The New Mexico Music Awards | Music Award Categories

26^th Annual New Mexico Music Awards

2013 Finalists

Listed in order by title, artist, producer(s) and studio unless otherwise indicated for more specific categories.

Adult Contemporary

Steady

Denise Marsa

Denise Marsa, Andy Gabrys

Kitchen Sink Studio

Can I Tell You

Kito Peters

Simon Snaize, Kito Peters

Santa Fe Soundworks

Sailors & Mermaids

Cali Shaw

Cali Shaw & John Strader

Green Door Studios

Coffee Cups

Like Anyone Else

Mike Gifford, Rich Farley, Ken Pascoe, Blane Sloan, AndyRogulich

Eagle Rock Studios

The Salamander & The God Particle

Chris Courtney

Americana

Something About

Lisa Carman

Kabby Sound

Townes

E. Christina Herr & Wild Frontier

E. Christina Herr & Martin Rowell

Western Gothic Productions

I Can't See It Anymore

Alien Space Kitchen

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Drive On

Like Anyone Else

Mike Gifford, Rich Farley, Ken Pascoe, Blane Sloan, AndyRogulich

Eagle Rock Studios

Amanda

Todd & The Fox

Todd Eric Lovato

Kitchen Sink Studio & Andrew Click Productions

Root Beer Float

hONEyhoUSe

John Wall & hONEyhoUSe

Wall of Sound

Blues

The Blues Chose Me

The Country Blues Revue

Bill Palmer, Michael Handler, Marc Malin

Frogville Studios

Blues Knockin' At My Door

Ryan McGarvey

Ryan McGarvey co-prod P.McGarvey, B.Palmer

Frogville Studios

Moonlight Mama

Double Plow

Jimmy James Norris

¿Què Studios?

End Of My Rope

CW Ayon

Cooper Ayon

Image Recording Studios

Supahlove

hONEyhoUSe

John Wall & hONEyhoUSe

Wall of Sound

Bluegrass/Folk

A Diamond Inside Of My Heart

Paul Kelly & Dennis Golden

Paul Kelly, Dennis Golden, David Cragin

Santa Fe Soundworks

Sweeten Times

Patti Schultz

Jon Gagan & Patti Schultz

The Electric Company

Loading The Colt

Richard Martin

Glenn Martin and Richard Martin

Eagle Rock Studios

Family Secrets

The Hard Road Trio

James McLaughlin & the Hard Road Trio

The Cave

Rio Grande

hONEyhoUSe

John Wall & hONEyhoUSe

Wall of Sound

Country

I Ain't Got You

The Country Blues Revue

Bill Palmer, Michael Handler, Marc Malin

Frogville Studios

Old Cowboy

Richard Martin and Glenn Martin

Glenn Martin and Richard Martin

Eagle Rock Studios

Bluebirds

E. Christina Herr & Wild Frontier

E. Christina Herr & Martin Rowell

Western Gothic Productions

Election Day

Double Plow

Jimmy James Norris

¿Què Studios?

Motor Inn

Gary Daniel Cook

Blind Tiger Studios

Hip-Hop

Aint Nothing Better Than That

Matthew Lowe, Michael Jaramillo, & Hakim Bellamy

Matthew Lowe & Michael Jaramillo

TuMan Productions

Aaron Trumm- Bubble It Up

The Aaron Trumm Trio

Aaron Trumm

NQUIT Studios

Spaceman

TMB

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Indie Rock

Letters From The Moon

Newton Vs. Gravity

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Party On, Donner-Reed

The Breaktone

Hoffman, Corbin, ver Brugge, Jarvis, St John

Studio C

Funky Russia

Alien Space Kitchen

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Young Man

Like Anyone Else

Mike Gifford, Rich Farley, Ken Pascoe, Blane Sloan, AndyRogulich

Eagle Rock Studios

Take My Breath Away

Siyeric

Joel Taylor & Thomas Taylor

Eagle Rock

Jazz

Ou es-tu? (Where are you?

