Single Length Genre Categories
Categories 1-24 are judged on production, performance and arrangement.
1.Adult Contemporary/Adult Pop- Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Adult contemporary is essentially a continuation of the soft rock style that became popular in the ’70s, with the same lush, soothing, highly polished qualities as soft rock.
2. Ambient/New Age- Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Ambient is a spacious, electronic music that is concerned with sonic texture. Harmonious and allied with new age philosophies encouraging spiritual transcendence and physical healing. Also included in this category are ambient house; ambient techno; bio-music; chill; downtempo; IDM; post-rock; space music; trance; trip hop.
3. Americana – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Americana is contemporary music that incorporates elements of various American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, R&B and blues, resulting in a distinctive roots-oriented sound.
4. Blues – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
The blues are joyful and exuberant or deeply sad music that deals with suffering and loneliness. It’s a music of dance halls and wooden porches, open fields and grimy factories, the city and the country.
5. Bluegrass – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Bluegrass combines elements of old-time mountain music, square dance fiddling, blues, gospel, jazz, and popular music. Bluegrass allows for improvisation. Contemporary and traditional Bluegrass styles are considered for this category.
6. Children’s Music – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Children’s songs may include songs that adults sing or teach to children, songs children pass along to each other, and songs that children compose themselves.
7. Country – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Country music has seen various developments since the first commercial recordings and speaks to particular American musical traditions and values. Outlaw country, hot country, contemporary country and traditional country are considered for this category.
8. Electronica – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Electronica encompasses subgenres such as downtempo, intelligent dance music, electronic dance music, techno, house, drum and bass, trance among others. This music is mainly developed for dancing and concentrated listening purposes.
9. Folk – Original Compositions only. Single length entries only.
American Folk music is also known as roots music. Folk music encompasses more traditional genres and more modern aspects of instrumentation.
10. Hip-Hop – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Hip hop has the ability to rap with a good sense of rhythm and a natural flowing style. Hip-Hop is smoother and flows more evenly.
11. Indie Rock – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Indie rock is free to explore sounds, emotions, and lyrical subjects that don’t appeal to large, mainstream audiences. Rooted in the sound and sensibility of American underground and alternative rock of the ’80s. It’s rock made by and for outsiders.
12. Jazz – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Jazz is distinguished by flexible rhythmic tempo accompanied with improvisation of solo and ensemble on basic tunes and chord patterns. Jazz today is created in a wide range of styles such as Contemporary, Smooth and Eclectic.
13. Latin – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Latin music encompasses the vibrant beats of Salsa, Bachata, and Tango to the never-ending innovation of Latin rock and alternative music to traditional local 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.
14. Metal – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Metal uses highly amplified guitar distortion, extended guitar solos, heavy drum beats, aggressive vocals, and volume. Metal is not fashionable, it is all about the music. Glam metal, thrash, and death, black metal, groove metal and nu-Metal are included in this category.
15. Modern Rock – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Modern rock encompasses many kinds of music. Often referred to as Classic Rock or Heritage Rock.
16. Native American – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Native American music may be used for ceremonial purposes, recreation, expression, and healing. There are many different instruments used including drums, flutes, and other percussion instruments. Native American music has been a great influence in modern folk music. May be in any genre, but must incorporate some sort of Native American cultural aspect. Ideally, it is written and/or performed by Native Americans.
17. Novelty/Seasonal – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Songs in this category can be satirical, parody or humorous in nature. This category will now also include original seasonal music including Christmas and Easter music, harvest celebration or solstice and equinox songs, music celebrating specific days or events, like St. Patrick’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Cinco de Mayo.
18. Pop – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Pop music are songs that are intended to reach a broad audience via commercial distribution. They have a good rhythm, a catchy melody, and are easy to remember and sing along with.
19. R & B – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
R&B music often combines styles from jazz and blues but R&B today can be a combination of pop, hip hop and funk. The evolution has been facilitated by present-day R&B artists.
20. Rap – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Rap’s core components are beats and rhymes. Rap has had its effect on most other music forms, from R&B to rock to jazz. Rap is street and sometimes volatile social music.
21. Reggae – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Reggae is an up-tempo, rhythmic variation based on Jamaican music. Reggae has proven to be as versatile as the blues, from the melodic rock steady style and the rock and folk-influenced songwriting to trippy, near-psychedelic soundscapes.
22. Religious/Gospel – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Any style of music is accepted. The music should have a spiritual message. It can be contemporary Christian or gospel, more traditional praise music or spiritual music from other world religions.
