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The #LVMA17 Facebook Photo Contest, revealed!

LVMA17 is once again upon us! Just because you may not be a nominee doesn’t mean you don’t have a great chance to be a winner, either!

Starting on Sunday, March 6th at 2PM, post your #LVMA17 photos to Facebook! The 1st place winner will receive a $100 ArtsQuest gift card to put towards their next show that you’ve got at the top of your wish list. 2nd place gets a $50 gift card and 3rd place gets a $25 gift card… Musikfest is coming, folks, and all it takes is a picture to be in rank at the show you’re aching to see!

Here’s What to Do:

Before you hit that “post” button, be sure to tag your location! You know, that “Where was this taken?” link at the bottom of your post window? Click on “The Lehigh Valley Music Awards”. (If you aren’t physically at the event, you may need to type that into the search field.)

Post your pictures before the deadline on Tuesday, March 8th at 11:00 PM.

The work isn’t quite over YET… Get some likes on those photos! Whomever has the three most likes on a photo by Thursday, March 10th at 11:00 PM wins! We’ll announce the winner on Friday at noon on the LVMA Facebook page.

So charge up those phones, exercise those fingers and practice your selfie angles! LVMA is on Sunday with the festivities starting in the Commons with the preshow at 3PM, presented by Power Chords, featuring Chelsea Lyn Meyer, which is the perfect precursor to the main show starting at 4PM in the Musikfest Café! The celebration doesn’t end there, either, but carries over to the Jetport at the Days Inn, located just across from LVIA, hosted by The Jam and sponsored by BC Combo!

There are PLENTY of opportunities to grab great shots and to have a great time, and we’re hoping that you get to extend your party at the ArtsQuest show of your choice!

See you Sunday!

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Lehigh Valley Music Awards Announce 2016 Performances

BETHLEHEM, PA—Get ready to dance as the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association and ArtsQuest announce the performers for this year’s Lehigh Valley Music Awards presented by TriOutdoor. Performers for the awards ceremony, held March 6, 4 p.m., at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, include the Craig Thatcher Band, female-fronted power-metal group MindMaze, country powerhouse Erin Kelly and more.

Entertaining audiences since 1993, the Craig Thatcher Band is a must-see-live blues/rock group beloved by residents of the region and beyond. The band has performed with artists such as Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, Ted Nugent and more. They’ve also been named Artist-in-Residence by Musikfest, and in 2001 they were even chosen to represent the City of Bethlehem at Stadtfest, a traditional city festival held in Bethlehem’s German sister city, Schwäbisch Gmünd.

Allentown natives MindMaze, Erin Kelly and the Brosky/Meyer Duo will also perform at LVMA17. MindMaze’s debut album Mask of Lies is an outstanding piece of independent metal that is refreshing while being firmly rooted in many classic metal mainstays. The 21-year-old Erin Kelly has country roots that emerged at an early age when singing in several traditional country bands. Never one to be intimated by large audiences, Kelly has performed for the Philadelphia 76ers, Philadelphia Phillies, Hershey Bears, Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, just to name a few.

The Brosky/Meyer Duo, a combination of Allentown icon Steve Brosky and Jimmy Meyer, who as a member of Air Products’ corporate band, The Difference, won the first ever Battle of the Corporate Bands at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has shared the stage with B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Monty Montgomery, Leon Russell and more. The duo has collectively won more than 25 Lehigh Valley Music Awards since 2004; this year they will receive a Special Recognition honor.

The confirmed list of performers so far is:

Brosky & Meyer

Craig Thatcher Band

DJ Menace Collaboration

Erin Kelly

Fusion Jazz Trio

MindMaze

Tony Sunshine

Whiskeyhickon Boys

Tenor Trio - John Carelli, Rick Bouley & Lane Conklin (first time performing together)

Student Showcase from The Lesson Center, School of Rock and the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts

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News Release

Lehigh Valley Music Awards Announce 2016 Special Recipient Honorees Dave Fry & ‘Jolly’ Joe Timmer to Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards at March 6 Awards Ceremony at SteelStacks

BETHLEHEM, PA—Folk musician and Godfrey Daniels co-founder Dave Fry and Polka legend “Jolly” Joe Timmer are among the artists who will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the region’s music scene during the Lehigh Valley Music Awards presented by Tri Outdoor Advertising March 6, 4 p.m., at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. Timmer and Fry will both receive Lifetime Achievement Awards, while three local schools will be honored with Board of Directors Awards for the key roles they play in providing music education programs and experiences for area youth.  

