New England Music Awards
The New England Music Awards are an annual award show. Bands and artists from the New England region of the United States are eligible for receipt of the awards.
Nomination process
Recipients are selected through their recordings, appearances and reputation. The awards were created by music promoter Joe Graham and Sugarpop Records label executive Dennis Hennessey in 2011, and the first ceremony occurred in 2012. The nominating committee consists of music journalists, radio personalities, record label executives and talent scouts. Event coordinator Mike Flynn says "when you take New England as a whole and look at all the amazing music and talent that's out there, it's mind blowing," adding "putting that talent together under one roof also helps some artists get recognition that they might not have had before."History
2012 awards
The inaugural 2012 New England Music Awards were held at Boston Hard Rock Cafe, on March 9, 2012.- Band of the Year – Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
- Album of the Year – Ragtop Angel by the Adam Ezra Group
- Song of the Year – "Takin Off" by the Adam Ezra Group
- Producer of the Year – Aaron Johnson
- Songwriter of the Year – Martin Sexton
- New Act of the Year – Suicide Dolls
- Female Performer of the Year – Liz Longley
- Male Performer of the Year – Chris Trapper
2013 awards
The 2013 New England Music Awards were held at Lowell Memorial Auditorium. The event was moved to accommodate all ages and an anticipated larger crowd.- Band of the Year – The Adam Ezra Group
- Album of the Year – NORDO by Air Traffic Controller
- Song of the Year – "Yeah Man" by Ryan Montbleau
- Producer of the Year – Sean McLaughlin
- Songwriter of the Year – Matt Nathanson
- New Act of the Year – Sarah Borello
- Female Performer of the Year – Sarah Blacker
- Male Performer of the Year – Chris Trapper
2014 awards
The 2014 New England Music Awards were held at Lowell Memorial Auditorium, on February 22, 2014. The ceremony began at 7 p.m., and coincided with the Lowell Winterfest. It was hosted by comedian Steve Sweeney, with performances by Nemes, the Mallett Brothers, Hayley Sabella, Dressed for the Occasion and Sarah Borrello.- Band of the Year – The Mallett Brothers Band
- Album of the Year – Land by the Mallett Brothers Band
- Song of the Year – "The Dreams in the Ditch" by Deer Tick
- Producer of the Year – Nick Tirrell
- Songwriter of the Year – Chris Ross
- New Act of the Year – Sarah Barrios
- Female Performer of the Year – Lori McKenna
- Male Performer of the Year – Josh Logan
2015 awards
The 2015 New England Music Awards were held at Showcase Live, on April 18, 2015. Boston Comedy Festival winner David Russo hosted the event, and the live performers were We Were Astronauts, Amy & the Engine, Pat & the Hats, the Willie J. Laws Band, Ben Knight and Sarah Barrios.- Band of the Year – The Shana Stack Band
- Album of the Year – National Throat by Will Dailey
- Song of the Year – "Sunken Ship" by Will Dailey
- Producer of the Year – Brian Coombes
- Songwriter of the Year – Ellison Jackson
- New Act of the Year – West End Blend
- Female Performer of the Year – Anna Lombard
- Male Performer of the Year – Dan Blakeslee
2016 awards
The 2016 New England Music Awards were held at Blue Ocean Music Hall. The ceremony began at 7:30 p.m.- Band of the Year – Dwight & Nicole
- Album of the Year – Fall Your Way by Frank Viele
- Song of the Year – "Let Your Hair Down" by Adam Ezra Group
- Producer of the Year – Vic Steffens
- Songwriter of the Year – Daphne Lee Martin
- New Act of the Year – Hunter
- Female Performer of the Year – Ruby Rose Fox
- Male Performer of the Year – Frank Viele
2017 awards
The 2017 New England Music Awards were held at Showcase Live, on April 29, 2017. Bands that performed were Cold Engines, Sygnal to Path and the Balkun Brothers, and the event closed with a tribute to Prince by the band Love Sexy.- Band of the Year – Roots of Creation
- Album of the Year – Domestic by Ruby Rose Fox
- Song of the Year – "The Mystic" by Adam Jensen
- Producer of the Year – Jonathan Wyman
- Songwriter of the Year – Julia Russo
- New Act of the Year – Gracie Day
- Female Performer of the Year – Annie Brobst
- Male Performer of the Year – Jay Psaros
2018 awards
The 2018 New England Music Awards were held at Mixx 360, on September 8, 2018.- Band of the Year – Ruby Rose Fox
- Album of the Year – Salt by Ruby Rose Fox
- Song of the Year – "Change of Heart" by Annie Brobst
- Producer of the Year – Sean McLaughlin
- Live Act of the Year – Flight of Fire
- New Act of the Year – Lyssa Coulter
- Songwriter of the Year – Frank Viele
- Male Performer of the Year – Munk Duane
