It’s that time of year again, when local singer-songwriters, bands, rappers, and composers seal their EPs, albums, or recordings with a bow and send them into the New Times Music Awards. Is this the year you’ll finally enter, or are you going to watch someone else take home the coveted Newtie?
The competition is open to anyone in Santa Barbara and SLO counties who has put out music in the last year. Entries are now open, and they close on Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. on the dot.
Locals can enter up to 10 original songs in five categories: The country/Americana/folk category is for you acoustic folk singers and country artists, the R&B/blues category is for the more soulful and funky among us. The rock/alternative category is for loud rockers and indie bands. The hip-hop/reggae/worldbeat category is for fire-spitting freestylers and chill reggae groups. And if your music defines genres, then we’ve got a category for you, the “open” category which is for everyone weird or otherwise.
There’s also the songwriting competition, where heartfelt poets can enter up to three songs. The album of the year award is open to artists with a complete album released between July 27, 2016, and Aug. 21, 2017. Each song or album entry costs $10, and again, entry deadline is Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.—don’t be late!
Don’t forget about the readers’ choice award, picked by local residents through the New Times Media Group’s websites from Oct. 5 through Oct. 19. The readers’ choice award allows artists with a strong local following to make a statement and win big.
The first place winners in the five genre categories must perform at the New Times Music Awards on Nov. 3 in SLO, where the groups will compete for the best live performance award. The winners of the songwriting and best album categories, along with the runners up, will receive awards at the event as well.
The New Times Media Group also releases a CD that features all of the winning artists, which winners will receive as part of a SWAG bag at the NTMA. Winners get the CD, a shirt, more goodies, and of course the bronze Newtie. There are prizes, a cheering audience, and all the honor just waiting for those who fill out an entry form and send in their music before Aug. 21.
Do you have what it takes to win the bronze Newtie? I guess we’ll see, but if you’re more used to playing music on the radio rather than an instrument, don’t forget to vote for your favorite competitors between Oct. 5 and Oct. 19. See you at the NTMAs!
Contact Managing Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 3-10, 2017.