Faith Amour

John Rangel

Turtle Creek Media

Miracle

Transit

Casa Blanca Productions

The Trailing Edge

Dan Dowling

Rick Hale Productions

Not So Easy

The Tribute Trio

John Rangel

Free 2 Earth Music Studio

Matamoros

Wayne Reynolds

Wayne Reynolds, Logan Nix

Casa Blanca Productions/Logan Nix Studios

Latin

Bella Isabel

Nacha Mendez

Margarita Cordero (Nacha Mendez)

Nacha Music

Quero Tu Amor

LOTUS NM

Eve & Judy’s Place

Marfa Lights

Randy Granger

Lone Granger Music

Mainstream Rock

Haze

In The End

J.D. Geist, Lloyd Romero, Eduardo Trujillo

Santa Fe Center Studios

Be True (Hangin' Around)

Newton Vs. Gravity

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Five Minute Sin

Jesse Korman

Elephonic Recording Studios

Set Me Free

Frank Hannon Band

Ysidro Garcia

Sight 16 Studios

Can't See the Smoke

Double Plow

Jimmy James Norris

¿Què Studios?

Metal

Too Late

Reverence

Ysidro Garcia

Sight 16 Studios

Blood on a Thousand Hills

Ultimatum

Ysidro Garcia

Sight 16 Studios

After The Leaves Have Fallen

Reverence

Ysidro Garcia

Sight 16 Studios

Rip n' Tear

Ultimatum

Ysidro Garcia

Sight 16 Studios

Native American

Thunder Dance

Rushingwind & Mucklow

Michael Mucklow

Mucklow Productions

Running

Scatter Their Own

Logan M Nix, Scotti Cliff, Julian Brown Eyes

Desert Creature Recording

Strong Medicine

Randy Granger

Lone Granger Music

Protected (Beauty All Around)

Saving Damsels

Frogville

Cahuilla Dreams

Rushingwind & Mucklow

Michael Mucklow

Mucklow Productions

New Age Contemporary

Spirit Calling

Diana James

Lisa Carman

Electric Company Studio and Oliver Music Studios

The Light of Integration

Jim Oliver

Oliver Music Studios

Lucky Buddha

Soulfood & DJ Free

DJ Free

Soulfood Music

Walk With Love

Kathleen Sabo

Voice & Vibe

Ayooiishni

Rushingwind & Mucklow

Michael Mucklow

Mucklow Productions

Novelty

Potty Mouth Ft. Your Boy Re-Flex

State Of The Mingo Presents: OG Willikers

Zach Maloof

Ra Ra Room and Stepbridge Studios

Cowboy Politics

Richard Martin

Glenn Martin and Richard Martin

Eagle Rock Studios

Little White Lies

Jeez LaWeez

Jeez LaWeez (N Harvin, K Gill, A Blackburn)

John Wagner Studios

Coyote Christmas

Ron Whitmore

Bob Maus

Bob Maus Productions

Honeymoon From....

The Hard Road Trio

James McLaughlin & the Hard Road Trio

The Cave

Pop

I Like Your Dark

The Hook & The Crook

Francisco Gallegos

Holler Canyon

From Me

Newton Vs. Gravity

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Comfort

The Bus Tapes

Case Tanner, Heather Tanner, and DJ-darth

King’s Court

Superstar

Nikolas P.

Moonlyte Records

Slip Away

Michael Junchaya

Brutally Honest Productions

Punk

So Long, Farewell, Goodbye

Hazy Dean

Brian Widger & Cristen Grey

In My Own Filth

I Don't Wanna Do It

Repetitardz

Brian Widger

In My Own Filth

Worker Bee's Holiday

Newton Vs. Gravity

John Wall

Wall of Sound

When I'm Gone

Alien Space Kitchen

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Oh Me, Oh My

Domestic Violence

John Wall

Wall of Sound

R&B

Funk in A

Merican Slang

Jesse Korman, Elephonic Recording

Elephonic Recording

Time Goes By So Fast (Candle Song)

Lisa Morris

Bob Witsenhausen

Ceremony Studios

Burque Blues

LOTUS NM

Eve & Judy’s Place

INVISIBLE LOVE

Bob Andrews and RKR-CB

RKR-CB Productions

Makin' Love in Outerspace

Peter Williams

Jeff Nelson

Audio for Visual Studios

Rap

Exhausted

Zen Tempest

Likwd and Jacy Oliver

Warehouse 21

Heat Miser

The Emery Flow

Justin Cole, Dominic Munoz

Home studio

Religious

Praise Him

Larry Graves

Donn Halliburton

On Fire Productions

They'll Call It Christmas (Mi Corazon)

