ALBANY — In what is becoming an annual occurrence, artists from south Georgia are having a significant impact statewide as no less than a dozen area artists have been nominated for this year’s GA Music Awards.
Now in its fourth year, the GA Music Awards were created to recognize musical talent throughout the state and shine a light on some up-and-coming artists as they build their fan base. And, once again, Southwest Georgia musicians are getting their fair share of notice.
Leading the way this year are repeat nominees Unbreakable Bloodline, who are up for Best Hip-Hop Group; Nick Alligood, who is trying to win Best Country Male for the second year in a row; Faith Jackson, who is up for Best Country Female; Intoxicated Logic, who are up for Best Rock Band, and Tony B, who is nominated for Best Hip-Hop Male.
“I didn’t win the award (last year) but I wasn’t salty about it either,” said Tony B. “It only motivated me to compete harder. Overall, the least I can say, and that any talent would mostly agree on, is there’s nothing even close to the validation you receive when you’re recognized for doing something you love to do. It’s a very big honor.”
Intoxicated Logic singer Michael Burrows, who is nominated both individually and with his band, said he was both humbled and excited to learn that the Albany rock outfit was again up for a statewide award.
“Intoxicated Logic is honored to be a GA Music Awards nominee for the second year in a row,” said Burrows. “We’re really excited and grateful to everyone who voted for us to secure the nomination.”
First-time nominees from south Georgia who are joining the action include Southtown, who are nominated for Best Country Band; 3rd Class Citizen (3CC), who are also up for Best Country Band; Michael Burrows of Intoxicated Logic, who is up for Best Rock Male; Mike Little, also up for Best Rock Male; Dirt Messiah, who are nominated for Best Metal Group; Wampus Creek, who are up for Best Rock Band, and Days to Come, who are also nominated for Best Rock Band.
“I’m absolutely honored that we’ve been nominated for a GA Music Award,” said Days to Come bassist Taylor Hartley. “There are some pretty good acts in our category, so to be nominated along with them is pretty amazing.”
Jon Smith, guitarist for Unbreakable Bloodline, echoed that sentiment, saying that members of the band were thrilled to see themselves included with other talented nominees.
“We are excited and honored to be nominated for the Best Hip-Hip Band of 2015 by the GA Music Awards,” said Smith. “The GA Music Awards are a wonderful opportunity to gain further exposure while seating ourselves among great friends and incredible musical talent.”
According to Omar McCallop, founder of Award Show Nation, which produces the awards, organizers of the GA Music Awards want to make sure artists from across the state are represented for the “quality and quantity” of their music.
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McCallup said nominees are chosen in a two-step process. First artists are nominated by their fans. Then the Top 10 acts in terms of submissions are selected, and a song of theirs is sent to an expert panel. The panel picks the artists they feel show the most talent and deliver the best quality. Those picks serve as final nominees in each category.
“We want to take into account both parts of the musical landscape,” said McCallop. “You can have great music and not a lot of fans, and sometimes you can have a lot of fan support but the quality of the music isn’t there. We really want to have nominees that are talented and also popular with their fans. We want that balance.”
McCallop said another thing that makes the GA Music Awards special is that awards are given to nominees from a wide variety of genres, such as rock, country, jazz, metal, rap, hip-hop and Latin music.
“We really are one of the few awards shows that tries to bring all genres into one room,” said McCallop. “With a lot of other awards, they just focus on rock music or country music. We want people to see there’s a lot of diverse music in Georgia.”
The nominees were posted earlier this week, and fans have until Aug. 3 to cast their votes in every category. Voting can be done at awardshownow.com and are limited to one vote per registered email address or smart phone.
Once the voting is complete, the winners in each category will be announced at the GA Music Awards Show at the Buckhead Theater on Aug. 18. Tickets to that event are available at awardshownow.com or from the Buckhead Theater box office.
McCallop said performers at the awards show have not been chosen, as the organization strives to invite artists who are doing well as the voting process progresses.
“We always wait until closer to the show because we try to have the people’s choice,” said McCallop. “Certainly, if we named a well-known performer early, it might help us sell more tickets. But we always try to reference from a popularity perspective.”
McCallop added that this year the GA Music Awards will be filmed in an effort to have future awards shows shown on broadcast television, like sister event The Carolina Music Awards, which have been running for eight years.
Having already established events in Georgia, the Carolinas and Florida, McCallop said Award Show Nation is also trying to establish similar events in other states, including Tennessee and Texas.
“Right now, we have three shows that cover four states,” said McCallop. “Our goal is to have 10 awards shows across the country in the next three years.”