A resident of Bethlehem, Dave Fry began performing folk music while in college at Lehigh University in the early ‘70s. In 1976, he cofounded Godfrey Daniels, the 100-seat coffeehouse and listening club on Bethlehem’s SouthSide that remains a well-respected stop on the international folk circuit today. Fry continues to perform at folk clubs and music festivals, but he is equally known as a teaching artist, performing for thousands of students in schools as a solo folk artist and with “RockRoots, the History of American Rock and Roll.” His music spans four generations with his family concerts and recordings, and he has also been a folk music radio programmer for more than 40 years. A member of the International Polka Association’s Polka Hall of Fame, Jolly Joe Timmer was also the owner of WGPA Sunny 1100 AM and Jolly Joe Timmer’s Grove near Bath. Timmer, who passed away in July, was called the “grandfather of Polka” by The Morning Call, having been in the business for more than 60 years. He and his orchestra also performed at almost every Musikfest since 1984. Timmer’s award will be presented to his wife, Dorothy, and the members of his band.

In addition to Fry and Timmer, several local musicians will be honored with Veteran Awards for more than two decades of contributions to the local music industry. This year’s 20 Year Veteran Award honorees include eight-time GRAMMY nominee Frank DiBussolo, The Blue Tarp Wranglers bassist Nick Franclik, The ColourSound lead singer Doug Batt and guitarist Sean Hieter, James Supra Blues Band drummer Allen Wanamaker and guitarist and The Lesson Center owner Jeff Roberts.  The Lesson Center, School of Rock and the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts will also receive GLVMA Board of Directors Awards for their longtime dedication to providing musical opportunities and education for area young people.

“The LVMAs are proud to add these talented musicians and music industry members to the list of Special Honorees who have been recognized over the years for their contributions to the region’s vibrant music scene,” says Gloria Domina, co-director of the Lehigh Valley Music Awards. “It is an honor to work with such amazing people within our music community here in the Lehigh Valley. These are some very talented individuals who really make a difference in our lives through their gift of music.”

The complete list of Special Recipient winners is:

Lifetime Achievement Awards (50-plus years in the music industry)

Dave Fry

“Jolly” Joe Timmer

Board of Directors Awards (for work with youth in music)

The Lesson Center

School of Rock

Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts

20 Year Veteran Awards (20-plus years in the music industry)

Doug Batt

Frank DiBussolo

Nick Franclik

Sean Hieter

Jeff Roberts

Allen Wanamaker

Special Recognition

LUCKY 7

Brosky & Meyer Duo

DJ Menace

Started in 1999 by the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association (GLVMA), the Lehigh Valley Music Awards are designed to honor and celebrate the musicians and music related businesses of the Greater Lehigh Valley. The LVMAs, now in their 17th year, is a partnership between the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association and ArtsQuest. Tickets for the 2016 LVMAs are on sale now at www.steelstacks.org and 610-332-3378.

For more information on the LVMAs, please visit www.lehighvalleymusicawards.org.

Media Contact: Gloria Domina, GLVMA gloria11355@gmail.com or 215-421-5644

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Voting Begins Dec. 7 for 2016 Lehigh Valley Music Awards

NEWS RELEASE

LVMA 17

Voting Begins Dec. 7 for 2016 Lehigh Valley Music Awards Tickets for March 6 Event, presented by Tri Outdoor, go on sale Dec. 7

BETHLEHEM, PA—After receiving a record breaking amount of nominations, voting for the 17th Lehigh Valley Music Awards presented by Tri Outdoor Advertising will kick off Dec. 7,10 a.m., at www.lehighvalleymusicawards.org, and continue through Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. The LVMA will take place on March 6, 4 p.m., at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks’ Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling; 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem; tickets cost $20 and will be available startingDec. 7, 10 a.m., at www.steelstacks.org and 610-332-3378.

A partnership between the nonprofit Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association (GLVMA) and ArtsQuest, the Lehigh Valley Music Awards is a prestigious, annual extravaganza that is designed to celebrate the music industry of the greater Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. During the awards ceremony March 6, the GLVMA will present awards honoring the region’s best performers in a variety of genres including blues, rock, folk, gospel, hip-hop, jazz and more. The awards also recognize local music schools, recording studios, music stores and other local music organizations.

