The Scottish Album of the Year Award has opened its call for eligible albums for its 2014 competition.

The SAY Award, given annually to the ‘best’ album produced by a Scottish artist, was launched in 2012 by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) in partnership with Creative Scotland.

This year, the eligibility window runs from 1st January 2014 and 31st March 2015, meaning that any long-player released during this period can be entered for the £20,000 first prize, as well as 9 runner-up awards of £1,000.

Albums must consist of previously unreleased material, and should contain 6 or more tracks and/or be over 30 minutes in length, while performing artists (or 50% of the band) must be Scots-born, or the band must have been based in Scotland for the past three years.

Following the closing of entries, the full list will be whittled down to a 20-strong longlist, then a shortlist of 10 will be considered at a ceremony in June – quite possibly at the Barrowland where last year Young Fathers ‘Tape’ lifted the award.

Full details are available at www.sayaward.com.