Dear Readers,

For the past five years, we started taking nominations for our annual Limelight Magazine Music Awards on Election Day. However, this year we have decided to make a much needed change to the process. By starting the first week of November, we are leaving out two months of the year, when some musicians typically wait to release music. Since we want our awards to truly represent a full calendar year, we will begin the nominating process in January from now on.

Rather than solicit nominations over an eight week period, we’re hoping to do this over a two to three week span this year to steam line the process. One week later, public voting will take place and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held at South Shore Music Hall in Quincy, Mass., on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Like last year, eight artists will be randomly selected from all the nominees on the ballot and asked to perform at the awards show.

Additionally, the nominating process will once again be completely fan driven, with the exception of the “Song of the Year” award which will be nominated by radio DJs who support the local music scene. The top eight artists who receive the most nominations in a specific category will be placed on the final ballot. However, anyone who won an award in a specific category last year is ineligible to be nominated for that same award this year. (Runner ups can be nominated since they didn’t actually win). The Legend and Unsung Hero awards are the only two awards that will not be nominated or voted on by the public. Instead, they will be chosen by the co-publishers of Limelight Magazine.

In closing, we thank you for your continued support of the local music scene and for supporting us in our endeavors.

Sincerely,

Jay & Katie