Introducing the GOATHEAD Awards. For the Few Who REALLY Earned It. [LONG VERSION]

Editorial Board
Nov 6
7 min read

Imagine being a genius enough to send a “For Your Consideration” campaign to a record label and we got over 500 this year alone. That’s like emailing a lion asking for a vegan menu.

Goathead Awards 100% Funnier Than Your Average Award Show

We’re launching the GOATHEAD “End of Year” Awards. A recognition built for the ones in our orbit — the artists who move different, think different, and actually make it count.

Forget the For Your Consideration circus. Forget the dinners, the whispers, the baskets, the politics, the blah blah blah. The Grammys turned into a gift exchange with microphones.

The GOATHEAD Awards cut through that. No voters to bribe. No seats to buy. Just truth — sound, impact, and integrity.

We don’t play favorites. Every rollout, song, and move gets seen, tested, and judged by the same people who live it — us, your peers, and the public. Real-world performance, authenticity, impact.

We don’t need press kits or fancy campaigns to know what’s real. We feel it. If it hits, if it’s undeniable, we crown it.

We don’t care about clout. We care about merit, effort, and the culture that comes from it. The GOATHEAD Awards aren’t about status. They’re about truth. For the artists who built something real while everyone else chased numbers and noise.

This year’s selections will feature two categories:

Covered Artists — those previously featured, reviewed or curated by Goathead.
Submissions — Open to independent artists who’ve submitted their music through us — the ones ready to earn their spot through sound, storytelling, and authenticity. (Also known as: those who didn’t quite make the cut to get signed. Fix your W-2s or 1099s, maybe grab a PR bundle or proper distribution next time.)

The winners will be announced in December 2025 through Goathead’s digital platforms and celebrated with exclusive features, interviews, and limited edition content.

GOATHEAD AWARDS 2025: CATEGORIES & SUBGENRES

GOATHEAD Best Song: The crown track. Goathead curated-only tracks.

INDEPENDENT Best Song: For the record that broke through the noise without a machine behind it. Pure craft, real emotion, undeniable replay value. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Project of the Year: For the albums or EPs that carried intent, structure, and depth. Projects that built a world, not a playlist. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Best GOATHEAD Artist: For the artists who worked within the Goathead ecosystem, Accel, features, collabs, label services, and transformed it into lasting growth and presence.

Best INDEPENDENT Artist: For the artist who built everything from the ground up, no label push, no fake streams, no shortcuts. Pure hustle, vision, and substance. The definition of independent done right. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Producer of the Year: The mind behind the sound. Innovation over imitation, quality over hype. The architect who built songs that shaped this year. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Visual of the Year: Awarded to the most powerful visual piece, video, artwork, or concept — that told a story beyond words. Cinematic. Timeless. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Most Slept-On: The one the algorithms ignored but Goathead didn’t. Proof that audience silence doesn’t mean failure — it means you’re ahead of your time. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Best Pop Song: For the record that made pop feel alive again — melody, emotion, and purpose without the algorithmic polish. Real replay value. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Best Rap Song: For the bars that cut through the noise. Lyricism, flow, and honesty that hit harder than the hype. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Best EDM/Dance Song: Energy, movement, and soul. The track that ruled the floor or rewired your heartbeat — crafted, not manufactured. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Best Rock Song: For guitars that still mean something, drums that breathe, and voices that shake walls. Real performance, real power. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Best R&B Song: For the records that carried soul in every note — smooth, vulnerable, timeless. Emotion over automation. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Best Latin Song: For the record that carried rhythm, story, and soul — where passion met precision. Real emotion, real roots, no trend-chasing. The kind of track that moves both hearts and floors. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation.

Best AI Song: For the track that proved machines can feel, or at least fake it well enough to make us question it. Innovation, emotion, and execution that blurred the line between code and soul. Curated and judged by Goathead from submissions or curation

The Lil Skeleton Award: One artist who captures the spirit of Goathead, raw, fearless, chaotic, and real. Skeleton decides. Curated and judged by Lil Skeleton from submissions or curation.

GOATHEAD AWARDS — FAQ

It’s long, but we thought of them all.

Q: What are the Goathead Awards?

A: A middle finger to politics disguised as trophies. We built this to recognize merit, hard work, impact, and culture, not PR budgets or dinner tables full of voters (there is a reason why your FYC did not get a win, duh). You can’t buy your way into a Goathead Award. You either earned it, or you didn’t. No explanations, no feelings.