Jeff Kidwell

Chuck Lucero

Shepherds Studio

Man Of Your Heart

Larry Graves

Donn Halliburton

On Fire Productions

Great Physician

Jeff Kidwell

Chuck Lucero

Shepherds Studio

Cleanser Of My Heart

Larry Graves

Donn Halliburton

On Fire Productions

Singer/Songwriter

Keep it on a Leash

Nancy Rudolph

Donn Halliburton

On Fire Productions

Something About

Lisa Carman

Kabby Sound

The Way Of The Road

Dave Tutin

Jacy Oliver

Oliver Music Studios / openDmusic Studios

Capital Dreams

Kito Peters, Simon Snaize, David Cragin

Simon Snaize, Kito Peters

Santa Fe Soundworks

Break Free

The Hard Road Trio

James McLaughlin & the Hard Road Trio

The Cave

Western

Rustler's Moon

Jim Jones

Clare Sky Studio

Dancing With Matilda

Doug Figgs

Mariam Funke

Lemitar Recording Studio

Socorro (Festival Of The Cranes)

Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly, Troy Engle, David Cragin

Santa Fe Soundworks

Many A Mile

Richard Martin

Glenn Martin and Richard Martin

Eagle Rock Studio

Train to Chama

Jim Jones

Clare Sky Studio

World Beat

Return (To Your Glory)

Rushingwind & Mucklow

Michael Mucklow

Mucklow Productions

Ou es-tu? (Where are you?)

Faith Amour

John Rangel

Turtle Creek Media

Our Love

LOTUS NM

Eve & Judy’s Place

Best Arrangement/Original

Thunder Dance

Rushingwind & Mucklow

Michael Mucklow

Mucklow Productions

Daybreak

Dan Dowling

Rick Hale Productions

Leave Me Alone

Siyeric

Thomas Taylor & Joel Taylor

Eagle Rock Studios

Tommy Chief

The Hard Road Trio

James McLaughlin & the Hard Road Trio

The Cave

You, Me & Everything

Static Reply

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Best Cover

Mas Que Nada

Jazz Brasileiro

Tony Cesarano. Debo Orlofsky

Electric Company Studio

The Boxer

Newton Vs. Gravity

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Nga Iwi E

Indigie Femme

Larry Mitchell

Insatiable Studios

It's On

Siyeric

Thomas Taylor & Joel Taylor

Eagle Rock Studios

Santa Baby

Naomi Vega

Image Recording

Best Instrumental

Emilio's Tune

Transit

Casa Balanca Productions

The Trailing Edge

Dan Dowling

Rick Hale Productions

Four Graces

Ryan McGarvey

Ryan McGarvey co-prod P.McGarvey, B.Palmer

Frogvillie

3 A.M.

Wayne Reynolds

Wayne Reynolds, Logan Nix

Eagle Rock Studios

2:00 Moon

The Hard Road Trio

James McLaughlin & the Hard Road Trio

The Cave

Best Mastering Engineer

Jacy Oliver and “As In We”

To Be Able To Be Ok

Blane Sloan

Richard Martin-Tattoo On My Heart

Andy Rogulich

My Sovereign God

Indigie Femme and Larry Mitchell

Indigie Femme-Te Kokako

Jason Blum

hONEyhoUSe-Kansas

Best Recording Engineer

David Cragin

Kito Peters-Can I Tell You

Jono Manson

Cathy Fabers Swingin' Country Band-Lights of Santa Fe

Kitchen Sink Studio

Adan Maldonado

Cali Shaw-Gunslinger

Green Door Studios

Roger Baker

Siyeric-Leave Me Alone

Eagle Rock Studio

Bill Palmer

Saving Damsels-Sweet Girl

Frogville Studio

John Wall

hONEyhoUSe- Kansas

Wall of Sound

Best Song

Ou es-tu? (Where are you?)

Faith Amour

Faith Amour-Composer

Santa Robada

Cali Shaw

Cali Shaw-Composer

Who's American?

