Awards Categories

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category may be defined as a genre of music that embraces attributes of progression and innovation in both the music and attitudes associated with it. It may embrace sub-genres such as indie rock, experimental or DJ-based music, or any hybrids thereof. Some punk rock recordings that feature musical elements outside those typically found in the genre may be submitted in alternative; other types of punk rock recordings may be deemed most appropriate for submission into the rock or pop categories.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of Blues styles of music including traditional and contemporary, solo or as a group, instrumental or vocal.

Submissions may be acoustic or electric.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings created and intended specifically for children or a young listening audience, solo or as a group.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of instrumental or vocal works for soloists, chamber ensembles, instrumental ensembles, and instrumental soloists with large ensemble or chamber ensemble accompaniment. A composition is generally one body of work, but may contain multiple movements to make up one composition.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of Country music styles, including but not limited to Alt-Country, traditional Country, Western Swing and other recognized Country music styles.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group.

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of EDM (Electronic Dance Music) styles.

Submissions should be music styles and original recordings that are composed with electronic equipment as the essential song writing tools and defined by their electronic elements. Vocals or tracks containing prominently recognizable samplings, interpolations or replayed elements will be eligible ONLY if the artist/group can provide written confirmation that reasonable attempts have been made to obtain proper clearance.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of Folk music styles that include authentic Folk material in both traditional vocal and instrumental styles, as well as contemporary material by artists who use traditional Folk elements, sounds and instrumental techniques as the basis for their recordings. The music may be mainly acoustic, although it does not have to be exclusively acoustic. It should use arrangements and production that sets it apart from a Pop approach.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of music that includes any and all styles that demonstrate inspirational faith or holiday themed, including but not limited to: Traditional, Contemporary, Country, Alternative, Pop, Rock, Urban, Dance, Rap, Hip Hop etc.

Submissions will be accepted from choirs, groups, solo performers and instrumental or acapella artists.

As this is a diverse category, genre-wise, adjudication will take into account the lyrics, songwriting and performance rather than musical style.

NOTE: you may only submit your music to ONE Recording category only. You cannot submit it to both this category and another based on genre.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of Jazz styles of music including traditional and contemporary, solo or as a group, instrumental or vocal.

Submissions may also cover sub-genres such as Traditional, Stride, Ragtime, Swing, Bebop, Hard Bop, Cool Jazz, Modal Jazz, Fusion, Nu-Jazz, ‘Acid Jazz’, Smooth, Avant-Garde, Free Improvisation, Third Stream & Orchestral.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of Metal music styles including but not limited to Heavy Metal, traditional/classic Metal, Metalcore, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Black Metal and any other sub-genres. There may be clean, growled, or screamed vocals or any combination of vocal types.

Mainstream Rock, Alternative, and Punk artists are not eligible for this category. Rock based albums should submit to Rock Recording of the Year; Alternative albums should submit to Alternative Recording of the Year. Punk recordings should submit to the category closest to their style of Punk i.e. Punk Rock should submit to Rock Recording of the Year; Pop Punk should submit to Pop Recording of the Year etc.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of Pop music styles that include but are not limited to mainstream Pop, Top 40, CHR, HOT AC, as well as Indie and other Pop styles or sub-genres not accessible on mainstream radio i.e. Pop Punk

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of R & B, Soul, Funk, Nu Jazz etc.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of predominantly Rap music; a minimum of 50% of the recording. Lyrics must be delivered in an MC style with music/ beats reflecting the sound of traditional and/ or current Rap or Hip Hop music.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings of Rock styles of music (which usually revolves around the electric guitar or acoustic guitar, and it uses a strong back beat laid down by a rhythm section of electric bass guitar, drums, and keyboard instruments.) This may include but is not exclusive to such sub-genres as, soft Rock, glam Rock, Punk Rock, progressive Rock, hard Rock and what may be considered mainstream, contemporary and/or Popular Rock.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **

Awarded To:

Recording Artist or Group

Category Description:

This category is open to recordings that encompass one (1) or more traditional or cross-cultural music from around the World. This includes but is not limited to roots based or cross-cultural music styles from regions such as; North American Indigenous, South and Central America, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and the Caribbean.

Submission Requirements:

The album or single must have been commercially released between March 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023 to be eligible. ** Singles may not be part of a collection previously nominated **