Duh moment: If you’re not in sight, through submissions, Accel, PR, dealings, distribution, or support: how the f** are we supposed to know your music even exists? We see everything, but we can't chase ghosts.

Q: What is the difference between curation and submissions?

A: Submissions (we have thousands on thousands hoping to get a "deal" LOL) are when artists send their work hoping to be picked. Curation is when we pick the work that actually moves something.

Q: How do I submit?

A: You don’t need a manager, label, or some fancy “For Your Consideration” campaign.

If you’re new, send your work through the submissions page or the freshly leaked email — info@goatheadrecords.com — before December 2025.

If you’re not new, relax. Goathead already sees, tracks, and measures everything. If you got ignored… you probably earned that silence.

Q: Who decides the winners?

A: We do.

Q: Who’s “we”?

A: A bunch of overworked caffeine addicts with poor sleeping habits, good taste and zero patience for mediocrity.

Q: What if I’m not signed to Goathead?

A: Doesn’t matter. If your music has substance, it’s eligible. We judge music.

Q: Why wasn’t my song picked?

A: Because maybe it wasn’t ready, or maybe it just wasn’t for us. Either way, no politics, no bias, no tears.

Q: Do winners get anything?

A: A gift. Could be an article, a feature, a video, who knows maybe even a full produced song, maybe even a deal. The truth? We don’t know yet, depends on you, the moment, and the madness.

Q: Why the attitude?

A: Because someone had to say it. The industry’s fake humility is boring. At Goathead we are just used to hear and tell the truth. That's why we are great at what we do.

Q: Is this a joke?

A: No. Not at all. It is just honest.

Q: Can I still complain about losing?

A: Sure. Just make a great song about it next time. We’ll still see it and maybe you will win then.

Q: Can I buy exposure?

A: No. But you can buy a PR bundle and earn your way into the introduction world of your so-called “fans”, like an actual artist and adult.

You don’t need it to win, but let’s be real, with thousands of submissions, we’ll prioritize artists who are already curated. Not fair? Cry about it.

Q: Do I get feedback if I lose?

A: If we have time. But silence from Goathead means it wasn’t close.

Q: What happens after I win?

A: You keep working. That’s the real prize.

Q: Is this serious?

A: Dead serious — and still funnier than the Grammys.

Q: How do I know if I win?

A: Nominations drop a few days before the winners are announced. If you win, you’ll get an email with your category the day before, no spam, just the good news. You can accept the award, and we’ll post a shared announcement.

Q: I’m too proud to ever win the Goathead Awards, they don’t seen legit awards.

A: Perfect. Keeps the list shorter. We’ll just hand your spot to someone hungry enough to want it. You can renounce the award, we replace. No loss for us, no win for you.

Q: Is this for your entertainment?

A: Partly. Watching artists panic over trophies is going to be hilarious. But mostly, it’s for culture, ours, yours, our and your fans, for feedback, and for whoever’s still making real music instead of Tik Toks with ring lights.

Q: I’m signed to a label, management, or agency — do I still qualify?

A: No. We’re talking GOATHEAD-curated or strictly independent artists. If you’re signed to a company, you’re not independent. These are the Goathead Awards. If your label, agency, PR team, or babysitter doesn’t throw super-duper events like this, maybe it’s time to pick a less boring option… and join us on the dark side.

Q: I was featured on Goathead Blog with the help of a PR agency or my label that helped secure the feature, do I qualify?

A: Yes. That means you’re part of the curated circle, not the submission pile.

Q: I was kind of mean to Goathead, its partners, producers, affiliates, or artists — do I still qualify?

A: And you’re still here? Yes, but likely you won’t win. This isn’t just music; it’s impact, work-ethic, and talent. If you couldn’t follow through with Goathead, imagine what your fans think. (If you ever ended up getting fans on your own).

We also won’t reward ego or ass-kissing. Go join a “collective” if you need validation.

Goathead’s about merit, not noise, and no, your fake emojis won’t help secure an award.

WORK HARDER AND SMARTER NEXT YEAR.

Q: Do I get a trophy?

A: Ha… Nice try. But NO, you’ll get a printable PDF and a feature on our Awards Page. Beside a gift we will pick for you. Our website gets more views than you can do, so feel honored.