The Berlin-based, German Federal Government-supported body “Initiative Musik” is organizing the very first “Deutscher Jazzpreis”, under the personal aegis of Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Monika Grütters, a devotee of jazz. She will be awarding the prizes in June.
Applications for nominations in eleven categories are invited – Deadline 10 January 2021. Details below.
The eleven categories in which nominations are invited are:
German Instrumental Album of the Year – Category 18
German Vocal Album of the Year – Category 19
German Debut Album of the Year – Category 20
International Instrumental Album of the Year – Category 22
International Vocal Album of the Year – Category 23
International Debut Album of the Year – Category 24
Radio/ Broadcast Production – Category 21
Festival of the Year – Category 26
Best Composition – Category 27
Best Arrangement – Category 28
Journalistic Achievement Category 29
HOW TO NOMINATE: The first step is to set up a USER ACCOUNT
and then go through to the NOMINATION PORTAL
QUOTING THE PRESS RELEASE:
Deutscher Jazzpreis will be awarded for the first time in June 2021 by Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Monika Grütters: “Jazz is a distinctive genre in our diverse music landscape. Which is why the federal government is promoting jazz culture in Germany in a variety of ways, including the creation of a centre for jazz and improvised music in Berlin and with Deutscher Jazzpreis. This award will help us shine a well-deserved spotlight on the variety, creativity and communicative power of jazz and honour outstanding artistic achievements with prize monies. The jazz music scene has always been building sonic bridges between various cultures, represents courage, exchange, cooperation – and is therefore also a reflection of our pluralistic society. This is precisely the sort of cosmopolitanism that we want to continue supporting in the future.”
Special national and international artistic achievements in jazz will receive awards in 31 categories. The focus is naturally on the musicians themselves, for whom there will be a total of 17 awards in the main category: Artists. Furthermore, there will be an additional 14 awards in the main categories for Recording/Production, Live, Composition/Arrangement, plus three Special Awards. The awards are endowed with prize monies of at least 10,000 euros.
Deutscher Jazzpreis is a project of Initiative Musik. Starting now, applications may be submitted in eleven categories, for instance for the .
Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media Monika Grütters appointed an eleven-member advisory board for Deutscher Jazzpreis, who also played a decisive role in developing the concept:
· Andreas Brandis – managing director of ACT Music + Vision, Tambour Music Management, board member of the Association of Independent Musicians and Music Companies (VUT)
· Nadin Deventer – artistic director of the Jazzfest Berlin
· Felix Falk – board member of the German Jazz Union, Federal Conference Jazz, board member of the Musikfonds
· Jörg Heidemann – managing director of the Association of Independent Musicians and Music Companies (VUT)
· Julia Hülsmann – musician, professor at Berlin University of the Arts
· Astrid Kieselbach – senior director Universal Music Jazz (Deutsche Grammophon)
· Alexandra Lehmler – musician, board member of the German Jazz Union
· Hans Lüdemann – musician, board member of the German Association of Composers
· Yvonne Moissl – board members of the German Jazz Federation e.V., palatia Jazz
· Miho Nishimoto – senior brand manager Classics & Jazz, Warner Music Group
· Arndt Weidler – sociologist, head of projects at the Darmstadt Jazz Institute
Note: Deutscher Jazzpreis of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media has no connection with the Neuer Deutscher Jazzpreis by IG Jazz Rhein-Neckar e.V., which is awarded annually in Mannheim as the Audience Prize of the German jazz scene. More details of the New German Jazz Prize at: www.ig-jazz.de/neuer-deutscher-jazzpreis/.
END OF PRESS RELEASE CONTENTS
FURTHER DETAILS OF APPLICATION PROCESS
– After successful registration (https://bewerbung.deutscher-jazzpreis.de/en/user/register) and login, you will have the opportunity to submit your application for Deutscher Jazzpreis 2021.
– Before you submit an application, please read the guide for information on the procedure. It explains in which categories an application is possible. You will find out what the requirements are for the individual prize categories, what constitutes a valid application and which documents should be submitted for each prize category.
– The awards generally relate to performances from the previous year. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions for artists, the assessment period will be extended to two years by way of exception. Accordingly, achievements and publications from the years 2019 and 2020 can be submitted in this round.
– The application period ends on 10 January 2021.
– After submitting your application, you will find the summary of your information as a PDF in your overview, which must also be signed by hand and sent by e-mail in order for your application to be valid. You will receive further information by e-mail after the application.
