Given the state of the current economy and the continuing difficulty in finding large sponsors, the MAMAs have developed a new strategy in their funding efforts. This year will be somewhat of a testing ground for this new approach and hopes are high for 2011 to make necessary refinements and find more sponsors.
Broadjam, Inc. was the first to step up, sponsoring the album category. What this means is the each eligible album can be entered into one genre for the 2010 MAMAs. Artists may still choose to enter their album into other genres where the standard registration fee applies.
Good-n-Loud Music has also stepped up, sponsoring the Instrumentalist and Youth categories. This means that each eligible artist can enter themselves into an Instrumentalist or Youth category at no charge.
The Instrumentalist category was expanded in 2009. There used to be one overall Instrumentalist of the Year Award. Last year it was changed to include Guitarist, Bassist, Drummer/Percussionist, Keyboardist, String, Brass, Woodwind and Specialty Instrumentalist of the Year Awards. (Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist and Ensemble Vocalists remain separate categories.)
The Youth Categories include Youth Vocalist, Youth Ensemble and Youth Instrumentalist. These categories are for those under 18 or still in high school.
It should be noted that the MAMA membership is still required before any submissions can be made. This requires a $5 donation to the MAMAs’ charitable fund. Those funds are not comingled with general operating funds.
Local Sounds will also be sponsoring the People’s Choice Awards. Since these awards are write-in categories, there is no registration fee. Local Sounds will pick up the cost to manufacture these awards, saving the MAMAs several hundred dollars.