New this year is the Outstanding Music Video category, merging with the previous award for Best Video Producer. Voting will again be in 21 fan categories and 49 industry categories. Fans are designated as anyone living in the Greater Lehigh Valley, defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton-Phillipsburg metropolitan area. Industry categories are limited to local residents who directly contribute to the area’s music scene, including recording artists, musicians, media, studio owners and employees, interns, and DJs.   For more information or to vote for an artist, visit www.lehighvalleymusicawards.org.

Media Contact: Gloria Domina, GLVMA gloria11355@gmail.com or 215-421-5644

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Nominations Are Open!

Nominating for the Lehigh Valley Music Awards is a responsibility and is meant to focus on the true talent in the Greater Lehigh Valley. For fans, it is an opportunity to allow your voices to be heard, providing influence over what is to come. For Industry movers and shakers, it is a means towards fortifying the credibility of the music industry in our community. We ask that you take the nomination process seriously while adhering to the following rules:

Timeline:The qualifying period for this year’s eligibility is August, 2014 to July, 2015.Nominations will open on Monday, November 2nd at 10:00am.Nominations will run until Monday, November 16th at 10:00am.Rules for Nominating:

Only residents of the Greater Lehigh Valley are eligible to nominate:

The Greater Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton-Phillipsburg, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon and some parts of Berks counties in eastern Pennsylvania and Warren county on the western edge of New Jersey in the United States.

A valid e-mail address must be used. This will be verified before tallying nominations.

Only one nomination per IP address is allowed. We understand this may cause an inconvenience but it is necessary to protect the integrity of the process. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

To cast a Music Industry nomination you must be a contributing member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Industry and you will be asked to provide information regarding your role/occupation:

A contributing member, for the purposes of nomination and voting, is considered someone with an occupation which works directly within or contributes towards the local music scene. These roles can include recording artists and musicians, media, studio owners and employees, interns, DJ’s, etc.

Contributing Industry voters may cast nominations in both the Fan and Industry nominations. Fans may only participate in the Fan nomination.

Board members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association (GLVMA) are restricted from participating.

Rules for Being Nominated:At least two of the three points below need to be true to qualify for a nomination:

An artist or group must be from the Greater Lehigh Valley or

perform in this area a minimum of 6 times in the qualifying period.

An artist or group must have released a music related work (album, song, video or related product) within this qualifying period.​

For awards given for produced works, the work (song, album, video, etc) must have been released with the qualifying period.

Go to http://www.lehighvalleymusicawards.org/wp/nominations-live/ to nominate the artists you love the most. Be sure to get your voice heard before the deadline ends on Monday, Nov 16th at 10AM!

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LVMA16 Instagram To Win!

With the 16th Annual Lehigh Valley Music Awards sponsored by Tri Outdoor Advertising in sight, The Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association and ArtsQuest are excited to announce your chance to win two tickets to the Musikfest Café show of your choice!

Ok, now that we’ve got your attention, want to know more?

Here are the rules:

Follow @GLVMA and @steelstacks_pa on Instagram

Tag your LVMA photos with the hashtag #LVMA16

Photos can be submitted beginning on Sunday, March 8th at 12:00 AM, until Monday, March 9 at 11:59 PM.

Voting will end on Sunday, March 15th at 11:59 PM

The photo with the most likes wins the grand prize: two tickets to the Musikfest Café show of your choice! (Yes! You get to choose from their amazing lineup!) The second place recipient wins four tickets to the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas show of choice and the third place recipient wins two tickets to their choice of any GLVMA event. All winners will be announced at noon on Wednesday, March 18th.

If you haven’t already, be sure to buy your tickets today, or purchase them at the door this Sunday. The pre-show begins at 3PM and the ceremonies begin at 4:00 in the Café. Have your phones ready at the go to show off your red carpet entrance, appearances at the LVMA, Lehigh Valley Style and Discover Lehigh Valley step and repeats, and shots from your favorite performances!

After the event, head over to lehighvalleymusicawards.org where you can go to see all of the entries on our live Instagram feed, and vote for your favorites!

We can’t wait to see your #LVMA16 shots!

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Meet LVMA16’s “Host With The Most”, Rick Michaels

Many in the Lehigh Valley know Rick Michaels for his work on The Morning Show on 99.9 The Hawk. There is so much more to tell about Rick, we thought we’d share!

After 35 years in the music industry, Rick Michaels has seen and done just about everything. During this time, he’s been a radio programmer, record executive, concert promoter and band consultant.

Rick started out in the 1970’s as a radio host and worked his way up to top rated shows in several large markets. Rick has also programmed several successful radio stations in all formats including one of the first critically acclaimed ‘commercial alternative’ radio stations in the country.

