BMI Future Jazz Master Award
for young jazz composer/performers
The BMI Future Jazz Master Award is an annual competition open to young jazz composers and creators. The award was established by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) in 2015 in honor of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Masters Fellowship, a lifetime achievement distinction widely considered to be jazz music’s premier accolade, and pays tribute to the artistic excellence of jazz pioneers while providing crucial support for emerging performers.
A panel of NEA Jazz Master judges selects the winner based on evidence of talent and potential as a jazz performer and composer, and the scholarship is presented at BMI’s annual celebration of NEA Jazz Masters Fellows. Past judges include jazz legends Ahmad Jamal, Jack DeJohnette, Jimmy Heath, and Ron Carter.
Eligibility Requirements
All applicants:
must be between the ages of 17 and 24 as of February 15, 2024.
must be in residence in the United States or its territories.
may only submit one application per BMI Foundation awards program.
may not submit the same musical work to more than one BMI Foundation awards program.
may only submit works that have not been assigned to any major music publisher or major record label.
may only apply if they have not previously won the Future Jazz Master award. (Honorable mention may apply again.)
Application Requirements
Three recordings, at least one of which must be of an original work.