Artist of the Year
Recognizing an artist whose eligibility year releases acheived a breakthrough in widespread attention and reception, and notably impacted the local music community landscape. Artists must have released, at minimum, two tracks prior to or during the eligibility period.
Previous winners include Haley Johnsen (2024), and Alana Rich (2025)
Album of the Year
Albums entered for consideration in this category should represent the best overall achievement by the performer(s), producer(s), engineer(s)and songwriter(s). Consideration should be made to these elements, as well as composition and musicianship.
Previous winners include “Your Mom’s Gonna Love Us'“ by Sweet N Juicy (2024), and “Fossils” by Silvertongue (2025)
Song of the Year
Recordings entered for consideration in this category should represent the best overall achievement. Primary elements for consideration are performance, songwriting, composition, arrangement, production, and musicianship.
Previous winners include “Hear Me Out'“ by The UpKeeps (2024), and “I Probably Shouldn’t Be Here” by BendreTheGiant (2025)
Best Lyricism
This category recognizes excellence of a song’s lyrical content. Consideration should include cadence, creativity, and general eloquence of a recording’s lyrics, independent from the performance, production, or instrumentation.
Previous winners include “Love Me To The Bone” by Camille Tredoux (2024), and “Patience” by Bobby Barrz and Uno Zayy (2025)
Best Instrumentation
This category recognizes excellence of instrumental work in a song. Omitting consideration for vocal performance or lyrical content, consideration should include composition and musical instrument performance.
Previous winners include “Haystack” by Staring at the Ceiling (2024), and “Yes Man” by Hiroki (2025)
Best Production
This category recognizes excellence of the production, mixing, and mastering of a song. Consideration should include sound design, audio quality and clarity, and overall sound of a recording independent from the performance, songwriting, or composition of it.
Previous winners include “Try (Live Version'“ by Hiroki with RainEzra (2024), and “Time” by Jacob Westfall (2025)
Best Album
(Genre Specific)
Folk or Americana; Indie or Alternative; Jazz, Soul, or R&B; Pop, Synth, or COntemporary; Rap or Hip Hop; Rock, punk, or Metal; singer-songwriter
This category recognizes excellence of a complete body of work in an artist’s respective genre. This award celebrates all contributions to an album’s creation. Consideration should include performance, production and engineering, songwriting, composition and arrangement, and the album as its own body of work, independent from the artist’s previous work.
Best Song
(Genre Specific)
Folk or Americana; Indie or Alternative; Jazz, Soul, or R&B; Pop, Synth, or COntemporary; Rap or Hip Hop; Rock, PUNK, or Metal; singer-songwriter
This category recognizes excellence of a singular song in an artist’s respective genre. This award celebrates all contributions to a song’s creation. Consideration should include performance, production and engineering, songwriting, composition and arrangement, and the song as it’s own piece of work, independent from the artist’s previous work.
Best Music Video
This category recognizes exceptional work in a digital video accompaniment to a track or single by an artist and director in Oregon or Washington. Consideration should include quality of camera work, quality of editing work, overall conceptual creativity, and relevancy to music.
Best Live Music Venue
This category recognizes an exceptional live music venue in Oregon or Washington. Consideration should include perspectives from both performers and audience members, with special consideration made to the venue’s overall support of local music.
Best Local Radio Station
This category recognizes an exceptional radio station located and/or headquartered in Oregon or Washington. Consideration should include quality of programming, community involvement, programming variety, and overall support of local music by providing airtime to local songs.
Fan Favorite Awards
This category will be Nominated by the Voting Panel, but final Winners will be determined by public online vote by the artists’ fans. Photographers, digital artists, or other contributors to the work nominated will also be honored.