Nashville, TN – – The International Bluegrass Music Association announced the nominees for this year’s IBMA Industry Awards and IBMA Momentum Awards, which will be presented during IBMA World of Bluegrass, September 28-October 2. The announcement was made earlier this morning on SiriusXM Bluegrass Junction.
The IBMA Momentum Awards will take place Wednesday, September 29; the IBMA Industry Awards will take place Thursday, September 30. Specific times and additional details for both events, and for other IBMA World of Bluegrass events, will be shared in the coming weeks across the organization’s social media platforms, through email notification, and at worldofbluegrass.org.
IBMA INDUSTRY AWARDS
The Industry Awards recognize outstanding work in categories including Broadcaster of the Year, Event of the Year, Graphic Designer of the Year, Liner Notes of the Year, Writer of the Year, Sound Engineer of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
Nominees in each category are selected by specially appointed committees made up of bluegrass music professionals who possess significant knowledge of that field. The recipient of each award is decided on by the Panel of Electors, an anonymous group of veteran bluegrass music professionals selected by the IBMA Board of Directors.
2021 IBMA Industry Awards nominees are:
Broadcaster of the Year
Kyle Cantrell
Barb Heller
Brad Kolodner
Peter Thompson
Alfred (Big Al) Weekley
Event of the Year
Blueberry Bluegrass Festival
CBA Jam-a-Thon
Porch Pride – A Bluegrass Pride Queer-Antine Festival
TBS (Tomorrow’s Bluegrass Stars) Online Bluegrass Festival
Friday Nights Live at Lorraine’s Coffee House & Music
Graphic Designer of the Year
Audrey Fletcher
Ellen Silva
Kevin Slick
Grace van’t Hof
Carla Wehby
Liner Notes of the Year
Albert Ihde – Bluegrass Country Soul, Various Artists
Daniel Mullins – Industrial Strength Bluegrass: Southwestern Ohio’s Musical Legacy, Various Artists
Ted Olson – We Shall All Be Reunited: Revisiting the Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928, Various Artists
Tim Stafford – California Autumn, Tony Rice
Songwriter of the Year
Mark “Brink” Brinkman
Becky Buller
Thomm Jutz
Rick Lang
Jon Weisberger
Sound Engineer of the Year
Scott Barnett
Adam Engelhardt
Anna Frick
David Glasser
Aaron Ramsey
Writer of the Year
Stacy Chandler
Emma John
David McCarty
Dan Miller
Tristan Scroggins
IBMA MOMENTUM AWARDS
The Momentum Awards recognize both musicians and bluegrass industry professionals who, in the early stages of their careers, are making significant contributions to or are having a significant influence upon bluegrass music. These contributions can be to bluegrass music in general, or to a specific sector of the industry. The Mentor Award, in contrast to the other Momentum Awards, recognizes a bluegrass professional who has made a significant impact on the lives and careers of newcomers to the bluegrass industry.
Nominees are chosen through a multi-stage process by committees made up of respected musicians and industry leaders in the bluegrass world.
2021 IBMA Momentum Award nominees are:
Mentor
Louisa Branscomb
Cathy Fink
Rick Lang
Wyatt Rice
Travis Stimeling
Industry Involvement
Adam Kirr
Kara Kundert
Mary Beth Martin
Maria Wallace
Vocalist
Katie Greer
Abby Latocha
Caroline Owens
Jaelee Roberts
Leanne Thorose
Instrumentalist (2 selected)
Daisy Caire
Maddie Denton
Jacob Metz
Julian Pinelli
Liam Purcell
Miles Quale
Teo Quale
Band
Crying Uncle
Kody Norris Show
Lindley Creek
Stillhouse Junkies
Theo and Brenna