MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member (male only) Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Must appear on qualifying project Guidelines:  The entire project is considered, but a single song can be the basis of the nomination.  Considerations are made for dynamics, emotional input, and creative delivery.  A driving factor for the nomination will be the ability to describe the performance as “memorable.” Quality factors:  Vocal delivery, musical performance, production, arrangement, and packaging of the project are studied. Nomination:  Project must be released within the qualifying period and must meet  eligibility requirements Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member (female only) Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Must appear on qualifying project Guidelines:  The entire project is considered, but a single song can be the basis of the nomination.  Considerations are made for dynamics, emotional input, and creative delivery.  A driving factor for the nomination will be the ability to describe the performance as “memorable.” Quality factors:  Vocal delivery, musical performance, production, arrangement, and packaging of the project are studied. Nomination:  Project must be released within the qualifying period and must meet eligibility requirements Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member who performs primarily as a duet or as a collection of performers and, as a standard part of their normal performances, demonstrate vocals as a significant feature of their performance.  Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Must appear on qualifying project Guidelines:  The entire project is considered, but a single song can be the basis of the nomination.  Considerations are made for harmony vocals, diversity and/or creativity in the use of vocals as an instrument, dynamics, emotional input, and creative delivery.  A driving factor for the nomination will be the ability to describe the performance as “memorable.” Quality factors:  Vocal delivery, use of multiple vocalists, musical performance, production, arrangement, and packaging of the project are studied. Nomination:  Project must be released within the qualifying period and must meet eligibility requirements Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

RISING STAR AWARD

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member  Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Performer should show remarkable promise for future endeavors. Guidelines:  A Member’s released material during the qualifying period is considered.  Considerations are made for public presence, online presence, listener approval, airplay, career involvement, and potential for a high level of future notoriety and career advancement. Quality factors:  Vocal delivery, musical performance, production, arrangement, and packaging of the Member’s qualifying project are studied. Nomination:  Performing Member must have a project released within the qualifying period which is  considered to be their debut offering.  Projects containing less than seven songs are considered to be extended play releases and are generally not considered, however EP releases are common as debut offerings and may be considered for nomination and/or discarded in favor of full-length releases in this category. Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  A musician appearing on an Academy Performing Member’s qualifying release.  Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Musician should deliver an outstanding performance. Guidelines:  The entire project is considered, but a single song can be the basis of the nomination.  Considerations are made for dynamics, innovative use of technology, demonstration of skill, and creative delivery.  A driving factor for the nomination will be the ability to describe the performance as “memorable.” Quality factors:  Performance, production, arrangement, and delivery of the musical selection are studied.  The entire project is also studied for overall quality.  Packaging is allowed to be a factor. Nomination:  Performing Member must have a project released within the qualifying period.  Projects containing less than seven songs are considered to be extended play releases and are generally not considered, however EP releases are common as debut and special offerings and shall be considered for nomination in this category.  The release must mention the musician by name, and when possible, it should be clear from the packaging as to which musical selections are being performed by the nominee.  The nomination committee is allowed to ask the Performing Member for written clarification.  The Performing Member may also be the nominee if qualified. Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  The producer of an eligible Academy Performing Member’s project.  This can be the Member or a person hired by the Member to produce the project.  Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Must appear on qualifying project; the person considered must be listed on the project as the producer and cannot be listed solely as the executive producer.  Person considered must have had creative control of the project with or without the input of the Performing Member. Guidelines:  The entire project is considered.  Considerations are made for song flow, recording quality, continuity, arrangement, listener appeal, creative uses of technology, marketability to audio-only performance venues, and overall sound. Quality factors:  Clarity, both traditional and innovative instrumentation, dynamics, proper uses of enhancements, and packaging of the project are studied. Nomination:  Project must be released within the qualifying period and must meet eligibility requirements Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

SONG OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member and any co-songwriters Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Must be written or co-written by Member, must appear on qualifying project Guidelines:  Song will be a great example for songwriters, considerations are made for musical hook, lyrical hook, melody, and structure. Quality factors:  Vocal delivery, musical performance, production, arrangement, and packaging of the project are studied. Nomination:  Project must be released within the qualifying period and must meet eligibility requirements Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

SINGER / SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member  Eligible genre:  Singer/Songwriter, predominantly acoustic Criteria:  Performer should deliver the best vocal, musical, and songwriting performance. Guidelines:  A Member’s entire career during the qualifying period is considered.  Considerations are made for public presence, online presence, community involvement, listener approval, notoriety, airplay, career involvement, career advancement, and Texas pride.  Above all, the recorded material should contain quality lyrics, clarity of delivery, dynamics, emotional input, and creative delivery. Quality factors:  Vocal delivery, musical performance, production, arrangement, and packaging of the Member’s qualifying project are studied.  Production quality should be high and the project should by lyrically sound, demonstrating the performers songwriting ability. Nomination:  Performing Member must have a project released within the Singer/Songwriter of the Year qualifying period (36 months).  Project must meet eligibility requirements. Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

