News
Stay informed with the latest from the SMIA, including our own news, developments, and exclusive features, alongside key music industry updates from Scotland and beyond.
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Creative Scotland has published Outcome and Transition FAQs for Multi-Year Funding Applicants
Creative Scotland has released new Outcome and Transition FAQs for Multi-Year Funding applicants, covering key areas such as project timelines, guidance for successful and unsuccessful applications, and options for other funding routes. Due to a revised timeline, funding decisions are now expected by the end of January 2025, delayed from the original October date. For…
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REDOLENT WINS THE SCOTTISH ALBUM OF THE YEAR AWARD WITH ‘DINNY GREET’
rEDOLENT ‘dinny greet’ was tonight announced as winner of The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award in Stirling’s Albert Halls. rEDOLENT took home the £20,000 first prize and a bespoke trophy as part of Scotland’s national music prize, claiming the title ahead of a Shortlist including Arab Strap, corto.alto, Rachel Sermanni and more. The…
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Letter to Creative Scotland Regarding the Multi-Year Funding Programme (2025-28)
Following Creative Scotland’s recent communication regarding the delay in announcing the application results for the Multi-Year Funding Programme (2025–28), we – along with Artlink, Craft Scotland, Culture & Business Scotland, Culture Counts, Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST), Publishing Scotland, Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN) and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS) –…
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Statement on the Creative Scotland Multi-year Funding Programme Delay
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…
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The SAY Award Shortlist 2024
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…
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The SAY Award Longlist 2024
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…
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Response from Culture Secretary, Angus Robertson, following our Open Letter on the culture funding crisis (4 September 2024)
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)
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Unprecedented Response to Scotland’s Cultural Crisis – Scotland’s Artists and Music Industry Rallies Together, With Over 1,000 Signatories Added to our Open Letter to Scotland’s First Minister in Under 24 Hours
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…
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Scottish Artists and Music Industry Professionals Urged to Unite in Response to Unprecedented Cultural Crisis
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…
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Our statement on the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals, and the delay in opening applications for the Access to Music Making and Strengthening Youth Music Funds
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…
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Joint letter to the Scottish Government from Culture Sector Support Organisations on the Creative Scotland Funding Closures
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…
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Announcing The SMIA Summit 2024
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…
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Announcing the inaugural SMIA EDIA Advisory Group
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,…
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The SAY Award 2024 eligible album submission is live + we return to Stirling for this year’s ceremony
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…
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The first 20 names for PITCH – Scotland’s hip hop conference are announced including Elijah, Niko BACKSPIN, Alicia Raye, Psweatpants, Meduulla + more!
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…