Official Guidelines

Dates to Remember

June 1st - August 7th

August 10th - Sept 21st

September 25th 2025

Sept 29th - Nov 1st

Nov 3rd - Nov 5th

November 9th 2025

All PNW Music Award votes are cast by verified volunteer members of the Official Voting Panel.

These individuals are members of their local music communities and have offered their time and attention to consider all submissions from potential nominees. Their votes are cast in adherence to the guidelines set forth by the Award Committee.

General Eligibility Guidelines

The 2nd annual PNW Music Awards eligibility period is August 1st, 2024 to July 31st, 2025.

The PNW Music Awards are open to new recordings released during the eligibility period. These recordings must be commercially released, nationally distributed, and widely available to the public from any date within the eligibility period through at least the date of the current year’s Final Voting Period (October 31st, 2025). “New recordings” is defined as material that has been recorded within five years of the release date and not previously released outside of the current eligibility period window.

General Distribution

“General distribution” is defined as the broad release of a recording, available nationwide via brick-and-mortar stores, third-party online retailers and/or streaming services. “Streaming services” is defined as paid subscription, full catalog, on-demand streaming/limited download services that have existed as such within the United States for at least one full year as of the entry deadline. Self-hosted releases are not eligible at this time. All recordings entered must have an assigned International Standard Recording Code ISRC or UPC number.

Recordings must be available to the public as stand-alone, audio-only purchases or streams, beginning on any date within the eligibility period to be eligible.

Regional Eligibility Requirements

The PNW Music Awards are open to new recordings released by musicians who were full-time residents of the states of Oregon or Washington at the time of the release, and recorded either by a full time resident of Oregon or Washington, and/or at a studio located in Oregon or Washington. Recordings created in the states of Oregon or Washington but released by musicians who were not full-time residents of the states of Oregon or Washington at the time of release are not eligible for consideration.

Authorized Recordings

Recordings must be non-infringing, original works of authorship. To the extent a recording embodies in whole or in part the copyrighted work of a third party, appropriate authorization to use and incorporate such copyrighted work must have been obtained. If allegations are made that a recording is unauthorized and does not meet these criteria, the Awards Committee will consider the allegations and determine, in its sole discretion, the eligibility of such recording.

Singles and Tracks

A single is a song or instrumental recording that is released separately from an album, while a track is an individual song or instrumental recording released as part of an album or EP. A single will often appear as a track on a subsequent album release and a track from a released album can be issued as a single.

In categories for which songs are eligible, singles and tracks will both be accepted and judged identically.

A single released outside of the eligibility period can be eligible if included as a track on an album released within the eligibility window, provided it was not submitted for consideration the previous year.

LPs and Albums

An LP (or album) is defined per official guidelines, deeming an album a verified LP if one or both of the following criteria are met:

A.) the collective work consists of seven (7) or more tracks; and/or,

B.) the collective work has a run time of thirty (30) minutes or more.

Featured Artists

To be recognized as an official nominee, a featured artist must be credited as a featured artist, and make a significant and artistic contribution beyond accompaniment. Featured artists are eligible in Album Of The Year, and are eligible in performance Categories if they are credited as a featured artist on the track/single. Featured artists do not need to be residents of Oregon or Washington at the time of release so long as the artist who is a resident of Oregon or Washington is credited as a primary or equitable artist.

If an album is credited to one artist but has many tracks featuring guest artists, it may have to be considered a “Various Artists” album. That determination will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Sampled and Interpolated Material

A sample is defined as an element of a previously released recording incorporated into a new recording. Samples can be entire parts of earlier recordings or isolated sections of earlier recordings including, but not limited to, tracks with vocals removed, hooks, riffs, basslines, or background vocals. Recordings that feature samples and/or any interpolations of previously released material are eligible in all performance Categories only if the performance up for consideration is newly recorded per definition. Recordings featuring samples are eligible in songwriting Categories; however, the writers of the sampled or interpolated material are not considered to be nominees or award recipients, unless credited as songwriters.

