GOATHEAD Best Song
The crown track. The one that defined the year and took it by storm. Goathead-curated only.

​

“Backyard Getaway” – Emily Fraser

“Let Go” – Ryley Hall

“Graveyard Shift” – Lil Skeleton

“Madness Rising” – Captain Highside​

​​​

INDEPENDENT Best Song
The record that broke through the noise without a machine behind it. Pure craft, real emotion, undeniable replay value.

 

"Canyon" - Ali Mills

"Casanova"- Meagan Allen

"Scars" - Mark Walsh

"Maryanne" - Doug Kleiner

​

GOATHEAD Best New Artist
For the artists who worked within the Goathead ecosystem and turned it into lasting growth and presence.

 

Ryley Hall

Fiona Marais

Captain Highside

Mrs. Leakyeye

 

INDEPENDENT Best New Artist
For the artist who built everything from the ground up — no label push, no fake streams, no shortcuts. Pure hustle and vision.

 

Gavin DaVinci

Ali Mills

Meagan Allen

Jonah Maclean

​

Best Female Vocal Performance 

Range, tone, control, and conviction. The voice that carried the song beyond production — raw, powerful, unmistakably alive.

 

Fiona Marais - "Just The Way You Are" 

Emily Fraser - "Carpe Diem"

Ali Mills - "Canyons"

Emily Fraser - "Backyard Getaway"

​

Best Male Vocal Performance 

For the independents — the quietest voices in the industry, yet somehow and realistically the loudest.

 

Captain Highside - "Madness Rising" 

Spencer Graham - "First Kiss"

Gavin DaVinci - "Think Now Cry Later"

Crashing Cars - "Family Tree"

​

Project of the Year

For albums or EPs that carried intent, structure, and depth — projects that built a world, not a playlist.

​

Lil Skeleton - "Graveyard Shift" 

Carmen Grillo - "Walkin' the Tightrope"

Captain Highside - "Milder Diplomacy"

Rocco Gibson - "Capricorn"

​​​

Producer of the Year 
The mind behind the sound. Innovation over imitation, quality over hype.

​​

ASTRØMAN

Carmen Grillo

Wavewulf

Mandatory Affect

​​

Visual of the Year
For the most powerful visual piece — video, artwork, or concept — that told a story beyond words.

​

Emily Fraser - "Backyard Getaway"

Ryley Hall - "Let Go"

Shepherd Bridge - "Armor"

Lil Skeleton - "Asylum"

​

"Label Radar" Artist
The one the algorithms has yet to pickup - but Goathead does not ignore.

​

Adelina IV 

Billy Davis 

Ashley Rae

SideShow Stereo

​

Best Commercial Song / Songwriting
Industry ready HIT that felt alive again, melody, emotion, and purpose. 

​

Backyard Getaway - Emily Fraser

Madison - Golden Fez

Dance Beat - Jenasis

Let Go - Ryley Hall

 

Best Rap / Hip Hop Song
Bars that cut through the noise. Lyricism, performance, flow, and honesty over hype.

​

Ghosts - Vadmos

Supermodel - Lil Asian

Think Now Cry Later - GavinDaVinci

Keep Moving - Cody Ouillette

 

Best Dance Song
Energy, movement, and soul. Crafted, not manufactured.

​

Soul Beat - Jenasis 

The One For You - TWENTY80

Drink - Dinnit Divo

Runaway With You - BenBergerBaby ft. BIGVENTI

​​

Best Rock/Metal Song
For guitars that mean something, drums that breathe, and voices that shake walls.

​

Letters To The Lost - Mandatory Affect 

Storm Corrosion - Solamente

Hands That Feeds - Trish Discord

Come Hell Or High Water - Crentchaw​

​

Best Country Song
Rhythm, story, and soul. Real emotion, real roots, no trend-chasing. Just a damn good song that hits you in the chest

​

Backyard Getaway - Emily Fraser

First Kiss - Spencer Graham

Maryanne - Doug Kleiner

Casanova - Meagan Allen

​

Best Latin Song
The one latin song that took Goathead by the storm. 

​

Estrella - Amy Jaime

Mi Sirena Bella - The.Paradigm

Tu Tattoo - Andy Mancheno

Tu Aprendiz - Maria Carrillo

​​

The Lil Skeleton Award
For the artist who captures the spirit of Goathead: raw, fearless, brave, and real. Skeleton decides who the winner is.

​

Laura Lederer

Marissa Alexis

Emily Fraser

Ryley Hall

​

*New Categories May Be Added. 

​