A. Michael Martinez

A. Michael Martinez-Composer

Amanda

Todd Eric Lovato

Todd Eric Lovato-Composer

Fire on the Hill

hONEyhoUSe

Hillary Smith, Mandy Buchannon & Yvonne Perea-Composers

Best Vocal Performance

Ou es-tu? (Where are you?)

Faith Amour

John Rangel

Turtle Creek Media

Aparecida

Jazz Brasileiro

Tony Cesarano. Debo Orlofsky

Electric Company Studio

Te Manu Rongo

Indigie Femme

Larry Mitchell

Insatiable Studios

Santa Baby

Naomi Vega

Image recording

Kansas

hONEyhoUSe

John Wall & hONEyhoUSe

Wall of Sound

Best Music Video

Pisces

Alohi van Loon, Martina Comstock

Martina Comstock, Alohi van Loon

Suzanna

Elise Marie Southwick & Martina Comstock

Martina Comstock, Sacred Hand Productions

Little White Lies

Jeez LaWeez

Nancy Harvin

Election Day-Makin' Moonshine w Uncle Grampa

Double Plow

Jimmy James Norris

Moses Stuttered

Todd Eric Lovato, Erik Sawyer

Todd Eric Lovato

Best Packaging Design

LOTUS NM-Quero Tu Amor

LOTUS NM / Aaron Manzanares

Indigie Femme-Te Hau Waiata

Indigie Femme / beccaburns.com

Tribute Trio Dedications Volume II

Cal Haines and Victoria Rogers

The Hard Road Trio-Monticello

James McLaughlin & the Hard Road Trio

hONEyhoUSe-Medicine Lodge

Hillary Smith, R.J. Laino & Kim Buchannon Photography

Best Country CD

Lights of Santa Fe

Cathy Faber's Swingin' Country Band

Jono Manson & Cathy Faber

Kitchen Sink Studio

Borrowed Time

Jim Jones

Clare Sky Studio

Best Jazz CD

Jazz Brasileiro

Tony Cesarano, Debo Orlofsky

Tony Cesarano. Debo Orlofsky

Electric Company Studio

La Mariposa y el Gato

Transit

Casa Balnca Productions

The Trailing Edge

Dan Dowling

Rick Haale Productions

Tribute Trio Dedications Volume II

John Rangel, Michael Glynn, Cal Haines

John Rangel

Free 2 Earth Music Studio

First Take Michael Anthony Live at KUNM

Michael Anthony

Mark Weber

KUNM Studio A

Best Pop CD

Medicine Man

Alohi

Alohi van Loon

Stepbridge Studios

Capital Dreams

Kito Peters, Simon Snaize, David Cragin

Simon Snaize, Kito Peters

Santa Fe Soundworks

Winter Bloom

Cali Shaw

Cali Shaw & John Strader

Green Door Studios

Roam

Elise Marie Southwick

David Badstubner

Santa Fe University Art and Design

Self-Medicate

Liv Lombardi

Liv Lombardi, Daniel Siuba, David Badstubner

CMP Studios

Best Rock CD

In The End- “Take Control”

In The End-Brown,Romero,Pacheco,Trujillo

J.D. Geist, Lloyd Romero, Eduardo Trujillo

Santa Fe Center Studios

Whatever You Call It

Newton Vs. Gravity

John Wall

Wall Of Sound

Summer Walls EP

The Breaktone

Hoffman, Corbin, ver Brugge, Jarvis, St John

Studio C

Just ASK

Alien Space Kitchen

John Wall

Wall of Sound

Find My Way

Saving Damsels

Frogville Studios

Norman Petty Producer’s Award

Bridge

Rushingwind & Mucklow

Michael Mucklow

Mucklow Productions

Capital Dreams

Kito Peters, Simon Snaize

Simon Snaize, Kito Peters

Santa Fe Soundworks

Winter Bloom

Cali Shaw

Cali Shaw & John Strader

Green Door Studios

Medicine Lodge

hONEyhoUSe

John Wall & hONEyhoUSe

Wall Of Sound

Newton Vs. Gravity

Whatever You Call It

John Wall

Wall Of Sound

Best of the Year

Capital Dreams

Kito Peters, Simon Snaize, David Cragin

Simon Snaize, Kito Peters

Santa Fe Soundworks

Ryan McGarvey – Redefined

Ryan McGarvey

Ryan McGarvey co-prod P.McGarvey, B.Palmer

Frogville Studios

Lohmador

CW Ayon

Cooper Ayon

Image Recording Studios

Todd and the Fox

Todd Eric Lovato, Erik Sawyer

Todd Eric Lovato

Kitchen Sink Studio & Andrew Click Productions

Medicine Lodge

hONEyhoUSe

John Wall & hONEyhoUSe

Wall of Sound

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New Mexico Music Awards
2013 Award Categories

