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| Written By NEIL SHUMATE |
| The Columbus Music Awards in full swing An interview with founder Mrs. Shanée "Nikki" Hunter |
The Columbus Music Awards is circulating positive hype and today the company is inviting the public to
participate in person. From 12 p.m. until 2 a.m. Screamin’ Willies, 1921 Channingway Center Drive, will
host “Nominate Columbus,” an event allowing fans to cast nominees in 17 music-related categories.
Attenders will also have an opportunity to watch live entertainment by independent Columbus musicians
and bands all while watching today's big game.
“I’m a big lover of music and I’ve always liked award shows and I thought it’d be cool to go to one. So, I
figured there’s enough talent in Columbus, Ohio, why don’t we just make our own?,” said Nikki Hunter,
founder/executive producer of The Columbus Music Awards, LLC.
Hunter said she has always been a musician and wanted to be a singer, but in 2008 she realized being
behind the scenes is more of her preference.
“In 2008, I joined a band and it didn’t quite work out, but it was a really great experience,” Hunter said. “Ever
since then I realized I kind of wanted to be behind the scenes rather than up on stage. I feel like I’d be a
better advocate than musician.”
Hunter's idea for an awards event to celebrate Columbus’ music-related talent initiated this summer.
“I started thinking about it around July and I was trying to figure out if it was even feasible--as how hard it
would be and how much it would cost and all that,” Hunter said. I applied for the LLC in August, so the
company has been in existence since August. I think it can be done within a year, I feel like waiting for two
more years would just be too long.”
Hunter has received support from sponsors Tatsfinder.com (Michael Bruno) and LPI Entertainment
(Michael Mott) as well as former CD101 DJ Jennifer Blix who will be MC-ing the event today. Hunter said
she is also actively accepting more help from the community.
“The bulk of the work is done by me alone. I would really love more help, it’s a big task and I want to make
sure I get as much help as I can,” she said.
The nomination process is currently underway until New Year’s Eve in the following categories: Best Band
of Alternative, Blues, Country, Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop/Rap, R&B/Soul, Reggae, Rock; Singer/Songwriter;
Best Female Vocalist; Best Male Vocalist; Best Club DJ; Best Album of 2011; Best Local Radio Show; and
Music Supporter, Photographer and Recording Studio of the year.
“This year we have Tatsfinder.com’s Michael Bruno taking on the challenge of doing the nominations on
his site. He’ll have a computer there [today] so you can go and cast your nomination online,” Hunter said.
“You can also e-mail the company [info@thecolumbusmusicawards.com], or go to tatsfinder.com online.
We try to make it as accessible as possible.”
After nominations are in, voting will officially begin Jan. 31, 2012 online at thecolumbusmusicawards.com
and voting will close late spring, 2012.
“We want to make sure that everybody is able to nominate. I know a lot of the local music fans out there
have more than one band that’s their favorite,” Hunter said. “Every day you’ll be able to go through all the
nominees and vote for whoever you want, once a day.”
Hunter is confident on the date and location of The Columbus Music Awards ceremony, but will officially
confirm after this weekend.
“The Aladdin Shrine Center on Stelzer Rd., August 25, it’s on a Saturday,” she said. “It’ll be in the dead of
summer, but at least it won’t be freezing. It’s almost locked.”
Hunter said she has been looking at a couple prototypes for the actual awards.
“I really want them to be unique,” she said. “I really want the awards to be really sleek and nice and classy.
I would like to get customized, one-of-a-kind awards for each winner. We’re still looking into that.”
With an abundance of support and people saying it’s a great idea with interests to be involved, Hunter is
confident that The Columbus Music Awards will be successful with plans to make it a long-term
celebratory event.
“A lot of people were referencing past attempts to do this kind of thing and saying it really wasn’t that good,
it didn’t take off. And I just take it in stride,” she said. “It just motivates me even more to make sure this is a
success.”
Tickets for today's "Nominate Columbus" event at Screamin' Willies can be purchased at the door for
$5 (21 and up) and $8 (under 21). The event runs from 12 noon until 2 a.m. and includes performances by
Ranger Danger, Electrocult Circus, Patrick McLaughlin, Lisa Glover, Myko Glaze, Lions Among Men,
Bleeding Ink, Bill Kurzenberger, F.H.S.P. and more.
participate in person. From 12 p.m. until 2 a.m. Screamin’ Willies, 1921 Channingway Center Drive, will
host “Nominate Columbus,” an event allowing fans to cast nominees in 17 music-related categories.
