Send a single
New or old, released or unreleased, demo or finished master. If you believe in it, enter it.
$50,000+
Total prize pool
Happy Mag's annual competition for emerging artists, open worldwide. Over $50,000 in prizes, nine industry judges and a grand prize built around 250 copies of your single cut to seven inch vinyl by Zenith Records.
Needle in the Hay is an annual competition and event run by Happy Mag, built to champion emerging bands and musicians at the point in their careers where it counts most. The prize pool is curated rather than cash: vinyl, recording gear and software that actually moves a project forward.
New or old, released or unreleased, demo or finished master. If you believe in it, enter it.
Every finalist is heard by all nine judges. Real people in real rooms, not an algorithm.
Finalists are announced, and the grand prize winner's single goes to Zenith Records to be cut.
Not a mailing list. Not a shortlist someone skims. Every finalist goes in front of all nine.
01Frontman of Grinspoon, one of Australia's defining alternative rock bands of the last thirty years, and a solo artist in his own right.
02Twenty five years of Australian pop, from Absolutely Everybody to a national anniversary tour, and one of the country's most recognisable voices.
03Grammy nominated, ARIA winning producer and engineer. Credits include Gang of Youths, Johnny Hunter, Ricky Martin and Pharrell Williams.
04Drag artist, DJ and rising pop force who has shared stages with Kylie Minogue, Kesha and Diplo.
05Broadcaster and pop culture host, best known for SBS PopAsia and now The Andy Trieu Show. Has interviewed BTS, Stray Kids and Bong Joon-ho.
06Artist and community relationships manager for Ableton, working directly with many of Australia and New Zealand's most exciting artists.
07Sydney producer, songwriter and mix engineer behind releases for Dear Seattle, Trophy Eyes, STUMPS and The Buoys.
08Melbourne producer, songwriter and composer. APRA Award winner with Grammy nominated credits, and collaborations with 6LACK, Khalid and Ninajirachi.
09Artist manager, booking agent and tour manager behind the growth of SPEED and Terminal Sleep, and tours for artists including Turnstile.
Curated, not cash. Everything here is designed to push a project forward rather than sit in a bank account.
Almost every question we get has the same answer.
Nine judges, a pressing plant, and a grand prize we are still unwrapping. It may as well be your single.
Enter Needle in the Hay 2026