What are the BMAs?
The Blues Music Awards brings together Blues performers, industry representatives, and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year.
The BMAs are generally recognized as the highest honor given to blues musicians and are awarded by vote of Blues Foundation members.
To become a Blues Foundation voting member, join here.
The 45th Blues Music Awards will be held at the Renasant Convention Center in Downtown Memphis on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Congratulations to all winners and nominees!
*voting open to Blues Foundation member only*
What are the BMAs?
The Blues Music Awards brings together Blues performers, industry representatives, and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year.
The BMAs are generally recognized as the highest honor given to blues musicians and are awarded by vote of Blues Foundation members.
To become a Blues Foundation voting member, join here.
Teeny Tucker performs during the 45th Annual Blues Music Awards at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis on May 9, 2024.
The Renasant Convention Center was packed with blues musicians, fans, and music-world luminaries on May 9th, anxious to see who would be the winners at the 45th Annual Blues Music Awards. Besides awarding honors in 25 categories, the BMAs, as is its tradition, featured performances from many nominees, with the gala ending in a jubilant all-star jam.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram performs during the 45th Annual Blues Music Awards at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis on May 9, 2024.
Photos ©Kendrick Hunt
2024 Blues Music Awards Nominees:
Beth Hart
Bobby Rush
Lil’ Ed Williams
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Vanessa Collier
TEARDROPS FROM MAGIC SLIM, John Primer
Live In London, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
SoulFunkn’BLUES, Blackburn Brothers
Soul Side of Sipp, Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Get Your Back Into It!, Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling
Larkin Poe
Nick Moss Band
Selwyn Birchwood Band
Southern Avenue
Tedeschi Trucks Band
“Bobby’s Blues” written by Brooke Blackburn
“Horns Below Her Halo” written by Selwyn Birchwood
“Midnight Heat” written by Tom Hambridge & Richard Fleming
“The Bait In the Snare” written by Nick Moss
“What Kind Of Fool” written by Ruthie Foster, Hadden Sayers & Scottie Miller
When the Levee Breaks: The Music of Memphis Minnie, Candice Ivory
The Right Man, D.K. Harrell
Up Next, Mathias Lattin
Everybody’s Buddy, Nic Clark
Motel Mississippi, Tony Holiday
Wild Ox Moan, Catfish Keith
Raw Blues 1, Doug MacLeod
Sticks & Strings, EG Kight
Ridin’ the Blinds, Hudspeth & Taylor
Ghost Hymns, William Lee Ellis
POWER, Ana Popović
Writing On The Wall, Coco Montoya
Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, Joe Bonamassa
Blood Brothers, Mike Zito/ Albert Castiglia
What Key Is Trouble In?, Nick Schnebelen
Live In London, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Ridin’, Eric Bibb
Behind The Veil, Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind
Healing Time, Ruthie Foster
Exorcist, Selwyn Birchwood
Stuff I’ve Been Through, Alabama Mike
SoulFunkin’ BLUES, Blackburn Brothers
All My Love For You, Bobby Rush
Walking Heart Attack, Johnny Rawls
Soul Side of Sipp, Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
TEARDROPS FOR MAGIC SLIM: John Primer
Nothing But Time, Monster Mike Welch
Get Your Back Into It!, Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling
Savoy, Taj Mahal
Oscar’s Motel, The Cash Box Kings
Catfish Keith
Doug MacLeod
Eric Bibb
Keb’ Mo’
Kevin Burt
Ana Popović
Joe Bonamassa
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Mike Zito
Warren Haynes
Carolyn Wonderland
Danielle Nicole
Janiva Magness
Teresa James
Vanessa Collier
Chris Cain
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Marquise Knox
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Selwyn Birchwood
Annika Chambers
Kat Riggins
Terrie Odabi
Thornetta Davis
Trudy Lynn
Alabama Mike
Billy Price
John Nemeth
Johnny Rawls
William Bell
Diunna Greenleaf
Rhiannon Giddens
Shaun Murphy
Sue Foley
Teeny Tucker
Billy Branch
Cedric Burnside
John Primer
Jontavious Willis
Nick Moss
Bob Stroger
Larry Fulcher
Michael “Mudcat” Ward
Rodrigo Mantovani
Willie Weeks
Derrick D’Mar Martin
June Core
Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
Tom Hambridge
Tony Braunagel
Christoffer “Kid” Andersen
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Derek Trucks
Laura Chavez
Sue Foley
Billy Branch
Bob Corritore
Dennis Gruenling
Jason Ricci
Kim Wilson
Deanna Bogart
Jimmy Carpenter
Mark Kaz Kazanoff
Trombone Shorty
Vanessa Collier
Ben Levin
Dave Keyes
Jim Pugh
Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
Mitch Woods
Billy Price
Diunna Greenleaf
John Nemeth
Ruthie Foster
Shemekia Copeland
THANK YOU to our 2024 BMA Sponsors and Partners
Blues Music Awards Categories and Definitions:
That performer who has best represented and promoted the blues through recordings and performances during the eligibility period.
The best blues album in any style released to the public during the eligibility period.
(May be an album nominated in another category)
That group, recording and/or performing as a unit, which best exemplifies blues ensemble playing during the eligibility period.
This award is presented to the songwriter for a first-ever recording of a song initially released to the public during the eligibility period which best portrays the blues by means of theme, structure, and overall feeling.
