Dallas, October 10, 2025
News Summary
The JAMBALOO Music Prize is offering local musicians from the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area a chance to win a cash prize and extensive promotional support. Artists with full-length albums released in 2025 are eligible for the award, which includes a $20,000 cash prize, recording opportunities, radio play, and promotional assistance from various partners. The initiative aims to uplift local talent, building on previous efforts to support the Dallas music scene and its artists.
Dallas
JAMBALOO Music Prize is offering local musicians in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area a chance to win $20,000 and promotional support to help elevate their careers. The prize targets artists who released full-length albums in 2025 and pairs financial support with recording, radio play, retail placement and marketing assistance intended to help musicians grow while staying in their hometown.
What the prize includes
The Music Prize will award the $20,000 to the artist with the best full-length album released in 2025. In addition to the cash award, The winner will also receive a recording opportunity for a single with four-time Grammy-winning producer Tre Nagella at Luminous Sound. The winning artist will have their song aired on KXT 91.7 and get prime placement in Josie Records stores across DFW. The package also includes promotional support from a set of local partners; The prize includes promotional support from Prekindle, Do214, and local music offices.
Eligibility, judging and competition format
Eligibility criteria for the prize include having albums with at least seven tracks, running thirty minutes or longer, and featuring majority members residing in the 11-county DFW metro area. Submissions are being judged by a panel assembled to provide a mix of national and local perspectives; Judging will involve a panel of fifteen anonymous judges, including Grammy winners and local industry professionals.
From submitted albums, a list of semi-finalists will be selected for additional exposure. Ten semi-finalists will have their albums showcased in Josie Records for two months and will perform live at Longhorn Ballroom. The competition calendar includes a public showcase: The first JAMBALOO Music Prize concert is scheduled for June 6, 2026, featuring finalists performing before a national headliner. Submissions for the Music Prize are currently open at jambaloo.live.
How this builds on earlier activity
JAMBALOO started in 2024 as a concert series organized by the Dallas law firm Mullen & Mullen. The initial concert series was developed to support live music in the area; Initially, the concert series featured twelve shows and aimed to support live music in the area. As part of earlier initiative work, The JAMBALOO initiative also provided a $20,000 grant to help save The Cicada, a Fort Worth venue, from closing.
Organizers’ goals and future plans
Organizers describe the Music Prize as an annual program intended to focus attention and resources on local artists who are building career-ready bodies of work. The Music Prize is designed as an annual recognition to spotlight and develop serious local musical talent. JAMBALOO co-founders express ambitions for the initiative to grow and support the Dallas-Fort Worth music community sustainably. Future goals include elevating the prize package significantly each year as the initiative gains more visibility and support. One of the co-founders summarized the local intent behind the effort without quoting directly; Co-founder Corey Pond states that the initiative’s vision aims to nurture more local artists, fostering notable talent within the area.
Immediate next steps for artists
Artists who meet the eligibility rules can submit albums released in 2025 through the organizer’s submission channel. The selection process will narrow entries to semi-finalists and finalists before the June 6, 2026 concert event and the final award decision.
FAQ
- What is the JAMBALOO Music Prize offering?
- JAMBALOO Music Prize is offering local musicians in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area a chance to win $20,000 and promotional support to help elevate their careers.
- Who will receive the cash award?
- The Music Prize will award the $20,000 to the artist with the best full-length album released in 2025.
- What additional recording opportunity is included?
- The winner will also receive a recording opportunity for a single with four-time Grammy-winning producer Tre Nagella at Luminous Sound.
- Will the winning song get radio play and retail placement?
- The winning artist will have their song aired on KXT 91.7 and get prime placement in Josie Records stores across DFW.
- What promotional partners are involved?
- The prize includes promotional support from Prekindle, Do214, and local music offices.
- What are the eligibility criteria?
- Eligibility criteria for the prize include having albums with at least seven tracks, running thirty minutes or longer, and featuring majority members residing in the 11-county DFW metro area.
- How will submissions be judged?
- Judging will involve a panel of fifteen anonymous judges, including Grammy winners and local industry professionals.
- What happens to semi-finalists?
- Ten semi-finalists will have their albums showcased in Josie Records for two months and will perform live at Longhorn Ballroom.
- When is the first prize concert?
- The first JAMBALOO Music Prize concert is scheduled for June 6, 2026, featuring finalists performing before a national headliner.
- Where can artists submit their work?
- Submissions for the Music Prize are currently open at jambaloo.live.
- Who started the JAMBALOO initiative and what has it done?
- JAMBALOO started in 2024 as a concert series organized by the Dallas law firm Mullen & Mullen. Initially, the concert series featured twelve shows and aimed to support live music in the area. The JAMBALOO initiative also provided a $20,000 grant to help save The Cicada, a Fort Worth venue, from closing.
- What are the long-term goals?
- The Music Prize is designed as an annual recognition to spotlight and develop serious local musical talent. JAMBALOO co-founders express ambitions for the initiative to grow and support the Dallas-Fort Worth music community sustainably. Future goals include elevating the prize package significantly each year as the initiative gains more visibility and support. Co-founder Corey Pond states that the initiative’s vision aims to nurture more local artists, fostering notable talent within the area.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cash Award | $20,000 |
| Eligible Releases | Best full-length album released in 2025 |
| Recording Opportunity | Single with Tre Nagella at Luminous Sound |
| Radio & Retail | Song aired on KXT 91.7; prime placement in Josie Records stores across DFW |
| Promotional Support | Prekindle, Do214, and local music offices |
| Eligibility Details | Albums with at least seven tracks, running thirty minutes or longer; majority members residing in the 11-county DFW metro area |
| Judging | Panel of fifteen anonymous judges, including Grammy winners and local industry professionals |
| Semi-finalist Benefits | Showcased in Josie Records for two months; perform at Longhorn Ballroom |
| Submission | Submissions for the Music Prize are currently open at jambaloo.live |
| First Prize Concert | June 6, 2026 — finalists perform before a national headliner |
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Additional Resources
- Fort Worth TX: JAMBALOO Launches $20K Music Prize to Spotlight DFW Artists
- Dallas Observer: JAMBALOO DFW Music Prize for Local Album Award
- Eastern Progress: JAMBALOO Unveils Nation’s Largest Local Music Prize
- Dallas News: Fort Worth Venue Saved with $20K Grant
- Wikipedia: Music Prize
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
