ABBEY ROAD MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS TERMS AND CONDITIONS (“RULES”)
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
1. The Rules. Before entering the Competition, please read these terms and conditions ("Rules") carefully. By entering the Competition, you ("Entrant", "you", "yours") accept the Rules and indicate your full and unconditional agreement to them. In these Rules, words in the singular include the plural and in the plural include the singular (as far as the context admits). Any words following the terms: "including", "include, "in particular", "for example" or any similar expression are illustrative and do not limit the sense of the preceding words.
2. Promoter. Promoter of the Competition is Virgin Records Limited, t/a Abbey Road Studios, with its registered office address at 4 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG (company number: 01070953) ("Promoter", "we", "us", "ours"). Promoter's decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to the Competition. If you have any queries in relation to the Competition, please contact Promoter at: mpa@abbeyroad.com
3. Competition. The Abbey Road Music Photography Awards, hereinafter referred to as the "Competition".
4. How to enter. There is no fee to enter the Competition and no purchase is necessary. To enter, you must visit abbeyroadmusicphotographyawards.com/ ("Website"), follow all onscreen instructions and register for an account by entering your name, email address and the country of your primary residence. Afterregistering your email address, you will receive an automatic registration email to that email address to verify your account. You must follow the submission instructions contained on the Website and upload your Photographs (as further defined) directly to the Website through the upload portal ("Entry").After clicking "submit", you are officially entered into the pool of eligible Entries and will be deemed to have accepted these Rules and to have consented to the processing of your personal data for the purposes of the Competition in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Rule 16.
5. Competition Entry Period. You must submit your entry between 00:01 GMT on 29 May 2025 and 23:59 GMT on 28 July 2025 ("Competition Entry Period"). Entries received after the end of the Competition Entry Period will be automatically disqualified.
6. Eligibility. Entrants must be 18 years or over to enter the Competition. Entrants must have one of the following countries as their primary country or region of residence: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, U.K., or the U.S. All Entries from other countries will be ineligible for entry. Entrants must not be restricted by any third-party agreement from entering this Competition. By entering the Competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so as required by these Rules, and that you are eligible to claim any Prize you may win. You acknowledge and agree that Promoter may require you to provide proof of your eligibility and you agree to provide such proof on Promoter's request. Employees of Promoter and/or any UMG Company, or any of a UMG Company's advertising and promotion agencies, and any other individual or company involved in the development or execution of the Competition and their immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each are not eligible to enter or win.
7. Entry Requirements. One Entry is permitted per person per category. Each Entry must contain photographs taken between 1^st^ January and 31^st^ December 2024 except for the guest category: Club Culture where an Entry need not have been taken in 2024 (each a "Photograph"). All Photographs must be authentic and taken by the Entrant using a camera device. Any computer-generated images, or images created by or incorporating any generative AI are ineligible for submission the Competition and will be void. Each Entrant will be required to provide the following information in relation to each Photograph:
a description of the Photograph, including when and where taken;
details of the camera device used; and
the context for capturing the Photograph.
Photographs must be between 1MB and 5MB in file size and should be submitted in JPEG, PNG, or file format only. Promoter shall be entitled to test all Photographs using AI detection software. You must be able to provide a high resolution print-quality image file if your Photograph is selected for shortlisting or as a Winner. This should be either a TIFF or JPEG. Files must not be smaller than 10mb but should not exceed 500MB. It should match the colour and cropping of the image submitted at entry. Any Entry that cannot be authenticated, is found to have been computer generated or created by a generative AI platform or is not of an acceptable quality will be disqualified.
Photographs must not contain material which:
is discriminatory, obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory;
may (in Promoter's opinion) cause any harm or detriment to Promoter's reputation or the reputation of Promoter or any UMG Company (including Universal Music Operations Limited);
contains sexually explicit material; or
promotes any illegal activity.
You acknowledge and agree that you may be required to submit an image release for anyone featured in a Photograph. The image release will state that you have full permission to enter the Competition and reproduce an image of the person/s featured in the Photograph. If a selected Photograph contains an image of a minor (which, for the purposes of these terms and conditions shall be a person under the age of 18), you will be required to submit a minor image release form signed by the parent or legal guardian of the minor at Promoter's request. You shall indemnify Promoter against all liabilities, costs, expenses, damages and losses (including any direct, indirect or consequential losses, loss of profit, loss of reputation and all interest, penalties and legal costs (calculated on a full indemnity basis) and all other reasonable professional costs and expenses suffered or incurred by Promoter arising out of or in connection with any third-party claim made against Promoter that a Photograph submitted by you (and/or Promoter's use thereof) infringes a third-party's intellectual property rights (including if the Photograph is found to contain or have been generated using any form of generative AI).
