Inaugural Music & Sound Awards set for 2012

The MPA is excited to support the brand new Music & Sound Awards - the UK’s first awards to recognise and celebrate the indispensable role and outstanding contribution that music and sound design makes to the world of visual media.

Aimed at professionals working in advertising, film, television (branding and programming) and gaming, the awards are open to anyone who is involved in the creation, composition, sourcing, licensing, briefing or production of music and sound design for the world of visual media.

Conceived by Nick Payne of The Works, one of London’s leading music production companies and Dan Neale, Head of Music at the highly-respected advertising agency RKCRY&R, the Music & Sound Awards were born out of a chance conversation.

Never before has there been an awards ceremony to celebrate the role of music & sound design in visual media.

Nick Payne explains, “Dan and I were talking about media awards ceremonies and we were amazed to discover that there wasn’t an awards ceremony to recognise the talent of the ‘music and sound to picture’ community. We soon found out that many other people felt the same way and that this important sector should be recognized and celebrated. Within days our phones were ringing with offers from people and companies wanting to come on board. Since then, the idea has gone from strength to strength and we firmly believe that not only will 2012 be an outstanding success, but that The Music & Sound Awards will become an integral and regular feature of the annual awards calendar.”

Dan Neale underlines the importance of the new awards. “We welcome everybody involved in production to celebrate the role of music and sound design within their finished work. One could argue that music and sound make up at least 50% of the overwhelming majority of visual media, yet there just wasn’t enough recognition. Can you imagine a hamlet cigar commercial without Bach’s Air on a G String, a Film or TV programme without its score or a video game without sound effects? The music and sound design industry is thriving in all areas of the media and its incredible talent deserves celebration and recognition.”

The Categories and Judges.

The awards categories have been created to include the widest possible use of music and sound in visual media. They invite entries from television and cinema commercials, non-broadcast or viral advertising, branding and title sequence, feature films, television programmes and computer games. Each of these areas will be judged for: best original composition, best sound design and best synch/use of existing music. In addition all the entries will be entered for the Impact Award, a Grand Prize to honour the work and people that have made the most significant contribution to the industry over the year.

The final list of the judges for The Music &Sound Awards 2012 is still a closely guarded secret, but what is known is that they are being drawn from all areas of the media industry and will feature some instantly recognisable names active in the world of film, television, music and the media.