Generative Artificial Intelligence

The PNW Music Awards recognizes creative excellence. Only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win an award. Creative content using generative artificial intelligence is not eligible. This includes, but is not limited to, AI contributions to songwriting, instrumentation, production, album art (for relevant categories), music video content (for relevant categories), promotional material (for relevant categories), and similar contributions. Submissions found to contain creative material generated by artificial intelligence will be removed from consideration.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

For the categories of Best Live Music Venue and Best Radio Station, the entity being nominated must be based in Oregon or Washington at the time of nomination. For Best Radio Station, the station must be headquartered in either Oregon or Washington and dedicate significant airtime to local music.

Submission guidelines

Nomination Submission Process

Recordings are submitted for nomination consideration through the Official Nomination Consideration Submission electronic form.

Artists or artist team members with granted consent for submission may submit recordings for nomination consideration during the submission period. Nomination consideration submission does not require payment of any kind. Please immediately report any payment request for nomination consideration submission to the Awards Committee.

Entry Limits

Artists are limited to one (1) LP or Album recording submission and three (3) song (track or single) submissions.

Genre Classifications

Music submitted for nomination consideration by the artist will be subject to self-identification of genre upon submission. Should the Awards Committee determine the music submitted to not meet the widely accepted standards of the self-identified genre, they may, at their sole discretion, choose to disqualify the submission from consideration in a genre-specific category.

The Official Awards Committee Reserves These Rights Regarding Entries:

• To disqualify the affected entry without liability if information is incorrect or incomplete.

• To disqualify any entry, and to revoke any nomination and/or Award bestowed, if the Committee discovers that the corresponding entry was submitted in violation of the Official Rules and Guidelines.

• To place any selection into the Category it deems appropriate; to pass on the eligibility of any selection.

• To designate the classification of achievement (such as performing, songwriting, producing, etc.) to be recognized in the Categories.

• To make the final determination of the persons entitled to awards recognition.

• It is the Committee’s policy that the final award be granted to the person who, at the Committee’s sole discretion, is properly entitled to it.

• To withdraw any Category in any one year if there is an insufficient number of entries in that Category, and, at the Committee’s discretion, to place the affected entries in one or more other Categories.

• To take whatever measures it deems necessary to protect the integrity of the Awards from outside influence, bloc voting or any other factors that could jeopardize this process.

• User agrees to review Artist/Category List of Entry Submissions prior to final-submitting in the online process.

• To disqualify an entry if the Committee finds any violation of the Voting And Solicitation Guidelines

• Participation in the Online Nomination Consideration Process does not guarantee a nomination or Award.

• Only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win an Award. A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any Category.

Categories for Award

Song of the Year - Track

Recordings entered for consideration in this Category should represent the best overall achievement. The primary elements to be considered are performance, songwriting/composition, arrangement, production, and engineering.

Album of the Year - LP

Albums entered for consideration in this Category should represent the best overall achievement. Consideration should primarily include attention to the body of work as a whole and cohesiveness of all tracks and elements therein. Consideration should also include performance, songwriting/composition, arrangement, production, and engineering.

Artist of the Year

This Category recognizes an artist whose eligibility-year release(s) achieved a breakthrough in widespread attention and reception, and notably impacted the musical landscape in the local community. Primary consideration is their collective discography during the eligibility period. For consideration, Artists must have released at minimum two tracks by the conclusion of this year’s eligibility period.

Best Album, Genre Specific - LP

Best Folk or Americana Album; Best Indie or Alternative Album; Best Jazz, Soul, or R&B Album; Best Pop, Synth, or Contemporary Album; Best Punk Album; Best Rap or Hip Hop Album; and Best Rock or Metal Album

This category recognizes excellence of a complete album in an artist’s respective genre. This award celebrates all contributions to an album’s creation, with primary consideration for relevance to genre as well as the overall body of work and cohesiveness of all tracks. Additional consideration should include performance, production and engineering, composition and arrangement, and songwriting.

