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

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“Backyard Getaway” – Emily Fraser

“Let Go” – Ryley Hall - WINNER

“Graveyard Shift” – Lil Skeleton

“Madness Rising” – Captain Highside​

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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 - WINNER

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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 - WINNER

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 - WINNER

Ali Mills

Meagan Allen

Jonah Maclean

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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 - "Canyon"  - WINNER

Emily Fraser - "Backyard Getaway"

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Best Male Vocal Performance 

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

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Captain Highside - "Madness Rising"  - WINNER

Spencer Graham - "First Kiss"

Gavin DaVinci - "Think Now Cry Later"

Crashing Cars - "Family Tree"

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Project of the Year

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

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Lil Skeleton - "Graveyard Shift"  - WINNER

Carmen Grillo - "Walkin' the Tightrope"

Captain Highside - "Milder Diplomacy"

Rocco Gibson - "Capricorn"

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

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ASTRØMAN - WINNER

Carmen Grillo 

Wavewulf

Mandatory Affect

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

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Emily Fraser - "Backyard Getaway" - WINNER

Ryley Hall - "Let Go"

Shepherd Bridge - "Armor"

Lil Skeleton - "Asylum"

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

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Adelina IV 

Billy Davis - WINNER

Ashley Rae

SideShow Stereo

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

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Backyard Getaway - Emily Fraser - WINNER

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.

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Ghosts - Vadmos

Supermodel - Lil Asian

Think Now Cry Later - GavinDaVinci - WINNER

Keep Moving - Cody Ouillette

 

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

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Soul Beat - Jenasis 

The One For You - TWENTY80

Drink - Dinnit Divo

Runaway With You - BenBergerBaby ft. BIGVENTI - WINNER

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

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Letters To The Lost - Mandatory Affect 

Storm Corrosion - Solamente - WINNER

Hands That Feeds - Trish Discord

Come Hell Or High Water - Crentchaw​

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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

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Backyard Getaway - Emily Fraser

First Kiss - Spencer Graham

Maryanne - Doug Kleiner

Casanova - Meagan Allen - WINNER

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

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Estrella - Amy Jaime

Mi Sirena Bella - The.Paradigm - WINNER

Tu Tattoo - Andy Mancheno

Tu Aprendiz - Maria Carrillo

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

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Laura Lederer - WINNER

Marissa Alexis

Emily Fraser

Ryley Hall

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