Americana 

Outstanding Americana Artist / Group 

• Acoustic Ash
• Gasoline Gypsies, The
• Steve Taylor Three
• Sugarees, The
• Voxanna
• Whiskey Charmers, The

Outstanding Americana Recording

• Acoustic Madness - “Tiffany”
• Dirk Kroll Band - “Angry Girl”
• Gasoline Gypsies, The - “Under The Weather”
• Mike Ward: Psychosongs - “Particles To Pearls”
• Steve Taylor Three - “Travel Light”
• Whiskey Charmers, The - “On The Run”

Blues 

Outstanding Blues Artist / Group 

• Al-Saadi, Laith
• Canas, Chris
• Lady Champagne Page
• McCarty, Jim
• Motor City Josh & The Big 3
• Murray, Bobby

Outstanding Blues Recording

• Big B and the Actual Proof - “The Noir Album”
• Dave Edwards Band - “Every Time I Roll The Dice”
• Green, Tony “T-Money”  -  “Gone (Down The Road)”
• Robert Thibodeau & The Detroit Jewels - “Love On”
• Woody Mac  - “Beware The Monsters”

Classical 

Outstanding Classical Composer 

• Daugherty, Michael
• Fitzgerald, Jill
• Herd, Maurice "Pirahnahead"
• Jarema, Andy
• Jones, Molly
• Steinke, Harriet

Outstanding Community Orchestra 

• Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony
• Dearborn Symphony Orchestra
• Detroit Medical Orchestra
• Flint Symphony Orchestra
• Macomb Symphony Orchestra
• Rochester Symphony Orchestra

Outstanding Small Ensemble 

• Beo String Quartet
• Chamber Music at the Scarab Club
• Il Segreto String Quartet
• Motor City Brass Band
• Soulchestra

Outstanding Classical Recording

• An Vedi - "Another Chance"
• An Vedi - “ConTempoRary Violin”
• An Vedi - “Cranes”
• Moore, Marla - “O Holy Night”
• Ysssa - "Passacagila"

Country 

Outstanding Country Artist/Group 

• Alan Turner Band
• Family Tradition Band, The
• Julianne Ankley & The Rogues
• Orbitsuns, The
• Scillian, Devin
• Wine Stoned Cowboys

Outstanding Country Recording

• Lee, Louie - "Cocaine Cowboy"
• Midnight Proof - “Barflies”
• Prew, McKayla - "Who Are You?!"
• Steve Taylor Three  - "Raining On Christmas"
• Turner, Alan - "You Sure Do"
• Vee, Joey - "If I Had The Money"

Electronic/Dance 

Outstanding Electronic/Dance Artist/Group 

• Alston, Malik
• Craig, Carl
• Fiddler, Amp
• Larin, Liz
• Waajeed
• Will Sessions

Outstanding Electronic/Dance DJ 

• Clark, Mike  (Agent X)
• DJ Dez
• DJ Godfather
• DJ Minx
• Hale, Stacey "Hotwaxx"
• Lexy, Linda
• Magby, Dezi  (DJ Psycho)

Outstanding Electronic Recording

• Dixon, Jon - "Vocal Sessions:  Vol. 1"
• DJ Minx- "Do It All Night"
• Mills, Jeff - "Extension"
• Various Artists - “The Sundowners EP”
• Waajeed  -  “Memoirs of Hi-Tech Jazz”
• Will Sessions - "Electromagnetic Reality" 

General  

Outstanding Anthology/Compilation/Reissue  

• Cooper, Alice- "Live From The Astroturf: Good Records Dallas, Texas 10/06/15”
• Crenshaw, Marshall  - “Marshall Crenshaw (40th Anniversary Edition)”
• Eminem  -  "The Eminem Show: 20th Anniversary Edition"
• Eminem  - "Curtain Call 2"
• Quatro, Suzi-  "The Albums 1980-86"
• Various Artists - "WLLZ Motor City Rocks 2022"   

Outstanding Family/Children's Music  

• Detroit Children's Choir
• Bob & Coltrane
• Gro-Town
• Mr. Bob's Rubber Band

Outstanding Live Performance  (includes VIRTUAL)

• 43rd Detroit Jazz Festival  
• Carolyn Striho Group
• Hyped Up: Live Sessions
• Key, Chrissii
• Larin, Liz
• Laura Rain and the Caesars
• Mac Saturn
• Motor City Horns
• Ruiners, The
• Tino G's Dumpster Machine
• Warhorses

Outstanding Live Sound Tech  

• Carr, Mike
• Hines, Chris
• Jay, Peter
• Muccino, Robert
• Panackia, Chris
• Roof, David

Outstanding Local Record Label  

• Architect Entertainment
• Anise Records
• Bassment Sounds 2.0
• Eastlawn Records
• Funky D Records
• Got The Key

2023 Nominees

General, cont.  