Rick joined the Polygram/Universal Music Group in the 1990’s and served as regional promotions manager for artists on the Mercury, Island and Def Jam music labels. During his tenure he has promoted and toured with artists like Bon Jovi, Elton John, Kiss and Shania Twain just to name a few.

Rick can currently be heard on his top rated morning show on 99.9 The Hawk, and is, as always, involved in the local music scene and helping local charities raise money for their cause. He has been a great supporter of the Lehigh Valley Music Awards for years, and we are thrilled to have him lead the charge at LVMA16!

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LVMA16 Performances You Don’t Want To Miss

One of the many highlights of the 16th Annual Lehigh Valley Music Awards are the performances that make this event unforgettable. This year is no exception to that rule, and promises to be the best year yet.

This year’s festivities begin with a 3:00 PM pre-show with Jake Kaligis & Michael Rauscher’s Dynamic Duo at 3:00 PM at ArtsQuest. The main event begins at 4:00 PM with Liberty High School Grenadier Bagpipers and Rob Stoneback.

This year’s performances in the Musikfest Café present collaborations including:

No Pressure, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Vini “Maddog” Lopez, Community Youth Honoree, Wyatt Newhard and LVMA15 winner, Dave Fry;

A hip hop collaboration produced by Meatbeatz Studio and Michael McNally, to be performed by Chino Gomez, EZ, Thouzand and J Capitol P;

Sharon Elizabeth and Jonathan Padilla;

Sarah Ayers, Lou Franco and James Supra.

One performance that is quite certain to grab your attention, is Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductee, J.T. Carter of The Crests, known for their 1959 hit, “16 Candles”. Performances can also be anticipated from Big Valley Bluegrass, 40-Year Honorees, the Tower Suite Band, and LVMA15 and LVMA16 nominees, Governing Murphy .

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LVMA Community Youth Award

Photo credit: The Morning Call

Every year the LVMA chooses a youth in our community to be honored at the award ceremony.

We do this to try to help bring awareness to children who have a difficult path to walk, such as Autism, MS, MD and this year, Pediatric Cancers. We honor a young person and invite the organization they are affiliated with to have an information table at the LVMA event. By doing so, we help the community recognize their mission and their needs, as well as honoring one the young people in need of our support.

This year Wyatt Newhard is the recipient of the LVMA Community Youth Award. He was chosen for two reasons: He is a young boy who has been courageously battling cancer for most of his life and also has been raising money for childhood cancers. We hope that you can come out and meet this amazing young man who always has the brightest smile on his face on March 8th at Steelstacks, in Bethlehem.

Wyatt’s Story

Wyatt was three years old when he was diagnosed with High Risk Stage 4 Neuroblastoma Cancer in January, 2008. He had a large tumor on top of his right kidney, cancer spots on his skull, ribs, lungs, etc. The cancer had additionally invaded his bone marrow. 

Wyatt had a heck of a battle ahead of him. He underwent many rounds of high dose chemo, multiple surgeries, MIBG Therapy, etc. He spent more time at the hospital then he did at home. By the age of four, he had a stem cell transplant. The transplant was very hard and he had many complications including liver failure, keeping him in the hospital for over a month. Afterwards, scans were done. Everyone had hoped to hear the word “remission”, but instead, it was more bad news. 

Another mass was found in his neck. He underwent another surgery to remove the new tumor, followed by twelve rounds of spot radiation. Another scan was done after radiation was finished and the news was finally what everyone had been waiting to hear.

"No Evidence of Disease". 

Wyatt would still need to be seen by his oncologist and have scans every few weeks. But that was okay. Besides traveling an hour and a half to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Wyatt would be able to be a normal boy.  This was short lived. In February, 2011, Wyatt now at the age of six. The heartbreaking news was received that Wyatt had relapsed. He had two Neuroblastoma spots on his spine. He would need to start treatment again. 

He started chemo, and after three rounds, the cancer had spread to his hip. The oncologist discussed a new chemotherapy study that was showing some promise with relapsed Neuroblastoma. The family agreed to pursue this new treatment plan, and Wyatt started the following week. Since then, he has been on the MLN Chemo Drug. The spot on his hip has vanished and no new spots have appeared. Wyatt still has the spots on his spine and will be starting his 8th round of the MLN drug in the beginning of March.

Wyatt's Ride/Jamboree is an annual event always held in September. Funds raised at the event go to help Wyatt and his family, with a portion donated to THE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Neuroblastoma Research Fund.