There are three new categories and a number of changes to the categories this year. Please note the following:

We have added a Singer/Songwriter category. This is for those artists that work primarily as solo artists but don’t quite fit into the Americana, Folk or Pop categories. Please see the description below. There are also two new full length categories, Best Rap CD and Best Hip-Hop CD. We have good participation in these styles of music and it is our feeling that the genre deserves a full length category.

Several categories will be eliminated or combined with other categories this year. The Best Artist Website category has been eliminated due to a lack of interest by the community. Over the past five years we have seen entries in this category decline. It is our feeling that with the advent of more and more social networking sites like Facebook and ReverbNation, websites have become less important in the marketing of an artist.

The Hispanic Traditional and Hispanic Contemporary categories have been merged into one category, Latin This category will now encompass all forms of Latin music.

Native American Traditional and Native American Contemporary categories will be combined under the heading Native American.

Bluegrass will be combined with Folk.

Alternative Rock has been re-named Indie Rock

These changes have been made due to a decline in entries for both categories. We understand that artists have already recorded their projects for this year and so a number of categories will be given one more year to prove themselves as viable categories. Among these are Punk, Religious/Gospel, Novelty/Humorous, Electronica, Children’s Music, World Beat, Mastering Engineer and Best Country and Jazz CD’s. While these categories will remain on the category list for this year we will evaluate their performance and decide at the end of the program in May whether or not to continue with these categories or combine them with other categories.

Single Length Genre Categories
Categories 1-24 are judged on production, performance and arrangement.

1. Adult Contemporary - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. This category can contain many types of genres and artists, from Rod Stewart and Sheryl Crow to Rob Thomas and Nickleback. Sometimes described as "Light Rock" or "Soft Rock". Other artists current include Train, Kelly Clarkson, Five for Fighting, Josh Groban, John Mayer, Snow Patrol and Elton John.

2. Americana - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. This music encompasses the spirit of Folk with a modern twist. Included groups like the Time Jumpers, Mumford & Sons, Jakob Dylan, John Hiatt and Rodeny Crowell

3. Blues - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Gutbucket, Down Home, Delta, Mississippi. Whatever you call it, its roots are African-American and it is the foundation for Rock and Roll music around the world. More modern blues artists include Keb Mo’, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, and the late Stevie Ray Vaughn.

4. Bluegrass/Folk - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Bluegrass, New Grass, Sweet Grass are considered for this category. Current artists include Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek, Dave Grisman, Rhonda Vincent, Rickey Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder,. Traditionally un-plugged, Folk music encompasses more traditional genres such as Johnny Cash, Dylan, John Prine, Kristofferson and Neil Young. Lucinda Williams, Iris De Menth, Chris Isaak and Tracy Chapman.

5. Children’s Music - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. This music, written especially for youth aging in range from kindergarten through early teens may be entertaining, instructive or both. Raffi, The Wiggles or Schoolhouse Rock are examples of this kind of music.

6. Country - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Contemporary Country and Hot Country dominate this category. Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Carrie Underwood and Kenny Chesney make up the hot side of Country Music, while Redneck Rock & Roll the likes of Justin Moore, Toby Keith and Zack Brown Band tend more toward the Contemporary. There is also room for the great balladeers like Vince Gill and Faith Hill.

7. Electronica - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. This music brings into its circle all forms of electronic music including Dance. Currents include Skrillex, DJ Vadim, David Guetta, The Wonder Girls, LFMAO, Depeche Mode, Gorillaz, Scissor Sisters, Enigma, Cascada.

8.Hip-Hop - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Retains the soul of R&B and the street of Rap and adds a beat. Think 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj, 2 Chains,Wiz Kalifa, Akon, Pitbull, Bruno Mars, Ciara, Nelly, Chris Brown, Kanye, Diddy, Eminem, TI, and Trey Songz.

