The biggest night in blues

the blues music awards

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May 08, 2025

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About the Blues Music Awards

The Blues Music Awards brings together Blues performers, industry representatives, and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year.

The BMAs are generally recognized as the highest honor given to blues musicians and are awarded by vote of Blues Foundation members. To become a Blues Foundation voting member, join here.

Thank you to our 2025 BMA Sponsors

2025 Blues Music Awards Nominees

That album released during the eligibility period that best represents acoustic blues, in which non-electric/amplified instruments are prominently featured on at least 75% of the tracks.

Naked Truth, Tinsley Ellis
One Guitar Woman, Sue Foley
Raw Blues 2, Doug Macleod
The Legend of Sugarbelly, Guy Davis
Things Done Changed, Jerron Paxton

That artist (whether solo, duo, or group) whose recordings and/or performances best represent acoustic blues during the eligibility period.

Doug MacLeod
Eric Bibb
Guy Davis
Keb’ Mo’
Kevin Burt

The best Blues album in any style released to the public during the eligibility period. (May be an album nominated in another category)

Blame It On Eve, Shemekia Copeland
Fine By Me, Curtis Salgado
Hill Country Love, Cedric Burnside
Person of Interest, Billy Price
What Are You Waiting For?, Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra featuring Willy Jordan

That performer who has best represented and promoted the blues through recordings and performances during the eligibility period.

Duke Robillard
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Rick Estrin
Shemekia Copeland
Sugaray Rayford

That group, recording and/or performing as a unit, which best exemplifies blues ensemble playing during the eligibility period.

Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra
John Nemeth and the Blue Dreamers
Nick Moss Band
Rick Estrin and the Nightcats
Southern Avenue

That blues recording that was released during the eligibility period for an act that has not received a prior Blues Music Award or GRAMMY® award nomination. The age of the artist is not of significance, but this award is intended for an artist who is up and coming within the blues/music scene and is at the “jumping off” point of his or her career. An artist’s album may not be considered in this category if that artist has already had a professional release of more than three prior albums or EPs. (Albums submitted for this category may also be submitted in other appropriate categories.)

8000 Miles to the Crossroads, Prakash Slim
Carry On, Destini Rawls
Drifter, Jovin Webb
Go Be Free, Sonny Gullage
Revelation, Piper & The Hard Times

That album released to the public during the eligibility period with a majority of songs that best portrays the Rock Blues genre, that hybrid that combines elements of blues with elements of rock, generally employing heavy amplification and driving rhythms, and which may employ non-traditional blues song structures.

About Time, Dennis Jones
Broken, Walter Trout
Life is Hard, Mike Zito
Righteous Souls, Albert Castiglia
Struck Down, The Fabulous Thunderbirds

That performer, whether male or female, whose recordings and/or performance best portray Blues Rock during the eligibility period.

About Time, Dennis Jones
Broken, Walter Trout
Life is Hard, Mike Zito
Righteous Souls, Albert Castiglia
Struck Down, The Fabulous Thunderbirds

That album released to the public during the eligibility period that best portrays Blues in which elements other than those traditionally found in Blues are part of the mix, e.g., different rhythms, different harmonies, more elaborate production values, etc., and which may offer a different approach to sounds, lyrics, instrumentation, arrangements, etc.

Blame It On Eve, Shemekia Copeland
Blues In My DNA, Ronnie Baker Brooks
Do It My Own Way, Vanessa Collier
Good Intentions Gone Bad, Chris Cain
The Hits Keep Coming, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats

That female performer whose recordings and/or performances during the eligibility period best portray Contemporary Blues.

Beth Hart
Carolyn Wonderland
Danielle Nicole
Ruthie Foster
Vanessa Collier

That male performer whose recordings and/or performances during the eligibility period best portray Contemporary Blues.

Chris Cain
Johnny Sansone
Mike Zito
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Ronnie Baker Brooks

That musician whose skills on the bass, in performance and/or on recordings, best portray the blues during eligibility period.

Benny Turner
Bob Stroger
Jerry Jemmott
Michael ”Mudcat” Ward
Rodrigo Mantovani

That musician whose skills on the drums, in performance and/or on recordings, best portray the blues during the eligibility period.

Chris Peet
Derrick D’Mar Martin
June Core
Kenny ”Beedy Eyes” Smith
Tony Braunagel

That musician whose skills on the guitar, in performance and/or on recordings, best portrays the blues during eligibility period.

Chris Cain
Christoffer ”Kid” Andersen
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Eric Gales
Ronnie Baker Brooks

That musician whose skills on the harmonica, in performance and/or on recordings, best portray the blues during eligibility period.

Billy Branch
Bob Corritore
Kim Wilson
Mark Hummel
Rick Estrin

That individual whose skills on any horn (including brass and woodwind instruments) in performance and/or on recordings best portray the blues during eligibility period.

Jimmy Carpenter
Doug James
Deanna Bogart
Trombone Shorty
Vanessa Collier

That musician whose vocal skills, in performance and/or on recordings, best portrays the blues during the eligibility period. This category is open to all vocalists on recordings and stage as well as to vocalists who also play an instrument.

Beth Hart
Billy Price
Curtis Salgado
Danielle Nicole
Ruthie Foster

That musician whose skills on the keyboards, in performance and/or on recordings, best portray the blues during the eligibility period.

Anthony Geraci
Ben Levin
Bruce Katz
Eden Brent
Mitch Woods

This award is presented to the songwriter for a first-ever recording of a song initially released to the public during the eligibility period which best portrays the blues by means of theme, structure, and overall feeling.