Outstanding Local Venue  (maximum capacity 2500)

• 20 Front Street
• Ark, The
• Baker's Keyboard Lounge
• Berkley Coffee
• Cadieux Cafe
• Cliff Bell's
• Magic Bag, The
• Parliament Room at Otus Supply
• Saint Andrew's Hall
• Token Lounge, The

Outstanding National Recording  

• Babyface Ray  - "Face"
• Davidson, Ethan Daniel - "Stranger"
• Eva Under Fire - "Love, Drugs & Misery"
• I Prevail - "True Power"
• Lizzo  - "Special"
• Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men - "Heart Inside Your Head"
• Rockspell - “Rockspell (featuring Detoit Youth Choir)”
• Volebeats, The -  “Lonesome Galaxy”
• We Came As Romans  - “Darkbloom”
• White, Jack  -  “Entering Heaven Alive”
• White, Jack  - “Fear Of The Dawn”

Outstanding National Single 

• Eminem  -  "From The D 2 the LBC (featuring Snoop Dogg)"
• Eminem -  "The King & I (featuring CeeLo Green)"
• Eva Under Fire - "Blow"
• KEM-  "Stuck On You"
• Lizzo  -  “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)”
• Lizzo  - “About Damn Time”
• Nugent, Ted  - “American Campfire”
• Pop, Iggy - “Frenzy”
• Pop, Iggy - "Strung Out Johnny"
• Pop, Iggy (with Danny Elfman)  - “Kick Me”

Outstanding National EP or Mixtape

• 42 Dugg & EST GEE - "Last Ones Left"
• Antt Beatz - "Tryna See Sumn"
• Insane Clown Posse - "Pug Ugly"
• Insane Clown Posse - "Wicked Vic"
• KEM - ”Full Circle" 
• Lizzo  -  "You're Special, Love Lizzo"
• Michigander -  “It Will Never Be The Same”
• Moriondo, Chloe  - “puppy luv”
• Peters, Caleb  - “Marathon”
• Seedsmen To The World  - “Seedsmen To The World”

Outstanding Record Producer  

• Alkazian, Chuck
• Feeny, Dave
• Green, Tony "T-Money"
• Gross, Tino
• Larin, Liz
• White, Brian “Roscoe”

Outstanding Recording Studio  

• 54 Sound Recording Studios
• Pearl Sound Studio
• Plymouth Rock Productions
• Rustbelt
• Sound Shop Studio
• Tempermill, The

Outstanding Tribute Band 

• Crazy Babies - Ozzy Rebourne
• Danny D and The Vagabonds
• Kris Kurzawa Group featuring Barbara Payton: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin
• Magic Bus
• Santana Project, The
• Wrecking Crew

Outstanding Video - Limited Budget

• Gasoline Gypsies, The- "Under The Weather"
• Josie Pace - "Storm and Stress"
• Ladyship Warship -  "Possum Nova"
• Mac Saturn  - “Mr. Cadillac”
• Tino G's Dumpster Machine  -  “Lay It Down Mama”
• Whiskey Charmers, The - “Water”

Outstanding Video - Major Budget 

• Belgrave, Joan- "Oooo Boy"
• Eminem - "From The D 2 the LBC (featuring Snoop Dogg)"
• Eva Under Fire  - “Blow”
• KEM  -  “Stuck On You”
• Lizzo  - “About Damn Time”
• Pop, Iggy  - “Frenzy”

Outstanding Bass Instrumentalist  

• Armstrong, Ralphe
• Bartels, Chuck
• Brantley, Kern
• Carlisi, Philip “Greasy”
• Green, Tony “T-Money”
• Hayden, Marion
• Noonan, Roger
• Pope, William
• Prouty, Patrick
• Salaysay, Raquel

Outstanding Guitar Instrumentalist  

• Al-Saadi, Laith
• Canas, Chris
• Dailey, Scott
• Friend, George
• McCarty, Jim
• Myers, Eric “EZ”
• Peltier, Pete
• Washington, Carlton
• White, Brian “Roscoe”
• Whitelaw, JC

Outstanding Keyboards Instrumentalist 

• Codish, Chris
• Finkelstein, Ian
• Gibbs, Gerard
• Gwinnell, Scott
• Mercer, Evan
• Mervak, Bob
• Palo, Bernie
• Speck, MarQ Andrew
• Striho, Carolyn
• Woodman, Susie

Outstanding Percussion Instrumentalist

• Beamon, Rick
• Coppola, Angelo
• Dobbins, Sean
• Gittinger, Jason
• Lyn, Kristin
• McKinney, Gayelynn
• Pangborn, Ron
• Pierce, Darryl
• Taylor, David
• Winn, Nate

Outstanding Specialty Instrumentalist  

• Beddow, Bugs  -  Trombone
• Belgrave, Kasan - Woodwinds
• Charboneau, Jason  - Cello
• Hughes, James  - Woodwinds
• Martinez, Matt - Trombone
• Paxton, John “T-Bone”  - Trombone
• Rutherford, John  - Trombone
• Streng, Bobby - Saxophone
• Taylor, Steve  - Mandolin
• Wood, Steve  -  Saxophone

