Photo of Shea Rose, performing at last year’s event at the Liberty Hotel [via jushearose.blogspot.com]
UPDATE 6:33pm EST — The BMAs followed-up today’s defense with another post on their Facebook page. It reads:
All snarking aside and in all seriousness those of us involved with this event each year truly love the process – even the colorful and inspired commentary – and in particular we thoroughly enjoy being able to raise money for worthy recipients via Music Drives Us and being able to share a great night of music with the diverse collection of excellent musicians and inspired local industry leaders that this region offers. Each year we do our best to to try to improve this event and process. Nominations are done through a committee of over 300 local industry folks – agents, venues, managers, bloggers, media, etc. If you have suggestions on folks that should be involved in that process let us know. You can let us know here on Facebook or you can email us privately. All of our contact info can be found on our website.
***
Much like sports championships, complaining about the Boston Music Awards has become a time-honored tradition in our city. On Monday, the 2013 nominations were released, and a shitstorm brewed across the internet, eliminating all that goodwill the Red Sox and Mike Napoli created over the weekend.
The bitching was the standard fare we’ve come to expect each autumn…
Why was Aerosmith nominated? Twice?!?!?!
What’s up with the “Best Punk Act” category?!?!
Where the fuck is [insert your band here] on the ballot?!?
[Something about] Amanda Palmer?!?!?
A few minutes ago, a BMAs organizers responded to the whining with a pretty long-winded breakdown of what the event actually is — a charity event that pulls in some big money while acknowledging the music coming out of our city (Yes, even you, Steven Tyler).
Check it out below — and don’t forget to vote! The Boston Music Awards go down (no, not literally) on December 8 at the Liberty Hotel. It’s a fun time.
Oh, controversy shmontorversy (sp?). You may have heard some complaining about the BMAs recently, a proud and inevitable tradition mostly done by people who don’t care not caring SO HARD!
Every year we throw a party for two things: to celebrate the Boston/New England music scene and to raise money for charity.
The problem some people seem to have with the first part is that it somehow hurts the music scene, maybe pitting people against each other? Not sure, something like that. If people want to be petty and bitch about each other, we guess that’s supposed to be our fault. Also, that we have sponsors who are corporate. So next year the BMAs won’t have awards (it’ll just be the BMs, cough) and we’ll hold the event in an Allston basement and pass the hat to raise $80 for charity.
Which brings us to the second part – a sad cynicism about the charity aspect of the BMAs. For what it’s worth, Ernie Boch Jr’s Music Drives Us foundation has awarded more than $1,000,000 to over 150 deserving music programs (so far).
Here are just a few to think about the next time you hear someone absolutely slamming what we do because the bands they like didn’t get nominated for an award that is really a secondary part of what the BMAs are about anyway:
Camp Sunshine was awarded a $7,500 grant for music and equipment. Camp Sunshine supports children with life threatening illnesses and their families.
Goddard House was funded $5,000 for a music therapy program for elders, and Alzheimer patients offering 17 hours a week of music for 100% of their residents.
Handi Kids was awarded $5,000 to support music program for children and young adults with disabilities. This organization offers recreational music as part of its “I can, I will” Summer Day Camp program.
Inter-Actions, a center for the blind, were awarded $2,000 towards the programming expenses for guest artists, funding to learn to make ethnic drums, and materials for the campers to make their own drums.
Kate’s Voice received $2,700 toward a music therapy program for children between the ages of 3 to 17 with moderate to severe/intense special needs.
Passim Folk Music and Cultural Center was awarded $10,000 for free after school music education for inner city kids.
The Boston Minstrel Company was awarded $2,500 to support a performance series at places such as Rosie’s Place and the Pine Street Inn.
A Show of Strength was awarded $5,000. This program brings people of all ages and abilities together to celebrate the performing arts and music.
The Orpheum Theatre in Foxboro was awarded a $2,500 grant to fund free musical performances for children.
Project Rise Performing Arts Center was awarded $20,000 to support a performance program for 200 at risk kids.
Quartet of Happiness received $6,480 from Music Drives Us to fund five educational jazz performances within Boston’s underserved communities.
Boston City Singers, Boston’s Acclaimed Youth and Children’s Chorus, were awarded a $7,000 grant for their scholarships, music lessons and free concerts.
Project STEP (String Training and Education Program) was awarded $10,000 for their Young String Program. Project STEP prepares talented music students of color to enter the profession of classical music by providing an intense and comprehensive program of study.
The Boston Classical Orchestra was awarded $10,000 to support workshops and youth concerts at Faneuil Hall.
Music Makers received $10,000 for their free after school program to offer drum and guitar lessons at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield.
Camp Sunshine was awarded a $7,500 grant for music and equipment. Camp Sunshine supports children with life threatening illnesses and their families.
Goddard House was funded $5,000 for a music therapy program for elders, and Alzheimer patients offering 17 hours a week of music for 100% of their residents.
Handi Kids was awarded $5,000 to support music program for children and young adults with disabilities. This organization offers recreational music as part of its “I can, I will” Summer Day Camp program.
Inter-Actions, a center for the blind, were awarded $2,000 towards the programming expenses for guest artists, funding to learn to make ethnic drums, and materials for the campers to make their own drums.
Kate’s Voice received $2,700 toward a music therapy program for children between the ages of 3 to 17 with moderate to severe/intense special needs.
Passim Folk Music and Cultural Center was awarded $10,000 for free after school music education for inner city kids.We could go on and on. Anyway, we look forward to hearing from the haters when they hit us up for tickets on December 7th. Yes, we remember last year. See you there.