New Mexico Music Awards
2008 Award Categories
There are two changes to the categories
this year. Please note the following:
The Novelty/Humorous category has been
re-instated as a result of renewed
interest.
The Best Country CD has been added to
the full-length category.
Single Length Genre Categories
Categories 1-23 are judged on
production, performance and arrangement.
1. Adult 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 Brian McKnight,
India.Arie, Mariah Carey, Macy Gray,
Ashanti, Shakira, Mary J. Blige and
Alicia Keys.
2. Americana - Original
compositions only. Single length entries
only. 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, Tracy Chapman, Chris Smithers and
Guy Clark would be more modern examples.
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 - Original
compositions only. Single length entries
only. Bluegrass, New Grass, Sweet Grass,
all are more popular ever since the
soundtrack of "Oh Brother, Where Art
Thou" went platinum. Current artists
include Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek,
Dave Grisman, Rhonda Vincent, Rickey
Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Tim O’Brian
and Blue Highway.
5. Country - Original
compositions only. Single length entries
only. Contemporary Country and Hot
Country dominate this category. Keith
Urban, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw,
Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and Kenny
Chesney make up the hot side of Country
Music while Redneck Rock & Roll the
likes of Lonestar, Brooks & Dunn, Toby
Keith and Alan Jackson tend more toward
the Contemporary. There is also room for
the great balladeers like Vince Gill and
Faith Hill and great harmonies from
SheDaisy and the Dixie Chicks.
6. Electronica - Original
compositions only. Single length entries
only. This music brings into its circle
all forms of electronic music including
Dance. Currents include Depeche Mode,
Gorillaz, Gnarls Barkley, Scissor
Sisters, Enigma, Cascada and Moby.
7. 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
Beyonce’, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Ciara, Nelly,
Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, Binary
Star, Diddy, Tribe Called Qwest, Eminem,
Gangstar, Wu Tang Clan and Atmosphere.
8. Hispanic-Traditional Style -
Original compositions only. Single
length entries only. Always a tough one
to define. Sometimes referred to as
Regional Mexican. Traditional refers to
the mix of music you often find in New
Mexico, not Texas. Waltzes, Polkas,
Mariachi, Norteñas, Rancheras, Cumbia.
Current artists include Los Tigres del
Norte, Joan Sebastian, Pesado, Lalo Mora
and Jenni Rivera.
9. Hispanic-Contemporary/Salsa/Latin
Rhythm - Original compositions only.
Single length entries only. High-energy
Latin dance and big band, Cubano, Latin
Jazz, Merengue, Tango as well as
contemporary styles like Rigaton, Ritmo
and Romantico. Current artists include
Paulina Rubio, Chelo, Aventura, Marco
Antonio Solis, Alejandro Sanz, Ricky
Martin, Toby Love and Mana.
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,
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. Native American/Traditional-
Original compositions only. Single
length entries only. This music must be
traditional style (drums, corn dances,
round dances) and must incorporate some
sort of Native American cultural aspect.
Ideally, it is written and/or performed
by Native Americans.
12. Native American/Contemporary
- Original compositions only. Single
length entries only. This type of Native
American Music may be modern in scope
(NAC, Rock, Hip-Hop) but again, must
incorporate some sort of Native American
cultural aspect. Ideally, it is written
and/or performed by Native Americans.
13. 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.
14. 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).
15. 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.
16. Religious/Gospel - Original
compositions only. Single length entries
only. The only criteria for this
category is that the music 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 in the past has included more
traditional Gospel music like the great
mass choirs or Kirk Franklin, Lucinda
Moore and Kelly Price. Islamic and
Jewish music have also been introduced
into this category. Any style of music
is accepted. This category is also
judged on how professionally the music
gets the message across. Lyrics are not
an essential part of this category, but
it helps.
17. Rock-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 Nick Lachey, Kelly Clarkson,
Five for Fighting, Josh Groban, John
Mayer, Snow Patrol and Elton John.
18. Rock-Alternative - Original
compositions only. Single length entries
only. Alternative has become mainstream
over the last 20 years. Current artists
include Tool, Stone Sour, Evanescence,
Nickleback, Shinedown, Three Days Grace,
Audioslave, Incubus, Godsmack, Korn and
Saliva
19. Rock-Mainstream - 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, John Mellencamp,
and Lenny Kravitz. Currents include
Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Papa
Roach, and Disturbed.
20. Rock-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 All That Remains,
Korn, Slayer, Killswitch Engage, and
Amon Amarth.
21. Rock-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.
22. 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.
23. World Beat - Original
compositions only. Single length entries
only. World beat music tends to have
ethnic folk roots. South American,
African, both 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 23-29 are judged on criteria
specific to the category.
24. Best Arrangement Original
Composition - Original compositions
only. Single length entries only. Judged
solely on the arrangement, its rhythm,
consistency and complexity.
25. Best 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.
26. Best Instrumental Performance
- Single length entries only. Judged
solely on the instrumentalists’
performance. Any style, single or group.
Any genre.
27. Best Recording of a Live
Performance - Single length entries
only. On site recording is controlled
mayhem. Judged solely on the engineering
sound quality. Any style. The date and
place of performance must be verified.
Entries may be mastered in studio but
cannot have additions to the original
performance.
28. Best Remake - Single length
entries only. Remakes are the lifeblood
of any music genre. Just ask Alan
Jackson, Linda Rondstat or Phil Collins.
Judged on the arrangement and
performance only.
29. Best Song - Original
compositions only. Single length entries
only. Any genre. Based Solely on
composition.
30. Best Vocal Performance -
Single length entries only. Judged on
the entire vocal ensemble. Any style,
male, female or group. Any genre.
Non-Performance Categories
Category 30 & 31 judged on marketing
concepts and design.
31. Best Artist’s Website - An
important tool for any artist, a website
should market to the general public,
venues, booking agents and record
companies. Your site will be judged from
both creative (artistic) and practical
aspects of the site. Interactivity,
i.e., how well does the site work, may
be the most important aspect of the
judging. How quickly does your web site
load? How easy is it to get around the
site? Are you easy to contact? How easy
is it to download mp3 files and forms
from your site? These are things you
should consider when submitting your
site for consideration. Record label
websites are not eligible for this
category.
32. 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 32-37 are judged on the CD as
a full length, commercially available
projects. Commercially available mean
that the product must be retail ready
and available through retail outlets or
the internet. Each project is judged on
the consistency and commercial viability
of the project.
33. 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.
34. 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
35. 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.
36. Best Producer - 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.
37. 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.
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