We (U. Kay Hytz) have been nominated for the 2009 JPF music awards for one of our ambient/chill tracks - "So far Gone" from the album "An Acute Sense of The Absurd" - more info below. We are not asking you to vote for us as that would be vote rigging, and totally against the spirit of the competition - the only criteria for the judges is how much the music moves them. So, read on if you would like to know more, if not just wish us luck !
Indianapolis, IN, USA- World's Largest Music Awards Announces 2009
Nominations
Grassroots Music Organization Just Plain Folks (JPF) has announced their
nominees for the 2009 edition of their music awards. After receiving a record
setting 42,000 albums and over a half million songs from 163 countries around
the world, the organization's staff and team of volunteers filtered the music
down to both song and album nominees in 95 genres of music. This years nominees
come from over 80 different countries around the world.
It all started as a friendly effort to recognize some independent artists who
made great music which had been overlooked by the mainstream media.
Organization founder Brian Austin Whitney quickly realized there was a big empty
gap and need in the world of music to recognize more than just the top
commercial sellers. "We were getting amazing albums from unknown musicians and
composers that screamed out for attention." He continues "Whereas larger
televised awards are well suited to recognize music's most popular and
commercially successful recordings, we felt we could fill the need to recognize
the music made by the other 98% of the world." Whitney added "all the music
that is judged is actually listened to in each round. Most awards, including
the most famous, simply hand out a list of names and say 'vote' so it's based
more on fame and name recognition than it is on their actual music."
The organization spent 14 months from the initial entry date to screen all the
music and narrow down the field. JPF uses a unique mix of judges that come from
the music industry, fellow artist and songwriter peers and music fans. "We
feel that those groups mixed together make for a balanced and compelling process
which identifies a lot of music that any one group might miss."
Smaller genres are treated with the same respect as their large mainstream
counterparts and often new trends in music show up long before the mainstream
music industry notices. "We've also found some amazing talent years before a
wider audience catches on" says the groups Project Director Linda Berger. "It's
really gratifying finding new talent, but we also love it when we can recognize
established artists who are still making music that moves us even if they don't
lead the current day commercial marketplace."
So what is the criterion for judging all this music? "One simple question: Does
the music move you?" Whitney explains. "I was an active musician, songwriter
and most importantly music lover myself before starting this and when I went to
write the instructions for our first awards process back in 1998, it occurred to
me that people often use strict and rigid measuring sticks to judge music. That
seemed unnatural to me. People listen to and love music that moves them. It
doesn't matter if it was recorded by a world class superstar in a million dollar
studio or by an unknown songwriter with a laptop and a microphone in their
bedroom. There are no actual rules for why music moves people and you can't
build a formula around it though industry always tries. It either moves people
or it doesn't. Our awards process focuses on finding music that moves people
collectively from all walks of life." Whitney goes on "what better way to
motivate these great artists and writers to do more great work than to recognize
their music not for how many units they sold or who they are dating on the
Hollywood hot-list, but for how it can bring a tear, cause a giggle, make
someone's jaw drop open, get them dancing out of their seats or simply make
someone feel connected with the universe. We've found music from around the
world that does all those things. We're just happy to share it with the world
through our awards and give these creators a sincere nudge of support."
The 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards show will take place in Nashville, TN on
August 29th, 2009 at the Wildhorse Saloon. Winners will be announced live at
the show and then posted on the website the next day. For a complete listing
of this year's nominees and more information, please visit
www.justplainfolks.org.
About Just Plain Folks: JPF was founded in 1998 with 60 members and has grown
to over 50,000 members worldwide. The organization supports grassroots
songwriters and musicians through networking, education, promotional support and
a friendly nudge when needed. Membership is free as are their local chapters,
showcases and workshops in cities around the world. Visit their site for more
information: www.justplainfolks.org