Awards and competitions

There are various competitions that can be won at national and international level. Through participating, you can bring attention to your music. There are also many types and sizes of competitions at local level, from those at the local youth centre to citywide competitions.

National competitions

De Grote Prijs van Nederland
This is an important competition for up-and-coming talent in all genres. There is an open registration, supplemented by participants chosen by POPnl. This may be a winner from a local competition, for example, or an act that is in a talent development programme. If a member of POPnl organises several competitions in different genres, they are allowed to put forward two acts on the condition that it concerns competition winners. A professional jury assesses the registrations that are not put forward via POPnl.

Four semi-finals take place spread throughout the country. The professional jury chooses a winner from each semi-final. In addition, the jury awards a wildcard to three acts after the last qualifying round. The last finalist is chosen by the general public. The final takes place in the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam. The winner receives a working budget for development of the act and is also given guidance by Stichting GRAP (GRAP foundation) or a local pop umbrella organisation.

Wanted
Wanted is de Amsterdam competition for hip-hop acts. GRAP organises Wanted in order to give talented hip-hop artists the opportunity to present themselves to the general public, media and music industry. Wanted has turned out be a breeding ground for hip-hop talent. For example, well-known names have taken part in previous editions of the competition, such as The Partysquad, Makkie & KrankJoram, Ome Omar, Letterlijk & Figuurlijk, Ali B. and Kimo. Acts from outside Amsterdam may also register.

Provincial competitions

Many competitions that are organised at provincial level are aimed at supporting and helping to develop young musicians. A prize package is often supplemented by a coaching process, the opportunity to build up a network or an extra show. A number of examples:

  • Kleine prijs van Fryslan
  • Pop Groningen Talent Award
  • Nu of Nooit (Limburg)
  • Proud of the South (Brabant)
  • Flavourland (Flevoland)
  • Utrecht Popprijs
  • Zeeuwse Belofte

Local competitions

The Amsterdamse Popprijs
The Amsterdamse Popprijs is the band competition for Amsterdam bands in all genres. Stichting GRAP organises the competition. Winners come from, among other places, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, such as The Brahms (2015), the Silverfaces (2013) and Yori Swart (2010). In addition, prizewinners have also included bands like Mister and Mississippi, The Vagary, Hit Me TV, a balladeer and Alamo Race Track.

Mooie Noten
Mooie Noten is organised by Stichting GRAP. It is the Amsterdam pop song competition for singer-songwriters and (semi-)acoustic acts of maximum 3 people. This has been won by, among others, pop students from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam: Eelke Ankersmit (2016), Pitou (2015), Bixby (2014) and Lucas Hamming (2012). The guiding principle is the pop song itself, with attention paid to the composition, lyrics and musical presentation.

Sena Performers Grote Prijs van Rotterdam
The music competition of Rotterdam where there is one representative in four different categories in a live final. The categories are Singer/Songwriter, Bands, Hip-Hop & Electronisch. A professional jury determines the finalists per genre and has 1 wildcard for an extra finalist. The winner receives 1,000 euros, coaching and a show at Bevrijdingsfestival Zuid-Holland (South Holland Liberation Day Festival). In addition to the winner, an audience favourite wins 250 euros.

Rob Acda Award
The Rob Acda Award is a musical competition for promising musicians from Haarlem and the surrounding area. Patronaat organises the award.

Oeuvre prizes

Buma Cultuur Prizes
These prizes are presented annually:

  • Popprijs: Prize for the artist that has made the most important contribution to Dutch pop music in the past year.
  • Gouden Harp: Prize for Dutch artists or songwriters who have made a unique contribution to the success of Dutch popular music over the years.
  • Zilveren Harp: Prize for artists and songwriters who have proven they are a promising act for the future of popular music in the past year.
  • Exportprijs: Prize for that artist who has sold most records abroad in the past year.
  • Radio 2 Zendtijd Prijs: Prize for the interpreter of the traditional Dutch song that has garnered most radio broadcasting time among listeners over several decades.

Edisons
Annual Dutch music prize awarded for outstanding achievements in the music industry. The awards ceremony is often broadcast live on TV. This prize is an initiative of the NVIP, the industry organisation of the record industry.

Gouden Notenkraker
The Gouden Notekraker is a prize where actors and musicians hounour each other for an artistic achievement or expression from the past year. Organised by Norma and Sena. The nominations are announced by a committee of affiliated members of these organisations.

3FM Awards
Music prize for Dutch artists awarded by the radio station NPO 3FM. The winners are chosen by the listeners who can cast their vote via internet. There are various categories, such as Best Album, Best Live Act and Best Fans. In addition, there is award for Best Talent and the Schaal van Rigter award for the song that has been played most on the station that year.

3voor12 Award
Prize for the best album determined by the VPRO programme 3voor12 on the radio station 3FM.

MTV EMA Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony for national and international acts in various categories. The viewers choose by voting who will go home with an award.