University of Texas Tower
Results of Austin Music Awards Give a 'Totally Distorted Impression'
RECEIVED Thu., March 18, 2010
Dear Editor,
Some of the results of the Austin Music Awards remind me of the “free elections” my family used to take part in in Ceaucescu’s Romania or the crazy hype over Slumdog Millionaire. Could Bob Schneider and Sarah Jarosz have won any more categories between them? Is she really the best country, bluegrass, and folk singer of the year? I watch the country scene in Austin very closely and never heard of her. I doubt I am alone in that. The combining of genres that usually do not have the same audience makes awards meaningless. The results show a great deal of disrespect to many of Austin’s finest performers, who have a loyal following and regularly provide great shows to a wide audience in several venues, as well as doing a great deal for Austin’s musical reputation in country [music]. For example: Dale Watson, Bruce Robison, Heybale, Jesse Dayton, and the Derailers. The results give a totally distorted impression of what is most popular or exciting in Austin music in certain categories. They may have been arrived at by a free vote (by whom?), but to take them as anything accurate of what is the best Austin has to offer is naive to say the least.
Some of the results of the Austin Music Awards remind me of the “free elections” my family used to take part in in Ceaucescu’s Romania or the crazy hype over Slumdog Millionaire. Could Bob Schneider and Sarah Jarosz have won any more categories between them? Is she really the best country, bluegrass, and folk singer of the year? I watch the country scene in Austin very closely and never heard of her. I doubt I am alone in that. The combining of genres that usually do not have the same audience makes awards meaningless. The results show a great deal of disrespect to many of Austin’s finest performers, who have a loyal following and regularly provide great shows to a wide audience in several venues, as well as doing a great deal for Austin’s musical reputation in country [music]. For example: Dale Watson, Bruce Robison, Heybale, Jesse Dayton, and the Derailers. The results give a totally distorted impression of what is most popular or exciting in Austin music in certain categories. They may have been arrived at by a free vote (by whom?), but to take them as anything accurate of what is the best Austin has to offer is naive to say the least.
Carl Orend
[Editor's note: "Sarah Jarosz … Is she really the best country, bluegrass, and folk singer of the year? I watch the country scene in Austin very closely and never heard of her." Sugar Hill recording artist Sarah Jarosz was nominated for a 2010 Grammy for Best Country Instrumental Performance, she appeared on the season opener of A Prairie Home Companion hosted by Garrison Keillor. She has played at some of the country's biggest festivals, sharing the stage with the likes of Earl Scruggs, the David Grisman Quintet, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Tim O’Brien, and Chris Thile. She also performed at the Country Music Association Awards.]
