The Victorian Music Awards

Australians aren't the best at praising our own kind. Self deprecating humour, giving ya mate shit and the good old tall poppy syndrome mean that we're never in a hurry to put ourselves on a pedestal.

Dame Nellie Melba went to Europe to become famous in 1886, but it took her 20 years to come back to perform in Australia again to an adoring nation. A cultural cringe has never done us many favours, so that's why The Victorian Music Awards will be launched this year. And not before time!

Until now Victorians have not formally recognised their own outstanding artists in the music industry as a whole. While other states celebrate their home grown talent, and Victoria does have our own specific awards for country, blues and jazz music, there is a gaping hole which The Melbas are now filling.

The Melbas will recognise highlights in the Victorian music scene in a range of categories. Nominations are welcome from anyone who feels merit is deserved to an artist.

You are asked to nominate outstanding artists and tell us what their contribution has been during 2009.

Anyone can nominate, but all nominations must state their case. No unjustified nominations will be considered. This means you will need to write to us and tell us why they deserve your nomination, or send in the proof (photo, album, web-links, or whatever the case may need).

Melba winners will be announced early 2010.

2009 Victorian Music Awards Categories are:

* Best Album

* Best Song
* Best Vinyl Release

* Best Live Band

* Best Live Solo Performer

* Best Male Vocal

* Best Female Vocal

* Best Instrumentalist

* Best Album Artwork

* Best Video Clip

* Best Band Photo

* Best Live Photo

* Best Gig Review

* Best Gig Poster/Flyer

* Best Gig (whole line-up)

* Best Live Sound Engineer
* Best Studio Engineer

How To Nominate

1. All nominations must be justified in writing.
This means you also need to explain or demonstrate why your nomination should win.
Emails or letters are both accepted.
Written nominations must be between 3 and 100 words in length for each category.

2. All nominations must accompanied by the item nominated.
The Victorian Music Awards will only consider nominations once we have received a copy of the album/song/photo etc that has been nominated.
Acceptable formats for each category are listed below in Format Requirements.

Format Requirements

* Best Album - either CD or LP

* Best Song - either CD, 7" or MP3
* Best Vinyl Release - either 7", 10" or 12" LP

* Best Live Band - anecdotal and/or review evidence

* Best Live Solo Performer - anecdotal and/or review evidence

* Best Male Vocal - any relevant recordings and/or review evidence

* Best Female Vocal - any relevant recordings and/or review evidence

* Best Instrumentalist - any relevant recordings and/or review evidence

* Best Album Artwork - physical copy of album

* Best Video Clip - dvd or weblink

* Best Band Photo - print or emailed copy sized 400x400 pixels or larger

* Best Live Photo - print or emailed copy sized 400x400 pixels or larger

* Best Gig Review - copy or weblink

* Best Gig Poster/Flyer - hard copy or emailed copy sized 400x400 pixels or larger

* Best Gig/Event - anecdotal and/or review evidence

* Best Live Sound Engineer - anecdotal and/or review evidence
* Best Studio Engineer - recording(s) and/or anecdotal and/or review evidence

FAQs

Q. What do you mean by Victorian?
A. Generally if the band/artist has made Victoria their home for a substantial period of time, or if the band has clearly presented itself as calling Victoria home, then we’ll deem them eligible. We may have to make a call about this on a case by case basis. The decisions made by the VMA Committee are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Q. You have no prize for radio shows. Why is that?
A. Oh damn! Thanks for pointing that out. The VMA Committee will discuss the idea of including a ‘best radio show’ or similar category next year.

Q. How are the awards judged?
A. We are seeking to acknowledge quality over quantity as a general rule. Of course if an artist sells 500,000 units, this must be considered, along with such factors as originality, catchiness, classiness and awesomeness. Once again, the decisions made by the VMA Committee are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Q. Who are you?
A. Not telling.

Q. Please tell us?
A. No.

Q. Why won’t you tell us?
A. It seems funny how so many awards go to artists on major record labels. There are of course some exceptions, such as the winners of last year's Aus Music Prize. But we aim to make the Melbas as uninfluenced by lobbying as possible. We guard our anonymity in order to stay impartial.
If we told you who the members of the Victorian Music Awards Committee were, everyone would be hounding them with their pet bands, and offers of free hookers and cocaine. They wouldn't have the time and space to enjoy and consider the great music from our home state. For this reason, you will find that if you ask someone if they are a VMA Committee member, they will of course deny it.

Q. So, who are you really?
A. All we can say is that we are Victorians. We have day jobs, but not in the music industry. We go and see a lot of music from a range of genres. We are made up of both men and women.

Q. But you said anyone can nominate. Won’t that mean we can still hound you with votes for our pet band?
A. Yes, but once a band is nominated we won't be keeping a tally of votes. We will be continuing to read people's critical appraisal of an already nominated band, just in case we missed the point via an earlier nomination.

Q. What's this punk effort? You're using a generic blog site, you don't seem to have any sponsors, and hosting your images on the messandnoise server. It's not very professional, is it?
A. Firstly, think about it. What is the important thing here? Well, obviously it's to recognise the greatness that's going on here in Victoria. To do this, we don't need a fancy website, we don't need a hosting server, and we laugh in the face of sponsorship. Ha Ha... haha.......ha! etc.
Thanks to messandnoise.com for allowing us to use their server for image hosting, and thanks to them also for creating this image in our honour.

(more FAQ below)

Q. What about an award for best zine, or best website?
A. Again, good ideas, but we have so many categories at the moment, we're not sure that we can manage to expand it this year. If we do add any further categories, we will let y'all know, but as for now, just the original categories stand.

Q. Is there any sort of prize for the winner?
A. Despite our non-budget ideals, we are looking into this. There certainly won't be a cash prize.

Q. Do photos (both live and band photos) have to: a) be of a Victorian act; b) have been taken in Victoria, and; c) does the photographer have to be a Victorian?
A. a) The act does have to be a Victorian, yes.
b) The photo could have been taken anywhere.
c) The photographer has to be a Victorian, yes.

Q. Is there a limit to the number of entries?
A. No. But please take some thought before you nominate everything under the sun.
Remember, you have to give us your critical thoughts as to why you choose to nominate that entry.

Q. What about best music publicist?
A. We have an award for best flyer/poster.

Q. What about a category for Best Curator/Regular Music series?
A. Yet another great idea. Will consider for next year perhaps.

2009 Melbas - Announced!!

Introducing: The Melbas!