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By HAP MANSFIELD
Scene Editor
The Roots Music Association (RMA) recently announced the full list of winners of the Roots Music Awards. The RMA, as you may remember, was a partial coordinator of the World United Music Festival/Radio and Music Industry Convention which took place in San Marcos over the weekend of November 16-18.
The World United Music Festival (WUMF), we all know, fizzled into a much discussed local flop, rolling up its tents on a Saturday evening and stealing home halfway into its engagement. Lost in all that furor, is the glowing success of the RMA convention. Apparently, the weekend went off much better for the music insiders than for the music fans.
After the ballyhoo on the Internet with multiple Bluegrass and Folk music online magazines promising a bang-up event, the web is amazingly silent about what happened to the WUMF. At the time, there was a good deal of entertainment-speak tap dancing about the cancellation having to do with the wind, a storm of some sort (it must have been particular to the three acres of ground at the festival because there was no hint of it elsewhere), problems with sub-contractors, miscommunications with the production/staging people and the usual soft shoe about how sincerely sorry everybody was, especially for the families of the veterans who would have benefited from ticket sales.
But it’s that last phrase, “ticket sales,” which seems to have caused much of the problem. The event, while bursting with great musicians, did not sell well and was not aggressively promoted. One would have expected to see some sort of television advertising about such a large event. But if there was any at all, it was too little, too late.
Any casual observer of cable television can tell you from the myriad musician “Biography” programs to the multiple showings of “This is Spinal Tap” that running and promoting one rock group is difficult. Organizing a festival, it would seem, is an organizational rat’s nest of difficulties. We hold out hope that next year the Festival can try again. San Marcos is an excellent place for such an event. It’s probably a good idea to remember that Abraham Lincoln once said, “He has a right to criticize, who has the heart to help.”
However, conference-goers and RMA members have posted glowing reviews of the San Marcos Embassy Suites Convention Center and San Marcian hospitality. The radio/promotion conference attendees had a ball. Many of these music professionals have blogged about the incredible lively music scene in San Marcos, from the musicians themselves to the amazing venues like the Cheatham Street and Riley’s.
So the Roots Music Awards continued and the attendees had a blast. Here are the categories and the winners. Our congratulations go out to all the local musicians and radio stations that won awards or made the top five nominee cut-off for the final vote. The RMA is a non-profit organization with thousands of members, and all of them have a vote, so these awards are given to musicians by musicians and members of the music community involved in promotions, booking, press and record labels. It truly is an award with some prestige. For more info and a list of RMA members, go to www.rootsmusicassociation.org.
The 2008 Roots Music Association Music and Industry Awards
Blues Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Buddy Guy
Pinetop Perkins
Sonny Landreth
Jimmy Vaughn
Watermelon Slim & The Workers
Winner:
Pinetop Perkins
Blues Label of the Year
Nominees:
Alligator
Blind Pig
Telarc
Delta Groove
Stony Plain
Winner:
Alligator
Blues Songwriter of the Year
Nominees:
Davis Cohen
Tom Gray
Marcia Ball
Liz Mandeville
Alvin Young Blood Heart
Winner:
Tom Gray
Blues Radio Station of the Year
Nominees
Sirius Blues
KPIG
KPFT
KUT
Blues Deluxe
Winner:
Blues Deluxe
Roots/Americana Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Roger Creager
Chris Knight
Emmylou Harris
Yarn
Eli Young Band
Winner:
Emmylou Harris
Roots/Americana Country Label of the Year
Nominees:
Smith Music Group
Lost Highway
New West
Universal South
Yep Roc
Winner:
Universal South
Roots/Americana Country Songwriter of the Year
Nominees
Fred Englesmith
Hayes Carll
Bruce Robinson
James McMurtry
Chris Knight
Winner:
Chris Knight
Roots/Americana Country Radio Station of the Year
Nominees
Sirius Outlaw Country
CKUA
WDVX
KGSR
XCountry XM Satellite
Winner:
Sirius Outlaw
Publicity Company of the Year
Nominees:
Blind Racoon
Rounder Publicity
So Much Moore Media
Blue Springs
Pete Knapp-Shut Eye
Winner:
So Much Moore Media
Reggae Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Mykal Rose
Burning Spear
Carlton Pride & Zion
Watusi
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Winner:
Burning Spear
Reggae Label of the Year
Nominees:
Easy Star
World Beatnik
Das Vibes
Rastafaria
Ras Sanctuary
Winner:
Rastafaria
Reggae Radio Station of the Year
Nominees
KPFK
KSBR
WKZE
KNON
KVMR
Winner:
WKZE
Gospel Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Ricky Skaggs
Joe Cocker
The Sacred Shakers
Jerry Yates
Blind Boys of Alabama
Winner:
Jerry Yates
Zydeco Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Jo-El Sonnier
Zydepunks
Allen Toussant
Rosie Ledet & Playboys
C.J. Chenier & Red Hot Louisiana Band
Winner:
Jo-El Sonnier
Jazz Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Herbie Hancock
Bill Frisell
Cassandra Wilson
Charlie Hayden
Lisa Hilton
Winner:
Herbie Hancock
True Country Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Dwight Yoakham
George Strait
Jason Boland
Lucky Tubb
Charlie Louvin
Winner:
Dwight Yoakham
True Country Label of the Year
Nominees:
Sony/BMG
Yellow Rose
Lost Highway