“Blues For My Dad”

performed and written by Chris Cain

“Blues In My DNA”

performed and written by Ronnie Baker Brooks

“Mama, I love you”

performed by Albert Castiglia and written by Albert Castiglia, Kevin Burt, & Jerry Jemmott

“Tough Mother”

performed by Shemekia Copeland and written by John Hahn & Will Kimbrough

“Watch the World Go By”

performed by Eden Brent and written by Bob Dowell & Eden Brent

That album released to the public during the eligibility period that best portrays Southern soul blues, a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music originates from a combination of styles, including blues (both 12 bar and jump) with a strong gospel influence.

Fine By Me, Curtis Salgado
Human Decency, Sugaray Rayford
Person of Interest, Billy Price
REVIVAL, Kat Riggins & her Blues Revival
What Are You Waiting For?, Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra featuring Willy Jordan

That female performer whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best portray Southern Soul Blues.

Annika Chambers
Candice Ivory
Kat Riggins
Thornetta Davis
Vaneese Thomas

That male performer whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best portray Southern Soul Blues.

Alabama Mike
Billy Price
Curtis Salgado
Johnny Rawls
William Bell

That album released to the public during the eligibility period with a majority of songs that best portrays traditional electric blues employing traditional blues song structures, harmonic structures and rhythms, and which may also employ instruments such as electric guitar, piano, organ, amplified harmonica, electric bass and drums. This category includes subgenres such as jump/swing blues and Chicago blues.

Crawlin’ ’Kingsnake, John Primer & Bob Corritore
Getaway Blues, Eden Brent
HAPPY HOUR, Mitch Woods
Hill Country Love, Cedric Burnside
Roll With Me, Duke Robillard

That female performer whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best portray Traditional Electric Blues.

Beth Hart
Billy Price
Curtis Salgado
Danielle Nicole
Ruthie Foster

That male performer whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best portray Traditional Electric Blues.

Cedric Burnside
Duke Robillard
Jimmie Vaughan
John Primer
Jontavious Willis

The Blues Music Awards Process

The 46th Blues Music Awards submission process opened on July 8, 2024 Here. Submissions are now closed.

Eligibility Period for The Blues Music Awards

The submission process is closed. Deadline for submitting recording is October 21th, 2024.

Any blues recording released between November 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024 is eligible for 2025 Blues Music Award consideration.

The Submission Process for The Blues Music Awards

The Blues Foundation opens the formal submission process after July 4th of each year. Your complete album or minimum 6-song EP music must be uploaded as a WAV file with album artwork uploaded as either JPEG or PDF files.

Artists may submit a single for Song of the Year consideration that has been professionally released to the public between November 1, 2023 – October 31, 2024, and is not part of a larger EP or full album release.

Submission fees and deadlines (based on dates):

August 1, 2024 – August 31, 2024

$155 per album or EP submission / $55 per song submission

September 1, 2024 – September 30, 2024

$180 per album or EP submission / $80 per song submission

October 1, 2024 – October 20, 2024

$225 per album or EP submission / $125 per song submission

The submission process will close on October 20, 2024.

You must upload your music and artwork and complete payment for your submission transaction no later than OCTOBER 20TH to be considered for a Blues Music Award nomination. All music must be uploaded as a WAV file with album artwork uploaded as a JPEG or PDF file. If you need assistance with uploading your music, contact Joe Whitmer at joe@blues.org will be available to help you and walk you through the process. The submission process officially closes on October 20, 2024, at 8:00am CST. You must upload your music and artwork and complete payment for your submission transaction no later than OCTOBER 20 to be considered for a Blues Music Award.

Nominating for the Blues Music Awards

The Blues Foundation enlists a group of approximately 100 blues nominators who work extensively in all areas of the blues industry. This includes individuals with blues expertise as producers, engineers, radio DJs, journalists, academics, club owners, promoters and others with a deep knowledge of blues music. The identity of the nominators is not made public in order to protect them from outside influences. Nominators must recuse themselves from any categories in which they have a conflict of interest.

The nominators work through two rounds in order to come up with between four and six final nominees in each category. During the first round, each nominator distributes 6 total points to their top choices within each category, with no more than 2 total points given to any single entry. The top entries in each category move into Round 2. The Blues Foundation does not publicize which recordings and/or artists move to Round 2. The nominators then repeat the point distribution for each category in a second round ballot and those artists and recordings receiving the most total points in each category become the final Nominees for Blues Music Awards.

Final nominees will be announced in early January 2025.

Final Voting for The Blues Music Awards

All Blues Foundation members in good standing, whose dues are current, may access one online ballot via the Membership portal at blues.org. Membership Login credentials and password required to gain access to the ballot. Any member who renews his or her membership or joins as a new member during the voting period will also receive a ballot.

Blues Music Awards Results Information

Results of members’ voting are not known until the Blues Music Awards presentation ceremony when names of the winners are revealed to the public.

Winners will be announced during the 46th Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN.

Nominees and winners of the Blues Music Awards must be in keeping with The Blues Foundation’s values as a welcoming and inclusive organization, as reflected in our Statement Against Racism.

The 2024 BMAs Recap

The Renasant Convention Center was packed with blues musicians, fans, and music-world luminaries on May 9th, anxious to see who would be the winners at the 45th Annual Blues Music Awards. Besides awarding honors in 25 categories, the BMAs, as is its tradition, featured performances from many nominees, with the gala ending in a jubilant all-star jam.