RECORD OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member  Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Recording must appear on qualifying project and the Member must be able to demonstrate a minimum of 200 spins within the qualifying period.  Spins can be either through traditional broadcast, Internet, or satellite methods.  Appearance on respected musical chart listings which delineate the popularity of songs is required and such listings must substantiate the basis of their respective charts. Guidelines:  A recording is considered.  Considerations are made for mass marketability, notoriety, being covered by additional performers, wide-reaching impact, and fan base approval. Quality factors:  Vocal delivery, musical performance, production, arrangement, and packaging of the project are studied. Nomination:  Project must be released within the Record of the Year qualifying period (36 months) and must obtain the necessary spins within the awards qualifying period (12 months).  Project must meet eligibility requirements.  Public and industry professional nominations during the nominating period are heavily considered in the process. Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

DISC JOCKEY OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Disc Jockey of a Broadcast or Internet Radio Station that qualifies under the Broadcast or Internet Radio Station of the Year categories  Eligible genre:  Multi Criteria:  Disc Jockey should exemplify the true spirit of Texas and the music of Texas. The Disc Jockey should play a variety of Texas music, support local entertainment, attend Texas music events, and be willing to listen to a new artist. Guidelines:  Disc Jockeys should be accessible to the listening public.  They should be playing music which can be considered multi-genre, and not relegated to one particular genre or style.  Quality factors:  Image, access to listening audience, access to new talent, access to touring performers, and all career factors are studied. Nomination:  Disc Jockeys who are employed at genre-specific stations should be given less consideration unless there are an overwhelming number of nomination suggestions in the public nomination period. Voting:  Public 100%

BROADCAST RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Broadcast Radio Station that plays music by Texas performers and identifies said performers as being Texas performers  Eligible genre:  Multi Criteria:  Station should exemplify the true spirit of Texas and the music of Texas. The station should play a variety of Texas music, support local entertainment, attend Texas music events, and be willing to listen to a new artist.  Station must broadcast its signal over amplitude modulation or frequency modulation airwaves and their signal must be capable of being received by a standard AM or FM radio. Guidelines:  Stations should be accessible to the listening public.  They should be playing music which can be considered multi-genre, and not relegated to one particular genre or style.  Stations should have programming dedicated to local and regional music.  Stations should identify performers who are from Texas as such. Quality factors:  Image, access to listening audience, access to new talent, access to touring performers, and all image and public relations factors are studied.  Stations must hold a current FCC license to operate and not be in violation of said license.  It is not the responsibility of the Academy to research license compliance. Nomination:  Stations which are genre-specific should be given less consideration unless there are an overwhelming number of nomination suggestions in the public nomination period. Voting:  Public 100%

INTERNET RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Internet Radio Station that plays music by Texas performers and identifies said performers as being Texas performers  Eligible genre:  Multi Criteria:  Station should exemplify the true spirit of Texas and the music of Texas. The station should play a variety of Texas music, support local entertainment, attend Texas music events, and be willing to listen to a new artist. Guidelines:  Stations should be accessible to the listening public.  They should be playing music which can be considered multi-genre, and not relegated to one particular genre or style.  Stations should have programming dedicated to local and regional music.  Stations should identify performers who are from Texas as such. Quality factors:  Image, access to listening audience, access to new talent, access to touring performers, and all image and public relations factors are studied.  Stations should be in compliance will all laws governing Internet radio.  It is not the responsibility of the Academy to research compliance.  Station should be able to produce one of the following:  a) its artist compensation statistics; b) its compliance with fees paid to Performing Rights Organizations; or c) a physically or electronically signed agreement for each artist receiving airplay which waives the artist’s rights to compensation. Nomination:  Stations which are genre-specific should be given less consideration unless there are an overwhelming number of nomination suggestions in the public nomination period.  Streaming simulcasts of Broadcast Radio Stations are not eligible. Voting:  Public 100%

LIVE BAND OF THE YEAR

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member  Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Album should display all the elements expected in the promotion of fine Texas music. Guidelines:  A full album project is considered.  Considerations are made for mass marketability, song flow, song selection, and fan base approval. Quality factors:  Vocal delivery, musical performance, production, arrangement, and packaging of the project are studied. Nomination:  Project must be released within the qualifying period.  Project must meet eligibility requirements.  Projects containing less than seven songs are considered to be extended play releases and are generally not considered.   Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member  Eligible genre:  Any Criteria:  Performer should exemplify the true spirit of Texas and the music of Texas. Guidelines:  A Member’s entire career during the qualifying period is considered.  Considerations are made for public presence, online presence, community involvement, listener approval, notoriety, airplay, career involvement, career advancement, and Texas pride. Quality factors:  Vocal delivery, musical performance, production, arrangement, and packaging of the Member’s qualifying project are studied. Nomination:  Performing Member must have a project released within the Entertainer of the Year qualifying period (36 months).  Project must meet eligibility requirements but is a secondary consideration for the nomination. Voting:  Academy Board of Honorees – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%