Best Song, Genre Specific - Track

Best Folk or Americana Song; Best Indie or Alternative Song; Best Jazz, Soul, or R&B Song; Best Pop, Synth, or Contemporary Song; Best Punk Song; Best Rap or Hip Hop Song; and Best Rock or Metal Song

This category recognizes excellence of a singular song in an artist’s respective genre. This award celebrates all contributions to a song’s creation, with primary consideration for relevance to genre and songwriting and composition. Additional consideration should include performance, production and engineering, and arrangement.

Best Production Work - Track

This category recognizes excellence of the production, mixing, and mastering of a song. Consideration should include sound design, audio quality and clarity, and overall sound of a recording independent from the performance, songwriting, or composition of it

Best Instrumental Work - Track

This category recognizes excellence of instrumental work in a song. Omitting consideration for vocal performance or lyricism, consideration should include composition and musical instrumental performance.

Best Lyrical Work - Track

This category recognizes excellence of the lyricism of a song. Consideration should include cadence, creativity, and general eloquence of a recording’s lyrics independent from the performance, production, instrumentation, or arrangement of it.

Best Live Music Venue

This category recognizes an exceptional live music venue in Oregon or Washington states. Consideration should include perspectives from both performers and audience members, with special consideration made to the venue’s overall support of local music.

Best Local Radio Station

This category recognizes an exceptional radio station located and/or headquartered in Oregon or Washington states. Consideration should include quality of programming, community involvement, programming variety, and overall support of local music by providing airtime to local music.

Best Music Video

This category recognizes exceptional work in a digital video accompaniment to a track or single by an artist and director in Oregon and Washington. Consideration should include quality of camera work, quality of editing work, overall conceptual creativity, and relevancy to attached track or song.

Fan Favorites

Best Local Artist, Best Live Show Photo, Best Release Cover Art, and Best Show Flier

This category will be nominated by the Voting Panel but determined in conclusion during the Final Voting period by public online vote.

FIRST Round Voting Process

All PNW Music Award votes are cast by verified volunteer members of the Official Voting Panel. These individuals are members of their local music communities and have offered their time and attention to consider all submissions from potential nominees.

Voting Members may vote in as many Categories as they confidently feel they can provide a valuable opinion, and no fewer than two Categories.

For the Nominee selection process, Voting Members will submit their personal lists of three (3) nominees in each Category they are choosing to vote on. Entrants who are most frequently selected as Nominees in each respective category will be deemed the Official Nominees in that/those category/categories.

Number of Nominations, Total

The number of Official Nominees in each category shall be limited to five (5). Each category must have at least three (3) viable and eligible nomination submissions to be included. Categories with fewer than three (3) Nominees will be omitted.

Number of Nominations, Individual

Eligible recordings may receive official nominations in each category for which they are eligible to be nominated in. Artists may only receive one (1) nomination per category. Named songwriters, instrumentalists, and engineers are not limited to how many nominations they receive per category, with the exception of the Best Lyricism, Best Instrumentation, and Best Production Work categories, respectively.

Final Round Voting Process

All PNW Music Award votes are cast by verified volunteer members of the Official Voting Panel. These individuals are members of their local music communities and have offered their time and attention to consider all submissions from potential nominees.

Voting Members are expected to vote in all categories.

For the selection process for the Winner in each category, all Voting Members will cast their vote for their singular choice as winner in each category. All votes will be considered of equal weight and value, and the Nominee with the most votes in their respective category/categories will be the Winner.

Fan Favorite Categories

The exception to the voting process as outlined herein, is the Nominees for the Fan Favorite categories. These categories will be publicly voted on during the Final Voting period through an official online poll. Votes will be limited to one (1) vote cast per email address. Results will be processed identically to votes cast by voting members and subject to final Winner verification. The Fan Favorite categories are as followed:

• Fan Favorite Artist

• Best Live Show Photograph

• Best Release Cover Art

• Best Show Flier

Number of Winners, Total

There will be one (1) winner in each category. In the event of a tie, seven (7) Voting Members will be randomly selected to re-vote between the two options to determine the category Winner.

Winner Verification

After the Final Voting Period has concluded, the results will be triple verified by three (3) independent sources in addition to the Awards Committee’s vote count. These independent sources will not be Voting Members, Awards Committee Members, Nominees, or Nominee Affiliates.

