Apply for The Records

& apply for the funded production of your studio album

Every year on September 1st, a new round opens for The Records. You can then apply until November 1st.

You can learn about the rules and guidelines below, so you can get ready to apply. Or check out the video for more info and insight.

Application for The Records 2025 is closed.

Application for the 2026 edition opens September 1st 2025!

The selection process

Your application will be considered by an independent jury, consisting of musicians and programmers, who will listen ‘blindly’ to all submissions. This means they do not know who is playing on the recordings or who has submitted them. Based on their ratings, they will determined which seven bands will advance to the final. Around November 20th you will be informed whether you’ve made it to the finals.

The finals

During the finals in January 2025, you will play live for 15 minutes in front of a new independent finals-jury. These five jury members, all of whom also work in the music scene as programmers, musicians or critics, determine the three winners. There is no top 3, but three equal winners who each receive € 10,000 to record an album in 2024 and then present this album a year later during the next edition of The Records.

Assessment criteria

Applicants will be assessed on the following core values:

  • SOULFULNESS
  • MELODY & FORM
  • GROOVE AND FEEL
  • BAND SOUND
  • ORIGINALITY
  • PRESENTATION
  • ATTITUDE
  • CAREER AWARENESS

Preconditons

in order to apply

In order to apply for Keep an Eye The Records, please make sure you meet the following conditions:

  • You are a jazz alumnus from one of the Dutch conservatories graduated between 2020 and 2024 OR you will graduate from one of the Dutch conservatories in the academic year 2024-2025 (This only applies to the bandleader)
  • Your project or you as a bandleader has not won a previous edition of Keep an Eye The Records
  • Should you be selected; your entire band (line-up as presented in this form) must be available on January 23th 2025 to play during the finale.
  • You are planning to stay in The Netherlands at least 2 years after the application deadline. This to make sure you can properly promote your album here and take part in The Records on Tour in which we arrange several concerts for you in the year after your album release in the Netherlands.
You’ll be needing the following items to fill in the application form:

  • Copy of your ID
  • Description/biography of your project/band
  • List of performing artist involved in the project, including names, instruments and the Conservatory where they have studied
  • 1 to 3 high res project/band pictures
  • 1 or 2 audio fragments of your band (in total max 10 minutes)
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