We look forward to seeing everyone at LVMA16 and thank you all for helping us to honor Wyatt! Tickets are now available here.

This week’s blog continues the series by Gloria Domina, two time Grammy nominee, 2012 Grammy award winning producer, owner of Thirteen Butterflies Productions, LLC, and Director of the Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association.

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New Year’s Resolutions

Every year, the challenge of assessing one’s life and establishing goals to be met within it are an age-old tradition. Whether it’s the measurement of one’s waistline, an unprecedented bounty of income, or attaining the “dream gig”, how often do we actually attain these goals we set for ourselves? How quickly do we forget these lofty goals established on the 1st of January? February 1st? March 1st?

A task not at all dissimilar to that of the New Year’s Resolution is that of a business plan. Well, it’s a little different, seeing as a great deal more research goes into a business plan than your New Year’s Resolution. But seeing as how you’re making this solitary goal your priority of all goals for the year to come, shouldn’t a little planning go into that, too?

Here’s another idea. Why not make your 2015 resolution a part of a bigger picture? (Get a blank sheet of paper) Now ask yourself, “what is my ultimate goal?” (Now, no need to panic yet.) Write this goal at the BOTTOM of the page. Above that, write four major steps that need to be accomplished in order to accomplish this “ultimate goal”, and in sequential order.

Congratulations. You’ve just written a plan to achieve your goal!

Now take this sheet of paper you’ve just metamorphosed into your step-by-step plan. Post it on your practice room wall, bathroom mirror, wherever you’ll see it every day. If you’re a part of a band and not the sole decision maker, take the time to share your ideas with the group and figure out whether everyone shares the same goals and plans as you do for the band. Perhaps even tweak some of the original goals laid out so that everyone’s vision is accounted for, and then make copies of the end result for everyone to see, remember and pursue. Chris Robley of The DIY Musician put it perfectly when he outlined what he perceives as the most difficult task in tackling your resolutions in his January 2nd article, “How To Deal With The Shifting Target of Your Music Goals and Resolutions" when he states, "BEGINNING is often the hardest part of any creative process". Personally, I think he couldn’t be more accurate on this one, which is why you need to determine and execute your first step in this process, and quick - do it!!! He continues by explaining, “By beginning, though, you get a more realistic sense of your goals and what it will take to achieve them. Once you’re on your way, you can break the larger effort into smaller, more manageable (and more achievable) goals.”  Sage advice, although depending on how you work best, breaking down the effort into smaller steps could potentially help you get the process started.

Now keep in mind that the work that follows dictates your success rate. Your fate is entirely in your hands… One word of warning: never underestimate what you are truly capable of! Shoot for the moon! The possibilities are endless for you, so long as you are willing to put in the time and work!

Good Luck & Happy New Year!

Thanks for reading our blog! Please be sure to stay in-the-know by subscribing to our blog, checking out our website, liking our Facebook page and following us on Twitter! There’s lots of new information rolling out soon that you won’t want to miss! Also, be sure to score your tickets to the 16th Annual Lehigh Valley Music Awards, fast approaching on March 8th, 2015! Tickets are currently on sale here. See you there!

Erin Monie is the Director of Marketing and Promotions for The Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association (GLVMA). She has a Bachelor’s degree from Full Sail University in Graphic Design and a Master’s degree in Entertainment Business. Additionally, she is the co-founder and president of Steelwire Productions, LLC.

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LVMA 16 Special Honorees

We are proud to introduce this year special honorees for the upcoming Lehigh Valley Music Awards 16 ceremony on March 8th, 2015 at the Musikfest Cafe.  The listing can be found here.  These honorees cover a range of talent which symbolizes that which makes the Lehigh Valley Music scene a hotbed of new talent, sound and creativity.  We believe this to be an awesome experience and entertainment option for residents, tourists and fans.

The special honorees all represent a spirit of effort and perseverance, for at least the last 20 years, with the goal of entertaining the masses and expressing their inner voice as their primary reward.  These special honorees, along with all the previous honorees, venues, fans and supporters, are who create the identity of our community.  This recognition, in many ways, is a “Thank You”  for those who have weaved their way into the fabric of the identity of the Lehigh Valley Music Scene.  History will remember what we do here, these honorees have earned their place in that history and continue to do so week after week, contribution after contribution.

As with every year we encourage members of the community to send us recommendations for LVMA 17.  You can email us at contact@lehighvalleymusicawards.org.  Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions for this year’s special honorees and thank you to the special honorees for graciously accepting this recognition.