That blues recording that was released during the eligibility period for an act that has not received a prior Blues Music Award or GRAMMY® award nomination. The age of the artist is not of significance, but this award is intended for an artist who is up and coming within the blues/music scene and is at the “jumping off” point of his or her career. An artist’s album may not be considered in this category if that artist has already had a professional release of more than three prior albums or EPs. (Albums submitted for this category may also be submitted in other appropriate categories.)
That album released during the eligibility period that best represents acoustic blues, in which non-electric/amplified instruments are prominently featured on at least 75% of the tracks.
That album released to the public during the eligibility period with a majority of songs that best portrays the Blues Rock genre, that hybrid that combines elements of blues with elements of rock, generally employing heavy amplification and driving rhythms, and which may employ non-traditional blues song structures.
That album released to the public during the eligibility period that best portrays blues in which elements other than those traditionally found in blues are part of the mix, e.g., different rhythms, different harmonies, more elaborate production values, etc., and which may offer a different approach to sounds, lyrics, instrumentation, arrangements, etc.
That album released to the public during the eligibility period that best portrays Southern Soul Blues, a type of soul music that emerged from the Southern United States. The music originates from a combination of styles, including blues (both 12 bar and jump) with a strong gospel influence.
That album released to the public during the eligibility period with a majority of songs that best portrays Traditional Electric Blues employing traditional blues song structures, harmonic structures and rhythms, and which may also employ instruments such as electric guitar, piano, organ, amplified harmonica, electric bass and drums. This category includes subgenres such as jump/swing blues and Chicago blues.
That performer, whether male or female, whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best represent Acoustic Blues.
That performer, whether male or female, whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best portray Blues Rock.
That female performer whose recordings and/or performances during the eligibility period best portray Contemporary Blues.
That male performer whose recordings and/or performances during the eligibility period best portray Contemporary Blues.
That female performer whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best portray Southern Soul Blues.
That male performer whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best portray Southern Soul Blues.
That female performer whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best portray Traditional Electric Blues.
That male performer whose recordings and/or performance during the eligibility period best portray Traditional Electric Blues.
That musician whose skills on the bass in performance and/or on recordings during the eligibility period best portray the blues.
That musician whose skills on the drums in performance and/or on recordings during the eligibility period best portray the blues.
That musician whose skills on the guitar in performance and/or on recordings during the eligibility period best portray the blues.
That musician whose skills on the harmonica in performance and/or on recordings during the eligibility period best portray the blues.
That individual whose skills on any horn (including brass and woodwind instruments) in performance and/or on recordings during the eligibility period best portray the blues.
That musician whose skills on the keyboards in performance and/or on recordings during the eligibility period best portray the blues.
That musician whose vocal skills in performance and/or on recordings during the eligibility period best portray the blues. This category is open to all vocalists on recordings and stage as well as to vocalists who also play an instrument.
That blues album or collection released during the eligibility period, with all recordings at least five years or older, which serves to preserve historical blues recording and/or performance. In addition to recording and performance content, liner notes and general packaging of the content will be taken into consideration. Submissions for this category are reviewed by a special committee of blues historians, journalists, and ethnomusicologists. This category is not included as part of the nominations announcement or the BMA ballot.
Blues Music Awards Process
The 46th Blues Music Awards submission process will open on July 8, 2024 at https://blues.awardsplatform.com/.
Any blues recording released between November 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024 is eligible for 2025 Blues Music Award consideration.
The Blues Foundation opens the formal submission process after July 4th of each year. Your complete album or minimum 6-song EP music must be uploaded as a WAV file with album artwork uploaded as either JPEG or PDF files.
Artists may submit a single for Song of the Year consideration that has been professionally released to the public between November 1, 2023 – October 31, 2024, and is not part of a larger EP or full album release.
Submission fees and deadlines (based on dates):
- August 1, 2024 – August 31, 2024
$155 per album or EP submission / $55 per song submission
- September 1, 2024 – September 30, 2024
$180 per album or EP submission / $80 per song submission
- October 1, 2024 – October 18, 2024
$225 per album or EP submission / $125 per song submission
The submission process will close on October 20, 2024.
You must upload your music and artwork and complete payment for your submission transaction no later than OCTOBER 21TH to be considered for a Blues Music Award nomination. All music must be uploaded as a WAV file with album artwork uploaded as a JPEG or PDF file. If you need assistance with uploading your music, contact Joe Whitmer at joe@blues.org will be available to help you and walk you through the process. The submission process officially closes on October 21, 2024, at 8:00am CST. You must upload your music and artwork and complete payment for your submission transaction no later than OCTOBER 21 to be considered for a Blues Music Award.
The nominators work through two rounds in order to come up with between four and six final nominees in each category. During the first round, each nominator distributes 6 total points to their top choices within each category, with no more than 2 total points given to any single entry. The top entries in each category move into Round 2. The Blues Foundation does not publicize which recordings and/or artists move to Round 2. The nominators then repeat the point distribution for each category in a second round ballot and those artists and recordings receiving the most total points in each category become the final Nominees for Blues Music Awards.
Final nominees will be announced in early January 2025.
Winners will be announced during the 45th Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN
Nominees and winners of the Blues Music Awards must be in keeping with The Blues Foundation’s values as a welcoming and inclusive organization,
as reflected in our Statement Against Racism.