Anna Ats Deadline Awards
Cash Prizes and Awards for Audiobook Narrators
WHAT MAKES A DEADLINE AWARD WINNER?
"We aren't just looking for good narrators, or even great ones. We know those are in abundance. We're looking for narrators who make us stop and say, wow, this performance is taking audiobooks to an exciting new place. Deadline Award winners stand out with their work, whether they're storied performers or brand new on the scene."
- The Anna Ats Deadline Awards Team
What are the Anna Ats Deadline Awards?
Audiobook narrators are pushing forward the craft every day, often alone in their booths. Anna Ats Deadline is committed to finding narrators who are shaking up expectations of style and carving a path for themselves in the big, wide world of audiobooks. Our team is comprised of working audiobook narrators who want to zero in on unsung heroes in our world and help guide the needle of craft and style in the ever-changing landscape of audiobook performances.
Here's how we celebrate narrators: every year, two people will receive cash prizes. There's one for innovative performance work, and another for a diverse narrator with around ten books who is quickly carving out a name for themselves. Additionally, we award as many as twelve more narrators: up to six awards for narrators much like our Innovator and up to six for narrators with similar criteria to our Pathfinder. Throughout the year, all winners are eligible for coaching, guidance, and industry resources, and will receive occasional marketing to audiobook producers.
The
Awards
FOR ELEVATING THE CRAFT OF AUDIOBOOK NARRATION
This award identifies a narrator that has shown, through their work, that they are digging into their craft, taking chances, pushing the envelope in terms of what we believe is possible in audiobooks, and embodies the power of human narration.
This award comes with a $1,000 prize and a trophy.
SHOWING PROMISE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE IN THE AUDIOBOOK INDUSTRY
With 1 to 10 published titles, this award identifies an underrepresented narrator who has shown deep commitment to audiobooks and great potential in their work, with promising performances and clear excitement about the world of audiobooks.
This award comes with a $1,000 prize and a trophy.
FOR MOVING FORWARD THE CRAFT OF AUDIOBOOK NARRATION
Aligned with criteria for the Innovator Award, the Vanguard Award celebrates narrators who are delivering performances that shake up what we believe is possible in audiobooks and pushing style in an exciting direction.
This award comes with one year of free marketing and guidance.
FOR NEWER NARRATORS WITH COMPELLING POTENTIAL
Aligned with criteria for the Pathfinder Award, the Trailblazer Award celebrates newer underrepresented narrators who are ready to hit the ground with new books and show great potential as well as strong focus on audiobooks.
This award comes with one year of free marketing and guidance, and a free audiobook craft and business consultation.
Annual Timeline
April
Submissions open for the year.
Narrators, listeners, and members of the audiobook world who encounter potential candidates throughout the year are encouraged to submit a free form for consideration.
November
Independent investigations begin.
As submissions start to come in, the committee will be on the lookout for narrators in the industry who meet the criteria of the award but have not submitted themselves.
December
Submissions close for the year.
Candidates or those nominating other narrators are encouraged to submit well before the deadline to maximize time for consideration.
January
Committee review of candidates.
Our committee will listen to submissions throughout the course of the year and take time to review candidates and assemble a cohort of winners.
March
Announcement of winners for the year.
Winners will be announced via our website and social media. All winners will be notified beforehand and must accept within the given timeline in order to be included.
You could be a future Deadline Award winner.
Submissions are open from March through December each year. Anyone can nominate a candidate, and narrators are encouraged to submit themselves. The committee will also do independent research to identify potential candidates throughout the year.