We appreciate you for joining us on this journey, and look forward to seeing you at Lehigh Valley Music Awards 16, March 8th 2015.  I hope you had a wonderful holiday and wish you a prosperous, rockin’ new year!

Rick Flores

President, GLVMA

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7 Ways To Promote Your LVMA16 Vote

    Yes! LVMA16 voting is upon us! In fact, this is the final stretch. Voting for LVMA16 closes on Saturday at 11:59 PM, so be sure vote on the fan and/or industry ballots before then at www.lehighvalleymusicawards.org!

In terms of social media and music industry relevance, I thought it wise to stick to the topic, this week. To the nominees, congratulations! If you didn't get a nomination, I want to stress that the fat lady hasn't sung yet! (There's a write in vote, ya know!)

Folks, there are so many categories, and so many artists, performers & industry pros, that sometimes the public needs their memories jogged. Many of the nominees remind their fans to give them a nod. With that in mind, it's never too late! (Well, it is at midnight on Sunday morning, but that's beside the point!) Either way, here are a few ways to promote your votes! 

1. FB personal page

Let's go with the obvious first. Post a request to friends & family to vote for you! If you really want to get folks attention, put text on a promo photo of your band proclaiming to the world (ok, well, YOUR world) that you need their vote. Make it easy for them & post a link to voting in the post itself, as well.

Need an image? As a matter of fact, we’ve made one for you! (Happy Holidays!) Feel free to save this image and to use it on your feeds!

If you didn't get a nomination, seize the moment and ask for a write in, as well as under what category you want to be written into. Over the years, MANY wins have been won through the write in! 

2. FB Fan Page

Got a fan page? USE IT! The same method can be used as described in idea #1, but to add to it, your fans will be on Facebook at varying times of the day & week, so post a couple times a day to be sure you're reaching the folks who need to know.

3. Create an event

Some folks choose to create a Facebook event. Make it clear that it's an online event only, and provide clear details as to what you're asking attendees to do. Follow this by adding all of your friends in the area who are eligible to vote, and not bothering your friends in other parts of the world. They'll thank you for that!

4. Make a Short Video 

Don't misunderstand me on this one. No need to be bringing a full production team to your house for this! Write a goofy song about wanting people to vote for you that'll make them laugh. (Or something to that extent, anyway.) Post it with a link and see what happens! It's amazing what people will do when you put a smile on their face, first!

5. Twitter

Tweet it up, people! Tag #LVMA16 & #GLVMA to get more folks who are following to see your request, and we love to retweet those posts, too!

6. Instagram

Along the lines of idea #1. Again, don't forget the hashtags!

7. Post your Soundcloud link

Why should people vote for you? Post a link to the tell-tale truth: your music! Your Soundcloud link can be  a vital resource to you. Don't have one? Post a song or CREATE a profile, post a video (if the sound is good) and show folks just how awesome you are!

Honestly, this list could go on and on, but who would read all of that? Get creative! Got ideas you'd like to share? SHARE THEM! 

One final message before ending this blog post, and again one of the ones I want to stress most to you: 

Good luck to ALL of you! The power is still in each of your hands to win this, with a little work and elbow grease! We can't wait to see you with your award!

Erin Monie is the Director of Marketing and Promotions for The Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association (GLVMA). She has a Bachelor’s degree from Full Sail University in Graphic Design and a Master’s degree in Entertainment Business. Additionally, she is the co-founder of Steelwire Productions, LLC.

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The Value of Winning an LVMA

First of all being an independent artist, winning an LVMA means you have successfully connected with your fan base. It mostly has to do with that connection. Besides loving your music, a fan wants to care about you and about what you represent, and feel that you care about them as well. They heard your talent and supported it. That alone should make any musician feel great.

I think that the biggest challenge that any local musician faces today is the sheer abundance of music that is being produced. There are more players on the field now than ever before in the history of the Lehigh Valley's Music Scene, and the result at times is an oversaturated music market, (which is great for our listening ears) especially in certain genres, so being recognized with a LVMA in your genre is a great accomplishment.  

I feel it is a very exciting time to be an independent musician who is nominated and wins an LVMA, its great for your promotions, can be added to your website, and looks really good on your resume, showing venues and businesses that you have been recognized by your peers and fans, in either the Fan category or Music Industry category.

This years voting period starts on November 30th and ends at midnight on the 14th of December. All the best to all of the amazing talent right here in our own community.  You can cast your votes here.

