The 2016 Lehigh Valley Music Awards are a little more than four months away, but local music fans and supporters have the opportunity to start casting their nomination ballots.
Nominations for the 17th annual LVMAs are open through Nov. 16, with voting scheduled to start Dec. 7, at lehighvalleymusicawards.org, ArtsQuest officials announced Monday. The Lehigh Valley Music Awards, scheduled for 4 p.m. March 6 at Musikfest Cafe at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, is a joint partnership between ArtsQuest and the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association.
Voting is open to residents of the greater Lehigh Valley, which is defined on the site as those who live in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, and parts of Berks County, in Pennsylvania, and Warren County in New Jersey. Only one vote per IP address is allowed, according to the site. The qualifying time period for nomination eligibility is August 2014 through July 2015.
The category breakdowns are:
Fan Voting
- Outstanding Album
- Outstanding Original Song
- Outstanding Video
- Outstanding Website of 2015
- Outstanding Industry Volunteer
- Outstanding Club DJ
- Outstanding College/Community Radio Station
- Outstanding College/Community Radio Station Personality
- Outstanding Commercial Radio Station
- Outstanding Commercial Radio Station Personality
- Outstanding High School Marching Band
- Outstanding Singer-Songwriter
- Outstanding Female Artist
- Outstanding Male Artist
- Outstanding All Around Performer
- Outstanding Child Performer
- Outstanding Open Mic
- Outstanding Open Jam
Industry Voting
- Outstanding Music Store
- Outstanding Music Supporter (Individual)
- Outstanding Music Supporter (Organization)
- Outstanding Music Reviewer
- Outstanding Music Photographer
- Outstanding Video Producer
- Outstanding Youth Band Associated with a School
- Outstanding Youth Band Not Associated with a School
- Outstanding Children's Band
- Outstanding New Band/Soloist
- Outstanding World Music Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Folk Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Jazz Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Blues Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Country Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Bluegrass Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Americana Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Polka Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Urban/Hip-Hop Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Rhythm & Blues Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Spoken Word Group/Soloist
- Outstanding Jam Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Punk Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Rock Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Loud Rock Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Metal Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Contemporary Christian Band/Soloist
- Outstanding Gospel Group/Soloist
- Outstanding Classical/Opera Soloist
- Outstanding Choral/Classical Group/Ensemble
- Outstanding Child Audience Music Performer
- Outstanding Singer-Songwriter
- Outstanding All Around Performer
- Outstanding Female Vocalist
- Outstanding Male Vocalist
- Outstanding Acoustic Guitarist
- Outstanding Electric Guitarist
- Outstanding Bass Guitarist
- Outstanding Drummer/Percussionist
- Outstanding Keyboardist
- Outstanding Pianist
- Outstanding Harmonicist
- Outstanding Wind/Brass Instrumentalist
- Outstanding String Instrumentalist
- Outstanding Recording Studio
- Outstanding Music Producer
- Outstanding Sound Technician
- Outstanding Fusion Bluegrass Artist/Band
- Outstanding Spiritual Urban Artist/Band
Singer-songwriter Scott Marshall led the 2015 LVMAs, taking home five statuettes. Marshall was followed by singer Sarah Ayers, with four wins, and blues singer-harmonica player James Supra, with three.
Tickets for LVMA 17, which cost $20, go on sale 10 a.m. Dec. 7 through steelstacks.org and by phone at 610-332-3378.