It’s that time once a year when New Music Weekly pays tribute to the very best for 2018. Based on the activity from the previous year, we are thrilled to honor the music artists and industry professions along with radio stations and their programmers. Our New Music Awards has been a consistent part of our musical itinerary from our very first year as a publication. It was always our intention to include the leading independent artists and bands in the mix and this time out we feel we did our best to bring many of them to your attention. It was a bit of a long process and we did our best giving everyone a voice.

The process of going from nominee to winner also gave us the opportunity to open it all up to the general public and to our subscribers. For several months we had an open ballot on the New Music Weekly website where by which people could make their pitch for the very best artists and bands that charted here at NMW. From that list of the top nominees our subscribers, programmers and the music fans had a helping hand in turning the nominations into wins by their votes and general polling. Once again it is important to note that winner or nominee, off of them made their mark in music history.

In addition to recording artists and bands we also pay tribute to the radio stations, music and program directors and many leading industry professionals. They are the backbone of the music industry and without their involvement none of this would be possible. Without our amazing programmers that play the music and support the artists, we would not be able to really gage what is going on in the music industry. We applaud all of the programming nominees, radio stations and industry pros and we are now able to give a little bit extra by signaling out the winners in numerous categories.

“Shape Of You” Ed Sheeran was lauded Top40 Single of the Year while Bruno Mars received the Male Artist of the Year. Also in the Top40 Award winners circle includes the fabulous Camila Cabello & America’s rising new band Portugal The Man. Newcomer Garrett Young wins Top40 New Artist of the Year as one of our first Independent artists for 2018.  Many others were singled out as well in numerous categories.

AC40 Single of the Year went to “Thunder” by the ever fabulous Imagine Dragons while Niall Horan picked up a well-deserved AC Male Artist of the Year award. Best Female Artist goes to Dua Lupa who has had a banner showing at radio so far. The New Artist of the Year was Rebel Hearts & Boyz Nite Out who have been at the #1 spot on our AC40 for a record number of week’s with “Baby Doll”.

Country award leaders include Sam Hunt who’s had a very big year with his “Body Like A Back Road” for Best Country Single with Thomas Rhett & Maren Morris winning Artists of the Year awards. The Country New Artist of the Year goes to Indie leaders Al & Trey While Country Group of the Year goes to Midland, a band we first saw during last year’s CRS.

Speaking of CRS, this issue is also serving as a Post CRS update with some photos and information about the 2018 grand event. New Music Weekly was “on sight” and kept a very watchful eye on the schedule that once again included the big New Faces show. This event always serves as the start to the Country music year and it did not disappoint in the least.

For many artists and bands that want to have a shot at next year’s NMAs, now would be the time to plot your course. Once again New Music Weekly provides the very best and effective “tools of the trade” to help get you the attention that many of you so deserve. Our panel of radio stations and their programmers are totally open to new music and artists provided their music can be played on commercial radio. Our STS tracking system is there to help keep track of what’s going on at radio and to help “spread the word” the ads in each and every issue help the cause. Best of luck for next year.