SOMAD has launched the Dubbo Original Music Awards to recognise local musicians writing and performing their own songs.

The inaugural event will celebrate everything from the highest-streamed song to the best music event.

There are 10 award categories: best recorded single public release, best music video clip public release, best recorded album or EP, best local original artist live performance, best local original live music venue, best event showcasing local original music, other than the Under Western Skies Festival, highest streaming single this year, services to Dubbo original music scene, best media partner to the original scene and new artist award: best up-and-coming original music artist that year.

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SOMAD's secretary, and local musician, Tim Hosking said he hoped the awards would help promote Dubbo's talented artists.

"We still hear all the time that people don't really know many of the local bands and there's a bunch out there that are doing really cool stuff," he said.

Mr Hosking also hopes the DOMAs will encourage musicians to continue to produce.

"We're trying to prompt the song-writing community to go above and beyond so if they have a chance to win an award maybe they'll strive to achieve those things. It might be the prompt they need to record a song they've been sitting on for years or make that film clip," he said.

"There's a lot of bravery in in putting yourself out there and doing your own songs. We want to give people that little nudge."

Unlike cover artists, Mr Hosking said original songwriting had continued right through the lockdown. While some shows had been cancelled, he said creating original content hadn't stopped.

While it's still only early, the feedback for the DOMAs has already been positive. Mr Hosking said he hoped to see that excitement flow on to the nominations.

Nominations for the DOMAs will open in October.

Six of the awards will be voted on by SOMAD members, while the others will be determined by the organising committee. The winners will be announced towards the end of November.

An award ceremony will be held to coincide with Aus Music Month. Mr Hosking said it would be a networking event for those in the industry including musicians, recording studios and music shops.

More information on the inaugural awards, including the eligibility criteria, can be found on the SOMAD website.

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