After holding eight consecutive Limelight Magazine Music Awards ceremonies, we decided to take 2017 off to self-evaluate this event. During this time, we discussed several different options and decided to put the event on indefinite hiatus because the cons outweigh the pros in hosting this event again.

As we stated last year, the Limelight Magazine Music Awards has always been a major undertaking and took a considerable amount of time to plan. It was a very successful event with increased attendance each year. The most exciting part was seeing the excitement it brought to so many local musicians, many of whom were never recognized by anyone from the New England music scene before.

Despite this fact, there was always a lot of negativity on social media that took the joy out of hosting this event each year. From being criticized for the nomination process to some musicians bad mouthing other musicians were things we never expected to see. Furthermore, it seems more readers’ polls and awards ceremonies are taking place each year and we feel there is some truth to the tongue-in-cheek bumper sticker that is sold at many record stores that says, “No More Music Award Shows.”

Lastly, we’d like to respond to some of the negative comments we received over the years. It may now seem pointless, but it may help to understand some of the reasons for our decision.

It’s a popularity contest. You should have people in the music industry make the nominations and decide the winners. (via Facebook post)

We firmly agree that every awards show is flawed. There is no perfect event because people are always involved in the process and have their own biased tastes. The Grammy’s and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for example, are decided by industry professionals and we often hear and read about what a joke those events are. Remember Jethro Tull being nominating in the heavy metal category and winning!?! What about all the deserving acts who have been ignored for years by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame committee!?! We could go on and on, but ultimately we are proud of the process we had because it enabled many musicians to be recognized who might not ordinarily receive it.

I honestly don’t understand how disconnected an awards show can be to even let some of these bands be nominated. Some of these bands have little to no talent. This is a flat out embarrassment.  (via website comment)

You would probably say that about any local music awards ceremony. Get out to some local shows and you’d recognize some of the names on the ballot. Who knows? Maybe you’d like some of them.

I’ve been a local musician for years and that [expletive] act won over me. That band sucks. Almost everyone on the ballot sucks. (via Facebook comment)

We’re sorry you felt that way about another musician. Life isn’t fair and things like this happen all the time. At least you were recognized by your fans and made the ballot. It’s too bad you never shared the poll on your social media pages because you could have won.

The winners know in advance. I just know it! (via Facebook comment)

We still laugh about this one. The host(s) of the event didn’t even know until they received the winner’s name in a sealed envelope. If so many people knew, why were so many winners not in attendance or an acceptance speech prepared on their behalf?

OMG! You charge a $10 admission fee. That’s outrageous. (via e-mail)

Due to a lack of sponsorships (or very few of them) each year, the co-owners of Limelight Magazine funded the entire awards ceremony out of their own pockets because of their passion for music. They had to pay for rent, sound tech, online survey, awards, host stipend, marketing, credit card fees on ticket sales, and other expenses. One year the awards show generated $16 profit and that’s because our photographer and her husband bought a ticket at the door. The admission was still cheaper than a night out at the movies and you got to see seven or eight acts perform live and hang out and network with your peers.

We could respond to more comments, but this already is long enough. In closing, we’d like to congratulate all the past nominees and winners. A complete list of all the winners for over the years appears below.

8th Limelight Magazine Music Awards
@ Spire Center for Performing Arts, Plymouth, MA
Saturday, April 16, 2016

Unsung Hero Award
Shanna Jackman

Band of the Year
Flight of Fire

Live Artist of the Year
The Shana Stack Band

Album of the Year (Group)
21st Century Fugitives – Losing Time

Album of the Year (Solo Artist)
Carissa Johnson – For Now

Male Vocalist of the Year
Rob Pagnano

Female Vocalist of the Year
Amy Marie

Tribute Band of the Year
Heartbreaker – A Tribute to Led Zeppelin

Metal/Hardcore Act of the Year
Death wish

Debut Album of the Year
Matt York – Boston, Texas

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Bad Marriage

Young Performer of the Year
Sarah Deanna

Singer/Songwriter of the Year
Michael Spaulding

Country Artist of the Year
Timmy Brown and Black Diamond

Video of the Year (Group)
Red Evans – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”

Video of the Year (Solo)
Matthew Neves – “Today Is The Day”

Song of the Year
The Aldous Collins Band – “Bernadette”

7th Limelight Magazine Music Awards
@ Spire Center for Performing Arts, Plymouth, MA
Saturday, March 21, 2015

Legend Award
New England

Unsung Hero Award
Robin Lane

Band of the Year
The House on Cliff

Live Artist of the Year
Marianne Toilet and The Runs

Album of the Year (Group)
Dan Lawson Band – Soldiers of Fortune (tie)
The Quins – A Tale of Love and Evil (tie)

Album of the Year (Solo)
Susan Cattaneo – Haunted Heart

Male Vocalist of the Year
Walter Barlow

Female Vocalist of the Year
Jenna Lotti

Tribute Band of the Year
Beatles for Sale – Tribute to The Beatles

Metal/Hardcore Act of the Year
Along Came the Flood

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
The Dust Ruffles

Young Performer of the Year
Emily Hodges

Singer-Songwriter of the Year
Amy Fairchild

Country Artist of the Year
Shana Stack Band

Video of the Year (Group)
Singlecast – “Running to You”

Video of the Year (Solo)
Boston Catalano – “Stronger” (tie)
Joe Merrick – “Kiss Me Like It’s New Year’s Eve” (tie)