9. Indie Rock - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Alternative has become mainstream over the last 20 years. Current artists include fun, Mumford & Sons, Muse, The Black Keys, Three Days Grace, Jack White, Red Jump Suit Apparatus, Green Day, The Killers, One Republic, Muse, Staind, Evanescence, The Shins, Deathcab for Cutie, Wilco, The Strokes, fun, Neco Case, Godsmack, and Saliva.

10. Jazz - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Jazz today is created in a wide range of styles such as Contemporary, Smooth and Eclectic; but one thing is certain, Jazz will always define hip. Miles, Dizzy and Duke, who changed the face of jazz are now considered straight ahead traditional, The Rippingtons, Fourplay, Diana Krall, Joe Sample and George Benson could be tagged as Contemporary while Wayman Tisdale, Dave Koz, Joyce Cooling, Marion Meadows and Boney James, are considered Smooth Jazz artists. Bela Fleck...definitely Eclectic.

11. Latin - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Encompasses Traditional locals styles of Spanish music such as Regional Mexican. Waltzes, Polkas, Mariachi, Norteñas, Rancheras, Cumbia and more contemporary flavors including Latin dance and big band, Cubano, Latin Jazz, Merengue, Tango as well as contemporary styles like Rigaton, Ritmo and Romantico.

12. Mainstream Rock - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Often referred to as Heritage Rock, this is the type of rock that embraces the style laid down by the likes of The Who, Springsteen, Aerosmith and Tom Petty. The second generation of rockers include The Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, Green Day, and Lenny Kravitz. Currents include Linkin Park, Maroon 5, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Papa Roach, and Disturbed.

13. Metal - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. This is not your father's Rock & Roll. Power chords, tree stumps for drumsticks and amps that go all the way up to 11. From AC/DC to Van Halen. Current groups include Five Finger Death Punch, Avenged Sevenfold, Ironiclast, Finger Eleven, All That Remains, and Amon Amarth.

14. Native American - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. This music may be traditional style (drums, corn dances, round dances) or may be modern in scope (NAC, Rock, Hip-Hop) and must incorporate some sort of Native American cultural aspect. Ideally, it is written and/or performed by Native Americans.

15. New Age Contemporary - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Reflective, soothing, spiritual are often the words used to describe this eclectic music. Enya, Kitaro, Secret Garden and Jean Michele Jarre would be the prime suspects in this category.

16. Novelty/Humorous – Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Songs in this category can be satirical, parody or humorous in nature. While you may parody previously released material using the original music arrangement as a basis for the parody, the parody itself must be original (i.e. satirical or humorous lyrics).

17. Pop – Pop has always been a catchall format for that style of music that is not defined by a specific genre but with mass appeal, nonetheless. It can range wildly from Ke$ha, Adele, One Direction, Justin Bieber, Flo Rida, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus to Michael Buble.

18. Punk - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. From The Sex Pistols, The Ramones and The Dead Kennedys to more contemporary artists like The Ataris, The Benjamins and the Transplants. Is punk dead? Is Tenacious D a parody? Emo is included in this category. Includes Steam Punk.

19. R & B - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Sometimes called "Black" or "Urban" This African-American influenced music brings to mind Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Earth Wind & Fire and Aretha Franklin. It has since spun off into other categories such as Rap, Hip-Hop and House. More recent examples would be Rhiana, Beyonce, Brian McKnight, India.Arie, Mariah Carey, Macy Gray, Ashanti, Shakira, Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys.

20. Rap - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. This street and sometimes volatile protest music reaches back to Melle Mel and Run DMC while pushing forward to Snoop Dogg, Bow Wow, Chingy, Lil Scrappy, Unk, 50 cent, Jay-Z and Ja Rule.

21. Religious/Gospel - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Any style of music is accepted. The music should have a spiritual message. Generally, this category is dominated by Contemporary Christian music artists like Chris Tomlin, Jars of Clay, Mercy Me and Third Day, but has included more traditional Gospel music like Kirk Franklin, and Kelly Price. Islamic and Jewish music have been introduced into this category. This category is also judged on how professionally the music gets the message across.

