Polish Radio's Folk Culture Center invites artists to battle for glory in its prestigious annual folk and traditional music album competitions. "Folk Phonogram of the Year" award recognizes the most interesting folk music albums, while the "Phonogram of Sources" prize honors the best traditional music releases.
Both contests provide a unique opportunity to summarize the most important phonographic achievements of artists and creators in 2025 and present their work to a wider audience. Submissions are open until February 23rd.
Pundits agree that since their inception, the "Folk Phonogram of the Year" and the "Phonogram of Sources" have been consistently providing the most up-to-date overview of the Polish music scene of the past year in the folk and traditional music categories.
This year's compilation will include recordings produced in 2025 - and from among the submitted entries, a jury will select finalists and then winners. The winner of the Folk Phonogram of the Year competition will perform at the 27th Polish Radio Folk Festival "New Tradition", scheduled to take place in May 2026.
The "Folk Phonogram of the Year 2025" competition is open to bands active in Poland, performing music inspired by both domestic and international musical traditions. The jury will evaluate the overall artistic level of the released material, the selection and originality of the repertoire, the technical quality of the recordings, and the concept - both in terms of content and editing. The organizers emphasize that the music designated as such should contain references to traditional music and represent its creative interpretation.
Meanwhile, in the "Phonogram of Sources 2025" competition only recordings presenting traditional music from Poland may be submitted. Both premiere recordings and archival recordings by folk musicians and singers are eligible, though. The jury will evaluate the documentary, cognitive, ethnomusicological, and artistic value of the submitted phonograms - including: the selection and originality of the repertoire, the technical quality of the recordings, the concept, the substantive level, and even the album cover.
To participate in the competition, send a completed entry form and two copies of the phonogram entering the contest (a recording in the form of a professionally released compact disc, a disc with audio files, a gramophone record, or a recording in digital form available on publicly available streaming platforms) by February 23rd to Polish Radio's headquarters by post, or in digital form to nowatradycja@polskieradio.pl.
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Source: polskieradio.pl, IAR