Accepting the Award

Nominees will be contacted following their announcement to discuss potential plans for award acceptance. Nominees may grant an official delegate permission to accept on their behalf.

Winners may pick up their statuette and certificate at the Live Award Ceremony, or elect to have the statuette shipped at their expense. Certificates will be mailed or delivered to winners at no expense.

Live Award Show

The Live Award Ceremony will be held in Portland, Oregon on or around November 9th, 2025. Named Nominees will receive complimentary tickets for themselves, and one guest if space is available. Nominees are under no obligation to attend, and attendance of the Ceremony will not influence the outcome of an Award. Nominees will need to confirm their attendance as well as their first and last name, and the first and last name of their guest, if applicable, no later than one week prior to the finalized date of the Ceremony.

Live Performances

Seven (7) Artists nominated in the Song of the Year, Album of the Year, or Artist of the Year categories will be asked to perform one song live at the Live Award Ceremony in November. Nominees are not required to perform live for consideration, and declining to perform live by a Nominee will in no way influence consideration for the final award.

Voting and Solicitation Guidelines

All PNW Music Award votes are cast by verified volunteer members of the Official Voting Panel. These individuals are members of their local music communities and have offered their time and attention to consider all submissions from potential nominees. Members of the Voting Panel are to remain anonymous until after the conclusion of the Final Voting Round period. This is to discourage and attempt to prevent solicitation of any kind by Nominees or potential nominees from soliciting or harassing Voting Panel members. Entrants for nomination consideration are prohibited from attempting to solicit, threaten, strongarm, or otherwise influence the decisions of Voting Panel members. Entrants found attempting to influence Voting Panel members in any way will be immediately disqualified from consideration.

Voting Panel Member Guidelines

All members of the Official Voting Panel are verified volunteers. This allows the PNW Music Awards to be decided on by peers of the local music communities. Upon verifying their membership, these volunteers are provided with a list of expectations to adhere to during the voting process, these expectations are:

• To cast votes based solely on artistic and technical merits of an eligible work;

• To cast votes in lieu of any professional or personal bias they may have or have held in the past;

• To cast votes for all categories which they are confident they hold a valuable and relevant opinion, and;

• To cast votes with the utmost integrity, ethics, and honesty.

In addition, by agreeing to participate in the Official Voting Panel, members agree to:

• Not allow their choices to be suggested, directed, or influenced by anything other than their own analysis of merit, including, but not limited to: personal friendships, company loyalties, regional preferences or sales volume/popularity;

• Not accept money or anything of value in exchange for votes, and;

• Not enter into any agreements or understandings on how to vote.

We understand that opening voting membership to the public music community offers some potential for bias, particularly when it comes to musicians casting votes for their own work, but our hope is that by establishing a large network of voting members with a variety of backgrounds relevant to local music, we are able to establish a central opinion of musicians and music community members.

Voting criteria

Voting Panel members should reference the Categories for Award subsection of these Official Guidelines for parameters for consideration. When making their selections, The PNW Music Awards encourages all Voting Panel Members to listen and observe all submissions with and objective and critical perspective, adhering to the guidelines outlined herein for each category. Additional details for consideration parameters will be included in introductory communication to all Voting Panel members.

FYC Marketing Efforts

FYC (For Your Consideration) marketing communications include, but are not limited to: emails, mailings, invitations, social media content, websites, and print ads. FYC Communications can include the following:

• Artwork related to product under consideration;

• Brief, unembellished descriptions of the recording or creators;

• Copies or links to product;

• Links to websites that promote eligible recordings;

• Lists of the creators who worked on the recording;

• Reference to nominations, once nominations are announced, and;

• Reference to the PNW Music Awards with proper registered marks.

FYC Communications cannot:

• Shine a negative or derogatory light on a competing recording;

• Use any tactic that singles out the “competition” by name or title;

• Exaggerate or overstate the merits of the music, an achievement, or an individual, or;

• Misrepresent honors or awards, past or present, received by either the recording or those involved with production.