Nominations are open for the East Texas Music Awards

Online nominations are being accepted for the 2016 East Texas Music Awards (ETX). Voting is free and 100 percent fan-generated. The top five nominees in each category move to the second and final voting rounds. This is the fifth annual ETX Music Awards
You may vote in any or all the categories and are not required to vote in every category, but voting is limited to one session per person. The voter’s name and email are required for verification. After submitting the survey, you will not be able to update existing responses.
Nominees must meet one of the following criteria: they must be born in or have lived in East Texas, or performed in East Texas as least six times within the previous 12 months, by end of the nomination round.
No nominee will be qualified for a category, if they have already won twice in the immediate past two years.
Nominations are accepted in the following categories: Americana, Bluegrass, Blues, Christian/Gospel, Country, EDM DJ - non radio,  Hip Hop, Jazz, Latin, Metal, Punk, Rap, R&B, Rock, Female Vocalist, Male Vocalist, Female Guitarist, Male Guitarist, Bassist, Drummer/Percussionist, Fiddler/Violin, Keys, Music Producer, Video, Entertainer, Singer/Songwriter, Single, Album, Vocal Group, Radio Station, Radio DJ, Festival Venue, Magazine, Marching Band of the Year (new for 2016) and Lifetime Achievement. 
To nominate your favorites, go to www.etxmusic.com/vote-1.html.
In 2015, Local band Dixie Bent took home two awards: Michael “Opie” Harrist as Drums / Percussionist of the Year and John Watts for Keys Player of the Year. Also, Lead vocalist Heather Cloninger of Bloomburg was up for Female Vocalist of the Year. Lucky Boyd of Linden was also nominated for Lifetime Achievement Award
ETX Music Award winners will be announced at the ETX Music Awards 2016 at a red carpet event in September in Tyler.