I’d like to thank you sincerely for reading this blog.  To all of the independent and aspiring artists of the Valley that read this: if you feel that music is your calling then keep going at all cost. I once read somewhere that genius consists of 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, so roll up your sleeves because you are not going anywhere without some blood, sweat and tears and remember its always a good thing to support the people who support you.

All the best to all of you.. Gloria Domina  

2x Grammy Nominee, 1x Grammy Winning Producer Owner of Thirteen Butterflies Productions, LLC

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LVMA16 Voting and Ticket Sales

Public Invited to Vote for Lehigh Valley Music Awards Beginning Nov 30 Tickets for LVMA16, set for March 8 at SteelStacks, go on sale today at 10 AM

BETHLEHEM, PA—The Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association (GLVMA) and ArtsQuest invite the public to show their support for their favorite Lehigh Valley musicians and performers by voting to determine the winners of the Lehigh Valley Music Awards 16 (LVMA16) in 2015. Voting will take place Nov. 30-Dec. 14 at lehighvalleymusicawards.org. Winners will be announced at the LVMA16 show March 8, 4 p.m., at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks’ Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.

The two nonprofits have also announced that tickets for the LVMA16 will go on sale today, 10 a.m.; cost is $20 and tickets will be available at www.steelstacks.org and 610-332-3378.

Presented by the nonprofit Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association and ArtsQuest, the Lehigh Valley Music Awards are designed to celebrate the music industry in the Greater Lehigh Valley. During the awards ceremony, the organizations present a variety of awards honoring the region’s best performers in a variety of genres including blues, rock, folk, gospel, hip-hop, jazz and more, as well as awards honoring local music schools, recording studios, music stores and other local music organizations.

From Oct. 30-Nov. 17, the region’s music fans and industry professionals participated in nominating artists for the LVMA16. New categories in this year’s LVMA16 voting include “Bluegrass Fusion/Progressive Bluegrass” and “Spiritual or Spirit-filled Hip Hop.”

For more information or to cast your vote for the LVMA16 visit lehighvalleymusicawards.org.

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A Message From Our President, Rick Flores

Arts on the Move

First and foremost a big THANK YOU to everyone who attended, volunteered or worked at our first annual Arts on the Move event which was held on October, 4th, at the America On Wheels Museum.  The music was a welcome accompaniment to the aesthetics which were in abundance from the art and such a unique and lively venue.  Grace Adele mesmerized with her wonderful skill on the Harp, which resonated across the museum in the earlier part of the evening.  Connie and Tommy did an amazing rendition of “Needle and the Damage Done” which to some was the musical highlight of the evening.  Closing us out were the James Supra & Sarah Ayers Quartet with a very special guest in Rob Stoneback who delighted the crowd with his trombone.  All in all, the feedback as positive and most importantly, we were able to raise necessary funds for the Lehigh Valley Music Awards scholarship fund.

Lehigh Valley Music Awards 16

LVMA 16 season has begun with nominations, which are now closed. Voting begins on Nov. 30th.  Voting will run until December 13th at 11:59 PM.  The importance of participating in the voting process cannot be stressed enough.  In previous years, 2-3 votes amounted to a potential win. This applies especially those of you who are fans and industry members of the smaller or more niche genres.   Your vote serves as a testimony of what has transpired in your segment during the last year.  I encourage everyone to vote and to put some thought into your selections.  

We have a few new categories where this becomes vital. On both the Industry and fan ballots, we have Spiritual Hip-Hop and Fusion Bluegrass. These are two genres which require the community participation I was referring to.  Members of those communities are encouraged to spread the word and help show the Lehigh Valley the beauty of your unique piece of the musical tapestry.  

Lastly, the Discovered Artist/Band on the fan ballot allows the community-at-large to tell the world who is new and who is the hot, up and coming talent to watch out for in the years to come.  

Good luck to all of the artists and eligible persons.  

Regards,

Rick Flores President, The Greater Lehigh Valley Music Association (GLVMA)

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Meet The Liaisons: Joshua Ramirez, Music Videographer/Urban/Hip-Hop Liaison

                                                   This week we are proud to introduce our final liaison who is no stranger to the Lehigh Valley Music Scene, or to the LVMAs. Josh Ramirez is our Music Videographer/Urban/Hip-Hop Liaison, and we’re very excited to have him as a part of this program.

