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Award
Categories & Criteria

Each category listed in the Award Category section is nominated based on all criteria listed in the connected section listed as Nomination Criteria. 

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best R&B/Soul Artist Female
Best R&B/Soul Artist Male
Best Country Solo Artist Female
Best Country Solo Artist Male
Best Country Duo or Group
Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist Male

Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist Female

Best Hip Hop/Rap Group
Best Blues Artist
Best Funk/Reggae/Fusion Band
Best ALT Rock Band
Best Hard Rock/Metal Band
Best Pop/Punk Band

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Overall Ability/Excellence of the Craft

- Songwriting/Production

- Media/Online Presence & Engagement  (Internet, Print, Social Media, Blogs Radio, Podcast etc…)

- Music released for purchase and/or streaming at Digital Service Providers 

- Overall Presence (tours in America and /or abroad

-Street Buzz (Brand Movement and/or Progress) 

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Live Rock Performer(s)
Best Live R&B/Soul Performer(s)
Best Live Hip-Hop/Rap Performer(s)
Best Live Blues Performer(s)
Best Live Country Performer(s)

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Delivery

- Lyrical/Musical Content

- Stage Presence

- Overall Presence/Movement (tours in America and /or abroad)

- Overall Ability of  the Live Show Craft

 -Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan 1st - Dec 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Jazz Instrumentalist
Best Jazz Vocalist

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Overall Ability/Excellence of the Craft

- Overall Presence/Movement (tours in America and /or abroad)

- Media/Online Presence & Engagement (Internet, Print, Social Media, Blogs Radio, Podcast etc…)

- Content (proficiency in original arrangements and/or original material)

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Jazz Group

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Collective Makeup (consists of three or more members in the ensemble with semi-consistent personnel)

- Overall Presence/Movement (gigs in America and /or abroad

- Content (original compositions and arrangements contributed by two or more of the group’s members)

- Media/Online Presence & Engagement (Internet, Print, Social Media, Blogs Radio, Podcast etc…)

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Jazz Album

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Collection of songs consisting of more than eight tracks or have a total running time of more than 34 minutes

- Overall Sonic Sound

- Project must be available for purchase and/or streaming at Digital Service Providers/Online Stores

- Contain at least four original compositions or distinctive arrangements

- Album released between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Rock Album

Best Rap Album

Best Country Album

Best R&B Album

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Collection of songs consisting of a minimum of 5 different tracks and a total running time of 20 minutes 

- Overall Sonic Sound

- Project must be available for purchase and/or streaming at Digital Service Providers/Online Stores

- Overall Songwriting/Production

- Original Material (20% of album can be covers or well known remakes )

- Album released between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• Other Criteria That Could Be Considered

- Album Concept

- Street Buzz (Movement and/or Progress of Album)

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Video

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Film Production/Direction

- Video Concept

- Editing

- Originally 

- Production Quality 

- Video released between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Visual Art (Includes Video Producers/Directors, Graphic Designers)

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Quality Of Work

- Creativity

- Artistic Ability

- Professionalism 

- Work Ethic

- Turnaround Times

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Photographer

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Quality Of Work

- Creativity

- Artistic Ability

- Professionalism

- Turnaround Times

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Media Outlet (Includes, Print, Online, Blogs, Podcasts, TV, Radio)

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Market Relevance & Popularity

- Covers Up & Coming Artist and not just the already established 

- New Material Consistency 

- Story Accuracy

- Professionalism

- Social Media/Online Presence & Engagement 

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Studio

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Equipment Hardware & Software

- Ambiance

- Professional & Easy To Work With Engineers

- Cost Efficient Rates

- Friendly Staff

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Producer

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Ability To Turn Composed Music & Words Music Into a Complete Song

- Ability To Communicate, Guide, & Direct Artist and Musicians

- Creativity

- Vision

- Ability To Motivate, & Bring Out The Best In Artist/Musicians During Recording Sessions

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Best Podcast 

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

• Other Criteria That Could Be Considered

- Video podcast and it’s video production quality 

- Show Promo

- Brand Movement & Progress

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Rawlow B Award “Grinder of the Year”

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Market Relevance & Popularity

- Covers Up & Coming Artist and not just the already established 

- Production Quality 

- Show Consistency 

- Professionalism

- Host Engagement with Guest 

- Social Media/Online Presence & Engagement 

- Show Concepts

- Originally 

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

- Someone who represents innovation in the indie urban world of music & entertainment 

- An industry figure who is ahead of his/her time

- Someone who consistently pushes the culture forward 

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Promoter of the Year

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Books & Promote For Various Artist, Venues, Genres In America and/or Abroad Including Radio Promotion

- Helps Artist Reach Their Full Potential

- Ability To Reach Maximum Fan Outreach Through Social Media, Emails, Electronic & Hard Copy Flyers, Posters

- Online Reach, Presence & Engagement 

- Promotes Shows Year Round

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Song of the Year

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Original Music Composition and Lyrics

-Overall Sonic Sound

- Song must be officially released and available for purchase and/or streaming at Digital Service Providers 

- Overall Songwriting/Production

- Movement and/or Progress of Song

- Album released between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• AWARDS CATEGORY

Album of the Year

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Collection of songs consisting of a minimum of 5 different tracks and a total running time of 20 minutes 

- Overall Sonic Sound

- Album must be officially released for purchase and/or streaming at Digital Service Providers and/or Online Stores

- Overall Songwriting/Production

- Original Material (20% of album can be covers or well known remakes)

- Album released between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

• Other Criteria That Could Be Considered

- Album Concept

- Street Buzz (Movement and/or Progress of Album)

 • AWARDS CATEGORY

Artist of the Year

• NOMINATION CRITERIA

- Released new music between January 1st December 31st of the previous year

- Overall Ability/Excellence of the Craft

- High Level of Artistry 

- High Level of Live Performance Skill

- Media/Online Presence & Engagement (Internet, Print, Social Media, Blogs Radio, Podcast etc…)

- Overall Presence (tours in America and /or abroad

-Street Buzz (Brand Movement and/or Progress) 

- Work Ethic: Based on work done between the previous calendar year Jan. 1st - Dec. 31st

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