Nashville Music Awards Honor Swift, Other Locals
Taylor Swift was the big winner at the Nashville Music Awards last night (10/7), collecting three trophies during a reception at the Cannery Ballroom. The 19-year-old Big Machine recording artist was named Artist of the Year and Songwriter/Artist of the Year, with her album Fearless earning Country Album of the Year honors.
Presented by Leadership Music in partnership with music festival and conference Next Big Nashville (NBN), the Nashville Music Awards were established to recognize outstanding contributions in all genres of music and to celebrate the diversity and quality of artists and music professionals who call Nashville their home.
Other highlights include Lady Antebellum scoring New Artist of the Year, Jack White being named Top Instrumentalist, Liz Rose being voted Songwriter of the Year, and Regie Hamm’s “The Time of My Life” performed by American Idol winner David Cook, taking home Song of the Year. In the album categories, Jars of Clay won for Gospel/Contemporary Christian, and Kings of Leon received the trophy for Pop/Rock.
Winners were announced in 19 categories by NMA nominating committee members including NBN Owner Jason Moon Wilkins, Warner Chappell Sr. VP Tracy Gershon, and Leadership Music board member Robert K. Oermann.
This year marks the first partnership between Leadership Music and Next Big Nashville for this awards presentation, held on the opening night of the NBN festival. The NMAs previously were produced from 1995 through 2000 by Leadership Music. The 2009 winners were chosen by popular vote via online balloting. Eligible recordings or projects must have been active in the marketplace between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009 and NMA awards are limited to persons and organizations residing in Davidson County and surrounding counties.
The Nashville Music Award trophy was designed and donated by George P. Johnson. A complete list of 2009 Nashville Music Awards winners follows. Look for a detailed report of the Awards ceremony from MusicRow’s own Bobby Karl in tomorrow’s @MusicRow, for paid subscribers only.
2009 Winners
Artist Of The Year: Taylor Swift
Best New Artist: Lady Antebellum
Song Of The Year: “The Time Of My Life,” Written By Regie Hamm (Recorded By David Cook)
Next Big Nashville Award (Emerging Artist): Brooke Waggoner
Songwriter Of The Year: Liz Rose
Songwriter-Artist Of The Year: Taylor Swift
Poster/Album Artwork/Packaging Of The Year: Roy Orbison, The Soul Of Rock And Roll Boxed Set, Latocki Team Creative
Instrumentalist Of The Year: Jack White
Music Video/Film Of The Year: Rascal Flatts, “Here Comes Goodbye,” Directed By Shaun Silva
Made In Music City Award (For A Recording Made In Nashville By A Non-Nashville Artist): Elvis Costello, Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, T Bone Burnett, Producer; Recorded At Sound Emporium Studio
Bluegrass Album Of The Year: The Steeldrivers, The Steeldrivers on Rounder Records
Country Album Of The Year: Taylor Swift, Fearless on Big Machine Records
Americana Album Of The Year: Sarah Siskind, Say It Louder on Request/Thirty Tigers Records
Urban Recording Of The Year: April Rucker, Here I Stand [EP] By One Staj Music Group
Gospel/Contemporary Christian Album Of The Year: Jars Of Clay, The Long Fall Back To Earth on Gray Matters/Essential Records
Jazz/Blues Album Of The Year: Take 6, The Standard on Heads Up Records (Telarc)
Pop/Rock Album Of The Year: Kings Of Leon, Only By The Night on RCA
Innovator: Landmark Digital Services, LLC for Bluearrow Audio Recognition
Heritage Award: The Fisk Jubilee Singers, Accepted By Musical Director Paul Kwami
Other cities with less vibrancy have lifted up their music scenes with annual award events for years. Everyone really needs to support the long overdue return of the Nashville Music Awards. This could – and should – become THE best party of the year in Nashville.