2027 LIT Music Awards
2027 LIT Music Awards is now open for entries!
Competition Details
Brief Overview
The LIT Music Awards 2027, organised by the International Awards Associate (IAA), invites emerging and established musicians, songwriters, composers, instrumentalists and music video creators worldwide to showcase original work across music, albums, songwriting, instrumental performance, music videos and music promotion.
Competition Details
The LIT Music Awards 2027 is an international music competition organised by the International Awards Associate (IAA) to recognise the creativity, technical skill and artistic expression shaping the global music industry. Formerly known as the LIT Talent Awards, the programme brings together emerging voices and established professionals, offering a platform for work that connects with audiences through sound, lyrics, performance and visual storytelling.
Under the theme Where Musical Excellence Takes Center Stage, the awards explore the many ways music is created, performed and experienced. The competition welcomes entries across music, music videos, albums, songwriting, instrumental performances, music marketing and music influencers, recognising both the artists in the spotlight and the creative professionals who contribute to a finished production.
The programme covers a broad range of musical approaches, from compositions and vocal performances to instrumental interpretation and audiovisual projects. Songwriters can present work that combines melody and lyrical expression, while music video creators can demonstrate how direction, imagery and narrative extend the meaning of a song. Album and marketing categories also provide opportunities to showcase a cohesive body of work or the creative ideas used to introduce music to a wider audience.
Entries are evaluated individually by an international panel of industry professionals, with work assessed on its own merits rather than through direct comparison with other submissions. The organisers describe a blind judging process in which entrant information is removed to help reduce bias and conflicts of interest. The evaluation considers both the creative intentions behind a project and the quality of its execution.
Judging criteria include innovation and originality, content, artistic mastery, technical skill, production quality, emotional impact and overall performance. Depending on the work submitted, jurors consider the relationship between melody, harmony, rhythm and structure, the expression and control of a vocal performance, or the precision and character of instrumental playing. For audiovisual entries, the relationship between sound and imagery contributes to the assessment of the complete project.
The competition recognises achievement through five award levels:
➜ LIT of the Year
➜ Category Winner of the Year
➜ Platinum Winner
➜ Gold Winner
➜ Silver Winner
These distinctions recognise outstanding work across the programme, with the highest honours highlighting exceptional achievements at category and overall competition level. Participation is conducted online, allowing individuals, groups and organisations from different countries to present their projects without attending an in-person audition or event.
Submission requirements
Entries must be submitted online through the official LIT Music Awards website , selecting the category or categories that best match the work. Provide a direct link to the music or video on YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, Vimeo or another online platform so that the judges can access the complete submission.
A synopsis of approximately 350 words is recommended to explain the project, its creative approach and the ideas behind the work. Use this description to give the jury useful context about the composition, performance, production or visual concept. Supporting images, PDFs and documents must be under 4 MB per file.
Eligible work must have been produced after January 1, 2023. Submit the work as originally published or implemented, without modifications specifically for the competition. The organisers may request evidence of the original production or publication date.
Non-English entries must include a written translation or adaptation. If a submission is password protected, provide the access details required for judging. The same work may be entered into multiple relevant categories, with the applicable additional fees.
Eligibility
Open worldwide to emerging and established artists, musicians, songwriters, composers, instrumentalists, music video creators and audio recording professionals, as well as agencies, production houses, entertainment companies and publishers. Individuals, groups and organisations from any country may enter.
Benefits
The LIT of the Year and Category Winners of the Year receive a complimentary LIT Music Awards statuette, recognising the highest achievements in the competition.
All winning levels receive an official winner certificate, a dedicated winner page, a digital winner badge and a press release template for promoting their achievement. Winners also have access to an interview opportunity, allowing them to share the creative story behind their work.
Additional promotional benefits depend on the award level. LIT of the Year, Category Winners and Platinum Winners are eligible for features in the winners highlight section, the official winner press release, the awards newsletter and a spotlight article on Muse.World. Dedicated social media posts also extend to Gold Winners.
Platinum, Gold and Silver Winners may purchase a LITO statuette and additional award certificates. These optional items are separate from the complimentary recognition provided to winners. Results will be announced on May 14, 2027.
Entry fees
Entry fees are charged in US dollars, per submission:
➜ Early Bird - $90: November 6 - December 9, 2026.
➜ Regular - $100: December 10, 2026 - January 20, 2027.
➜ Final - $110: January 21 - February 17, 2027.
➜ Final Extension - $120: February 18 - March 17, 2027.
Additional categories for the same work cost $70 / $80 / $90 / $100, respectively, and must be selected with the initial entry. Additional works are charged at the standard entry rate.
A Bundle Entries Package costs $240 for 3 credits; one credit covers one entry category and must be used within the competition year. Entry fees are non-refundable. There is no winner acceptance fee.