You acknowledge and agree that we, or other Entrants may have developed or commissioned materials that are similar to your Photographs or we may develop similar materials in the future. You waive any claims that you may have resulting from any similarities to your Entry. You acknowledge and agree that you will not receive any compensation or credit from us for use of your Entry. Promoter is not responsible for any unauthorized use of your Entry by those accessing or viewing such Entry.
8. Categories for Submission. The Competition is comprised of eight categories. You may submit the same Photograph in multiple categories. Where submitting a Photograph in multiple categories, please ensure the Photograph meets the requirements of the relevant category for submission. Failing to meet a category submission requirement will result in your submission being invalid for that category. If you submit an Entry in an incorrect category, it cannot be amended or altered after submission.
'LIVE MUSIC'
Entrants must be 18 years or older.
Entries must be Photographs related to live music performance.
~~- ~~A minimum of three and maximum of five Photographs must be submitted for this category.
- Where an Entrant is successful, the Shortlisting Panel (as further defined) will choose one of the selected Entrant's Photographs to go forward to the Judging Panel (as further defined).
'MAKING MUSIC'
Entrants must be 18 years or older.
Entries must be of Photographs related to making music such as writing, rehearsing, recording, mixing and mastering
~~- ~~A minimum of three and maximum of five Photographs must be submitted for this category~~.~~
- Where an Entrant is successful, the Shortlisting Panel will choose one of the selected Entrant's Photographs to go forward to the Judging Panel.
'UNDERGROUND SCENES'
Entrants must be 18 years or older.
Submissions must be of images related to underground music scenes.
~~- ~~A minimum of three and maximum of five Photographs must be submitted for this category.
- Where an Entrant is successful, the Shortlisting Panel will choose one of the selected Entrant's Photographs to go forward to the Judging Panel.
'EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR' (Sponsored by adidas)
Entrants must be 18 years or older.
Submissions must include five music photographs to be considered.
Where an Entrant is successful in this category, the Shortlisting Panel will submit all five photographs to go before the Judging Panel.
'MUSIC MOMENT OF THE YEAR' (Sponsored by Outernet)
Entrants must be 18 years or older.
Three Photographs must be submitted for this category. The Entrant shall select one Photograph as their 'Music Moment of the Year'.
All Photographs in your submission will be considered for the category award. If you are successful, the Shortlisting Panel will choose one of the submitted Photographs to go forward to the Judging Panel.
The Judging Panel determines which Photographs will be put forward to the final round. The Winner is then selected by public vote. The public vote will be via the Music Photography Awards website, further details in respect of start date and duration of the public vote shall be advertised prior to the public vote being opened.
'PORTRAIT'
Entrants must be 18 years or older.
Entries must be Photographs related to portrait music photography.
~~- ~~A minimum of three and maximum of five Photographs must be submitted for this category.
- Where an Entrant is successful, the Shortlisting Panel (as further defined) will choose one of the selected Entrant's Photographs to go forward to the Judging Panel (as further defined).
'FESTIVALS'
Entrants must be 18 years or older.
Entries must be Photographs related to festival photography.
~~- ~~A minimum of three and maximum of five Photographs must be submitted for this category.
- Where an Entrant is successful, the Shortlisting Panel (as further defined) will choose one of the selected Entrant's Photographs to go forward to the Judging Panel (as further defined).
'GUEST CATEGORY: CLUB CULTURE'
Entrants must be 18 years or older to enter this category.
A minimum of three and maximum of five Photographs must be submitted for this category.
Entries must be Photographs related to club culture.
The Photographs submitted in this category are not required to have been taken in 2024
All Photographs in your submission will be considered for the category award. If you are successful, the Shortlisting Panel will choose one of the submitted photographs to go forward to the Judging Panel.
9. Criteria. The decision of the judges is final, and no discussion or correspondence with them can be entered into at any time. Judges reserve the right to move entries from one category to another. The Competition is judged on an equal basis. The submission panel and the judges will select nominees and Winners across the categories according to the judging criteria. Judging criteria includes subject matter, technical skills, approach, creativity, relevance to category and narrative. The final round of judging is conducted on an anonymous basis.