Here’s a little more about Josh:

Josh Ramirez was born August 1st, 1975, in the Bronx, NY. Currently residing in the Lehigh Valley, Josh is a world-renowned visual artist, director and entrepreneur with a catalog of over 550 music videos.   Josh brings over 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry and over 5 years experience in visual arts.  Coming from humble beginnings he worked his way into the industry with his charismatic personality, his determination and unwillingness to quit generated opportunities for him to become the self made, detailed oriented, aggressive businessman he is today.  These attributes have helped him catapult his career into a globally recognized visual artist.   Josh has worked with artists such as Daddy Yankee, Pinto, Nengo Flow, De La Ghetto, Alex Kyza, Red Foxx and hundreds of other international artists.

 He has directed several number one videos in South America and the Caribbean, helping these songs reach top of the charts in their respective genres.  With this has come recognition, Joshua is a proud member of the Grammy Association and has claimed the 2013 Lehigh Valley Latin Business Man of the Year award as well as the 2012 & 2014 Lehigh Valley Music Awards for his work and representation of the Lehigh Valley community worldwide.

His goal is to continue to expand and globalize his brand to an elite level in the entertainment industry.

Help us to welcome Josh by following him on Twitter and Instagram, and by checking out his work on YouTube. Welcome, Josh!

As always, be sure to subscribe to our blog, check out our Facebook page as well as our website, as news regarding LVMA16 is out, with more to come and you won’t want to miss a beat!

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And LVMA16 Begins...

Well, by now you may have seen the graphic indicating the start of nominations for LVMA16… It’s true, November 2nd kicks off the festivities, but that’s not the whole story. There’s more. MUCH MORE…

This 16th year of LVMA goodness promises to be the best yet. We’ve added a team of contacts for all of the various categories, whom we’ve lovingly titled “The Liaisons”. These folks were chosen to be a point of contact for any questions you may have, whether in regards to what category you fall into, or about the voting process in general. They have your interests in mind, and are there to help you achieve the same things they have.

But that’s not all! You asked, and after a great deal of thought, introspection and consideration, we’ve answered…

We’re thrilled to announce the addition of two new categories! Yes, you heard that right! We, the GLVMA, are excited to announce the addition of Bluegrass Fusion/Progressive Bluegrass and Spiritual or Spirit filled Hip Hop!

So in the event you’re wondering what the definitions are of these new categories, here we go:

Spiritual or Spirit filled Hip Hop: Sometimes faith may be evident in part of a song or other times an entire song or album may focus on Spiritual beliefs. However, this does not always mean that the artist or their music is of any one religion. Spiritual Hip Hop is distinct in carrying a Spiritual message through hip hop. (Otherwise, ALL of your tracks must exclusively express a religious message.)

Bluegrass Fusion/Progressive Bluegrass: A fusion of either Rock, Folk, Blues and Jazz. Groups may use electric instruments and import songs from other genres, particularly rock & roll.

And yes, there’s EVEN MORE! This year, the nominations will be qualified as valid, providing that each nominee fulfills two out of the three following qualifiers: 1) Performed six (6) times from August 2013 to August 2014 in the LV OR; 2) Has released a music related work (album, song, video or related product) within this same timeframe. 3) Resides in the Greater Lehigh Valley (The Greater Lehigh Valley is stated officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton-Phillipsburg, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon and some parts of Berks counties in eastern Pennsylvania and Warren county on the western edge of New Jersey in the United States).

All nominations will be verified by a third party, so make sure you’ve got it all out there! If they can’t find your work, they won’t qualify you. (Seriously folks, that would make us really sad, so make sure it’s out there!)

SO, nominations will run from 11/2 to 11/17… We’re encouraging ALL of you to get out there and ASK FOR THE NOMINATION from your fans & colleagues! You can’t expect to win without a nomination. The best way to get it is to ask for it!

Voting will begin on 11/30, and will run until 12/13. More information will be forthcoming prior to that date, and look forward to a public press conference announcing all of the nominees, by a group of people who are very near and dear to us…

I’ve already said too much, but I’ll say one more thing, and it’s THE MOST IMPORTANT message we want to put out there for you all:

ALL of you are very dear to us (the GLVMA board, in case you were wondering). What happens next is in your hands. Everything is now out of our control, and lies in the capable hands of your fans, the public and your colleagues. Make sure YOUR fans are prepared and are ready to rock the vote for you. We’ve got our hopes high that YOU will take home the win!

Stay tuned for further updates on what will undoubtedly be the most epic LVMA to date! Subscribe to our blog, like the GLVMA and LVMA Facebook pages, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, but most importantly, STAY IN THE LOOP! There’s SO MUCH more to come!