MERIDIAN ELIGIBILITY

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INTRODUCTION

The Meridian Awards welcomes submissions from artists globally and exists to ensure all works are evaluated within a fair, transparent, and artistically credible framework.

The purpose of Meridian eligibility standards is not to restrict creativity, but to protect the integrity, fairness, and meaning of artistic recognition itself.

All eligibility requirements have been designed to ensure:

  • equal opportunity
  • artistic authenticity
  • procedural fairness
  • category integrity
  • transparent evaluation
  • consistency across submissions

Meridian welcomes submissions from artists globally, regardless of:

  • commercial profile
  • label affiliation
  • audience size
  • industry status
  • geographic location

Recognition is determined solely through artistic evaluation.

 

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

Release Window

To be eligible for a given Meridian Awards cycle, works must have been publicly released within the official calendar year specified for that awards cycle.

Specific eligibility dates for each cycle will be published in advance on the Meridian website.

 

Public Release Requirement

All submissions must be publicly available through recognised digital distribution platforms (DSPs) at the time of submission.

Eligible release platforms may include:

  • Spotify
  • Apple Music
  • Bandcamp
  • YouTube Music
  • Amazon Music
  • Deezer
  • TIDAL
  • equivalent recognised digital platforms

Private, unreleased, invite-only, or inaccessible works are not eligible.

 

Original Work Requirement

All submissions must consist primarily of original artistic work.

The Meridian Awards does not accept:

  • cover songs
  • tribute performances
  • unofficial remixes
  • unauthorised reinterpretations
  • derivative reproductions of existing works

Meridian exists to recognise original artistic expression.

 

Global Eligibility

The Meridian Awards is open internationally.

Artists of all nationalities, regions, and cultural backgrounds are eligible to submit provided all other eligibility requirements are met.

Meridian does not restrict eligibility based on political geography or commercial market status.

 

Collaboration Eligibility

Collaborative works are eligible.

However:

  • all credited collaborators must consent to the submission
  • the submitting party confirms they possess authority to enter the work
  • the primary named artist receives official award recognition unless otherwise stated by Meridian

Featured artists may not separately submit identical works as independent entries.

 

Multiple Category Eligibility

A single work may be entered into a maximum of three categories where artistically appropriate.

A work may:

  • become finalist in multiple categories
  • win multiple categories

provided it satisfies the judging criteria and eligibility requirements of each category entered.

There is no maximum total number of submissions permitted per artist across the awards cycle.

However:

  • no entrant may submit more than three separate works into the same category during a single awards cycle.

 

AI & HUMAN AUTHORSHIP POLICY

Human Authorship Requirement

The Meridian Awards exists to recognise human artistic expression.

All submitted works must be primarily created through human authorship and creative decision-making.

 

Prohibited AI Usage

The following uses of generative artificial intelligence are prohibited within eligible submissions:

  • AI-generated composition
  • AI-generated lyrics
  • AI-generated vocals
  • AI-generated melodic or harmonic writing
  • AI-generated performance replacement
  • AI stem replacement systems
  • generative music systems used as primary creators of artistic material

Works utilising these methods are not eligible for submission.

 

Permitted AI-Assisted Tools

Meridian recognises that certain AI-assisted technologies may exist within modern production workflows.

The following may remain eligible where used as assistive production tools rather than generative authorship systems:

  • AI-assisted mastering
  • AI-enabled audio plugins
  • restoration tools
  • noise reduction systems
  • workflow enhancement tools
  • non-generative production assistance

These tools must not replace primary human creative authorship.

 

Disclosure Requirement

Entrants are required to disclose any use of AI-assisted tools during the submission process.

Failure to disclose relevant AI usage may result in:

  • disqualification
  • finalist removal
  • award revocation

at Meridian’s discretion.

 

Artistic Philosophy

Meridian’s position regarding AI is not technological opposition.

It is artistic protection.

The awards exist to recognise:

human creativity,

emotional expression,

and:

artistic authorship.

 

CATEGORY-SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY

The Meridian Ascent

Eligibility for The Meridian Ascent is restricted to:

  • individual artists aged 25 or younger during the competition year
    OR
  • bands in which all principal members are aged 25 or younger during the competition year.

Previous winners of The Meridian Ascent become permanently ineligible for future entry into that category.

Finalists who do not win may re-enter in future cycles provided eligibility requirements remain satisfied.

 

The Meridian Immersive Distinction

Submissions to The Meridian Immersive Distinction must be delivered in:

Dolby Atmos ADM/BWF format.

Additional technical delivery specifications will be outlined within the Submission Rules documentation.

 

Category Reassignment

Meridian reserves the right to reassign submissions to alternative categories where deemed artistically appropriate and beneficial to the entrant.

Category reassignment decisions are made solely to improve alignment between the submitted work and the category criteria.

 

LANGUAGE & TRANSLATION REQUIREMENTS

Works may be submitted in any language.

Where lyrical content is presented in a language other than English:

  • an English translation must be provided during submission
  • translations may be literal or artistically interpreted
  • the submitting party is responsible for translation accuracy

Meridian believes artistic expression should remain globally accessible while preserving original cultural and linguistic identity.

 

CONTENT RESTRICTIONS

The Meridian Awards reserves the right to reject or disqualify works that:

  • promote extremist ideology
  • contain hate speech
  • encourage violence toward protected groups
  • promote illegal material or criminal activity
  • contain deliberately abusive or harmful content violating Meridian principles

Meridian reserves the right to make final determinations regarding unacceptable material.

Meridian reserves the right to take immediate action in cases deemed severe.

 

RE-ENTRY & RESUBMISSION POLICY

Works may only be submitted during the awards cycle corresponding to their official release eligibility window.

Previously submitted works may not be re-entered in future awards cycles, including:

  • revised versions
  • remastered editions
  • alternate versions
  • reissues
  • resubmissions to different categories

Meridian evaluates each eligible work within a single awards cycle only.

 

DISQUALIFICATION & ENFORCEMENT

Meridian reserves the right to disqualify submissions where any of the following occur:

  • false eligibility claims
  • undisclosed AI usage
  • plagiarism
  • fraudulent credits
  • manipulated submissions
  • unauthorised entry
  • violation of category rules
  • violation of Meridian policies

Disqualification decisions are made solely to preserve:

  • fairness
  • transparency
  • artistic integrity
  • trust within the awards process

All eligibility and enforcement decisions made by Meridian are final.

 

CLOSING STATEMENT

Meridian eligibility exists to ensure the awards process remains fair, transparent, artistically credible, and safe for all applicants.

The purpose of these standards is not to create exclusivity.

It is to preserve the meaning of artistic recognition.

The Meridian Awards exists to honour music created through genuine artistic expression, emotional honesty, craftsmanship, originality, and human creativity.

At its core, Meridian believes exceptional art deserves thoughtful evaluation within a process built upon integrity, respect, and trust.