Best Self-Produced CD Award Submissions Are Now Open!
ABS Submission Deadline October 1, 2026!
Each year, the Blues Foundation holds a competition for the best Self-Produced CD, in conjunction with the International Blues Challenge in January. The Blues Foundation is looking for high quality blues recordings from “up and coming” artists that might not otherwise reach the International Blues market.
The Atlanta Blues Society, as an affiliate member, is allowed to enter one CD into this competition. You must be a Musician Sponsor of the ABS. The CD must have been released between November 1, 2025, and October 31, 2026. We will need to get 4 CDs from you either by mail or hand delivered to a Board Member. The Board will review all CDs and determine which CD will be submitted to the Blues Foundation.
CDs submitted will be evaluated using the following Blues Foundation criteria:
- Blues Content;
- Musical Performance;
- Audio Quality and Production Value;
- Professionalism and Visual Appearance of Cover Art and Design; and
- Credits and Liner Notes.
Entries must be received by us or postmarked by October 1, 2026.
Entries for the Best Self-Produced CD are permitted by Blues Foundation Affiliated Organizations only.
Official Rules per The Blues Foundation:
• Each Affiliate is permitted one entry.
• The CD may be recorded and performed by an act other than is entered in the current year’s International Blues Challenge.
• Compilations are not eligible.
• Only CDs released between November 1, 2025 and October 31, 2026 are eligible for consideration.
• While we encourage a competition at the Affiliate level to determine the CD it will sponsor for Best Self-Produced CD, we do not require one. If an Affiliate does not conduct a competition to determine who it will sponsor but instead appoints a CD, that CD may not include a board member or officer of the sponsoring Affiliated organization.
• A performer who has previously been nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition. A CD issued in the name of an otherwise eligible performer which also includes the contributions of a Blues Music Award nominee may be ineligible, depending on the extent of the contribution. Please contact The Blues Foundation directly to confirm eligibility.
• A CD on a record label that has been previously nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition.
• Judging will take place in three rounds. Judges will remain anonymous in order to protect them from outside influences and represent a cross-section of professionals from the blues radio and print industry. The final results will be announced at the finals of the 40th International Blues Challenge on Saturday, January 23, 2027, held at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN.
If you would like to submit an entry, please notify us immediately by sending an email to us at our Official ABS Email (see below) and either mail the 4 CDs to our Post Office Box (see below) or arrange to get the CDs to a Board Member or bring to a monthly gathering.
The Atlanta Blues Society
P.O. Box 724222
Atlanta, GA 31139
ABS Email: theatlantabluessociety@gmail.com
