Rules and Criteria for the Irish Music Awards
Rules:
One vote per person.
Maximum of two voters per IP address with different email addresses and payment methods.
Please do not try to cheat - we will catch you and it will make us sad. You must be a registered member by January 1, 2015 to be eligible to vote in this 2014 IMA awards.
Top Solo Performer in Concert (US, IRE, EU, UK)
Solo performing artist who epitomizes the music of the Irish people, yesterday, today, and tomorrow, appearing mainly in a concert venue world wide. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The artist must be published with at least one CD to his or her credit.
Top Solo Performer in a Pub Venue (US, IRE, EU, UK)
Solo performing artist performing mainly traditional Irish music in pub venues locally, regionally, or world wide. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The artist must be published with at least one CD to his or her credit.
Top Duo in a Pub, Festival, Concert (US, IRE, EU, UK)
Duo performing mainly traditional Irish music in pub venues world wide. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The duo must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Top Group (US, IRE, EU, UK)
Group performing the music of the Irish people, yesterday, today, and tomorrow, appearing mainly in a concert venue world wide. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The group must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Best New Irish Artist(s) (IRE, EU, US, UK)
Solo/Group performing Irish music appearing locally, regionally, or world wide. A professional website is not mandatory for this category. My Space is allowed. The artist(s) must be published with at least one CD released.
Best New Irish CD
Artist(s) must be a member of the Irish Music Association or a recipient of the IMA Award from a previous year, and a professional website is mandatory for this category. MySpace or similar is allowed. Music submitted should be tradtitonal Irish music. MP3s are not considered a CD. Only a hard copy professionally published audio CD/DVD will be considered. Along with your CD please include the name and number of one track from the CD that we can include as a sample on our website. This track will be made available in full to the general public as a sample of your album. If you prefer we share only a partial track please include the partial track on a separate disc (minimum 30 seconds).
All CD/DVDs being submitted for competition should be sent (and received no later than October 1st) to:
Irish Music Association
P.O. Box 24645
Kansas City MO
64131
USA
CD/DVDs received after October 1st will not be considered for the year's competition in which it was submitted.
Celtic Rock Band (IRE, EU, US, UK)
Group performing celtic music (a general term meaning mainly, and pertaining to: Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English, Nova Scotia, Brittainy). Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Northern Europe. As such, there is no real body of music which can be accurately described as Celtic, but the term has stuck and may refer to both orally-transmitted traditional music and recorded popular music. The latter sometimes has barely even a superficial resemblance to folk music of any of the Celtic cultures, but on the other hand it sometimes represents sincere work towards adapting Celtic traditions for modern, global culture. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The group must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Irish Tenor (individual)
Tenor appearing mainly in a concert venue world wide. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The artist must be published with at least one CD to his credit.
Female Vocalist (individual)
Appearing in a concert, festival, or pub venue world wide. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The artist must be published with at least one CD to her credit.
Sean-nos Singer
Un-accompanied singer, Irish born, male or female, singing traditional songs in Irish or English. No website is required. No recorded music is required.
Traditional Performance Show
Staged show that expresses with music, and/or dance, one or more of the following: story, history, culture, politics, religion or music of Ireland. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The group or individual must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Traditional Group - In Pub, Festival, & Concert
Group that demonstrates its ability to perform equally as well in all three venues; from a small stage (Pub), Festivals, to a large concert hall or in a media production. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The group or individual must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Tommy Makem Award
This award will be given in honor by the Irish Music Association and its members only; an Irish music act that best reflects the performance style, philosophy, and traditional approach to Irish music like that of Tommy Makem. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The group or individual must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Uilleann Piper (US, IRE, EU, UK)
See http://www.irelandseye.com/aarticles/culture/music/traditional/ulil.shtm A professional website is mandatory for this category. The individual must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Harpist (US, IRE, EU, UK)
Best harpists in US, IRE, or EU. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The individual must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Fiddle/Violin (US, IRE, EU, UK)
Best fiddle/violin in US, IRE, or EU. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The individual must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Button Accordion (US, IRE, EU, UK)
Best Button Accordion in US, IRE, or EU. A professional website is mandatory for this category. The individual must be published with at least one CD to their credit.
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award will be given to someone who has dedicated their life to Irish Music and continues to be an icon in the Irish Music community globally.