22. Singer/Songwriter - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. This genre attempts to define the songwriter not only as an entity, but as a style. Typically acoustic or stripped down to the bare essential components, it encompasses many styles. From James Taylor to Jewel, Alicia Keys to Ryan Adams and so many more this category makes many into one. Reference Lucinda Williams, Nick Cave, Adele, Emmylou Harris, Billy Joel, John Mellancamp, Taylor Swift, Elvis Costello..the list goes on and on.

23. Western - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. This genre encompasses the original experience of American Folk music, but embodies the “Spirit of the West” and is more wide-open spaces than barrooms and pickups. Sons of the Pioneers would define this category nicely.

24. World Beat - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. World Beat music tends to have ethnic folk roots. South American, African, Western and Eastern European, Caribbean and music from the Pacific Rim would all be labeled World Beat. Consider everything from The Mollys to Ladysmith Black Mambazo to Ravi Shankar and even Hawaiian slack key guitar as World Beat.

Performance Specific Categories
Categories 25-32 are judged on criteria specific to the category.

25. Best Arrangement Original Composition - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Judged solely on the arrangement, its rhythm, consistency and complexity.

26. Best Cover Song (Remake) - Single length entries only. Recordings of previously released commercial material. Covers are the lifeblood of any music genre. Just ask Alan Jackson, Linda Rondstat or Phil Collins. Judged on the arrangement and performance only.

27. Best Instrumental Performance - Single length entries only. Judged solely on the instrumentalists’ performance. Any style, single or group. Any genre.

28. Best Mastering Engineer- Single length entries only. Once the project is finished and the musicians have long since packed up and gone home, the Mastering Engineer is tasked with “sweetening” the sound and making it perfect for high quality audio presentation. Judged on entire ensemble.

29. Best Recording Engineer - Single length entries only. Producers oversee a project's individual components but engineers put the sound together. Judged solely on engineering quality of the entry. Judged on entire ensemble.

30. Best Song - Original compositions only. Single length entries only. Any genre. Based Solely on composition.

31. Best Vocal Performance - Single length entries only. Judged on the entire vocal ensemble. Any style, male, female or group. Any genre.

32. Best Video –The video category includes film and video scores as well as traditional music videos.

Non-Performance Categories
Judged on marketing concepts and design.

33. Best Packaging Design - Entries must be album length and commercially available. Please submit a separate CD for this category. Graphics are an important part of selling any project. Cheesy artwork says cheap production to a record label or to a consumer.

Full Length Categories
Categories 34-41 are judged as a full length, commercially available projects. Commercially available means that the product must be retail ready and available through retail outlets or the Internet as a download through a retail outlet such as I-Tunes.. Projects available as a download only must be burned to CD and submitted with artwork (if available) with the entry. Each project is judged on the consistency and commercial viability of the project.

34. Best Country CD – Entries must be album length and commercially available. Judged on the project’s commercial viability within the Country music marketplace. Also judged on performance, production and composition. Please submit a separate CD for this category.

35. Best Hip-Hop CD-Entries must be album length and commercially available. Judged on the project’s commercial viability within the Hip-Hop music marketplace. Also judged on performance, production and composition. Please submit a separate CD for this category.

36. Best Jazz CD – With so much Jazz in New Mexico this category is long overdue. Any type of Jazz will be considered including Classic, Bebop, Fusion, Swing, Smooth, Rag Time, Dixieland, Latin, Avante-garde, Mainstream and others. If it’s Jazz, we’ll know it.

37. Best Pop CD – Entries must be album length and commercially available. Judged on the project’s commercial viability within the Pop music marketplace. Also judged on performance, production and composition. Please submit a separate CD for this category.

38. Best Rap CD-Entries must be album length and commercially available. Judged on the project’s commercial viability within the Rap music marketplace. Also judged on performance, production and composition. Please submit a separate CD for this category.

39. Best Rock CD – Entries must be album length and commercially available. Judged on the project’s commercial viability within the Rock music marketplace. Also judged on performance, production and composition. Please submit a separate CD for this category

40. Norman Petty Producer’s Award - Entries must be album length and commercially available. Judging is based on the consistency and quality of the total music product. Please submit a separate CD for this category.

41. Best of the Year - Entries must be album length and commercially available. This category encompasses the entire project. Judged on original concept, composition, engineering, production, performance, artwork, marketing and commercial viability. Please submit a separate CD for this category.