Song of the Year
The October Accord – “Better Off Without You”

6th Limelight Magazine Music Awards
@ South Shore Music, Quincy, MA
Saturday, March 22, 2014

Legend Award
Extreme

Unsung Hero Award
Ayla Brown

Service Award
Jessica Botelho

Band of the Year
Grace Morrison and the RSO

Live Artist of the Year
Bigtalkahh

Album of the Year (Group)
Beyond Blonde – Purple Rose
​
Album of the Year (Solo)
Jamie Lynn Hart – Live At Tupelo

Male Vocalist of the Year
Joe Merrick

Female Vocalist of the Year ​
Brianna Grace

Tribute Band of the Year
Forever Young (Neil Young)

Metal/Hardcore Act of the Year
Hellspeak

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Closer Than We Appear

Young Performer of the Year
21st Century Fugitives
​
Singer/Songwriter of the Year
Krista Baroni

Country Artist of the Year
Britt Hill

Video of the Year (Group)
The Devil’s Twins – “Love and War”

Video of the Year (Solo)
Jamie Lynn Hart – “Down”

Song of the Year
Kiley Evans & Joe Merrick – “We’d Be Lying”
​
5th Limelight Magazine Music Awards
@ Rock Junction, Coventry, RI
Saturday, March 16, 2013

Legend Award
BOSTON

Unsung Hero Award
Lisa Guyer

DJ Most Supportive of the Local Music Scene
Lisa Azizian & John Shea

Band of the Year
Lisa Markovich & Beyond Blonde

Live Artist of the Year
Awesome Express

Album of the Year (Group)
Closer Than We Appear – Evaluating Expressions

Album of the Year (Solo)
Sarah Swain – Every Little Bird

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jesse Liam

Female Vocalist of the Year
Jessica Prouty

Tribute Band of the Year
The Great Escape: Tribute to Journey

Metal/Harcore Act of the Year
Bigtalkahh

Breakthrough Artist of the Year
popALERT

Singer/Songwriter of the Year
Amanda McCarthy

Country Artist of the Year
Ashley Jordan

Video of the Year
Krista Angelucci – “C R E E P” (tie)
Birch Hill Dam – “Fathom’s Below” (tie)

Song of the Year
“Wicked” by Sara Leketa

4th Limelight Magazine Music Awards
@ Firehouse 13, Providence, RI
Saturday, March 10, 2012

Legend Award
The Fools

DJ Most Supportive of the Local Music Scene
Cat Wilson

Band of the Year
Beautiful Tuesday (tie)
Jessica Prouty Band (tie)

Live Artist of the Year
Beautiful Tuesday

Album/EP of the Year (Group)
Lisa Markovich & Beyond Blonde – Showing My Roots

Album/EP of the Year (Solo)
Ray Cooke – Good Life

Male Vocalist of the Year
Louis St. August

Female Vocalist of the Year
Jamie Lynn Hart

Tribute Band of the Year
Aerochix – Tribute to Aerosmith

Metal/Hardcore Act of the Year
I For An Eye

New Artist of the Year
The Vinyl Grooves

Singer/Songwriter of the Year
Jamie Lynn Hart

Song of the Year
Kiley Evans – “Johnny Depp”

3rd Limelight Magazine Music Awards
@ Club Hell, Providence, RI
March 12, 2011

Legend Award
MASS

Band of the Year
Varsity Girls

Live Artist of the Year
York

Album/EP of the Year
Shryne – Here and Now

Male Vocalist of the Year
Craig DeMelo

Female Vocalist of the Year
Elle Gallo

Tribute Band of the Year
Ornament – A Tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Metal/Hardcore Act of the Year
Structure Fails

New Artist of the Year
The Alarming Sound

Song of the Year
Jessica Prouty Band – “Escape”

2nd Limelight Magazine Music Awards
@ Club Hell, Providence, RI
January 31, 2010

DJ Most Supportive of the Local Music Scene
Jim Stearns

Band of the Year
Shryne

Live Artist of the Year (Major)
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles

Live Artist of the Year (Indie)
Route .44 (tie)
The Candace Brooks band (tie)
SexCoffee (tie)

Album of the Year (Group Major)
Joe Perry – Have Guitar Will Travel

Album of the Year (Group Indie)
The Candace Brooks Band – The Chase

Album of the Year (Solo)
Terry Kitchen – Summer to Snowflakes

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jon Brennan

Female Vocalist of the Year
Sarah Kollett

Tribute Band of the Year
Bon Jersey – A Tribute to Bon Jovi

1st Limelight Magazine Music Awards
@ Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, MA
January 25, 2009

Band of the Year
The Candace Brooks Band

Live Artist of the Year (Major)
MASS

Live Artist of the Year (Indie)
Shryne

Album of the Year (Group Major)
MASS – Crack of Dawn

Album of the Year (Group Indie)
Hello Mahalo – Dawning Days

Album of the Year (Solo)
Charlie Farren – Old & Young

Male Vocalist of the Year
Justin Joyce

Female Vocalist of the Year
Candace Brooks

Tribute Band of the Year
The Great Escape: Tribute to Journey

Guitarist of the Year
Joe Grananta (tie)
Jack Lynx (tie)

Bassist of the Year
Lou Spagnola

Drummer of the Year
Todd Salpietro

Keyboardist of the Year
Steve Baker