2026–2027 AIMEE Awards Entries Now Open
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Submit by December 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM PT
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AI Music Excellence & Education
2026–2027 Awards Cycle
Administered by The Academy of AI Music, LLC
in conjunction with the AI Music Excellence and Education Foundation, Inc.
1.1 Purpose. The AI Music Excellence & Education Awards (the “AIMEE Awards” or the “Awards,” and individually an “AIMEE”) recognize excellence among creators of artificial-intelligence music across many genres and disciplines, together with the educators, scholars, and advocates who help the field grow knowledgeably and responsibly.
1.2 Administration. The Awards are administered by The Academy of AI Music, LLC (the “Academy”) in conjunction with the AI Music Excellence and Education Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”). The Academy has final authority over all aspects of the Awards, including eligibility, category placement, screening, judging, scheduling, and the interpretation and application of these Rules.
1.3 The Rules. These Official Rules & Regulations (the “Rules”) govern the inaugural Awards cycle and any cycle that incorporates them by reference. They should be read together with the companion document, “AIMEE Awards — Award Categories & Eligibility Framework” (the “Categories Document”), which describes the Awards and their per-category eligibility. Where the two documents conflict, these Rules control.
1.4 Eligibility regimes incorporated. The three eligibility “regimes” set out in the Categories Document — contribution-based eligibility, subject-matter eligibility, and the no-floor/inverse-floor categories — are incorporated into these Rules and apply to every entry.
2.1 Slate. The inaugural slate comprises 108 awards organized into eight fields: the General Field; Genre; Craft & Production; AI Craft & Innovation; Education; Responsibility & Ethics; Special & Honorary; and Autonomous / Generative Work (which carries two awards, a Song and an Album). The complete list of awards and their descriptions appears in the Categories Document.
2.2 Competitive and non-competitive awards. All awards are competitive and decided by entry and vote except the Special & Honorary awards (Article 8.6), which are non-competitive and conferred by the Academy without entry.
2.3 Recipients. Each award is conferred on the human creator(s) and contributor(s) credited for the qualifying work, except the Autonomous / Generative Work awards (Best Autonomous / Generative Song and Best Autonomous / Generative Album), which are conferred on the generative-music company whose software created the work (Article 3.6).
2.4 Right to modify. The Academy may, before the opening of submissions, add, remove, rename, merge, or split categories. The Academy may also decline to confer any award in a category that receives an insufficient number of qualified entries, as determined in its discretion.
3.1 Eligibility period. To be eligible, a work, body of work, or activity must have been first released, published, or otherwise made publicly available during the eligibility period: January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. Education and Responsibility & Ethics entries qualify on the basis of activity occurring within the same period.
3.2 The AI-role requirement (contribution-based categories). For every award in the General, Genre, Craft & Production, and AI Craft & Innovation fields, artificial intelligence must have made a meaningful, disclosed contribution to the specific creative function that the award honors. The contribution is assessed by the role AI played, not by any percentage or ratio of AI to human input. A use of AI that does not touch the function being judged — for example, AI mastering applied to a work entered for its composition — does not, by itself, satisfy this requirement.
3.3 Human involvement welcomed; contribution as a weighting factor. Human-written lyrics, human vocals, and human performances are permitted and encouraged across all competitive categories (other than Article 3.6). The presence of meaningful human creativity never renders an otherwise-qualifying work ineligible. The degree of human contribution is a weighting factor — the Academy favors work with meaningful, visible human authorship — but, except in the Autonomous / Generative Work field, it is never a disqualifier. The Best Human–AI Collaboration award exists specifically to honor such partnership.
3.4 Subject-matter categories. For the Education and Responsibility & Ethics fields, eligibility turns on subject and impact rather than on whether AI generated the work. To qualify, the entry must be genuinely about AI music — for example, teaching it, studying it, or advancing its responsible practice.
3.5 Lawful sourcing and consent (a hard bar). Any voice, likeness, performance, composition, recording, dataset, or other material used in or to create an entry must have been used with all rights, licenses, and consents necessary for that use. An entry that relies on unlicensed or non-consensual use of a person’s voice or likeness, or of protected material, is ineligible regardless of artistic merit. Lack of consent is a hard bar that applies even to nomination: a work that imitates a real artist without permission may not be nominated, however popular or acclaimed.
3.6 Autonomous / Generative Work (inverse floor; company recipient). The Autonomous / Generative Work field — comprising Best Autonomous / Generative Song and Best Autonomous / Generative Album — uses the opposite rule from every other award: human creative involvement must be minimal, limited to actions such as initiating the process or configuring the system. Because the human contribution is negligible, these awards are conferred on the generative-music company whose software created the work rather than on the prompter; the entry must disclose how the work was generated and identify that company. Consent under Article 3.5 still applies, and these honors are distinct from Best AI Music Tool or Platform (which recognizes a platform as a creative instrument in general).
