Categories & Criteria

New Category!

Folk Music Video of the Year

This award recognizes excellence in the production of a folk music video.  Eligible entries may include vocal (in any language) or instrumental works by solo artists, duos, or groups. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music.  See our Eligibility page under “Videos” for category details and requirements

New Category!

Songwriter(s) of the Year 

This award recognizes the lyrical and melodic excellence of a songwriter’s original songs from an album in any language. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music.

Category Notes: 

• Specified songwriter(s) must have written a minimum of 51% of the tracks on the album 
• In the case of collaborations, at least half of the songwriters must be Canadian
• A minimum of 51% of the album tracks must be songs (as opposed to instrumental tracks) 
• Submitters to this category are strongly encouraged to provide a PDF of lyrics in English or French if the lyrics are not originally in either of these two languages
• Submitters to this category can submit to additional Songwriting categories for which they qualify

Francophone Songwriter(s) of the Year

This award recognizes the lyrical and melodic excellence of original songs from an album, written in French by songwriters who identify as Francophone. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music.

Category Notes: 

• A minimum of 51% of the tracks on the album must be written in French and by the specified Francophone songwriter(s)
• In the case of collaborations, at least half of the songwriters must be Canadian and identify as Francophone 
• A minimum of 51% of the album tracks require lyrics 
• Submitters to this category must provide a PDF of lyrics in French
• Submitters to this category can submit to additional Songwriting categories for which they qualify.

Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year

This award recognizes the lyrical and melodic excellence of original songs from an album, written in any language by songwriters who identify as Indigenous. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. 

Category Notes:

• Specified songwriter(s) must have written a minimum of 51% of the tracks on the album 
• In the case of collaborations, at least half of the songwriters must be Canadian and identify as Indigenous 
• A minimum of 51% of the album tracks require lyrics 
• Submitters to this category are strongly encouraged to provide a PDF of lyrics in English or French if the lyrics are not originally in either of these two languages
• Submitters to this category can submit to additional Songwriting categories for which they qualify.

Single of the Year

This award recognizes folk music tracks released as a single.  Eligible entries may include vocal tracks (in any language) or instrumental works, by solo artists, duos, or groups, released as a single (as either standalone track, or as a track from an album that was released as a single). Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. Artists may submit up to two single recordings to this category, provided each track was released during the eligibility period ( however note only one single can be submitted per submission form). See our Eligibility page for category requirements. 

Album Artwork of the Year

This award recognizes the album artwork for a folk music album. Nominees are the artist(s) responsible for the design and creation of the packaging of a physical album or the digital artwork for the digital release.  Eligible entries must accompany a folk music album. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. 

Children’s Album of the Year

This award recognizes folk music albums with repertoire that is clearly directed towards children. Recordings containing stories or narratives are acceptable, but at least 51% of the album’s tracks must be musical in nature. Eligible entries may include vocal (in any language) or instrumental works by solo artists, duos, or groups. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. 

Contemporary Album of the Year

This award recognizes contemporary* folk music albums. Eligible entries may include vocal (in any language) or instrumental works by solo artists, duos, or groups. Recordings submitted to this category cannot be submitted to the TRADITIONAL ALBUM category.

*The Contemporary Folk Music genre consists of songs or instrumental music influenced by folk music styles, repertoire, and musical structures, that are not directly attributable to historical traditions of a specific cultural or ethnic group (e.g., Irish, French, Scottish, Bluegrass, Klezmer, Indigenous, Blues, tradition-based Global Roots music, etc.),  and must be distinguishable from other genres of music, such as Rock, Jazz, Hip-hop, and Pop music, although they may be influenced by such other genres. 

Contemporary Singer of the Year

This award recognizes a contemporary* solo vocalist, or a specified vocalist within a group, who is featured on at least 51% of the album’s tracks. Eligible entries may include vocal works in any language. Recordings submitted to this category cannot be submitted to the Traditional Singer of the Year category.

*see under Contemporary Album for notes about the Contemporary Folk Music genre.

Ensemble of the Year

This award recognizes a duo or group on an album featuring either instrumental music or a mix of instrumental and vocal music. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music.

Global Roots Album of the Year

This award recognizes traditional or contemporary folk music albums strongly influenced by cultures other than those of the Indigenous peoples of what is now Canada or its main early European settlers (i.e. French, English, Irish, and Scottish). Cross-cultural fusion is also eligible. Eligible entries may include vocal (in any language) or instrumental works by solo artists, duos, or groups. Submissions to this category may also be submitted to all categories for which they are eligible (e.g., all traditional and contemporary categories). 

