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It is important
to remember that ONLY members
of the Academy of Texas Music,
Inc. are
eligible for the Texas Music AwardsTM.
Releases
Albums: must be available to the general public through
distribution
by a traditional physical product distributor that sells product through
record stores, which can be brick-and-mortar or online. An official
release date of the album is required to be recorded with the TMAs.
Note: EPs are defined as collections that contain six or fewer tracks.
Songs: must be available to the general public through
distribution
by a traditional physical product distributor that sells product through
record stores, which can be brick-and-mortar or online. An official
release date is required, though the song may appear on an album
not released by the member artist. Songs appearing solely on compilations
designed to garner airplay, such as CDX, Radio Ready, or CDTex
releases, or on compilations designed solely for marketing purposes
are not eligible. The release must be the first release of the
recording.
Song recordings that are re-released on compilations are not eligible.
Songs re-released on member albums are eligible, but must be new
recordings of previously released songs.
Qualifying
Periods
Qualifying Period for categories requiring a current release -
(Song, Male, Female, Rising Star, Musician, Album, Producer, Vocal Group or
Duo)
January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009
(a 12 month qualifying period)
Qualifying Period for Record of the Year, Singer/Songwriter of the Year, and
Entertainer of the Year –
January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009
(a 36 month qualifying period)
Qualifying albums must be:
- listed on the MyTexasMusic.com website
prior to 5:00 p.m. December 31, 2009
- properly submitted and received for consideration
prior to 5:00 p.m. December 31, 2009
Performers must be a member of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc.
by 5:00 p.m. November 30, 2009
Award Categories
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
Release Period: 12 month
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: Voting Board – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%
Male
Vocalist of the Year
Awarded to: Academy Performing Member (male only)
Eligible genre: Any
Criteria:
Must appear on qualifying project
Release Period: 12 month
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 eligibility requirements
Voting: Voting Board – 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
Release Period: 12 month
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 eligibility requirements
Voting: Voting Board – 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
Release Period: 12 month
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 eligibility requirements
Voting: Voting Board – 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.
Release Period: 12 month
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: Voting Board – 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.
Release Period: 36 month
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: Voting Board – 70%, Voting Membership – 20%, Public 10%
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.
Release Period: 12 month
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: Voting Board – 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.
Release Period: 36 month
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: Voting Board – 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.
Release Period: 12 month
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 shall be considered for nomination in this category.
Voting: Voting Board – 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.
Release Period: 12 month
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: Voting Board – 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.
Release Period: 36 month
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 but is a secondary consideration for the
nomination.
Voting: Voting Board – 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.
Qualifying Period: 12 month
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%
Live
Band of the Year
Awarded to: Member Band who played a great number of shows during the
qualifying period and who demonstrates the ability to deliver a quality live
performance.
Criteria: May include number of shows, existence of current
releases, connection with audience, sound quality, stage presence, and
individual personality. This is a cross-genre award.
Qualifying Period: 12 month
Voting: 100% Public Vote
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.
Consideration Period: 12 month
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%
The TMAs reserve the right to offer multiple awards based on market size
depending on nominations received.
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.
Consideration Period: none
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%
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