23. 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.
24. Western – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Western or Cowboy Music consists of songs that preserve the tradition and educate their audiences about authentic Western songs. This genre encompasses the original experience of American Folk music, but embodies the “Spirit of the West.”
25. World – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
World music often refers to folk traditions or hybrids of various indigenous music. World music tends to have ethnic folk roots but comes in all styles and all tongues.
Performance Specific Categories
Categories 26-35 are judged on criteria specific to the category.
26. Best Arrangement Original Composition – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Any genre. May include vocals. Judged solely on the quality of the arrangement, its rhythm, consistency and complexity.
27. Best Cover Song (Remake) – Single length entries only.
Any genre. Recordings of previously released commercial material. Re-recordings or covers of material previously entered into the New Mexico Music Awards are not eligible. Judged on the arrangement and performance only.
28. Best New Mexico Song-Single length entries only.
This category celebrates The Land of Enchantment in song. Songs must be original, but may be in any style from country to jazz to pop to rock. Consideration will be given to composition, performance and production.
29. Best Instrumental Performance – Single length entries only.
Any genre. Must be an instrumental performance only. Judged solely on the performance. Any style, single or group. Any genre.
30. Best Mastering Engineer- Single length entries only.
Any genre. 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. Entrants must provide both pre and post mastering versions of the entry. Only music mastered in the state of New Mexico will be eligible for this category.
31. Best Recording Engineer – Single length entries only.
Any genre. Producers oversee a project’s individual components but engineers put the sound together. Judged solely on engineering quality of the entry. Judged on entire recording.
32. Best Original Song – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Any genre. Based solely on the quality of the composition.
33. Best Vocal Performance – Single length entries only.
Any genre. Judged on the entire vocal ensemble. Any style of music is acceptable in any form, acapella, with accompaniment, male, female or group.
Non-Performance Categories
Judged on marketing concepts and design.
34. Best Music Video – Original compositions only. Single length entries only.
Any genre. The video category includes short films and video scores as well as traditional music videos. Judged on production
35. Best Album Design/Artwork – Entries must be album length and commercially available.
Commercially available means that the product must be retail ready and available as a physical copy through retail outlets or via the internet as a download via the artist’s website, or through a third party such as CD Baby, ReverbNation, BandCamp, Apple Music, Amazon or other retail outlet. 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 36-42 are judged as a full length, commercially available projects.
Commercially available means that the product must be retail ready and available as a physical copy through retail outlets, via commercial streaming services or as a commercial download via the artist’s website or other digital service. All audio tracks must be uploaded and submitted with artwork for judging. Each project is judged on the consistency and commercial viability of the project.
36. Best Blues Album– Entries must be album length and commercially available.
Judged on the project’s commercial viability within the Blues music marketplace. Also judged on performance, production and composition. Any style of blues is acceptable, from acoustic to boogie woogie, Delta to Chicago and country to urban.
37. Best Country Album – 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. Includes alt-country, outlaw country, hot country, traditional country, country & western and other country genres.
38. Best Hip-Hop/Rap Album-Entries must be album length and commercially available.
Judged on the project’s commercial viability within the Rap/Hip-Hop music marketplace. Also judged on performance, production and composition. All styles acceptable including Old School, Gangsta, Country, Bounce, Latin and many more.
39. Best Jazz Album – Entries must be album length and commercially available.
Judged on the project’s commercial viability within the jazz music marketplace. Any style of Jazz will be considered including Straight Ahead, Bebop, Fusion, Swing, Smooth, Rag Time, Dixieland, Latin, Avante-garde, Mainstream and others.
40. Best Pop Album – 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. Any style will be considered from Indie Pop to Bubblegum to Popcorn.
41. Best Rock Album – 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. Any style will be considered including Modern Rock, Indie, Metal, Country Rock, Punk, Grunge, Prog Rock, Psychedelic Rock and more.
42. Norman Petty Producer’s Award – Entries must be album length and commercially available.
Judging is based on the production consistency and quality of the total music product. Any style of music is acceptable.
43. 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. Any style of music is acceptable.
The New Mexico Music Awards are sponsored by Quickbeam Systems, Guitar Center of Albuquerque, Tonewood Amp and Jason’s Music Publishing with additional support by The Candyman of Santa Fe, High Fidelity Mastering, Grandma’s Music and Sound, Listen!NM, Two Pups Boutique and Moonlight Talent Management.