Attenders will also have an opportunity to watch live entertainment by independent Columbus musicians
and bands all while watching today's big game.
“I’m a big lover of music and I’ve always liked award shows and I thought it’d be cool to go to one. So, I
figured there’s enough talent in Columbus, Ohio, why don’t we just make our own?,” said Nikki Hunter,
founder/executive producer of The Columbus Music Awards, LLC.
Hunter said she has always been a musician and wanted to be a singer, but in 2008 she realized being
behind the scenes is more of her preference.
“In 2008, I joined a band and it didn’t quite work out, but it was a really great experience,” Hunter said. “Ever
since then I realized I kind of wanted to be behind the scenes rather than up on stage. I feel like I’d be a
better advocate than musician.”
Hunter's idea for an awards event to celebrate Columbus’ music-related talent initiated this summer.
“I started thinking about it around July and I was trying to figure out if it was even feasible--as how hard it
would be and how much it would cost and all that,” Hunter said. I applied for the LLC in August, so the
company has been in existence since August. I think it can be done within a year, I feel like waiting for two
more years would just be too long.”
Hunter has received support from sponsors Tatsfinder.com (Michael Bruno) and LPI Entertainment
(Michael Mott) as well as former CD101 DJ Jennifer Blix who will be MC-ing the event today. Hunter said
she is also actively accepting more help from the community.
“The bulk of the work is done by me alone. I would really love more help, it’s a big task and I want to make
sure I get as much help as I can,” she said.
The nomination process is currently underway until New Year’s Eve in the following categories: Best Band
of Alternative, Blues, Country, Heavy Metal, Hip-Hop/Rap, R&B/Soul, Reggae, Rock; Singer/Songwriter;
Best Female Vocalist; Best Male Vocalist; Best Club DJ; Best Album of 2011; Best Local Radio Show; and
Music Supporter, Photographer and Recording Studio of the year.
“This year we have Tatsfinder.com’s Michael Bruno taking on the challenge of doing the nominations on
his site. He’ll have a computer there [today] so you can go and cast your nomination online,” Hunter said.
“You can also e-mail the company [info@thecolumbusmusicawards.com], or go to tatsfinder.com online.
We try to make it as accessible as possible.”
After nominations are in, voting will officially begin Jan. 31, 2012 online at thecolumbusmusicawards.com
and voting will close late spring, 2012.
“We want to make sure that everybody is able to nominate. I know a lot of the local music fans out there
have more than one band that’s their favorite,” Hunter said. “Every day you’ll be able to go through all the
nominees and vote for whoever you want, once a day.”
Hunter is confident on the date and location of The Columbus Music Awards ceremony, but will officially
confirm after this weekend.
“The Aladdin Shrine Center on Stelzer Rd., August 25, it’s on a Saturday,” she said. “It’ll be in the dead of
summer, but at least it won’t be freezing. It’s almost locked.”
Hunter said she has been looking at a couple prototypes for the actual awards.
“I really want them to be unique,” she said. “I really want the awards to be really sleek and nice and classy.
I would like to get customized, one-of-a-kind awards for each winner. We’re still looking into that.”
With an abundance of support and people saying it’s a great idea with interests to be involved, Hunter is
confident that The Columbus Music Awards will be successful with plans to make it a long-term
celebratory event.
“A lot of people were referencing past attempts to do this kind of thing and saying it really wasn’t that good,
it didn’t take off. And I just take it in stride,” she said. “It just motivates me even more to make sure this is a
success.”
Tickets for today's "Nominate Columbus" event at Screamin' Willies can be purchased at the door for
$5 (21 and up) and $8 (under 21). The event runs from 12 noon until 2 a.m. and includes performances by
Ranger Danger, Electrocult Circus, Patrick McLaughlin, Lisa Glover, Myko Glaze, Lions Among Men,
Bleeding Ink, Bill Kurzenberger, F.H.S.P. and more.
