2026 WISCONSIN ICON AWARDS SUBMISSION

This form is for Wisconsin Artists to submit HipHop music and other related works of art released between November 1st, 2024 and October 31st, 2025, for the 4th Annual Wisconsin Icon Awards, or WIA. CWHipHop provides the platform for the public to decide the winners!

You can't spell wIsCONSin without Icons!

Artists who have been CWHipHop Patreons for at least one month between October 1st, 2024, to September 30th, 2025, can submit up to two (2) categories at no charge. All submissions will automatically be entered for ‘Artist of the Year.’ A CWHipHop Patreon Artist will be confirmed before the submission is successful. A confirmation email will be sent after the submission has been reviewed.

Submissions by all other Wisconsin Artists


Submissions by all other Wisconsin Artists who are not a CWHipHop Patreon can submit their work for two (2) categories with a one-time $20 fee. A full submission will automatically be entered for ‘Artist of the Year.’ Or you can submit your art to one category for $5 or two categories for $10, excluding ‘Artist of the Year.’ The fee can be paid via CashApp, Venmo, or PayPal. Further instructions will be sent in a submission confirmation email.

What are ‘Community Nominations’?


Anyone can send community nominations to nominate for a category. This year, we will confirm that the individual or business wants to accept the nomination. We will award a framed certificate to the winners to honor all the work they have put in over the past year. There are some requirements for a few categories, so make sure you read the text under the entry form text box.

‘Fan Favorite’ entry


Returning this year, we are continuing the ‘Fan Favorite’ free entry option: Three (3) entries will be included in the preliminary round without needing to be a CWHipHop Patreon or by paying the ‘Single Entry’ fee. The ‘Fan Favorite’ entry form is below the ‘Registration’ entry and will be open for anyone to nominate one (1) artist to one (1) category. Artists can encourage their fans to submit a nomination, aiming to secure a spot among the top three nominations to have their art included in the preliminary round of voting. The entries must all match the artist’s/art entry and category to count toward the tally. Example: Two different songs by the same artist entered for Best Single won’t be tallied together. Make sure your fans know what you want to be entered. For the Best Performance category, they do not need to include anything other than the artist’s name in that category. We will request the file entry from the artist if they are included in the top three ‘Fan Favorites.’

How does registration work?


Registration for the WIAs will be open from Sunday, October 5th, 2025, until 11:59 pm on Friday, October 31st, 2025. Entries must be from a Wisconsin artist with a HipHop related piece of art. If we are unaware of your work, we may require you to verify that you are a Wisconsin Artist before your submission is complete. This may include a Wisconsin ID or other proof of Wisconsin residency.

Why do we host the WIA each year, how will voting work, and other FAQs! Read more here!

2026 WIA Submissions
Enter how you want your name displayed.
Or predominant social media account. Include the platform after the name.
Artist Of The Year
DOES NOT OPEN UP A THIRD CATEGORY IF YOU OPT OUT
Include your stage name.
Include the Duo/Group name and name of individual artists.
Link to Spotify or where it is hosted.
Link to Spotify or where it is hosted.
Link to Spotify or where it is hosted
Link to Youtube or where it is hosted. Music video must be submitted by the artist who made the music.
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload
The video will be use for promotion and voting purposes. 512MB is the limit of the file size to be uploaded.
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload
Cover art must be submitted by artist who made the music.
Did you select two or less categories to submit in?
THIS SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS OF CONFIRMING YOUR ENTRY—If you submit more than two, we will take the first two submissions you have in the form.
Best Contact Email
We may need to contact you again, possibly within a timely manner. Include the your primary email that you would see emails sent by us.
2026 WIA Community Nominations
Any Wisconsin venue or bar that has hosted HipHop shows in the past.
Any show promoter who has thrown a Wisconsin HipHop show in the past.
Any cameraman or woman who has filed a music video, taken pictures for a concert, or captured Wisconsin HipHop through their camera lens.
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload
Please include a full flyer for the Wisconsin HipHop show you want to nominate.
We want to elevate those who elevate Wisconsin HipHop artist on their platform. This category is meant for any individual or organization that covers Wisconsin HipHop via written, audio, or video medias like articles, write-ups, reviews, podcasts, interviews, or any other related media. *CWHIPHOP CANNOT BE NOMINATED*
The studio must be open to the public to book studio time. The location can be anywhere but must be a registered LLC or Organization with the State of Wisconsin. We will verify registered status upon reception of submission. *THIS IS TO PROMOTE LEGITAMITE STUDIOS OF ANY SIZE*
You can nominate any artist that you think has taken their craft to another level over the past year. This category is not meant to be just for ‘Best New Artist’, rather to give flowers to those who continue to improve as an artist at any stage of their career.
We may reach out to you if we are unable to find or reach the entries you submitted.
Did you communicate your nomination(s) with the nominee(s)?
Include any other information you think we need or want to include.
Fan Favorite Submission Form
2026 WIA 'Fan Favorite' Entry Form
For votes to stack, the artist name, category, and name of work must match from each submission from each fan. Check with your favorite artist to make sure you input the correct names and category.
Please enter the name they use on Spotify/Apple Music/Etc.
Please include a link to preferably Spotify or where they have their music hosted.
Please include a link to preferably their IG page or their most active social media account.
Are they a Wisconsin Artist?
Email

CWHipHop is proudly sponsored by these businesses. Click each banner for more information and book your next work with them!