The Scottish Music Awards (Scottish Gaelic: Duaisean Ciùil na h-Alba) are an annual award ceremony held in Scotland to commemorate outstanding musical contribution by musicians over the past year to Scottish music and success on the Scottish Singles and Albums Charts. As of 2020, the awards have been held annually for 22 years.[1] The Scottish Music Awards celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. [2]
Over the course of the awards tenure, the awards have honoured some of the Scotland's biggest international musicians, including Annie Lennox and Susan Boyle, whilst celebrating Scotland’s best up and coming musical artists, through breakthrough awards awarded to musicians Be Charlotte, Tom Walker and Lewis Capaldi.
The award ceremonies aim to raise funds for the UK’s largest independent music therapy charity, Nordoff Robbins.[4]
The Scottish Music Awards celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. [5]
2024 Ceremony
The 26th Scottish Music Awards ceremony were held on 2 November 2024, again being held at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow, and hosted by Edith Bowman. The following were recipients of awards during the 2024 ceremony of the awards:[6]
Phil Bowdery – OVO Hydro Promoter of the Year Award
Soup Dragons – Raymond Weil Lifetime Achievement Award
Travis – Outstanding Achievement Award sponsored by the Sir Reo Stakis Foundation
Twin Atlantic – Disruptor Award sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh
Previous ceremonies
2023
The 2023 ceremony was hosted on November 4, 2023, once again by Edith Bowman. The event will again return to the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow for the third consecutive time since 2021.[7]
The following artists were recipients of awards in 2023.
Craig Logan – Winner of the Go Radio Music Industry Award
Dylan John Thomas – Winner of the Dean Banks & Mond Vodka Breakthrough Artist Award
Ewan McVicar – Winner of the Ballantine’s / Sub Club Electronic Music Award
Gerry Cinnamon – Winner of the King Tut’s Songwriting Award
Gun – Winner of the Hard Rock Cafe Rock Legend Award
Lewis Capaldi – Winner of the Raymond Weil Global Artist of the Year Award
Paolo Nutini – Winner of the Guitar Guitar’s Best Album Award AND Ticketmaster’s Best Live Act Award
Peat & Diesel – Winner of the Royal Highland Centre Sound of Scotland Award
Rianne Downey – Winner of the Tennent’s Light Breakthrough Award
Rod Stewart – Winner of the Specsavers Outstanding Achievement in Music Award
Tamzene – Winner of the VEGA Rising Star Award
The View – Winner of the Rox ‘Diamonds & Thrills’ Special Recognition Award
Wet Leg – Winner of the SWG3’s Best UK Artist Award
2021
The event was held on Saturday 13 November 2021 in Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow, marking the first time in the events history that it has been held at the venue. The event was once again hosted by Edith Bowman, and marked the live return for the event following the virtual ceremony that took place in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland.[12]
The winners in the following categories are listed below:[13]
Specsavers Outstanding Achievement Award - Amy Macdonald
