The Newlin Music Prize recently announced the 20 albums shortlisted for its 2025 award, recognizing outstanding music from Richmond area artists. The winner, set to be revealed on March 24, will receive a $2,500 cash prize and a commemorative trophy. Each remaining nominee will receive $250, with the organization awarding a total of more than $7,000 to local musicians.

Founded in 2022, the Newlin Music Prize honors excellence in Richmond’s music scene. Named after composer and Virginia Commonwealth University Professor Dika Newlin, the award is given to the best full-length album from the Metropolitan Richmond area based solely on artistic merit.  The selection process is driven by members of the local music community and fans.

“This year’s selected albums showcase a remarkable range of sounds, from intimate storytelling to boundary-pushing experimentation, reflecting the depth of artistry in our community,” said Newlin president Doug Nunnally. We hope this list serves as both a celebration of Richmond’s musical excellence and an invitation for listeners to discover their next favorite record.”

Albums considered for the 2025 prize were released by artists in the Richmond-Petersburg region in 2024 and met criteria of either containing at least five songs or exceeding 25 minutes in length. All eligible albums were automatically considered without requiring a formal submission or entry fee.

A jury of 150 Richmond area musicians, artists, journalists, photographers and activists nominated albums for the award. A 10-member committee then reviewed the selections to determine the final list of 20 albums. Jury members will now evaluate the shortlisted records and submit ranked ballots to determine the winner.

The 2025 Newlin Music Prize short list includes “Alma Mia” by Alex J Dimas, “Heirloom” by Doll Baby, “The Pure Joy of Jumping” by Drook, “Unlimited Things to Do Forever” by False Nectar, “Ritual Disaster” by Fight Cloud, “Good Religion” by Holy Roller, “New Heaven” by Inter Arma, “Feature Film” by King Kaiju, “Aftermath” by Landon Elliott, “MMCHT” by Nickelus F, “Rocky Coast” by Night Idea, “Long After the Empire” by Prabir Trio, “Putrid | Obsolete” by Prisoner, “Memento Mori: The Inevitability of Death” by Reppa Ton x Agent-X, “Intrusive Thoughts” by Rine, “More to the Story” by Tennishu, “Public Access” by Tentative Decisions, “All Quiet”  by Terror Cell, “Thursdays at Six” by The Wayward Leaves, and “Sad Girl Summer” by Tyler Meacham.

A public vote also is open from Feb. 17 to March 20 at NewlinMusicPrize.com, with results counting as one ballot toward the final decision.

Modeled after awards like Canada’s Polaris Music Prize and the United Kingdom’s Mercury Prize, the Newlin Music Prize highlights Richmond’s diverse music scene and encourages future recordings.

Since its inception, the prize has awarded more than $20,000 to local musicians. Past winners include Butcher Brown in 2024 for “Solar Music,” Deau Eyes in 2023 for “Legacies,” and McKinley Dixon in 2022 for “For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her.”

For more information, visit NewlinMusicPrize.com.