10. Winner Selection & Notification. The Entries will be shortlisted by a select Shortlisting Panel of five judges who will shortlist between 10-20 entries per category ("Shortlisting Panel"). The Shortlisting Panel will forward the shortlisted submissions for each category to the judging panel, which consists of twelve creatives/ photographers, will be appointed by Promoter to create a list of up to five nominees from the shortlist of each category ("Judging Panel"). Nominees will be contacted by 2^nd^ September 2025 via the email address provided when submitting their Entry and via the contact number provided during Entry to inform them their Entry has been nominated. If a nominee does not respond to Promoter by email reply within 2 days of being notified by Promoter, then the nominee will be deemed to have forfeited their nomination, and Promoter will be entitled to select another nominee in accordance with the process described above. All nominees will be required to sign an acknowledgment confirming their acceptance of these Rules. Judges will select one Winner from the nominees for each category and the Winners will be announced and prizes awarded (though delivery of prizes may be after the Ceremony) to the Winners at an awards ceremony in London in October 2025 ("Ceremony"). Details of the Ceremony will be sent to nominees via email, who will have the option to attend the Ceremony, if they wish, at the nominees' sole cost and expense. Winners of each of the Prizes will be announced at the Ceremony ("Winners"). Winners who are unable to attend the Ceremony shall be notified via email within 72 hours of the Ceremony that they have won and we will reach out to make arrangements to provide Winners with their Prize within 30 days after the Ceremony. Where the Prize involves mentorship, such Prize will be delivered within 12 months of the Ceremony. Where posting and packaging of the prize is necessary, this will be covered by Promoter.
11. Requirements of Winners. Except where prohibited, all selected Winners will be required to complete an agreement (or agreements) with Promoter with terms and conditions that may include, (i) a declaration of eligibility, (ii) a liability/publicity release, and (iii) a licence to use all entered Photographs. If a Winner fails to respond to the notification or to sign and return the services agreement within 14 days, an alternative Winner may be selected in his/her place and Promoter shall have no further liability to the original Winner.
12. Prizes. The prize details are outlined by category below ("Prizes"). Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or other consideration. Promoter reserves the right to substitute the whole or part of any listed Prize with an alternative of equal value or equal publicity value if the listed Prize is unavailable. Prizes must be claimed within one year of the date the Winner's notification is sent. Where Prizes are sponsored by third-parties: Promoter shall have no liability to Entrants in terms of the Prize execution, Entrants accept any applicable third-party terms and conditions, and all details regarding dates, accommodation and travel arrangements will be provided to the Winner by the relevant third-party sponsor.
LIVE MUSIC
Virtual Mentoring with an established photographer (a minimum of two 1-hour sessions)
1 MPA trophy
'MAKING MUSIC'
Virtual Mentoring with an established photographer (a minimum of two 1-hour sessions)
1 MPA trophy
'UNDERGROUND SCENES'
1 x virtual mentorship with Guest Category Judge, Simon Wheatley (a minimum of four sessions)
1 MPA trophy
'EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR' (Sponsored by adidas)
1 x photography development Prize, tailored to the Winner
1 MPA trophy
'MUSIC MOMENT OF THE YEAR' (Sponsored by Outernet)
1 x week takeover of the "Pop Two" space on the world-famous screens at the Outernet, with the opportunity to showcase an exclusive exhibition in the heart of central London, UK
1 MPA trophy
'PORTRAIT'
Virtual Mentoring with an established photographer (a minimum of two 1-hour sessions)
1 MPA trophy
'FESTIVALS'
Virtual Mentoring with an established photographer (a minimum of two 1-hour sessions)
1 MPA trophy
'GUEST CATEGORY: CLUB CULTURE'
Virtual Mentoring with an established photographer (a minimum of two 1-hour sessions)
1 MPA trophy
'RANKIN MENTORSHIP'
The Winner of this Prize will be selected by Rankin from the Shortlisting Panel's shortlists across the eight categories. The Winner will be selected based on the subject matter, technical skills, approach, creativity, and narrative of their submitted Photographs. The Prize includes 1 x one-to-one virtual mentorship session with Rankin.
13. Intellectual Property. Ownership of all intellectual property rights in any Photograph submitted to the Competition will remain with the Entrant and nothing in these terms and conditions shall operate to transfer any intellectual property rights in a Photograph to Promoter. Only with regards to any Photograph you submit, you hereby grant Promoter and its affiliates (including UMG Companies), sublicensees and sponsors the right, in perpetuity to:
(i) reproduce and exhibit the photograph(s) at the Ceremony or any exhibition held by Promoter to promote the Competition;
(ii) use each of the photograph(s), your name (or the photographer's name) and likeness (or photographer's likeness) in any medium to publicize and promote the Competition and/or the Ceremony inclusive of paid media advertising; and
(iii) sublicence the photograph(s) to any sponsor of the Competition to use to promote and celebrate the Competition in any medium (solely in a promotional context for non-commercial use).
