Opinion and information only. This post does not allege that AEMAS, The Ellison Awards, or any individual has committed fraud or any crime.
AEMAS (the Academy of Emerging Music Arts & Sciences) contacted BitwareTunes by email on 1 and 2 October 2026 about its inaugural 2027 Ellison Awards. We reviewed its published material and have written up what we can and cannot verify.
What AEMAS’s own materials say
- Entry fee: $500 per entry, per category, non-refundable. Payment guarantees consideration only, not nomination or an award.
- 32 categories. Submissions open 1 Nov 2026 and close 28 Feb 2027. The inaugural ceremony is listed for 13 Nov 2027.
- Judging is described as anonymous, by five judges.
What we have not independently verified
- The legal entity behind AEMAS, and the standing implied by “Academy”
- The identity, credentials and independence of the judges
- Sponsors, partners, venue, and how the $500 fee is allocated
None of this is an accusation. In our opinion these are ordinary due-diligence questions an awards organization should be able to answer publicly. The Ellisons are a new first-year program with no previous winners, so we suggest artists read the full rules, verify the organization, and ask questions before paying.
Full advisory, including the questions we would like answered and our complete disclaimer: bitwaretunes.com/ai-music/ellison-awards-warning
If you discuss this here, please stick to facts you can support and avoid speculation about individuals. AEMAS is welcome to reply with corrections or additional information.
— Henke & the BitwareTunes Team