Deadline: 18 July 2024
The Abbey Road Studios has announced submissions for the Music Photography Award to support photography talent across the world and to shine a light on the images that create and shape culture and will define music iconography for generations to come.
The MPAs is now in its third year and remains the only global music photography awards. The winners will be unveiled and celebrated at an official ceremony on 3 October hosted at Abbey Road.
Photography has defined some of the greatest moments in the history of music. The Abbey Road Music Photography Awards celebrates, showcases and supports the global community of music photographers and the images that create and shape culture, connect music fans to the artists they love, and define music iconography for generations to come. This year they’ve returned for the third edition, delivering the next chapter of a long-term vision for supporting, showcasing & enabling the best in music photography, firmly establishing us as the foremost competition in music photography.
Award Categories
- Open for submissions:
- Undiscovered Photographer of the Year (Supported by Adidas)
- Music Moment of the Year (Supported by Outernet and voted for by the public)
- Live Music Award
- Underground Scenes Award
- Making Music Award
- Jazz: The Rebirth of Cool (2024 guest category – open to images across the years)
- Invited Categories (nominated and chosen by the judging panel):
- Portrait Photography Award: Capturing the spirit, essence & personality of the artist through visual imagery. Stylised, conceptual or candid, it’s how the artist represents their work of themself through visual imagery.
- Editorial Photography Award: Editorial photography draws the viewer in, sharing a whole story with an image. It can create an entire mood, illuminate written text, set a tone or present a highly evolved creative concept.
- Icon: A special honour in recognition of an individual whose impact and contribution to the art of music photography is unparalleled.
Prize Information
- All winners of the Music Photography Awards will be presented with a MPAs trophy unique to their award. Other prizes include:
- An exclusive virtual mentoring experience with renowned photographer & Rolling Stone magazine’s Deputy Photo Editor, Sacha Lecca. This unique prize offers invaluable guidance, advice and insights from one of the best in the field.
- Dive deep into the world of underground music scenes with a virtual mentorship from esteemed photographer and guest judge, Simon Wheatley.
- Seize the spotlight with a one-week takeover of the iconic ‘“Pop Two”’ space on the world-famous screens at Outernet London. This incredible opportunity allows you to showcase an exclusive exhibition right in the heart of central London, UK.
- Plus win a mentorship session with head judge Rankin, which includes a portfolio review session with Rankin’s creative agency and an opportunity to tour the studio and shadow Rankin on a The Hunger Magazine shoot, both of which will take place in London, UK.
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be over the age of 18 to enter the Music Photography Awards.
- For five of the categories (Undiscovered Photographer of the Year, Music Moment of the Year, Underground Scenes, Live Music and Making Music) all photos submitted must be taken in 2023.
- The Jazz: The Rebirth of Cool category is in celebration of Jazz and serves as a vibrant homage to jazz photography across the years. In celebration the MPAs will be accepting images outside of 2023.
- For each submission, you’ll need to submit between three to five images depending on the category you choose to enter. For the Undiscovered Photographer of the Year you’ll need to submit five images to showcase your work as a photographer. Your entry will be judged on all five images. For the Music Moment of the Year you’ll need to submit three photographs. For all other categories, you’ll need to submit a minimum of three and maximum of five photographs. Any image you submit may be considered for the category shortlist.
- You can only enter once per category; however, you can submit the same photo in multiple categories. If you submit an entry into an incorrect category, it cannot be amended or altered after submission.
For more information, visit Abbey Road Studios.
