The energy on the red carpet last night at the Grand Ole Opry House said everything before the show even started. The 12th Annual Josie Music Awards drew independent artists, songwriters, and fans from across genres and, it turned out, across the globe, and the excitement outside the venue carried straight through the doors and into a night full of milestone moments.
That excitement was well earned. This year’s nominees were chosen out of more than 100,000 submissions, and every artist who made it to a nomination tonight has real reason to be proud. It is an incredible honor just to be selected from a field that size, and this year’s group of nominees reflected the very best of what the independent music community has to offer.
Jason Paulino carried that pride onto the red carpet as one of the evening’s standout nominees, representing the kind of dedicated, independent artistry the Josie Music Awards was built to recognize.
SCARECROW, the project fronted by John Blaze, brought its own moment of recognition, with the group’s collaboration “Twisted,” featuring Dee Snider, standing as one of the night’s notable nominated works.
Ray Ray Star, a longtime name in the independent scene, was recognized tonight on the strength of a catalog that includes “Ashes Next Door” and “Slow Motion Fall” — songs that have helped build a devoted following well before this nomination arrived.
Irene Michaels turned in one of the night’s most remarkable showings, landing three nominations, including Artist of the Year – Pop/Pop Rock. It is a milestone that adds to a career already marked by earlier Josie wins and continues to cement her as one of independent music’s most versatile forces.
Bex Lindsay joined the roster of nominees being celebrated tonight, adding another well-deserved name to a group that made this year’s competition as strong as it has ever been.
Quinn Lemley, known for bringing “Swinging Hot Tomato” to audiences at the Triad Theater, carried that same star power onto the Josie stage tonight as a nominee in her own right.
And Bria Cheri rounded out the group, her nomination standing as recognition of the kind of rising talent the Josie Music Awards exists to spotlight.
Seven nominees, one incredible night, and an achievement each of them earned against more than 100,000 submissions — that is a group of artists this whole team could not be prouder to stand behind. Congratulations to every one of you.