A new era in music is officially underway and it comes with a $10,000 prize pool, a diverse judging panel, and a mission to redefine what it means to be a creator in the age of artificial intelligence.
Launched on July 8, 2025, the Future Sound Awards are the latest initiative from the Fanvue World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs), this time celebrating creators who harness AI to craft music. Partnering with major platforms like SoundCloud and the AI-powered music sampling tool TwoShot, this competition aims to spotlight artists exploring the future of music through technology.
It’s an ambitious step for the WAICAs team, whose “Miss AI” contest turned heads globally in 2024. But while Miss AI celebrated virtual influencers, the Future Sound Awards focus on the transformative power of AI in music creation and its potential to democratize an industry that, until recently, often required expensive equipment, specialized training, and studio access.
With over 60 million people reportedly using AI to create music in 2024 (according to the IMS Business Report 2025), the launch couldn’t come at a better time. AI has rapidly evolved from a niche novelty to a powerful collaborator, shaping music production, composition, and even performance. Recognizing this shift, the Future Sound Awards invites anyone over 18 whether a seasoned producer, an amateur artist, or someone who’s never touched an instrument to create and submit a track entirely made with AI tools.
And yes, that inclusivity is deliberate. As Narcis Marincat, Head of AI at Fanvue, explains, the mission is to “power the Creator-AI Economy” by enabling creators to expand their artistic vision and income potential using AI tools. “Miss AI was a global success, but we had big ambitions to bring the WAICAs to the music sector,” he shares. “AI is having a massive impact on music and the wider creative industries. It doesn’t matter if you’re a producer, an artist, or never picked up an instrument before anyone can enter the Future Sound Awards. It’s a true celebration of the democratization of music, and we have big ambitions to grow these awards into the Grammys of AI Music.”
The awards’ judging panel features a compelling mix of industry professionals and trailblazing creators:
- Jeff Nang, a music producer who’s worked with Disney, Universal, and Sony.
- Butterbro, the German musician who made headlines as the first to chart with an AI-generated song in Germany.
- Tobi Akinyemi, founder of TwoShot and a music producer exploring AI for creative expression.
- Narcis Marincat himself, an AI music aficionado representing Fanvue’s vision for the future.
Entries will be judged on six key elements: inspiration, process, vocals, lyrics, beat, and authenticity. These artistic criteria, combined with real-world engagement through listens on a SoundCloud-powered chart, will shape the final scores. Each section carries a maximum of 10 points, allowing entrants to earn up to 60 points in total.
The stakes are meaningful, with a $10,000 prize pool distributed among the top three entries:
- First place: $7,000
- Second place (runner-up): $1,500
- Third place (runner-up): $1,500
Beyond the prizes, what’s really exciting is the invitation to artists everywhere to explore what’s possible. As Jeff Nang points out, AI isn’t about replacing human creativity; it’s about removing the barriers that once limited it. “AI has smashed through the old creative barriers now every music creator can express themselves without limits,” he explains. “I’ve been using Controlla Voice to build full choirs from just my voice something that used to take a whole team, time, and budget. Now it’s all at my fingertips. I’m hyped to hear what artists come up with using these new tools.”
Meanwhile, Butterbro’s journey demonstrates the real-world potential of AI-powered tracks. His AI-generated song’s success on the German charts highlights how these tools can help bring previously overlooked ideas to the public. “AI lets artists shape and release ideas that might otherwise never leave their notebooks,” he reflects. “I see AI both as a tool and as a collaborator, depending on how it’s used with the human touch remaining at the core. The Future Sound Awards are a powerful sign of just how far this movement has come and where it’s heading.”
Tobi Akinyemi offers an even broader perspective, describing how digital tools have historically expanded music’s reach and how AI could do the same on an unprecedented scale. “Digital tools like Fruity Loops unlocked tens of millions of musicians; AI will unlock hundreds of millions—if not billions,” he notes. “We’re incredibly proud and excited to spotlight artists pushing the boundaries of music creation.”
This inclusive vision is also supported by the entry process itself, which is designed to be accessible:
- Anyone over 18 can enter, regardless of background.
- Tracks must be created on TwoShot Studio.app, ensuring the use of traceable, responsible AI tools.
- All entries are screened to ensure they do not use copyrighted material, thanks to a partnership with Audible Magic.
- Submissions open from July 1 to July 22, 2025.
The competition also embraces musical diversity: any genre and any language are welcome. That reflects a recognition that AI can support creativity in countless cultural contexts, rather than standardizing sound into a single trend.
So why now? The data shows why: over 60% of musicians used AI tools in their creative process last year. And according to industry projections, the AI Music sector could surpass $3 billion by 2028. Notably, big names like David Guetta, Grimes, Timbaland, and Holly Herndon have already used AI to produce groundbreaking work helping to legitimize these tools in mainstream music.
TwoShot, meanwhile, positions itself as a bridge between creativity and responsibility. Its AI sampling technology lets musicians generate melodies by singing or describing them, while ensuring traceability through licensing partnerships. “We’re committed to protecting musicians while opening creative doors,” the team explains. By hosting the Future Sound Awards through TwoShot, the WAICAs team signals a commitment to ethical, innovative AI use in music.
SoundCloud’s role is equally significant. As one of the world’s leading artist-first platforms with over 400 million tracks from 40 million artists SoundCloud provides the infrastructure for creators to share, promote, and track the impact of their entries.
The Future Sound Awards is more than just another competition. It’s part of Fanvue’s broader vision to build the Creator-AI Economy, which empowers creators across fashion, art, music, and beyond to monetize and scale their creativity through AI. Following last year’s successful Miss AI contest, this expansion into music reflects growing cultural relevance and an ambition to help shape not just what creators make, but how they share it with the world.
In the words of Marincat: “Like all fast-growing industries powered by AI, an awards program is a chance to celebrate talent and also raise standards.”
For creators eager to test their skills or simply to experiment with new tools the Future Sound Awards offer a compelling, low-barrier invitation to join a global conversation about the future of music.
Entries are open now until July 22, 2025.
To enter, visit: https://www.waicas.com/
About the organizers and partners:
- Fanvue World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs): Recognizing creators using AI across music, fashion, and digital media.
- Fanvue: A fast-growing creator platform with over 7 million users.
- TwoShot: AI-powered music sampling platform unlocking the next billion musicians.
- SoundCloud: Artist-first music platform connecting creators and fans globally.
Together, they’re not just launching a contest they’re reimagining what music can be in an AI-driven world. And the stage is set for creators everywhere to take part.