3.7 General conditions. An entrant must (a) hold or control the rights necessary to submit the entry and to permit the uses described in these Rules; (b) be in good standing under these Rules; and (c) meet any age or capacity requirements under applicable law, or submit through a parent, guardian, or authorized representative. Entries that are incomplete, late, or non-compliant may be rejected without refund.
3.8 Multiple entries and cross-entry. A work may be entered in more than one category where genuinely applicable (for example, a Genre award and a Craft & Production award), provided it satisfies the eligibility of each category entered. The Academy may move an entry to a more appropriate category or remove a duplicative or miscategorized entry.
3.9 Ownership and public acceptance. A project is eligible to be nominated only if a named person, company, or platform is willing to accept the award on the recipient’s behalf and to acknowledge publicly that the work is AI-generated. Anonymous projects with no willing owner — and projects marketed as the work of a human when they are in fact AI — are ineligible. For autonomous work, the accountable owner is the generative-music company identified under Article 3.6.
4.1 Requirement. Every competitive entry must include a complete AI Disclosure Statement. The disclosure is the backbone of the program’s integrity and a condition of eligibility; an entry submitted without a complete disclosure will not be considered.
4.2 Contents. The AI Disclosure Statement must describe, in plain language and with reasonable specificity:
4.3 Accuracy and consequences. The entrant certifies that the AI Disclosure Statement is true and complete. A statement that is materially false, misleading, or incomplete is grounds for disqualification before an award and for rescission of an award afterward (Article 9.4), in addition to any other remedy available to the Academy.
4.4 Use and confidentiality. The Academy uses the disclosure to screen and judge entries. The Academy will not publish an entrant’s confidential technical details without consent, but may describe, in general terms, how a winning or finalist work was made, and may share disclosures with screeners, judges, and advisors bound to confidentiality.
5.1 How to enter. Entries must be submitted through the Academy’s official online portal located upon the Academy’s website. Each entry is submitted by providing a link to the entered work as hosted on an Academy-approved public platform (the accepted platforms are listed on the portal), together with the completed AI Disclosure Statement, accurate credits, and the entrant’s contact and rights information. The entrant must keep the linked work publicly accessible and unchanged from the close of submissions through the announcement of winners.
5.2 Entry fee. Each submission shall require payment of an entry fee in the amount of $10.00 U.S.D., except where otherwise credited or waived by the Academy. Fees, if charged, are non-refundable, including for entries later found ineligible.
5.3 Formats and credits. Entrants must submit the entry in the form and through the platforms specified on the portal and must list all individuals and entities entitled to share in the award. The entrant is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of credits; the Academy may rely on submitted credits in conferring awards.
5.4 Eligibility to submit. Entries may be submitted by a creator, by a member of the creative team with authority to do so, or by an authorized representative (such as a label, studio, school, or manager). By submitting, the entrant represents that it is authorized to enter on behalf of all credited parties.
5.5 Withdrawal and correction. An entrant may withdraw or correct an entry through the close of submissions. After that, entries are final except for corrections the Academy permits to address administrative error.
5.6 Source files for finalists and winners. Upon the Academy’s request, a finalist or winner must promptly furnish the underlying source file(s) for the entered work — for example, a high-quality audio file (WAV or MP3) — for purposes of eligibility verification, judging, broadcast, and archival. The Academy may use these files to confirm the accuracy of the AI Disclosure Statement, including through technical analysis. Failure to provide requested source files within the time the Academy specifies is a ground for disqualification under Article 9.4.
6.1 Cycle calendar. The inaugural Awards cycle proceeds on the following schedule. All times are U.S. Pacific Time.
6.2 Changes to dates. The Academy may adjust any date for operational reasons and will publish material changes through its official channels. Deadlines are strictly enforced; entrants are responsible for submitting in advance of the close to allow for technical issues.
7.1 Eligibility screening. After submissions close, the Academy screens each entry for completeness, eligibility, correct category placement, and a complete AI Disclosure Statement. Entries failing screening may be corrected (where the Academy permits), recategorized, or removed.
7.2 Judging structure. Qualified entries advance to judging. Judging is conducted by a combination of qualified Academy voting members and expert review panels convened per field, with at least one round to select finalists and a final round to select winners.
7.3 Judging criteria. Entries are judged on the artistic and technical merit of the work and on its fit to the category entered. Merit — not commercial success, popularity, sales, streams, or social-media metrics — is the basis of decision. For Education and Responsibility & Ethics entries, judges assess the quality, significance, and impact of the activity.
7.4 Conflicts of interest and recusal. Screeners and judges must recuse themselves from any category or entry in which they have a personal, financial, or professional interest, including entries involving themselves, their immediate family, their employer, or their clients. The Academy maintains a conflicts policy and may remove any screener or judge for a conflict or breach of confidentiality.
