Boston Music Awards 2023: Here are the nominees – Vanyaland

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: The 2023 Boston Music Awards nominations have arrived.

And with it comes what feels like a new era of star power across the city’s vibrant music scene, one that extends from the clubs n’ pubs to stadiums n’ arenas across the country. Leading the charge are five nominees apiece from four artists and bands who continue to put Boston on the national map: Noah Kahan, Millyz, PVRIS, and Ripe. And that’s to say nothing of a spectrum of other recognizable talent, from Boston-born newcomer Coi Leray to rock survivors Extreme.

Kahan, the Vermont native and Watertown resident who just announced two shows at Fenway Park next summer, earned nods in Artist of the Year, Album/EP of the Year, Song of the Year, Live Artist of the Year, and Folk Artist of the Year. Among the Artist of the Year nominees are BIA, Divine Sweater, Fiddlehead, Joyner Lucas, Millyz, Kahan, Pile, PVRIS, Ripe, and The Elovaters.

In the media categories, Vanyaland has been nominated for Music Publication of the Year for the 11th straight time, and our Editor-in-Chief Michael Marotta and Music Editor, Boston, Victoria Wasylak, are both named in Music Journalist of the Year.

Check out the full list of nominees below, across more than 40 categories in all, as selected by the Boston Music Awards’ nomination committee. The ballots now go out to a public vote, and winners are announced at the annual en-of-year-party, this time going down December 20 at the BMAs’ new home of Big Night Live.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

BIA
Divine Sweater
Fiddlehead
Joyner Lucas
Millyz
Noah Kahan
Pile
PVRIS
Ripe
The Elovaters

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NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Astral Bitch
Axel & Lolo
BoriRock
Cape Crush
Chrysalis
Clark D
Nay $peaks
ToriTori
Velvet Dreaming
Yet To Bloom

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ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR (1 million+ streams)

BIA – Really Her
Divine Sweater – Down Deep
Fiddlehead – Death Is Nothing To Us
Luke Bar$ – Angels Never Die
Millyz – Blanco 6
Noah Kahan – Stick Season
Pile – All Fiction
PVRIS – Evergreen
Ripe – Bright Blues
The Elovaters – Endless Summer

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ALBUM/EP OF THE YEAR

Cape Crush – San Souci
Clark D – Propaganda
Gollylagging, Dino Gala, going222jail – fauna
Little Fuss – Girls At Parties
Malik Elijah – Smoke Signal
Mark Erelli – Lay Your Darkness Down
Nay $peaks – Nayborhood Healer
The True Faith – Go To Ground
ToriTori – Pocket Knife
Winkler – For You, Now

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SONG OF THE YEAR (1 million+ streams)

BIA – “I’m That Bitch” ft. Timbaland
Charlotte Sands – “Alright”
Coi Leray – “Players”
Extreme – “Rise”
Joyner Lucas – “Blackout” ft. Future
Lily Fitts – “Hurts Like Hell”
Luke Bar$ – “Tables Turn” ft. Cousin Stizz
Millyz – Risk “Takers” ft. Albee Al & Leaf Ward
Noah Kahan – “Dial Drunk”
PVRIS – “Animal”

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SONG OF THE YEAR

Anjimile – “The King”
Clark D – “It’s A stick Up” ft. Kei
Izzy Heltai – “Running Out”
Kei – “Berserk”
Little Fuss – “She’s a Liar”
Mallcops – “To The Side” ft Layzi
Squirrel Flower – “Full Time Job”
STEFAN THEV – “Sparks Don’t Fly!”
STL GLD & Darlingside – “Shimmer”
Tall Heights – “Dammit”

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VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Actor Observer – “Fools Gold”
Air Traffic Controller – “Ferocious”
Bad Rabbits – “Garden Of Eden” ft. Rou Reynolds, Enter Shikari
Cakeswagg – “Big Plays”
JATK – “Don’t Come Knockin’”
Latrell James – “MATH”
Mel Go Hard – “Waterfall” ft. EXITFAME, Amandi Music, Dutch Rebelle
NEEMZ – “I Choose Myself”
PVRIS – “I Don’t Wanna Do This Anymore”
Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys – “Keep My Head”

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LIVE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Divine Sweater
GA-20
Kei
Millyz
Noah Kahan
Oompa
Pile
Ripe
The Elovaters
The Q-Tip Bandits

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ALT/INDIE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Coral Moons
Divine Sweater
Little Fuss
Lost Film
Paper Lady
Sorry Mom
Squirrel Flower
STEFAN THEV
The True Faith
Winkler