Outstanding Songwriter 

• Belgrave, Joan
• Brandt, Billy and Elaine Schoendorf
• Gross, Tino
• Key, Chrissii
• Kroll, Dirk
• Larin, Liz
• Mike Ward: Psychosongs
• Striho, Carolyn
• Taylor, Steve
• Warner, Gia

Outstanding Vocalist  

• Alexander, Mike
• Belgrave, Joan
• Covington, Sky
• Key, Chrissii
• Larin, Liz
• Payton, Barbara
• Rain, Laura
• Taylor, Steve
• Van Goor, Olivia
• Wright, Kymberli

Gospel/Christian  

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Artist or Group  

• Fernelius, Danny Allen
• Phillips, Carl B.
• Righteous Through God (RTG)
• Storm, Bobbi
• Sweet Crystal
• Wynn, Mary 

Outstanding Gospel Choir

• Bishop Charles H. Ellis III & Greater Grace Temple Mass Choir
• Dr. E. LaQuint Weaver II & The Hallelujah Singers
• Dr. Waverly B. Bumbrey & Refuge Temple Cathedral Voices
• Larry Callahan and Selected Of God
• Motor City Worship
• Whitfield Company

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Recording

• Coston, Mary P. - "Your Blessing Is On The Way"
• Erikson, Leaf & D Apollo  - The New Testament"
• Fernelius, Danny Allen  - “Forgiveness”
• Righteous Through God (RTG)  - “In A Split Second”
• Sweet Crystal  - “7th Heaven”
• Young Men 4 Christ  - “Saved and Sanctified”

 Jazz  

Outstanding Modern Jazz Artist 

• Belgrave, Joan
• Detroit Jazz Project, The
• Gayelynn McKinney & McKinnfolk
• Jones, Ibrahim
• Paxton/Spangler Septet
• Straight Ahead

Outstanding Traditional Jazz Artist  

• Hughes Smith Quintet
• McKinney, Gayelynn
• Paul Keller Orchestra
• Planet D Nonet
• Ralphe Armstrong Trio
• Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra

Outstanding Jazz Recording  

• Allen Denard Quintet - "Flashback"
• Nabors, Demitrius - "Evolution"
• Palter, Jesse -  “Nothing Standard”
• Paxton/Spangler Septet  -  "Ugqozi"
• Planet D Nonet -  "A Tribute To Buddy Johnson"
• Plum, Chris  - “The Small Hours”
• Signal Quartet  - “Signal Quartet”

            R & B   (formerly Urban/R&B)

Outstanding R & B Artist

• Bugs Beddow and the Good Stuff
• Groove Council, The
• Key, Chrissii
• Laura Rain and The Caesars
• Mainstreet Soul
• T-Money Green's Roadwork

Outstanding R & B Recording

• Belgrave, Joan - "Oooo Boy"
• BETH  - "Let Me Be"
• Laura Rain and The Caesars - "Rise Again"
• Olaniran, Tunde -  "Ephemerrreality"
• Orlando, Kat -  “Player”
• Orlando, Kat  -  There I Said It"

               Rap

Outstanding Rap Artist/Group   

• Boldy James
• Erikson, Leaf
• Forbes, Sean
• REDD
• Sada Baby 
• WarrenPeace

Outstanding Rap Recording

• Boldy James- "Be That As It May"
• Erikson, Leaf  -  "Son Of The Soil"
• Erikson, Leaf and The Davis Way - “Briefcases and Sunglasses”
• Forbes, Sean  - “Little Victories”
• Scott, Ryn -  “Peaks and Valleys”
• WarrenPeace  - “Theory of Forms”

               Rock   

Outstanding Rock/Pop Artist or Group  

• Carolyn Striho Group
• Dirk Kroll Band
• Mac Saturn
• Seatbelts, The
• Tino G's Dumpster Machine
• Warner, Gia

Outstanding Alt/Indie/Punk Artist or Group  

• Cinecyde
• Josie Pace
• Ladyship Warship
• Ruiners, The
• Strains, The
• Zotz, The   

Outstanding Heavy/Hard Rock Artist or Group  

• Artificial Agent
• Kaleido
• Kougaran
• Lion Within, The
• No Resolve
• Warhorses   

Outstanding Rock Recording 

• Artificial Agent - "Pop Culture Disruptor"
• Dirk Kroll Band  -  "Trouble"
• Kaleido -  "Run"
• Ladyship Warship  -  "Possum Nova"
• Mac Saturn  -  "Until The Money Runs Out"
• McCarty, Jim  -  "Acoustic Ideas"
• Tino G's Dumpster Machine  - “GTO”

World Music   

Outstanding World Artist/Group   

• Booker, Muruga 
• Detroit Riddim Crew
• Luddites, The
• McCabe, Maggie 
• Ramo, Michele  
• Roots Vibrations

Outstanding World Recording

• Chaparro, Martin - "Tomorrow"
• Detroit Riddim' Crew  -  "Detroit Riddim Crew Meets Crazy Baldhead: Instru-Mental"
• Musique Noire  -  "intergenerational"
• The Invisibles featuring M.A. and Swami -  "Hello Indian Power"