- Female Performer of the Year – Christa Gniadek
- Rock Act of the Year – Analog Heart
- Pop Act of the Year – Ripe
- Hip Hop Act of the Year – Jazzmyn RED
- Country Act of the Year – Scarlett Drive
- Roots Act of the Year – Soggy Po Boys
- Hard Rock / Metal Act of the Year – FirstBourne
- Blues Act of the Year – Julie Rhodes
- Jazz Act of the Year – Gretchen & The Pickpockets
- Soul / R&B Act of the Year – Aubrey Haddard
- Best in State Massachusetts – Savasha
- Best in State New Hampshire – Katie Dobbins
- Best in State Vermont – Gang of Thieves
- Best in State Rhode Island – The Furies
- Best in State Maine – Emily and Jake
- Best in State Connecticut – Gracie Day
- Video of the Year – "After Party" by Air Traffic Controller, written and directed by Michael Parks Randa
- Video of the Year – "Freedom Fighter" by Ruby Rose Fox, directed by Ben Phillippo
2019 awards
- Band of the Year – Flight of Fire
- Album of the Year – You Oughta Know by Natalie Joly
- Song of the Year – "Sunken Ship" by Will Dailey
- Producer of the Year – Sean McLaughlin
- Songwriter of the Year – Amanda McCarthy
- New Act of the Year – Exit 18
- Female Performer of the Year – Danielle Miraglia & the Glory Junkies
- Male Performer of the Year – Joe Sambo
- Hard Rock/Metal act of the year - Sepsiss
2021 awards
The 2021 New England Music Awards were held at Mixx 360, on October 17, 2021, and were hosted by Adam Lopez and John Shea.- Album of the Year – Meet Me in the Middle by Erin Harpe, featuring Jim Countryman
- Hard Rock/Metal act of the year - Sepsiss
- Songwriter of the Year -
- Punk/Hardcore act of the Year - Mallcops
2022 awards
The 2022 New England Music Awards were held at Six String Grill & Stage, on November 13th 2022, and were hosted by Adam Lopez and John Shea.- Act of the Year - The Elovaters
- Album of the Year - Dalton & The Sheriffs “We’re Still Here”
- Americana Act of the Year - Town Meeting
- Blues Act of the Year - Gracie Grace and All The Good Boys
- Country Act of the Year - April Cushman
- Female Performer of the Year - Annie Brobst
- Hard Rock/Metal Act of the Year - Exit 18
- Hip Hop Act of the Year - Oompa
- Jazz Act of the Year - Club d’Elf
- Live Act of the Year - The Elovaters
- Male Performer of the Year - Nick Bosse
- New Act of the Year - The Chelsea Curve
- Pop Act of the Year - Lainey Dionne
- Producer of the Year - David Minehan Woolly Mammoth Sound
- Punk Act of the Year - Zombii
- Rising Star: Connecticut - The Sparkle and Fade
- Rising Star: Maine - 12/OC
- Rising Star: Massachusetts -Kaiti Jones
- Rising Star: New Hampshire - Fee the Evolutionist
- Rising Star: Rhode Island - Avi Jacob
- Rising Star: Vermont - Isabel Pless
- Rock Act of the Year - Cold Engines
- Roots Act of the Year - Whiskey Treaty Roadshow
- Song of the Year - OhYah. “Gone Before the Goodbye”
- Songwriter of the Year - Frank Viele
- Soul/R&B Act of the Year - Jill McCracken
- Video of the Year - Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys – “Goth Beach”
- World Act of the Year - Toussaint the Liberator
2023 Awards
The 2023 New England Music Awards were hosted at Six String Grill and Bar in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on November 12, 2023. The ceremony was hosted by Adam Lopez and Annie Brobst.Winners were as follows:
Act of the Year Frank Viele
Album of the Year Air Traffic Controller
Song of the Year 12/OC "Shoot You Down"
Producer of the Year Mel Go Hard
Songwriter of the Year Lainey Dionne
Male Performer of the Year Nick Casey
Female Performer of the Year Annie Brobst
New Act of the Year ToriTori
Live Act of the Year The Q-Tip Bandits
Blues Act of the Year The Name Droppers
Rock Act of the Year Moxie
Punk Act of the Year Shame Penguin
Americana Act of the Year Adam Ezra Group
Country Act of the Year April Cushman
Pop Act of the Year The Side Chick Syndicate
Hard Rock/Metal Act of the Year Sepsiss
Roots Act of the Year The Gravel Project
Hip Hop Act of the Year Chase Stebbins & The Only Known
Jazz Act of the Year Smug Honey
Soul/R&B Act of the Year Miranda Rae
Rising Star: Connecticut The Midnight Anthem
Rising Star: Massachusetts American Ink
Rising Star: Rhode Island Jackson Cafferty
Rising Star: New Hampshire Robotic Hawks
Rising Star: Vermont All Night Boogie Band
Rising Star: Maine Tyler Levs
Video of the Year Eddie Japan, "Time Machine" feat. Gregg Hawkes
World Act of the Year Nicolás Emden
2023 New England Music Awards: DECADE AWARD Jay Psaros
2024 Awards
The 2024 New England Music Awards were hosted at Six String Grill and Bar in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on November 10, 2024. The ceremony was hosted by comedian Adam Lopez and country artist Annie Brobst.
