12th annual Texas Music Awards^TM
Nominee Information
Categories are in no particular order, nominees are in
a pre-determined alphabetical order within category;
some by last name, some by group name, some by project name.

Public voting BEGINS at 12:01am
on Saturday, February 1st, 2014
and ENDS at 11:59pm
on Sunday, February 9th, 2014

The Texas Music Awards are open to all members of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. 
Many categories require a release within the qualifying period...for most categories
a release is required in the previous year.  Other categories can have a release in the last 3 years. 
Since the majority of categories in this award process are about the music instead of popularity alone,
you may not recognize many names on the nominee list.  This page was designed to help you learn
more about these artists by being able to hear the music and learn more about the artists for yourself.
This year was the toughest yet for the Nominating Crew...so a few categories contain more than the traditional
five nominees...and two categories actually had nominees tied for a spot...those categories contain 6 nominees.
We hope you enjoy being such an integral part of The Texas Music Awards.  Thank you for your support of these deserving artists!
 

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member (male only) Eligible genre:  Any   Criteria:  Must appear on qualifying project    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.

DUO OF THE YEAR

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member (female only) Eligible genre:  Any    Criteria:  Must appear on qualifying project    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.

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member who performs as a collection of three or more performers and, as a standard part of their normal performances, demonstrate vocals as a significant feature of their performance. One-time collaborations can also be eligible. Eligible genre:  Any  Criteria:  Must appear on qualifying project  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 also studied.

RISING STAR AWARD

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member  Eligible genre:  Any  Criteria:  Performer should show remarkable promise for future endeavors.  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.

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  A musician appearing on an Academy Performing Member’s qualifying release.  Eligible genre:  Any  Criteria:  Musician must deliver an outstanding performance.  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.

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.  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.

LIVE BAND OF THE YEAR

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  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.

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.  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 be lyrically sound, demonstrating the performers songwriting ability.

RECORD OF THE YEAR

Awarded to:  Academy Performing Member  Eligible genre:  Any  Criteria:  Recording must appear on qualifying project.  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.

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.  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.

BROADCAST RADIO STATION
OF THE YEAR

These nominees were decided by the public, and this award is also decided 100% by the public vote.

DISC JOCKEY OF THE YEAR

These nominees were decided by the public, and this award is also decided 100% by the public vote.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

POPULAR COVER
AWARD