After a great deal of research and consideration, The Ohio Music Awards have changed the entry deadline. The 2018 entry deadline is August 31. We've realized that we make the most contact with Ohio artists during the summer months, and there is a great deal of excitement about the awards. However, many artist have told us that the November deadline created no sense of urgency to enter during the summer months, "Honestly, I wanted to enter, but kept putting it off until it was too late," is a comment we heard often.

The other reason for the change is the hope that it will help us realize our goal of having a live event each year, featuring winning artists and other notables.

So, mark your calendar and get that music in!

After telling the history of the OMAs to some newspapers, some of them said, "You should really share that story with everyone who visits your site." So, here goes:

A few years ago I recorded some demos for a songwriter in New Mexico. About 6 months later, I received a random CD in the mail from a band called RACECAR. There was no note, no message, just the CD. As I read the liner notes, I noticed my name listed as one of the band members. "Hmmmmmm," I thought. So, of course I then listened. After the 3rd or 4th track, there was one of the demos that I recorded for that writer in New Mexico. The other demo was a few tracks past that one. So,  though I thought it strange, I didn't give it much more thought.

About 2 weeks after receiving the CD, I got a call from the writer in New Mexico asking me if I received the CD. He explained that he wanted to create a CD with sort of a "virtual" band, so he recorded a few songs himself, and the others he sent to a handful of demo studios around the country. He then compiled them into one CD.

He then explained that the CD was up for "Best Rock CD" in the New Mexico Music Awards. A few more weeks passed and,to my surprise, I received a lovely trophy in the mail for our "Best Rock CD." 

That made me curious about the New Mexico Music Awards, so I researched them and loved what they were doing for New Mexico artists. "Certainly, there must be an Ohio Music Awards," I thought. But there was not.

I will be honest, it took a few years to get the OMAs in motion - I really didn't want to organize an awards program, however I knew that eventually someone would, and let's face it, there is a potential to really take advantage of artists. So, fearing that might happen, I thought it better to organize with the intent of sharing Ohio Music and helping artists get the attention they need and deserve.

Of course, that often brings up the question, "Well if it's just about the music and the artists, why is there an entry fee?" There are two really good reasons; the first is a practical one: Say you're a songwriter. Say you have written maybe 20 songs - maybe 200 songs. If there was no reason for you to be picky about what you entered, you would probably enter all the songs you've ever written. And if every Ohio artist did that, we'd have tens of thousands of entries that could never be judged and the OMAs would not exist. The second reason, of course, is to offset the costs of the awards and the web presence. 

So while it may not be perfect, we're working on it. Many artists are seeing the benefit of being recognized as one of the best in Ohio. Some of our judges have reached out to artists they would like to work with. And, of course, more people get to hear more Ohio music. 

That's the story - now go listen to some Ohio Music!

We've been honored to celebrate the best of Ohio Music by posting music on our main page. Now, we're hoping to add videos as well. If you have entered The Ohio Music Awards and have a youtube video that you would like to share with us, email us the link. Videos don't need to be perfect or professional - they just need to get your music across to listeners. 

     Ohio has been the hometown of a plethora of great musicians. The month of June we celebrate the birthdays of two: Dean Martin and Boz Scags.
     Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti June 7, 1917. Throughout his career, Martin enjoyed dozens of hit singles including his signature songs "That's Amore," "Volare," and "Aint That a Kick in the Head?"
     Boz Scaggs was born June 8, 1944. He gained fame in the 1960s as a guitarist and one-time lead singer with the Steve Miller Band, and in the 1970s with several solo Top 20 Hits, including the hits "Lido Shuffle," and "Lowdown" from the critically acclaimed album Silk Degrees (1976), which peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200. Scaggs continues to write, record music, and tour.

In the spirit of the Ohio Music Awards to celebrate the best or Ohio music, we also want to keep you aware of the great concert events going on in our great state. Now, we can't list everything, of course, but we do try to keep you up to date on music festivals. And we're proud of this one as it's in our hometown. 

