Founded in 1987, the Boston Music Awards are a set of music awards given annually that showcase talent in the

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

, area.

Past shows have featured such notable talent as

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whi ...

Paula Cole Paula Cole (born April 5, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter. After gaining attention for her performances as a vocalist on Peter Gabriel's 1993–1994 Secret World Tour, she released her first album, ''Harbinger (Paula Cole album), Harbing ...

Esperanza Spalding Esperanza Emily Spalding (born October 18, 1984) is an American bassist, singer, songwriter, and composer. Her accolades include five Grammy Awards, a Boston Music Award, and a Soul Train Music Award. A native of Portland, Oregon, Spalding be ...

Rubyhorse Rubyhorse are a rock band from Cork, Ireland. Their debut album, '' A Lifetime In One Day'', was released in Ireland on 2 June 1995. The band relocated to Boston, Massachusetts in 1997, and following the release of three additional albums '' ...

Bang Camaro Bang Camaro is an American hard rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Founded by guitarists Bryn Bennett and Alex Necochea in 2005, it is composed of members of various indie rock bands from the area. In 2009, the group is signed with Black Sword ...

the Dresden Dolls The Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer (lead vocals and piano; additional: keyboards, harmonica, ukulele) and Brian Viglione (drums and backing vocals; ad ...

Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys are an American Celtic punk band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. Singer and bassist Ken Casey has been the band's only constant member. Other current members include drummer Matt Kelly (1997– ), singer Al Barr (199 ...

, JoJo,

Pat Metheny Patrick Bruce Metheny ( ; born August 12, 1954) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. He is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works, and other side projects. His style incorporates elements of progre ...

, Amanda Palmer,

Phish Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a dedicated fan base. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon ...

Donna Summer LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948May 17, 2012), known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the " Queen of Disco", while her mus ...

, Shea Rose,

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, havi ...

and Jada.

Selected highlights

2022

The 2022 Boston Music Awards took place on December 14, 2022 at Big Night Live. Cousin Stizz regained their award for "Best Artist of the Year".

2021

After taking a year off due

coronavirus pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...

, the Boston Music Awards took place live on December 8, 2021 at the Brighton Music Hall. Once again, BIA took home the "Best Artist of the Year" Award.

2020

The 2020 Boston Music Awards were not conducted in person like in from previous years due to

Covid-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. The "Best Artist of the Year" Award went to hip-hop group, BIA.

2019

The 2019 Boston Music Awards took place on December 11, 2019.

Cousin Stizz Stephen Goss (born March 15, 1992), known professionally as Cousin Stizz, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is from Dorchester, Massachusetts and signed to RCA Records. Early life Stephen Goss was born on March 15, 1992, in Boston, Mass ...

made it back-to-back by winning the "Best Artist of the Year" Award.

2018

The 2018 Boston Music Awards took place on December 12, 2018 at the

House of Blues House of Blues is an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants. It was founded by Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, co-star of the 1980 film ''The Blues Brothers''. The first location opened at ...

in Boston.

won "Artist of the Year".

2017

The 2017 Boston Music Awards took place on December 7, 2017, at th
House of Blues, Boston36 winners
were announced with

PVRIS Pvris (pronounced "Paris" and stylized PVRIS) is an American pop rock act formed by multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer Lyndsey Gunnulfsen. Over her decade-long career, Gunnulfsen has released three studio LPs: ''White Nois ...

taking home the coveted Artist of the Year Award. The night saw 10 live performances from

Bad Rabbits Bad Rabbits is an American band from Boston, Massachusetts, founded in September 2007. The band consists of Fredua Boakye (vocals), Sheel Davé (drums), Salim Akram (guitar), Graham Masser (bass), and Santiago Araujo (guitar). All five members o ...

, Tall Heights,

Weakened Friends Weakened Friends is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Maine, signed to Big Scary Monsters and best known for their 2018 song "Blue Again", from their debut full-length album ''Common Blah''. The band consists of Sonia Sturino (vocals, ...

STL GLDCarissa Johnson
Avenue, no hope / no harm, Latrell James, Camino 84, and

Sidney Gish Sidney may refer to: People * Sidney (surname), English surname * Sidney (given name), including a list of people with the given name * Sidney (footballer, born 1972), full name Sidney da Silva Souza, Brazilian football defensive midfielder * ...

2016

The 2016 Boston Music Awards took place on December 8, 2016.

took home the "Artist of the Year" Award.

2015

The 2015 Boston Music Awards were held on December 9, 2015 at the Sinclair in

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...

