of the Open Fund for Individuals, effective from 2pm this Friday (30 August 2024), due to the Scottish Government being unable to confirm release of £6.6 million in Grant-in-Aid funding for the current financial year. Today, Creative Scotland further announced the delay in opening applications for the Access to…

Alongside other culture sector support bodies across Scotland, we’ve written a joint letter to the Scottish Government in response to the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals and the reduction of support for vital initiatives such as the Culture Collective and the Youth Music Initiative. This letter, addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for…

The SMIA Summit 2024; a two-day, free-to-attend digital conference which aims to shape the future of Scotland’s music industry, with speakers from across the sector including artists, management, labels and more. Free tickets via smia.org.uk/summit  Taking place online across Thursday 5 and Friday 6 September, The SMIA Summit will foster connection, consultation and collaboration between…

The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) – the membership organisation and innovation agency which exists to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s music industry – today announces the appointment of seven members to our inaugural Equalities, Diversity, Inclusion and Access (EDIA) Advisory Group. The newly-appointed group comprises Jayne Stynes (Chair), Jim Muotune, Beth Black, Sof Staune,…

Scotland’s national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, has launched for 2024, inviting artists, music fans and labels to submit eligible albums and be in the running for the prestigious prize. Returning to Stirling’s Albert Halls for the third year running, The SAY Award will celebrate the cultural impact and contribution…

Pitch Scotland returns to Glasgow’s east end at Drygate Brewery over 22-23 August.  The third edition of the event will see Elijah – A creative consultant, lecturer, and artist who shares insights on sustainable creative production through ‘Yellow Squares.’, Niko BACKSPIN – Owner of Germany’s oldest active hip-hop magazine, BACKSPIN, and a veteran in German…

Congratulations to Aimmi Dunsmuir (Machina Management) and Jen Anderson (The Bothy Society) who are the Scottish representatives on the MMF Accelerator programme this year.  Accelerator remains the world’s only independent funding and professional development program designed exclusively for artist, songwriter, DJ and producer managers. They are among the 18 talented independent music managers who will participate in…

We’re proud to announce that Anneliese Harmon, a member of our 14-strong SMIA board, has been appointed to the newly formed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group (EDIAG). This initiative created by Creative UK, marks a significant step towards promoting greater equality, diversity and inclusion across the Creative Industries. Creative UK has established the EDIAG…

The MMF Accelerator Programme is the world’s only independent funding and professional development programme for music managers. The SMIA has been a proud partner on the programme since 2019, with the programme offering both financial and educational support including 12-month grants of up to £15,000, alongside expert-led professional development training.   A report published last year…