| Texas Music Awards FAQ Frequently Asked Questions for Members Back to the FAQ page You can access the answers to specific questions below, but we do encourage you to read the FAQ in its entirety so you don't miss important information!. Read the general FAQ here. As we get new questions, we will post them on this FAQ. If you have a question, check all the FAQ's first, then email us. |
| Are the Texas Music Awards a contest? |
| Am I eligible for an award at the TMAs? |
| Do I have to release a new CD to be eligible? |
| I just have one song recorded. Can it be eligible? |
| If I get the most people to nominate me, do I get the nomination? |
| I had a release last year but I didn't send it in. Can I still be eligible? |
| I probably won't get an award. Why should I care about the show? |
| What should I expect if I'm nominated? |
| Can I perform at the show? |
| Are the Texas Music Awards a contest? |
| No. This is probably the number one fact we want everyone to know. The Texas Music Awards are a process of recognition for the work you did in the previous year. The awards are decided largely in part by those who have received the awards in the past and it really is about the music. It's not a popularity contest. It's not a talent contest. The show has nothing to do with whether or not you will receive an award. It is a showcase for the public. The award recipients are decided long before the show. Remember, it's recognition, not a contest. And, it's about the music...it's about time, don't you think? |
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| Am I eligible for an award at the TMAs? |
| Eligibility begins with membership in
the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. Membership may be
accomplished in one of two ways. You can be a member of the Academy,
which gets you a membership at MyTexasMusic.com, or you can join
MyTexasMusic.com which gets you a membership in the Academy. The rules
for this will be changing soon, so be prepared to keep both memberships
current. Eligibility continues with whether or not you released product within the qualifying period. With the exception of the Live Band of the Year Award, each musical award requires a release of product. Some awards require a physical product CD release within the previous calendar year, and some require a release within the past 36 months. [top] |
| Do I have to release a new CD to be eligible? |
| Technically, no. But, it's a good
idea. If you appear on someone else's CD, you could be eligible for
certain categories. If you release a download-only album, your
eligibility is limited as well. You should familiarize yourself with
the guidelines here. [top] |
| I just have one song recorded. Can it be eligible? |
| Technically, yes. But we advise
against submitting it for nomination. Remember each item submitted for
nomination requires an official release date and it must be available for
public consumption. If you officially release one song and then finish recording
your album, that song would be disqualified from certain awards once the new
album is released. It's better to release whole albums or EPs, though
full albums are preferred. [top] |
| If I get the most people to nominate me, do I get the nomination? |
| Not necessarily. For Live Band, Internet Radio Station, Broadcast Radio Station, and Disc Jockey, the answer is yes. But for all the other categories, the answer is "not automatically." Certainly, if you get a large number of nominations, the Nominating Committee will be directed heavily toward you and your project. It will get heavy scrutiny and will not be overlooked. That is the purpose of the nomination process. However, every eligible song on every eligible project is reviewed. The five nominees in each category are the ones who match the guidelines and quality indicators set up by the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. The Academy may nominate you even though you didn't get the largest number of nominations. Once the voting starts, however, the nominee with the highest vote total will receive the award. |
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| I had a release within the qualifying period, but didn't send it in. Can I still be eligible? |
| Sorry, but no. As with every reputable awards process, eligible artists must submit their material. That's true from the Oscars to the Grammys, and it's true here as well. Membership must be accomplished by November 30th and all submissions must be received by December 31. |
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| I probably won't get an award. Why should I care about the show? |
| Seriously, more than 80% of award recipients have told us they didn't expect to receive an award. The saddest thing would be if you did receive an award and were able to accept it. If you're nominated and can't attend the event, let us know immediately. If you're not nominated, even if you're not eligible, you should attend the event to support your fellow members and to see what all the fuss it about. |
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| What should I expect if I'm nominated? |
| If you are offered the nomination, you'll be informed about the expectations of nominees. You should know that being a nominee will require that you incur some obvious personal expenses. You will be expected not to book a gig for TMA Weekend, and many of you will incur travel and lodging expenses. In addition, there are other expenses you could incur. The TMAs offer you the opportunity to commemorate your achievement through the purchase of special items. You will learn more about these if you are offered a nomination. If you feel you cannot afford up to several hundred dollars worth of obvious personal expenses, you are allowed to decline the nomination, but no one ever has, and we don't expect you to be the first to do so. No where else can you get a higher rate of return on an investment in your career than at the TMAs. |
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| Can I perform at the show? |
| The show is written by the Show Crew. A cross-section of Texas music is desired for the show. When the crew sits down to determine who will perform at the show, they select from a list of current nominees. So, if you are a nominee, it doesn't mean you will be asked to perform, but if you're not a nominee, the crew will not ask you to perform. A questionnaire will be sent to the final nominees - this information will assist the Show Crew with the planning of the most exciting, prestigious show in Texas! |
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| I still have a question that isn't answered in either FAQ list. Where do I email my question(s)? |
| Questions about the awards - info@texasmusicawards.org |
| Questions about the Academy - info@academyoftexasmusic.org |
| Questions about your inventory with MyTexasMusic.com - mytexasmusic@aol.com |
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