Nominations for the 2016 Steamtown Music Awards are open from now until July 1. Voters can nominate their favorite artists for the 2016 local music awards, which will be held on Sept. 15 and serve as the opening ceremony for the Electric City Music Conference.

Nominations will close July 1, and public voting for the “People’s Choice Award” and the “Best New Artist Award” will begin shortly after.

In a news release, music conference, co-organizer Ken Norton said, “We’re excited to unveil our online voting process this year and believe everyone will find it more fair and enjoyable. The last few years it has been a very basic and rudimentary process. This year we’ve done our research and will have a much more secure and advanced system in place.”

Local music industry professionals will vote on all other awards. Co-organizer Joe Caviston said the industry panel was built around “amazing individuals” some of whom will be back in 2016, but in the interest of fresh ears, the committee is mixing things up.

“We’re infusing it with some new members and making sure that the panel is as unbiased and diverse as humanly possible,” Caviston said in the news release. “Many of the judges will have no ties to NEPA at all.”

Nominations are being accepted for the following categories: Best New Artist; Blues Act of the Year; Country Act of the Year; DJ of the Year; Duo of the Year; Electronic Act of the Year; Folk/Americana Act of the Year; Hip Hop/Urban Act of the Year; Indie Rock Act of the Year; Jam/Reggae Act of the Year; Jazz Act of the Year; Metal Act of the Year; Pop/Top 40 Act of the Year; Punk/Hardcore Act of the Year; Rock/Alternative Act of the Year; Tribute/Cover Band of the Year; Male Vocalist of the Year; Female Vocalist of the Year; Guitarist of the Year, Bassist of the Year; Drummer of the Year; Music Video of the Year; Album of the Year; and Song of the Year.

Nominations for music industry awards are being accepted for: Local Recording Studio of the Year; Local Music Publication of the Year; Local Music Journalist of the Year; Local Radio Station of the Year; Local Radio DJ of the Year; Local Radio Station of the Year; and Local Radio DJ of the Year.

“Local Music Photographer of the Year” and “NEPA Live Music Venue of the Year” will be new additions to the 2016 awards, and winners will be selected by online voting.

Stay tuned for more information concerning the 2016 Local Music Award show.

Weekender Staff Report

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