Instrumental Composer(s) of the Year

This award recognizes excellence in instrumental composition. Eligible entries may include instrumental works by solo artists, duos, or groups. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. 

Category Requirements / Notes: 

• Instrumental music must be featured on a minimum of 51% of the album tracks 
• Specified composer(s) must have written a minimum of 51% of the tracks on the album 
• In the case of collaborations, at least half of the team must be Canadian

Instrumental Group of the Year

This award recognizes an instrumental group or duo in all folk genres. Instrumental music must be featured on a minimum of 51% of the album tracks. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. Recordings submitted to this category cannot be submitted to the INSTRUMENTAL SOLO ARTIST category.

Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year

This award recognizes a solo instrumental artist, or a specified solo instrumentalist in a group, who is featured on at least 51% of the album’s tracks and these tracks must be instrumental. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. Recordings submitted to this category cannot be submitted to the INSTRUMENTAL GROUP category.

New Artist(s) of the Year

This award recognizes an artist, group or duo, not nominated for any other major (national* or international) music award in any prior year. Eligible entries may include vocal (in any language) or instrumental works. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. 

*As a general guideline, we would consider “national” to include, but not be limited to, the following entities: CFMAs, JUNOs, Indigenous Music Awards, Canadian Country Music Association awards, Polaris (short list only). Despite their national media exposure, we do not consider the following as constituting “national” under our guidelines: any provincial or regional award entities, such as: East Coast Music Awards, the Felix Awards in Quebec, The Western Canadian Music Awards.

Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries 

This award recognizes a solo artist, duo or group taking creative risks to create folk-based music that is innovative, original and imaginative.  Eligible entries may include vocal (in any language) or instrumental works. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music.

Producer(s) of the Year

This award recognizes excellence in craft through acknowledgment of the individual(s) who produce album recordings. Eligible entries may include albums by solo artists, duos, or groups. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. 

Category Notes: 

• International releases are permitted
• A maximum of 3 releases per producer or team of producers can be submitted 
• In the case of collaborations, at least half of the team must be Canadian
• If you are submitting only to this category and are aware of a submission form that has already been submitted for the relevant album, you may email [email protected] and we can add this category to the existing submission

Solo Artist of the Year

This award recognizes a solo artist on an album who is featured on at least 51% of the album’s tracks. Eligible entries may include vocal (in any language) or instrumental works. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music.  

Traditional Album of the Year

This award recognizes traditional* folk music albums. Eligible entries may include vocal (in any language) or instrumental works by solo artists, duos, or groups. Recordings submitted to this category cannot be submitted to the CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR category.

*The Traditional Folk Music genre consists of instrumental music and songs that are directly attributable to historical traditions of a specific cultural or ethnic group (e.g., Irish, French, Scottish, Bluegrass, Klezmer, Indigenous, Blues, tradition-based Global Roots music, etc.). It is generally acknowledged that the repertoire and stylistic elements of traditional music have evolved, through oral transmission and other media, while still modelling themselves on specific traditional musical structures (e.g., recently composed jigs and reels, etc.). While a great deal of traditional repertoire consists of older songs and tunes, our definition does not exclude recent compositions. 

Stan Rogers Traditional Singer of the Year

This award recognizes a traditional* solo vocalist, or a specified vocalist within a group, who is featured on at least 51% of the album’s tracks. Eligible entries may include vocal tracks in any language.Recordings submitted to this category cannot be submitted to the Contemporary Singer of the Year.

*See under Traditional Album for notes about the Traditional Folk Music genre.

Vocal Group of the Year

This award recognizes a group or duo that focuses on ensemble singing.  Eligible entries may include vocal tracks in any language, and vocal numbers must be featured on at least 51% of album tracks. Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. 

Young Performer(s) of the Year

This award recognizes a solo artist, duo, or group 19 years of age or younger at the time of recording. In the case of group submissions, the recording must clearly spotlight the young performer. Eligible entries may include vocal (in any language) or instrumental works. Submissions must include either a commercial recording (as defined in the section on “Album Recordings” on our Eligibility page) or, in recognition of the fact that many young performers have not released commercial recordings, a three-track demo.  Music from all folk genres is eligible, including traditional, contemporary and global roots music. 

The submission must include the birth dates of the submitting artists as well as a timeline of the recording to demonstrate compliance with the category age requirement.