Jambaloo, a concert series that has grown into an initiative to champion North Texas artists, announced its latest effort to revitalize the music scene on Wednesday: a $20,000 prize to honor the best local independent album.
“It’s hard for great artists to break through, even when they’ve made something extraordinary,” said Jambaloo co-founder Joe Morrison. “The music prize is our way of saying, ‘We see you, we believe in you and we want to help you take the next step.’”
From now until Jan. 4, the group is accepting album submissions from acts across the metropolitan area. Qualifying projects must contain at least seven songs, run for 30 or more minutes and have been released in 2025.
An anonymous panel of judges will select 10 semifinalists to be announced during Jambaloo’s upcoming festival on Feb. 10. Each of the acts’ albums will be on sale at the D-FW locations of Josey Records.
In early May, after a public vote, the group will be whittled down to a winner and two runners-up, all of whom will open for a national headliner at the Longhorn Ballroom on June 6. The winner will be determined by weighing the judges’ vote (60%) and the public’s opinion (40%).
In addition to the cash prize, the award recipient will receive a recording session with Tre Nagella, a Grammy Award-winning producer who has worked with Lady Gaga, Travis Scott and Fort Worth gospel singer Kirk Franklin.
Nagella hopes the Jambaloo prize can offer support that an act needs to sustain itself. Funding could help with an upcoming project or touring plans, for example.
Jambaloo drew inspiration from established awards like Canada’s Polaris Prize and the Mercury Prize in the United Kingdom and Ireland, according to co-founder Corey Pond.
The judging panel, which includes big-name Texan talent and industry professionals, is to ensure the prize is awarded to “the very best piece of art,” Pond said. At the same time, the public vote is important to see an act’s commercial viability, he said.
Pond expressed gratitude to partners such as local radio station KXT-FM (91.7), which will record and distribute a live session of the winner on its platforms.
“Dallas–Fort Worth is proving that communities don’t have to wait for big labels or giant corporations,” he said in a statement. “We can create platforms to lift artists, create cultural opportunities and remove financial barriers — as a local community.”
Dallas personal injury firm Mullen & Mullen started Jambaloo in 2024 to spotlight budding artists after several beloved music venues in D-FW shuttered.
In July, Jambaloo announced a $20,000 prize for a local independent music venue. The inaugural award went to the Cicada in Fort Worth, a bar that had faced imminent closure after a rent hike.
Details
For more information on eligibility requirements and on how to apply for the award, visit jambaloo.live/music-prize/