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BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR

21 Grams More
Ali McGuirk
Dwayne Haggins
Dwight and Nicole
GA-20
Julie Rhodes
Ryan Lee Crosby
Sonya Rae Taylor
Sugar Business
Tokyo Tramps

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COUNTRY ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Anna Daley Young
Annie Brobst
Chris Moreno
Dalton and the Sheriffs
Houston Bernard
Louie Bello
Matt York
Rachel Sumner
Valerie Barretto
Ward Hayden and the Outliers

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DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Amadeezy
Chelita
Colin Domigan
deSirène
Ex-Hyena
HONEYCOMB
Lightfoot
Rilla Force
Saucy Lady
Ximena

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DJ OF THE YEAR

Alondrugs
DJ 4EIGN
DJ Baby Indiglo
DJ Real P
DJ Sisko
DJ Slick Vick
DJ Snax
DJ Stamz
DJ WhySham
SuperSmashBroz

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FOLK ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Alisa Amador
Dan Blakeslee
Darlingside
Izzy Heltai
Jake Swamp & The Pine
Mark Erelli
Noah Kahan
Ryan Montbleau
Sweet Petunia
Tiny The Bear

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HIP-HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR

BIA
Clark D
Cousin Stizz
Joyner Lucas
Kei
Luke Bar$
Malik Elijah
Millyz
STL GLD
Token

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JAZZ ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Albino Mbie
Club d’Elf
Grace Kelly
Jacques Schwarz-Bart
Nicole Sutka
Pritesh Walia
Terri Lyne Carrington
Tim Carman Trio
Tim Ray Trio
Yoko Miwa

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LATIN ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Ada Bestabé
Eguie Castrillo
Elion Virtuoso
Fabiola Mendez
Jonathan Suazo
La Clave Secreta
Nino Francis
Skip2Dip
Veronica Robles
Yelena Rodriguez

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METAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Baragon
Chained To The Bottom of the Ocean
Converge
Death Ray Vision
Eight Foot Manchild
Gozu
Karate Steve
Kind
Lesotho
Revocation

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POP ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Charlotte Sands
CHYLD
Clairo
Coi Leray
Couch
Layzi
PVRIS
Ripe
Shallow Pools
The Q-Tip Bandits

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PUNK/HARDCORE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Actor Observer
BEDTIMEMAGIC
Death Before Dishonor
Dropkick Murphys
Fiddlehead
Nervous Eaters
No Trigger
One Fall
Rebuilder
Sapling

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R&B ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Bad Rabbits
CD Rose
Khamari
L.ucas
Mel Go Hard
Miranda Rae
Neemz
Notebook P
Punky The Singer
ToriTori

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REGGAE/SKA ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Buddahfly
Crooked Coast
Dub Apocalypse
Jah Riffe
MediSun
Mighty Mystic
Over The Bridge
Roots Alley Collective
Soul Rebel Project
The Elovaters

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ROCK ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Aviations
Dino Gala
Extreme
Miracle Blood
Paper Tigers
Pile
The Blue Light Bandits
The Endorphins
The Rupert Selection
Vundabar

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SINGER-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

Alisa Amador
Anjimile
Chrysalis
Ezra Furman
Jill McCracken
Maeko
Prateek
Savoir Faire
Senseless Optimism
Sidney Gish

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SPOKEN WORD ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Amanda Shea
Ashley Rose
Ashley Wonder
Cliff Notez
Dzidzor
Leeta Neely
Pink Navel
Porsha Olayiwola
Tony Brown
Vernon C Robinson

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VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

David Santos (Eddie Japan)
Fredua Boakye (Bad Rabbits)
Hayley Reardon
Jill McCracken
Lily Fitts
Miranda Rae
Robbie Wulfsohn (Ripe)
Ryan Montbleau
Tema Siegel (Couch)
Walter Sickert

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MUSIC NIGHT OF THE YEAR

All The Feels R&B Fest
Baker Thomas at Toad
Earfull
Elements
Emo Night Boston
Infra Boston
Old Jack’s Last Saturdays
SILK R&B Party
Soulelujah
The Glitter Boys

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LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR (1000+)

Big Night Live
Fenway Park
Gillette Stadium
House of Blues
Indian Ranch
Leader Bank Pavilion
MGM Fenway
Roadrunner
Royale
The Palladium

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LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR (250+)

Brighton Music Hall
City Winery
Crystal Ballroom
Paradise Rock Club
Shalin Liu Performance Center
Sonia
Soundcheck Studios
Taffeta
The Middle East Downstairs
The Sinclair