7.5 Confidentiality and integrity. Judging deliberations, ballots, vote tallies, and entrant disclosures are confidential. Attempts to improperly influence the outcome — including lobbying judges, vote solicitation in violation of Academy policy, or misrepresenting an entry — are prohibited and may result in disqualification.
7.6 No feedback; finality. Except as the Academy chooses to provide, entrants are not entitled to scores, comments, or feedback. All screening and judging decisions, including finalist and winner selection, are final.
8.1 Finalists. The Academy will announce up to five finalists in each competitive category in February 2027.
8.2 Winners. Winners are selected from among the finalists in the final round of judging and are announced at the gala event described in Article 6. A category may have co-winners only where the Academy determines a tie cannot otherwise be resolved.
8.3 Notification. The Academy will notify finalists and coordinate gala participation through the contact information provided with the entry. Entrants are responsible for keeping their contact information current.
8.4 The award. Each winner receives the AIMEE award and any associated certificate or designation. Credited contributors recognized by the Academy share in the award for a winning work.
8.5 Travel and attendance. Attendance at the gala is not required to win. Except as the Academy expressly offers, entrants and finalists are responsible for their own travel and expenses.
8.6 Special & Honorary awards. The Special & Honorary awards are non-competitive, require no entry, and are conferred by the Academy in its discretion, typically for contributions spanning more than a single cycle. The cross-cutting honors “Education Excellence of the Year” and “Responsibility in AI Music of the Year” are competitive General Field awards drawn from across their respective fields and are not part of this Article 8.6 category.
9.1 Warranties. By entering, the entrant represents and warrants that the entry is the entrant’s own work or is submitted with authority; that all rights, licenses, and consents necessary for the entry and its use under these Rules have been obtained; that the entry does not infringe or misappropriate any third party’s intellectual property, voice, likeness, or other rights; and that the AI Disclosure Statement is true and complete.
9.2 Prohibited conduct. The following are prohibited and may result in rejection, disqualification, or rescission: misrepresenting how an entry was made; using a person’s voice or likeness without required consent; submitting infringing or unlawfully sourced material; impersonation or false credits; and any attempt to improperly influence screening or judging.
9.3 Indemnification. The entrant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Academy, the Foundation, and their officers, members, judges, and agents from claims arising out of the entry, its content, its use as permitted under these Rules, or the entrant’s breach of these Rules.
9.4 Disqualification and rescission. The Academy may disqualify an entry at any stage, and may rescind an award and require return of any AIMEE, certificate, or designation, if it determines that an entry was ineligible, that these Rules were breached, or that the AI Disclosure Statement was materially false, misleading, or incomplete. The Academy may announce a rescission and, where appropriate, name a substitute recipient.
9.5 Reservation. Nothing in these Rules limits the Academy’s right to protect the integrity and reputation of the Awards, including by declining or removing any entry that, in its judgment, is unlawful, infringing, or contrary to the values of the program.
10.1 Promotional use. By entering, each entrant and credited contributor grants the Academy and the Foundation the right to use their name, likeness, the title of the entered work, and a brief excerpt or representation of the work, for the purpose of administering, announcing, broadcasting, and promoting the Awards, without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.
10.2 Winner and finalist designations. Finalists and winners may state that they are an “AIMEE Finalist” or “AIMEE Winner” for the applicable category and cycle, in a manner that is truthful and not misleading. Use of the AIMEE name and marks is otherwise subject to the Academy’s trademark and brand guidelines.
10.3 Reservation of rights. Except for the limited rights granted above, entrants retain ownership of their works. The Academy does not acquire ownership of an entered work by reason of entry, selection, or award.
11.1 Interpretation and amendment. The Academy interprets and applies these Rules, and may amend them before the opening of submissions; material changes affecting an open cycle will be published through official channels. The Academy’s decisions on all matters relating to the Awards are final and binding.
11.2 Governing law and disputes. These Rules are governed by the laws of the State of Alabama, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute relating to the Awards or these Rules will be resolved exclusively through binding arbitration in Houston County, Alabama. To the fullest extent permitted by law, all disputes will be resolved on an individual basis only; the entrant and the Academy each waive any right to bring, join, or participate in a class, collective, consolidated, or representative action, and the arbitrator may not consolidate the claims of, or preside over any class or representative proceeding for, more than one entrant.
11.3 No guarantee. Entry does not guarantee selection as a finalist or winner. The Academy may decline to confer an award in any category.
11.4 Privacy. Personal information submitted with an entry is handled in accordance with the Academy’s privacy policy.
11.5 Severability and waiver. If any provision of these Rules is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in effect. The Academy’s failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of it.
11.6 Entire understanding. These Rules, together with the Categories Document and the materials on the official portal, constitute the entire understanding governing the Awards and supersede prior statements about them.
By submitting an entry, the entrant acknowledges that it has read, understood, and agreed to these Official Rules & Regulations.