Promoter will credit you for any of the uses outlined above. Failure to credit you will only require Promoter to add such credit, where reasonable and practical, upon notice.
Where Promoter or any of its affiliates, sublicensees or sponsors wish to commercially exploit the Photograph(s) in any manner not explicitly referred to herein, Promoter will seek your permission in advance and provide you with an appropriate licence on terms to be mutually agreed. Examples include merchandising, commercial sale of the photograph(s), third party licensing, ticketed third party exhibitions and books.
You acknowledge and agree that your Entry into the Competition does not grant you any right in relation to any name, logo or any other intellectual property owned by or licensed to Promoter, Promoter's affiliates or third-party sponsors of the Competition (including the name "Abbey Road" or "Abbey Road Studios"). You shall not make any public statement using any such name, logo or any other intellectual property without Promoter's prior written consent on before each individual use.
14. Representations & Warranties. By entering the Competition, you hereby represent and warrant to Promoter that (i) the Entry is original work created by you; (ii) you own all intellectual property rights (including copyright) in each Photograph; (iii) the Photographs shall not infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party or violate any other third-party rights, including rights of privacy and/or publicity; (iv) you have the consent of anyone contained in the Photographs to use their image and; (v) your Entry complies with all requirements of these Rules.
15. Liability. Nothing in these Rules restricts any liability of either party which cannot be legally limited. To the fullest extent permitted by law, by entering this Competition you release and hold harmless Promoter and any UMG Company, being (Universal Operations Music Operations Limited ("UMG"), and all entities UMG controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, including subsidiaries, joint ventures or other entities in whom UMG has a substantial ownership interest (each, a "UMG Company"). No UMG Company (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes Promoter) shall be liable for any loss or damage suffered by you in relation to the Competition, the use of your Photograph(s) or Entry in accordance with these Rules or the use of any Prize. This exclusion shall include liability for any loss of or damage to any Entry, liability for the misuse of images.Insofar as is permitted by law, no UMG Company shall be liable in any circumstances or be responsible or liable to compensate a Winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of an Entrant taking up a Prize, except where it is caused by the negligence of Promoter in breach of these Rules. Your statutory rights are not affected.You shall indemnify Promoter against all damages, liabilities and expenses which may be suffered or incurred by Promoter, as a result of, or in connection with your Entry into the Competition being in breach of these Rules, provided such damages, liabilities, costs and expenses are not caused by the negligence of Promoter. Promoter shall not be in breach of these Rules nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations under these Rules if such delay or failure results from events, circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control. In such circumstances, Promoter shall be entitled to a reasonable extension of the time for performing such obligations. If the period of delay or non-performance continues for 1 week, Promoter may terminate the contract with you, created by these Rules, by giving you 14 days' written notice.
16. Personal Data. Any personal data provided by you in relation to the Competition will be subject to Promoter's Privacy Policy which can be found at Universal Music UK - Privacy Policy (umusic.co.uk) ("Privacy Policy"). Please note that Promoter is a "UMG Company" as referred to in the Privacy Policy. By entering the Competition, you agree that Promoter will collect, process and use the personal data provided by you in accordance with the Privacy Policy for the purposes of managing and delivering the Competition.
17. Disclaimers. Promoter accepts no responsibility for competition entries that are not successfully completed, or are lost, delayed, invalid, unintelligible or misdirected in transit due to any technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware, software or any other equipment failure. Failure to comply with these Rules may result in disqualification from the Competition. In its absolute discretion, Promoter reserves the right to permanently disqualify any person it suspects may violate or has violated these Rules.Entries are void where prohibited or restricted by law. Promoter reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel, or amend the Competition and the Ceremony if exceptional circumstances make it necessary to do so. In such circumstances, Promoter shall issue supplemental terms and conditions.
18. General. If any provision or part-provision of these Rules is or becomes invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, it shall be deemed deleted, but that shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of these terms and conditions. These Rules constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede and extinguish all previous agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations, and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter. Each party agrees that it shall have no remedies in respect of any statement, representation, assurance, or warranty (whether made innocently or negligently) that is not set out in these Rules. Entrants acknowledge and agree that Promoter is entitled to recover any losses suffered by a UMG Company arising out of or in connection with these Rules and any UMG Company as if those losses were incurred by Promoter.
19. Governing Law & Jurisdiction. The Rules and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Each party hereby irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection to these Rules.