PRESS RELEASE

- For Immediate Release -  April 14, 2010

Payline Productions / MyTexasMusic.com / Academy of Texas Music, Inc.
P.O. Box 148
Linden, Texas 75563
Contacts: Lucky Boyd – Jinelle Boyd - 1-866-49-TEXAS tmatexas@aol.com

Tickets on sale for awards show / Performers named

MARSHALL, TX – Tickets are now on sale for the 8th annual Texas Music Awards to be held at the Marshall Convention Center on May 15th. Tickets are available online at www.texasmusicawards.org.

Legendary singer B.J. Thomas will host the event and perform a concert with his band after the awards show.
The show, presented this year by Northeast Texas-based MyTexasMusic.com, the retail partner of the show’s production company, Payline Productions, presents awards to independent Texas performers in several categories.

The annual event also serves as the main fundraiser for the non-profit Academy of Texas Music, Inc. which seeks sponsorships and donations to further its efforts toward music education programs, scholarships, recognition projects, and benevolence programs for musicians in need.

Scheduled to perform at the awards show on Saturday are Michael Martin Murphey with Ryan Murphey and Richard Bowden, Blue Condition, Dewey Wayne Band, Big John Mills, James Lann Band, Josh Langston Band, Robert Frith Band, Shake Russell Trio, Thomas Michael Riley, David Lutes, Jessica Shepherd, Matt Harlan, Christen Sawyer, Bo Carter, Katherine Dawn, and John Arthur Martinez.

Local concerts on that Thursday night include Brenda Kay Band, Kevin Higgins Duo, and Marshall's own Nick Brumley.

Scheduled to appear in downtown Marshall on that Friday night are Robert Frith Band, Steve Brooks and Danny Santos, Art and Lisa, Ben Morris and the Great American Boxcar Chorus, John Arthur Martinez Trio, and Jerry Diaz and Hanna's Reef.

There will be two free after-parties on Saturday night. One will be at the OS2 Pub and the other will be upstairs at the Weisman Center, where nominees will mingle with fans and live music will be performed.

A special third after-party has been added to the Saturday line up. Michael Martin Murphey will perform an intimate concert upstairs at the OS2 Pub. Seating is limited to 75 guests and the tickets are $60 each. Visit the TMA website for tickets.

Each act performing over the three day period has been nominated to receive an award from the Texas Music Awards. A full list of nominees, plus details on the locations of the Thursday and Friday concerts can be found at the TMA website.

Jinelle Boyd, Executive Director of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. and co-founder of the Texas Music Awards remarks on the quality of the show. ”These are some of the greatest performers in Texas. They’re independent musicians making the music that the world will be listening to in the future, and it's our job to make you aware of their incredible talent! With two of our Entertainer of the Year recipients performing as well, it will be a magical day."

John Arthur Martinez was named Entertainer of the Year in 2006 and Michael Martin Murphey is the reigning title-holder. Murphey is nominated for that award again this year.

Boyd added, “Even though the Convention Center has about 1600 seats, only about 1000 tickets will be available to the public. The tickets are affordably priced starting at $20 and include access to the awards show and the B.J. Thomas concert. We encourage all Texas music fans to come join in this unique celebration.”

Nominees will arrive to a red carpet affair starting at noon on May 15th. The show will begin at 2:00 p.m. and the concert will begin around 6:00 p.m. Those who hold tickets to the awards show will be admitted to the B.J. Thomas concert at no charge.

Sponsorships are still available for the 8th annual awards show and range from $100 to $25,000. Each level of sponsorship comes with a pre-determined number of tickets and some levels include access to the VIP party, so this is a sure way to get good seats and support the mission of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. The deadline for sponsorships and advertising in the program is Tuesday, April 20th, 2010. Boyd remarked, "Sponsorships will still be available after that date, but with limited benefits. We would love to hear from potential sponsors now!"

Boyd added, “The sponsorship packages are designed to meet the needs of a vast array of potential sponsors – families, individuals, clubs, small businesses, and large corporations. The Academy relies on the generosity of sponsors to not only insure an amazing showcase, but to help continue the Academy’s mission. We are very grateful to our sponsors who signed on early this year, and encourage anyone who wishes to support such a wonderful cause to join our family.”

Additional Information is available on the website.

For more information on the awards, tickets, advertising, or sponsorships, visit www.texasmusicawards.org.

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