The 38th Annual Tri-C Jazz Fest will begin in Cleveland on June 23. The lineup includes Chris Botti, Boney James, Boz Scaggs, Dianne Reeves and many more in the historic theaters of Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland. Visit their website here http://www.tri-c.edu/jazzfest/​

The Ohio Music Awards is excited to kick off the fourth annual Ohio Music Awards! For four years, the OMAs have been celebrating the very best of Ohio music. Award winners have enjoyed being featured on our main page during the year, and have increased their exposure across the state and country! A few minutes on the home page reveals the incredible music being made in our state. This year, we have some changes that we think you'll appreciate as we aim to increase exposure to your music even more, and make entering even easier. Look for those details in the coming days. Spread the word to your favorite Ohio artists!

We are so excited at the start of the 2016 Ohio Music Awards and the changes and opportunities that come with it. Those of you who have been aware of the OMAs from the start know that this is just our 3rd annual awards event, and while we think we're still somewhere in our infancy, we are overwhelmed at both the level of talent we're finding and the increased exposure we're able to provide Ohio artists.

We want to use this blog for two things: 1. to say thank you to the artists who have submitted their music, and 2. to tell you about a few new things we've added.

So first, thank you Ohio! We have heard from so many artists and heard so much great music. And thank you music fans who have helped your favorite artists get their music to us with the use of the OMA Gift Certificates!

For the 2016 OMAs we have made a few improvements. First, because we receive far more entries in the final weeks of the contest, we have created some great incentives to get your music in early. Check out the "About" or "Enter Now" tabs to see why July is such an important month. Also, this year, we hope to add the OMA Hall of Fame. Any Ohio artist who wins an award three times will be inducted into The Ohio Music Awards Hall of Fame!

Finally, we want to share our excitement at getting new artists greater exposure. You've certainly noticed that our winners' pictures and music are featured on our home page, and they stay there throughout the year. During peak months, the Ohio Music Awards website brings thousands of views to artists' music.

If you're new to the OMAs and have questions, scroll through the earlier blog posts and you'll learn about our mission and our history. Thanks for helping us celebrate the very best of Ohio!

     Now fans can help their favorite bands and artists get their music noticed! We're sure you've noticed by now that each year's winners are featured on our home page. With over 12,000 views a month, imagine your favorite band or artist on our home page along with their music.
     After receiving many emails from fans asking if they could submit their favorite artist's music, we've created away. While fans cannot submit the music (the music belongs to the artist and, so, cannot be submitted by anyone but the artist) fans and friends can purchase a gift certificate that allows the artist to submit for free. 
     Fans can find the gift certificate on the bottom of the "Enter Now" page. Simply follow the link and sponsor your favorite artist in The 2015 Ohio Music Awards. Another way you can support local music!
     

You've seen it lots of times - maybe you've done it lots of times. Bands and artists encouraging their fans to "vote" for them in the most current music competition. These are most often sponsored by local print and digital media sources. In these, a band or artist is "nominated" as the best (fill in city, and genre) band, and the name goes on the site for fans to vote. Of course, in a perfect world, all of us music lovers would look at the list, seek out each artist or band, find their music (because it's never on the voting site), and vote on which we thought was the best in that particular genre.

But you know it doesn't work that way. And so, what is supposed to be a music competition turns into a popularity contest. It doesn't mean that the winners don't have great music - they may, but what they most certainly have is the most fans. 

The Ohio Music Awards sought to break that model and create one in which the music is judged on its own merit and not on how many clicks a band can drum up (pun intended). That is why we don't use fan votes, rather we use judges who are industry professionals from across the state, and their credentials are pretty impressive. You can read about many of them in an earlier blog.

Lets face it, we have a lot of great music in Ohio, we've heard it and that's why we created the OMAs. However, as great as the music is that we've heard, there is often even greater music that we haven't heard. 

That's what makes the OMAs different - it's fair and it judges only the music.