SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

CLICK HERE FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

For general questions, email Larry Jaffee at [email protected]. For online support, email [email protected]

RECORD STORE DAY (VINYL)

Recognizes the best designed album that was exclusively released for
Record Store Day 2022 (Drops 1 & 2) and RSD Black Friday 2022.

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THEY SAID IT COULDN’T BE DONE (VINYL & CD)

Recognizes innovation in structural design that takes into account the use of new machinery or materials or folds or printing processes that stretches the boundaries of album packaging that previously existed.

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SAVE THE EARTH AND HUMANITY (VINYL)

Recognizes innovations in sustainability and social justice with packages utilizing environmentally sound (e.g., recyclable paper, special links) materials and practices that reduce the carbon footprint, as well as projects that aim to improve society.

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BEST VINYL DELUXE SET

Recognizes the quality of the packaging, as well as booklets, posters, inner sleeves, etc., and how all the elements fit together aesthetically goes far beyond a standard, single LP release (e.g., multi-record boxed set).

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BEST VINYL GATEFOLD

Judging aesthetics of a spread’s two or more panels, taking into account the inside graphic design, quality of photography and/or illustration.

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BEST 45-RPM (SINGLE) COVER

Recognizing stellar 7-inch packaging that takes into the cover, the single’s inner label, coating of the outer package’s paper, etc.

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BEST VINYL REISSUE PACKAGE

Recognizing stellar packaging of a “classic” album that improves on the original, and the record must have been re-released on vinyl in the past during the eligibility period.

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BEST VINYL ALBUM LP COVER (ILLUSTRATION)

Recognizing covers adorned by an original painting, illustration or graphic design either newly created or repurposed (i.e., vintage).

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BEST VINYL ALBUM LP COVER (PHOTOGRAPH)

Recognizing covers adorned by black & white or color photo; new or vintage that exemplifies visually the art form of photography but adapted for the 12-inch x 12-inch canvas aesthetically.

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BEST JAZZ, CLASSICAL or SPOKEN-WORD VINYL (NON-DELUXE) LP PACKAGE

Recognizing that the packaging aesthetics of vinyl categories in other music genres that don’t get as much attention as rock, hip-hop, and pop music, as well as spoken word (e.g., audiobooks, plays).

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BEST RECORD ART

Recognizing what’s on the actual vinyl itself (e.g., colors, designs, and/or patterns, etchings on fourth sides, or novel techniques such as silk-screening), and can also include unusually shaped records, for example.

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BEST PROMOTIONAL RECORD PACKAGE

Recognizing that records needn’t be used to distribute recorded music, this category takes into account vinyl packaging that was manufactured to promote a product, brand or service. It is not meant for the promo music vinyl releases for the press or trade samples.

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BEST MIXED MEDIA PACKAGE

Recognizing that record labels, movie studios, and book publishers both are getting increasingly creative in coupling mixed media (e.g., records, DVDs, CDs, books, and cassettes).

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BEST TAPE PACKAGE

Cassettes, like vinyl, have made a return in the commercial marketplace. This category shows off the packaging of all recently prerecorded tape formats (cassette, 8-track, reel-to-reel).

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BEST CD DELUXE SET

Recognizes the quality of the box itself, as well as booklets, posters, inner sleeves, etc., and how all the elements fit together aesthetically in a multi-disc boxed set.

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CLICK HERE FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

For general questions, email Larry Jaffee at [email protected]. For online support, email [email protected]