Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik

The Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics' Award) is an independent critics' prize recognizing outstanding music and spoken-word productions across all genres. Founded in 1963, the association of music critics and journalists from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland publishes quarterly awards in approximately 30 categories, plus an annual honorary award for lifetime achievement. It operates independently of record labels and commercial interests.

How the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik Works

The award operates on a quarterly cycle rather than a single annual ceremony:

1. Long List: Each quarter, the association publishes a long list of nominated recordings across all categories. The long list for Q3 2026 was released in July 2026.

2. Quarterly Critic's Choice: From the long list, the association selects the best recordings in each genre category. These are published as the Quarterly Critic's Choice. For example, the Q2 2026 selections included Mitski's "Nothing's About to Happen to Me" in Pop, Mozart Violin Concertos with Roberto Gonzalez-Monjas in Orchestral Music, and Hildur Gudnadottir's "28 Years Later" in Electronic and Experimental.

3. Quartet of Critics: A separate feature where four critics each recommend a recording, published between quarterly cycles. Recent 2026 entries include Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 and Wagner's "Walkure."

4. Honorary Award: An annual award recognizing lifetime achievement. The 2026 honorary award went to Tunisian oud player and composer Anouar Brahem. Additional 2026 honorary recipients included Alexander Melnikov, Olga Pashchenko, Sophie Karthauser, Stephane Degout, Eugene Asti, and Alaine Planes.

The association is composed entirely of working music critics and journalists. No record label staff or industry executives participate in voting, which separates it from label-driven awards.

Real-World Example: Q2 2026 Selections

The Q2 2026 Quarterly Critic's Choice demonstrates the range of genres covered. In Pop, Mitski won for "Nothing's About to Happen to Me." In Jazz, a historical Thelonious Monk recording from Bremen 1965 was recognized. In Orchestral Music, Roberto Gonzalez-Monjas and the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg won for their complete Mozart Violin Concertos on Berlin Classics.

The Electronic and Experimental category went to Hildur Gudnadottir for "28 Years Later," a film score release. The R&B, Soul and Hip-Hop category recognized Jill Scott's "To Whom This May Concern." In Folk and Singer/Songwriters, Joe Bonamassa's "B.B. King's Blues Summit 100" was selected.

This breadth shows how the award treats classical, jazz, pop, electronic, and spoken word with equal seriousness. A niche classical recording on a small label can win alongside a major pop release.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

The Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik is one of the few awards where a recording on a small independent label can receive the same recognition as a major-label release. The critics judge purely on artistic quality, not commercial performance or marketing budget.

For independent artists releasing classical, jazz, folk, experimental, or spoken-word material, this award is particularly relevant. The quarterly cycle means you do not have to wait for an annual deadline. Your recording can be considered in the quarter it is released.

To get noticed by the association, focus on getting your recordings reviewed by German-language music publications. The critics who vote are based in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, so press coverage in outlets like Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Suddeutsche Zeitung, Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik, and Jazzthetik can help your work reach jury members.

If you release music in classical, jazz, or experimental genres, send review copies to German music journalists and radio stations like Deutschlandfunk Kultur and BR-Klassik. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to track your commercial performance, and visit the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik website for the current quarterly schedule.

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