Draft:Needle In the Hay Music Competition
Needle In The Hay
Needle In The Hay is an annual music competition run by Australian culture publication Happy Mag. [1] The inaugural competition launched in 2017 and has since grown to become one of Australia's largest independent music competitions, attracting thousands of entries each year. [2]
Overview
The competition aims to champion and empower emerging musicians from Australia and New Zealand by providing a platform for their music to reach industry professionals and a broader audience. Winners receive prizes such as vinyl pressing of their music, high-quality recording equipment, and promotion across Happy Mag's social platforms.
Competition Process
Musicians submit their entries online for a small fee.[3] A panel of industry professionals evaluates the submissions, selecting finalists and a winner. Notable judges have included musician Ben Lee, [4] Australian Music Producer Magoo, [5] and media personality Abbie Chatfield. [6]
Finalists may also be invited to perform at live showcase events. [7] In 2024, the Lady Hampshire in Sydney hosted a showcase featuring Joan & The Giants, [8] FVNERAL, Yasmina Sadiki, and Noah Vernon. [9]
Prizes
The grand prize includes having 250 copies of the winner's album or EP pressed on vinyl by Zenith Records, along with other career-enhancing rewards such as recording equipment by Audio Technica, [10] and studio time. The total prize pool can exceed $50,000.
Notable Winners
Several winners and finalists have achieved significant success in the music industry:
- Spacey Jane (2018): Winners for their single "Thrills," which earned them a limited-run vinyl pressing and later helped launch their career in Australian indie rock. [11]
- Tones and I (2018 finalist): Went on to international success with the hit single "Dance Monkey."
- Joan & The Giants (2024): Winners for "Born in the Wrong Time," later supporting acts such as P!nk and Tones and I at major venues like Optus Stadium. [12] ----
Past Winners
2017
- 1st Place: Kardajala Kirridarra - Self titled [13]
- 2nd Prize: Noire - Some Kind of Blue
- 3rd Prize: Raindrop– unreleased
- 4th Prize: dave -YOCH! Bangers Vol. 1.
- 5th Place: Egoism -It’s Wearing Off
- 6th Place: Empat Lima – unreleased
- 7th Place: Foreign/National -Dépaysement
- 8th Place: Haiku Hands [14]
- 9th Place: indi – Precipice
- 10th Place: Nick Nuisance & the Delinquents - Cheap things
2018
- 1st Place: Spacey Jane – Thrills [15]
- 2nd Prize: Otis Thomas – Gina
- 3rd Prize: SOOK – I’m Not Your Woman
- 4th Prize: CLEWS – Museum
- 5th Place: VOIID – Silly Girl
- 6th Place: RACKETT – Alive
- 7th Place: Annie Hamilton – Fade
- 8th Place: St. South – Inure
- 9th Place: The Lazy Eyes – Unreleased
- 10th Place: TONES AND I – Unreleased [16]
2019
- 1st place: IV League – When You Lose Me
- 2nd place: High Tropics – Unreleased EP
- 3rd Place: The Buoys – Unreleased EP
- 4th Place: PLANET – Waking Eight
- 5th Place: Ruby Gill – Unreleased Album
- 6th Place: S.J. Smith – Unreleased Album
- 7th Place: Charlie Gradon – Unreleased EP
- 8th Place: Nice Biscuit – Digital Mountain
- 9th Place: Theia – Theia
- 10th Place: Gordon Koang – Stand Up (Clap Your Hands)
2021
- 1st Place: Maple Glider – Mama It’s Christmas [17]
- 2nd Place: Emma Volard – Feminitiy
- 3rd Place: Hannah Cameron – Backsliding
- 4TH Place: TOI – Thinking Too Much
- 5TH Place: J-MILLA – Unlock The System
- 6TH Place: Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – Desk Chair [18]
- 7TH Place: Jannah Beth – Unreleased
- 8TH Place: Earthquake Magnificent – Trick of the Light
- 9TH Place: Johnny Hunter – Try As You May
- 10TH Place: Bitch Diesel – Red Love Witch
2022
- 1st Place: Beckah Amani – Smoke and Mirrors
- 2nd Place: Agung Mango – Guap Pop
- 3rd Place: Euan Hart – Snowflake
- 4th Place: Hannah Cameron – Take the Blame
- 5th Place: Floozy – World
- 6th Place: Ainsley Farrell – The Way Back
- 7th Place: Phoebe Go – We Don’t Talk
- 8th Place: Salarymen – Young Guns
- 9th Place: Dulcie – Cold Hard Truth
- 10th Place: Lottie McLeod – Bridge
2024
- 1st Place: Joan & the Giants- Born In The Wrong Time
- 2nd Place: Siobhan Cotchin – When The Curtain Closes
- 3rd Place: South Summit – Sidelines [19]
- 4th Place: Chela – Hard 4 You
- 5th Place: Radio Free Alice – Look What You’ve Done
- 6th Place: Agum – Promise (Nsubiza)
- 7th Place: Juice Webster – In The Zone
- 8th Place: Yung Milla – Land Down Under
- 9th Place: Jarabi Band -Djamana
- 10th Place: Foura – Glimmer
Significance
Needle In The Hay has become a critical platform for unearthing and supporting new talent in Australia and New Zealand. [20] Its emphasis on independent musicians has bolstered the region's music scene by increasing exposure and providing career-defining opportunities. [21]
References
- ^ "Needle in the Hay 2025". Happy Mag. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ Writer, Staff (2017-07-27). "Zenith Records' Paul Rigby on what it's really like to run a vinyl pressing plant". The Music Network. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "Needle in the Hay 2025". Happy Mag. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "Ben Lee", Wikipedia, 2024-10-12, retrieved 2024-11-26
- ^ "Magoo (Australian producer)", Wikipedia, 2023-10-23, retrieved 2024-11-26
- ^ "Abbie Chatfield", Wikipedia, 2024-11-12, retrieved 2024-11-26
- ^ "Happy Mag's NITH Finalists Party 2024". City of Sydney - What’s On. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "Joan and the Giants return with 'deeply personal' new single Feels Like Heartache". X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ Walters, Tammy (2024-04-26). "Geelong artist Noah Vernon named a finalist in Happy Mag's Needle In The Hay competition". Forte Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "Needle in the Hay Vinyl Comp". www.audio-technica.com. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ Innes, Matt (2018-09-24). "Spacey Jane Extend Their Orbit". scenestr.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "Joan and the Giants hit new heights with latest single Feels Like Heartache". X-Press Magazine - Entertainment in Perth. 2024-07-18. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "Kardajala Kirridarra – Kardajala Kirridarra". Discogs. 16 March 2018.
{{cite web}}:|first=missing|last=(help) - ^ "Haiku Hands", Wikipedia, 2024-10-06, retrieved 2024-11-26
- ^ "Spacey Jane", Wikipedia, 2024-11-20, retrieved 2024-11-26
- ^ "Tones and I", Wikipedia, 2024-11-20, retrieved 2024-11-26
- ^ "Maple Glider", Wikipedia, 2024-11-24, retrieved 2024-11-26
- ^ "Canberra grunge band strikes right note after Covid-ruined 2020". www.canberratimes.com.au. 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "South Summit (band)", Wikipedia, 2024-11-19, retrieved 2024-11-26
- ^ "Happy Mag's Needle In The Hay Competition Returns! | Music Tasmania". musictasmania.org. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ^ "Opportunities | MusicSA". www.musicsa.com.au. Retrieved 2024-11-26.