Best
Self-Produced
CD

What is the Best Self-Produced CD Award?

In 2005, The Blues Foundation established an award for the Best Self-Produced CD, given out at the International Blues Challenge, as part of our mission to celebrate blues recording and to ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. Unlike our celebration of blues recordings and performances at the Blues Music Awards, or our recognition of up-and-coming musician performance via The International Blues Challenge, this award was created to recognize excellence in independent Blues recordings.

Best Self-Produced Official Rules:

Entries for the Best Self-Produced CD are permitted by Blues Foundation Affiliated Organizations only.
Each Affiliate is permitted one entry.
The CD entered may be recorded and performed by an act other than is entered in the current year’s International Blues Challenge.
Compilations are not eligible.
Only CDs released between November 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024 are eligible for consideration as the 2025 Best Self-Produced CD.
While we encourage a competition at the Affiliate level to determine the CD it will sponsor for Best Self-Produced CD, we do not require one. If an Affiliate does not conduct a competition to determine who it will sponsor but instead appoints a CD, that CD may not include a board member or officer of the sponsoring Affiliated organization.
A performer who has previously been nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition. A CD issued in the name of an otherwise eligible performer which also includes the contributions of a Blues Music Award nominee may be ineligible, depending on the extent of the contribution. Please contact The Blues Foundation directly to confirm eligibility.
A CD on a record label that has been previously nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the W.C. Handy Blues Award) shall not be eligible for this competition.
Judging will take place in three rounds. Judges will remain anonymous in order to protect them from outside influences and represent a cross-section of professionals from the blues radio and print industry. The final results will be announced at the finals of the 40th International Blues Challenge on Saturday, January 11, 2025 held at the historic Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN.

How to Submit:

Affiliated Organizations must send a letter of support and 4 copies of the disc to:

The Blues Foundation – BSPCD
421 S. Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103

Deadline for submitting is November 1, 2024

For questions regarding IBC and BSPCD, please email Joe Whitmer at joe@blues.org.

Evaluation Criteria:

Judges will evaluate each submitted CD on the following characteristics. The criteria considered are listed in order of importance.

(1) Blues Content
(2) Musical Performance
(3) Audio Quality and Production Value of the Recording
(4) Professionalism and Visual Appearance of Cover Art and Design
(5) Credits and Liner Note Information.

CDs must be submitted directly by current Blues Foundation Affiliated organizations only. Affiliates must submit 4 copies of their selection to The Blues Foundation offices by the publicized deadline. In order for a CD to be considered for this award, the submission package must include a note on Affiliate letterhead stating the name of the artist and title of the CD being submitted for consideration.

Best Produced CD Award Winners:

2005 – Crazy, Cryin’ Blues by Robin Rogers (Tie)
2005 – Silver Bird by Collard Greens & Gravy (Tie)
2006 – Back in Bluesville by Roxy Perry
2007 – We are Mighty Lester by Mighty Lester Band
2008 – Sophisticated Ladies by Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra
2009 – Hollerin’ by Nathan James & Ben Hernandez
2010 – Crime Scene Queen by The Informants (Tie)
2010 – Fire it Up! by Laurie Morvan Band (Tie)
2011 – Get Inside This House by Joe McMurrian, Cascade Blues Association
2012 – Where I’m Coming From… by Dave Keller, Rhode Island Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society
2013 – Solo Recordings by Steve Hill, Montreal Blues Society
2014 – Account to Me, by Hank Mowery, West Michigan Blues Society
2015 – Cryin’ Mercy, by Altered Five Blues Band, Grafton Blues Association
2016 – Blues in a Bottle by Rob Lumbard, Central Iowa Blues Society
2017 – High Temperature by J.W. Jones, Ottawa Blues Society
2018 – Blue Metamorphosis by Jontavious Willis, Atlanta Blues Society
2019 – Lock Up The Liquor by The Little Red Rooster Blues Band, Central Delaware Blues Society
2020 – Sweet Thing by Moonshine Society, River City Blues Society (VA)
2022 – Borrowed Time by Memphis Lightning, Suncoast Blues Society
2023 – Green Light by Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, Blues Society of Omaha
2024 – Tell the World by Sister Lucille, Blues Society of the Ozarks