. Awards included: Artist of the year:

Speedy Ortiz Speedy refers to something or someone moving at high speed. Speedy may refer to: Ships * HMS ''Speedy'', nine ships of the Royal Navy * ''Speedy''-class brig, a class of naval ship * ''Speedy'' (1779), a whaler and convict ship despatched i ...

; Album/EP of the year: Foil Deer by Speedy Ortiz; New Artist of the year: Palehound; Rock/Indie artist of the year: Dirty Bangs; Hip-hop artist of the year: Michael Christmas; Pop artist of the year: Ruby Rose Fox; International artist of the year: Shun Ng; Metal artist of the year: Worshipper; Jazz artist of the year:

Lake Street Dive Lake Street Dive is a multi-genre band that was formed in 2004 at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. The band's founding members are Rachael Price, Mike "McDuck" Olson, Bridget Kearney, and Mike Calabrese. Keyboardist Akie Bermiss ...

2012

Shea Rose: Pop/R&B Artist of the Year

2011

Shea Rose: R&B/Soul/Urban Contemporary Artist of the Year

: Jazz Artist of the Year

2010

The 2010 Boston Music Awards were presented on December 6, 2010, at the Liberty Hotel in Boston. Peter Wolf's '' Midnight Souvenirs'' won the prize for album of the year and Amanda Palmer was named artist of the year. The

were Live Artist of the Year,

M-Dot Michael Januario (born January 13, 1983) better known by his stage name M-Dot is an Italian-American rapper and producer. Before becoming a rap musician, Januario played college basketball at BHCC, MCLA and Fitchburg State. Career Born in R ...

was named Hip-Hop Artist of the year, Kingsley Flood won as New Artist of the Year, and "Living in America" by Dom won Song of the Year. In total, 32 awards were given.

2006

The 2006 Boston Music Awards were held in the Avalon Ballroom on September 27, 2006. Awards included: Female Vocalist of the Year: Amanda Palmer (

Dresden Dolls The Dresden Dolls are an American musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 2000, the group consists of Amanda Palmer (lead vocals and piano; additional: keyboards, harmonica, ukulele) and Brian Viglione (drums and backing vocals; addi ...

); Male Vocalist of the Year:

Josh Ritter Josh Ritter (born October 21, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and author who performs and records with the Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006, he was named one of ...

; Outstanding Pop/Rock Band:

; Act of the Year:

; Best New Local Act: HUMANWINE; Album of the Year (Indie): Misson of Burma – The Obliterati; Album of the Year (Major): Guster – Ganging Up On the Sun; Female Singer/Songwriter:

Melissa Ferrick Melissa Ferrick (born September 21, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter. Her song "Drive" (2000) is considered a lesbian anthem. She is a music professor at Northeastern University and at Berklee College of Music. Early life Ferrick was ra ...

; Male Singer/Songwriter: Will Dailey; Hall of Fame Induction:

Gang Green Gang Green is an American punk rock band originally from Braintree, Massachusetts. Chris Doherty (guitar), Bill Manley (bass) and Mike Dean (drums) started the band in 1980 and broke up in 1983. Doherty reformed Gang Green the following year ...

Best Funk or Jam Band: Parker House and Theory

2005

Ray Lamontagne Raymond Charles Jack LaMontagne (; born June 18, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. LaMontagne has released eight studio albums: ''Trouble'', ''Till the Sun Turns Black'', '' Gossip in the Grain'', ''God Willin' & the Creek Don' ...

: Best Male Singer/Songwriter, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year

2004

The So and So's: Local Debut Album of the Year

2002

Catie Curtis Catie Curtis (born 22 May 1965) is an American singer-songwriter working primarily in the folk rock idiom. Her most recent album recording,''The Raft,'' was released in 2020. Career Curtis was raised in Saco, Maine. By the age of fifteen she ...

: Song of the Year on an Indie Label

2001

American Hi-Fi American Hi-Fi is an American rock band formed in Boston in 1998. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Stacy Jones, lead guitarist Jamie Arentzen, bassist and backing vocalist Drew Parsons, and drummer Brian Nolan. Prior t ...

: Rising Star award

2000

Powerman 5000: Album Of The Year and the Rising Star award

1998

Laurie Geltman: Outstanding Female Vocalist.

Orbit In celestial mechanics, an orbit is the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an object or position in space such as a p ...

: Debut Album of the Year "Libido Speedway" A&M (Major Label) Amazing Royal Crowns: Rising Star, Debut Album of the Year (Indie Label), Video of the Year and Outstanding Club Band

References

Culture of Boston American music awards

External Links

Official website
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