MCA
Lure Records
Winner:
Lost Highway
True Country Songwriter of the Year
Nominees:
Hank Cochran
Lyle Lovett
Alan Jackson
Thomas Michael Riley
Leslie Thatcher
Winner:
Alan Jackson
True Country Radio Station of the Year
Nominees:
Willie’s Place
KVET
KKYX
KRVL
WMRN
Winner:
KVET (Austin 98.1 FM)
Publishing Company of the Year
Nominees:
Blue Circle
Cybergrass
Fake Cabin
Balmy Swami
Delta Groove
Winner:
Delta Groove
Bluegrass Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Lonesome River Band
The Dixie Bee-Liners
The Steeldrivers
Merle Haggard
Alison Krauss
Winner:
The Dixie Bee-Liners
Bluegrass Label of the Year
Nominees
Pinecastle
Rounder
Sugar Hill
Skaggs Family
Rural Rhythm
Winner:
Pinecastle
Bluegrass Songwriter of the Year
Nominees:
Tim Crosby
Dennis Nelson
Brandy Hart
Charlie Sizemore
Steve Gully
Winner:
Dennis Nelson
Bluegrass Radio Station of the Year
Nominees:
Into the Blue
WDVX
KEOS
WKZE
Sirius Bluegrass
Winner:
Sirius Bluegrass
Cowboy/Western Swing Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Riders in the Sky
Kelli Grant
Bobby Flores
Asleep at the Wheel
John England
Winner:
Asleep at the Wheel
Cowboy/Western Swing Label of the Year
Nominees:
Western Jubilee
WR Records
Real West
Stony Plain
Oh Boy Records
Winner:
Oh Boy Records
Folk Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Anne McCue
Lisa O’Kane
John Hiatt
Carrie Rodriguez
Dar Williams
Winner:
Anne McCue
Folk Label of the Year
Nominees:
New West
Red House
Vanguard
Rykodisc
Sugar Hill
Winner:
Sugar Hill
Folk Songwriter of the Year
Nominees:
Maria Dunn
John Hiatt
Carrie Rodriguez
Rodney Crowell
Todd Snider
Winner:
Carrie Rodriguez
Folk Radio Station of the Year
Nominees:
CKUA
WUMB
KCLC
KFAN
WKZE
Winner:
KCLC
Promoter of the Year
Nominees:
Pete Knapp
Bill Wence
Al Moss
Debbie Green
Betsy Brown
Winner:
Pete Knapp
Roots Rock Artist of the Year
Nominees:
Steve Earle
Alejandro Escovedo
Los Lonely Boys
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Mickey and the Motorcars
Winner:
Mickey and the Motorcars
Roots Rock Label of the Year
Sugar Hill
Yep Rock
Epic
True North
Geffen
Winner:
Yep Rock
Roots Rock Radio Station of the Year
Nominees:
KPIG
KSYM
WYOU
KSIL
KGSR
Winner:
KGSR (Austin 107.1 FM)
Disc Jockey of the Year
Nominees:
Dallas Wayne
Mojo Nixon
Hank Moon
Mattson Rainer
Bill Dunbar
Winner:
Mattson Rainer (92.1 FM New Braunfels)
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11/21/2008 The Weekend: The shows will go on
11/14/2008 The weekend: Besides WUMF festival, a good time coming11/14/2008 WUMF fest brings revolution to San Marcos
10/20/2011 Texas State to host Latino children’s book awards
07/10/2013 Robert L. Hardesty, 1931 to 2013
I was involved with this event as a musician. It was the biggest SCAM I have ever witnessed to date. My band played their mixer the Tuesday before the Festival. I suspected FOUL PLAY ever since. To date, I believe I am one of the few with intimate knowledge of what happened at the Fesitval. EVERYONE was taken advantage of at this event. Musicians. Vendors. SubContractors. Local Businesses. Embassy Suites. The City of San Marcos. Etc. People are NOT giving this the attention that it deserves. A Class Action Lawsuit should be filed as well as criminal charges. It should be noted that bands came from all over the world on their own nickel (or a discounted rate) to donate their time and effort.
I love my town. I am an ARTIST. I am a SAN MARTIAN. I vow to NEVER EVER let such an aggregious act of criminal mischeif to ever step its foot in my back yard!
We create our own Reality.
Infinte Happiness.
The San Martian.
I agree that the concert part of this event was a fiasco of the first water. Both of the organizations involved with this event are non-profit but of course, none of the sub-contractors were, nor should they have been. I believe that the lack of ticket sales proved to be a sticking point not to mention embarrassing to these concert organizers. The United States Entertainment Force is led by a guy that is on the board of directors for the USO, he fought in Viet Nam, he was named Veteran of the Year by Bill Clinton. I don’t think he had the intention of taking advantage of anybody. It would certainly be out of character with his many other charitable endeavors.
I think they were trying to land this thing on a wing and a prayer and you know the old saying, “In God we trust, all others must pay cash.” I think they came up short. It was really awful for all the musicians involved, as you say. This poor planning cost many businesses and musicians, not to mention the loyal music fan-attendees. However, I don’t think this was an intentional money-grabbing scam. I think it was, as the military says- a SNAFU. I think they panicked and chose their actions very poorly. I agree that investigation is needed.
You’re right, we have to guard against this happening again. It could have been so cool. It’s just a crying shame. So many awesome musicians were here for this event. I love San Marcos, too, but I don’t want to see a shut-down on trying to do this again. I’m very proud of this town, just as you are, and I’d like to see it shine with more concert events. The measure of a town is how it handles the bad times, not the good. The WUMF did not make San Marcos crumble- we’ve got plenty of good music and concerned citizens. And, we won’t be fooled again.
The convention for industry insiders saw a whole different event than the musicians and concert goers who were understandably upset, shocked and angry. In fact, they reported that many of the shunned musicians hung out in the lobby at the Embassy Suites and played to the great appreciation of the PR and Radio attendees.