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LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR (UNDER 250)

Club Passim
Deep Cuts
Faces Brewing Co.
Grace by Nia
Lilypad
Lizard Lounge
O’Brien’s
Rockwood Music Hall Boston
The Burren
The Rockwell

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MUSIC PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

Big Night Entertainment
Bowery Presents
Brian O’Donovan
Crossroads Presents
Get To The Gig Boston
Grayskull Booking
I Book Things
Leedz Edutainment
Showoff Marketing
Vasjan Presents

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TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR

Aaron Gray
Alex Pickert
Blake Pantalena
Cody Rico
Dustin Labbe
Heather Timmons
Josh Smith
Justine Faucher
Ryan Agate
Ryan Vangel

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PRODUCTION MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Dana Filloon
Emma Mitchell
Eric Jenson
Forrest Chess
James Kadesch
Jeff Bousquet
Joe Sansone
Josh Sessler
Marc Picard
Parker Woods

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STAGE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Billy Bud
Chris Crowley
Emma Bain
Erin Genett
Franklin Siplas
Kat Tevnan
Lou Raymond
Madison Henneberry
Mike Kadomiya
Stephen Kurz

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LIVE AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Brittany Sirois
Eoghan McCarthy
Francesca Cecala
Ian Nault
Jared Kennen
Johnny Dalton
Marc Valois
Mo Russell
Reid Calkin
Tyson Clark

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LIGHTING TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR

Adam Gray
Ben Newell
Brittany Trymbulak
Eric Taverna
Jamie Boccia
Justin Paice
Mike Lane
Ryan Baker
Steve Cramer
Val Arcila

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BOX OFFICE TEAM OF THE YEAR

Big Night Live
Brighton Music Hall
House of Blues
Leader Bank Pavilion
MGM Fenway
Paradise Rock Club
Roadrunner
Royale
TD Garden
The Sinclair

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RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR

37′ Productions
Cybersounds
Dimension Sound Studios
Mad Oak Studios
New Alliance
Q Division
The Bridge Sound & Stage
The Record Co.
The SoundLab Recording Studios
Woolly Mammoth Sound

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MUSIC PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

AzizTheShake
Benny Grotto
Janos Fulop (The Arcitype)
Jon Glass
Latrell James
Mel Go Hard
Nick Papz
Sean McLaughlin
StoopKid
Tashim Zene Jr. (IamTash)

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STUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Alex Allinson
Annie Hoffman
Brian Charles
Colin Fleming
Dan Cardinal
Derek Blackburn
J. Rose
James Bridges
Miranda Serra
Pat DiCenso

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SESSION MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Chris Anzalone
Dave Brophy
Erica Mantone
Jonathan Ulman
Keithen Foster
Liam Thomas
Marco Marcel
Matt Zappa
Peter Moore
Tim Hall

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ARTIST MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Ben Levin
Ceize Gemini
Ikenna Ndugba
Jon Bricker
Kristina Latino
Mark Kates
Robert Kelley-Morgan
Sadiq Ervin
Tim Larew
Zoe Salvucci

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LIVE MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Adam Parshall
Angel Ocasio
Ben Stas
Brent Goldman
Brittany Rose Queen
Emily Gardner
Faith Nguyen
Jared Shute
Marika Belamarich
Yazi Ferrufino

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MUSIC VIDEOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Ben Eames
Colin Pagnoni
Connor Lenihan
Darby
Dom ‘Tanj’ Bruno
Jimmy Del Ponte
Matte Thomas
Reko
Sam Krueger
Simon Morrison

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MUSIC PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

Allston Pudding
Boston Compass
Boston Hassle
Hump Day News
If It’s Too Loud
PUTINWORKTV
Rock and Roll Fables
Sound of Boston
The ARTery WBUR
Vanyaland

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MUSIC JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Abbie Bateman
Harry Gustafson
Jed Gottlieb
Jesse O’Brien
Ken Sears
Michael O’Connor Marotta
Noah Schaffer
Poetic Pattie
Victor Infante
Victoria Wasylak

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MUSIC PODCAST/RADIO SHOW OF THE YEAR

Allston Pudding Presents: The Puddcast
Almost Famous on 95.9 WATD
Bad For The Community
Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood
CWTFB Radio
Do Over Don’t Podcast
ItsLitBoston Podcast
The Struggling Artist Podcast with Trev Allen
WBUR Sound On
Wicked Local Wednesday on 88.9 WERS