About the Awards

WPGU-FM 107.1 and buzz are proud to present the fourth annual Local Music Awards. The Local Music Awards are a celebration of the vibrant art community in Champaign-Urbana. This event is all about exposing our listeners and readers to the great music scene here.

The nominees and eventual winners represent a part of the local music scene. And while not everyone can be nominated, these awards are meant to honor all the hard-working musicians in Champaign-Urbana.

In an effort to help you navigate the scene, a committee of local music enthusiasts was recruited by WPGU and the Buzz to lend insight into the nomination selection for the following award categories:

  • Best Rock Artist
  • Best Heavy/Punk Artist
  • Best Hip-Hop Artist
  • Best Folk/Americana Artist
  • Best Jazz Artist
  • Best Blues Artist
  • Best Singer/Songwriter
  • Best Producer/Engineer
  • Best DJ
  • Best New Artist in 2007
  • Album of the Year 2007

WPGU and buzz recognize, however, that the categories above do not cover all genres/participants in the local music scene. As a result, we have three additional categories so that listeners and readers can write in their own nominations:

  • Best Live Band/Performer
  • Best Student Band
  • Best Cover Band

And let's not forget, these awards are all about having fun. So, we're letting you choose up to three additional categories and winners. Honor artists with the best hair, perhaps. Or maybe the artist with the Best Christopher Walken impression. Anything you want to recognize!

Award winners will be determined solely by a simple majority vote of WPGU listeners and buzz readers. Voting will be conducted from Feb. 25 through March 15. Winners will be announced at the awards show on Thursday, April 3 at the Highdive.

To help you make your decision, the buzz and on WPGU will have special coverage during March to help listeners and readers get acquainted with local artists.


Tune in, pick up the buzz, and check out the rest of the217.com.

See you at the show!
WPGU-buzz staff



The Fine Print

Nomination Committee

The nominees are chosen each year by a committee of 10-15 people, representing many different facets of the CU music scene. This year, the committee consisted of:

  • Mark Rubel
  • Angie Heaton
  • Phil Strang
  • Dawna Nelson
  • Edward Moses
  • Ward Gollings
  • Brian Mertz
  • Matt Klomparens
  • Jon Childers
  • Travis Wayne Hurt
  • Steve Plock

Eligibility

All nominees and award candidates in all categories, including Lifetime Achievement Awards must be a resident of Champaign County. For music groups and bands, at least 50 percent of the members must be residents of Champaign County.

Nominees, where appropriate, may eligible for awards in more than one category.

The Award Year

For the "2008 WPGU Buzz Local Music Awards" Award for Record of the Year, the applicable activity year shall be Jan. 1, 2007 to Dec. 31, 2007 (the "Awards Year"). For purposes of these awards, this means that any album or record that is subject of a nomination shall have been released during the Award Year. For the "2006 WPGU Buzz Local Music Awards," the Award Year does not apply to any other award category nor to the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Voting

Voting shall be open to any readers and listeners on the web site www.the217.com

The voting period begins on Feb. 25, 2008 and ends at 5 p.m. CST on March 15, 2008. One vote per person. If the judges determine that the balloting has been tampered with in any way, the nominee affected favorably by the tampering shall be disqualified, regardless of whether the nominee took part in the ballot tampering. Judges from WPGU and the buzz reserve the right to break any voting ties.