| Act of the Year | 12 O/C |
| Album of the Year | Jennifer Tefft and the Strange- “Strange Beginnings” |
| Song of the Year | Frank Viele – “The Trouble with Desire” |
| Producer of the Year | Sean McLaughlin 37′ Productions |
| Songwriter of the Year | Kai Wilson |
| Performer of the Year | Anna Daley Young |
| Performer of the Year | Sarah Blacker |
| New Act of the Year | The Far Out |
| Live Act of the Year | Kooked Out |
| Blues Act of the Year | GA-20 |
| Rock Act of the Year | Total Strangers |
| Punk Act of the Year | JVK |
| Americana Act of the Year | Kier Byrnes and The Kettle Burners |
| Country Act of the Year | Houston Bernard |
| Pop Act of the Year | Lainey Dionne |
| Hard Rock/Metal Act of the Year | Dead by Wednesday |
| Roots Act of the Year | The Elovators |
| Hip Hop Act of the Year | Chase Stebbins & The Only Known |
| Jazz Act of the Year | Ben Cosgrove |
| Soul/R&B Act of the Year | Ruby Shabazz |
| Rising Star: Connecticut | One Time Weekend |
| Rising Star: Massachusetts | Burp. |
| Rising Star: Rhode Island | Jesse Humphrey |
| Rising Star: New Hampshire | Rumboat Chili |
| Rising Star: Vermont | Ida Mae Specker |
| Rising Star: Maine | Midnight Breakfast |
| Video of the Year | Dead by Wednesday- “Wasteland” |
| World Act of the Year | Alisa Amador |
2025 Awards
The 2025 New England Music Awards were hosted at Six String Grill and Bar in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on November 16, 2025. The ceremony was hosted by Adam Lopez and Annie Brobst.
Act of the Year
Crooked Coast
Album of the Year
Frank Viele - "The Trouble with Desire"
Song of the Year
Nikki and the Barn Boys - "Strawberry Hill"
Songwriter of the Year
Hayley Reardon
Performers of the Year Awards
Aldous Collins
Ward Hayden and the Outliers
New Act of the Year
Vanna Pacella
Live Act of the Year
The Far Out
Blues Act of the Year
The Gravel Project
Punk Rock Act of the Year
Megan From Work
Rock Act of the Year
John Fox
Country Act of the Year
Ward Hayden & the Outliers
Pop Act of the Year
Lainey Dionne
Hard Rock/Metal Act of the Year
Bad Marriage
Americana Act of the Year
Nate Ramos Band
Roots Act of the Year
Adam Frates
Hip Hop Act of the Year
SeeFour
Jazz Act of the Year
Soggy Po' Boys
Soul/R&B Act of the Year
Ruby Shabazz
World Act of the Year:
FM Collective
Rising Star: Connecticut
The Moonrise Cartel
Rising Star: Massachusetts
Dred Buffalo
Rising Star: Rhode Island
Olivia Dolphin
Rising Star: New Hampshire
Fun City Fan Club
Rising Star: Vermont
Lily Seabird
Rising Star: Maine
Bella Ann
Video of the Year
The Far Out- "Laurel"
Nick DeSimone
Producer of the Year
Vic Steffens