The annual Boston Music Awards went down this evening at its new home of Big Night Live in North Station, with the city’s tidal wave of a hip-hop scene taking center stage. Weaved in around a string of animated live performances — kei, Alisa Amador, STEFAN THEV, GA-20, Salem Wolves, The Q-Tip Bandits, and Aaron & The Lord all impressed — and a heavy contingent of networking, socializing, and photo-taking, plenty of vinyl was handed out across 41 categories.
Among the big winners taking home a stylized BMAs vinyl record — the new physical award handed out to winners — were Dorchester’s Cousin Stizz taking home Artist of the Year and Hip-Hop Artist of the Year (the rapper even made his first in-person appearance at the BMAs to accept the top honor); the aforementioned kei (a Vanyaland fave) scoring New Artist of the Year moments after she destroyed the stage during her lively and raucous live set; Brockton collective Van Buren pulling Album/EP of the Year (for DSM) and Song of the Year (for “Foul”); and the Medford-born, Los Angeles-based rapper BIA’s hit “London” snagging Song of the Year (1 Million+ Streams) and Video of the Year.
Elsewhere across the board, Oompa won Live Artist of the Year, Born Without Bones swiped Alt/Indie Artist of the Year, and Mint Green took home Rock Artist of the Year. Live Music Venues of the Year included O’Brien’s Pub in Allston (Small); Boston’s Paradise Rock Club (Medium); and Roadrunner in Brighton (Large). Vanyaland was voted Music Publication of the Year for the ninth time in 10 years, and Victoria Wasylak, our Music Editor, Boston, earned Music Journalist of the Year for the second straight time and three of the last four years.
The new space of Big Night Live and its sea of tables and boxes gave the night a greater awards show feel than in past years, and the mixing and mingling of various local scenes and cliques was spread out in the venues main hall and various side spaces and auxiliary rooms. A touching moment came when the BMAs paid tribute to the late Jefe Replay, the beloved rapper who passed away last month.
Check out all the winners below. Let’s all sleep in tomorrow.
Boston Music Awards 2022 winners
Artist of the Year: Cousin Stizz
New Artist of the Year: kei
Album/EP of the Year (1 Million+ Streams): Millyz, Blanco 5
Album/EP of the Year: Van Buren Records, DSM
Song of the Year (1 Million+ Streams): Bia, “London” ft. J.Cole
Song of the Year: Van Buren Records, “Foul”
Video of the Year: Bia, “London” ft. J.Cole
Live Artist of the Year: Oompa
Alt/Indie Artist of the Year: Born Without Bones
Americana Artist of the Year: Town Meeting
Blues Artist of the Year: GA-20
Country Artist of the Year: Dalton & The Sheriffs
Dance / Electronic Artist of the Year: Boy Harsher
DJ of the Year: DJ Sisko
Folk Artist of the Year: Alisa Amador
Hip-Hop Artist of the Year: Cousin Stizz
Jazz Artist of the Year: Lake Street Dive
Latin Artist of the Year: Yelena Rodriguez
Metal Artist of the Year: babychaos
Pop Artist of the Year: Charlotte Sands
Punk/Hardcore Artist of the Year: Big D & The Kids Table
R&B Artist of the Year: Notebook P
Reggae Artist of the Year: The Elovators
Rock Artist of the Year: Mint Green
Singer-Songwriter of the Year: Maeko
Spoken Word Artist of the Year: Amanda Shea
Vocalist of the Year: Rachael Price
Live Music Venue of the Year (Large): Roadrunner
Live Music Venue of the Year (Medium): Paradise Rock Club
Live Music Venue of the Year (Small): O’Briens Pub
Music Promoter of the Year: Big Night Entertainment
Talent Buyer of the Year: Alex Pickert
Live Production Engineer of the Year: Johnny Dalton
Session Musician of the Year: Jonathan Ulman
Recording Studio of the Year: The Record Co.
Studio Producer of the Year: Jon Glass
Music Publication of the Year: Vanyaland
Music Journalist of the Year: Victoria Wasylak
Music Photographer of the Year: Brittany Rose Queen
Music Videographer of the Year: Dom ‘Tanj’ Bruno
Music Podcast / Radio Show of the Year: CWTFB Radio