Heavy Music Awards
| Heavy Music Awards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Awarded for | Outstanding achievements in heavy music |
| Country | United Kindgom |
| Presented by | The Heavy Group |
| First awarded | 24 August 2017 |
| Website | heavymusicawards |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | Scuzz (2017) Twitch (2020–2021) |
The Heavy Music Awards (HMAs) are awards presented by The Heavy Group to recognize outstanding achievements in heavy music. It operates as both an annual awards ceremony and a live event. The first ceremony was held on 24 August 2017. Whilst its nominees are selected from a panel of people involved in the heavy music industry, its winners are selected by an online vote.
History[edit]
The Heavy Music Awards were conceived in late 2016 by Dave Bradley and Andy Pritchard, and announced on 1 March 2017 by their joint venture The Heavy Group.[1][2] Pritchard has stated that they set up the awards with the intention of "[treating] heavy music as a legitimate art form",[3] with the hopes that the event would offer increased recognition and exposure for those involved in the scene/genre.[1] The inaugural Heavy Music Awards ceremony, held on 24 August 2017 at the House of Vans in London, received 97,000 votes.[4][5] The ceremony was broadcast on the British TV channel Scuzz on 16 September 2017.[6] The 2018 edition, which took place on 22 August 2018 at KOKO in London,[7] received 131,000 votes.[4] The 2019 ceremony took place at the larger O2 Forum Kentish Town and was hosted by Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!.[3][8]
In November 2019, the Heavy Music Awards moved its annual date from August to May.[9] The Heavy Music Awards 2020 was due to take place on 21 May 2020.[9] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, it was instead livestreamed on the Amazon Music UK Twitch channel on 3 September 2020, with its ceremony and live performers being filmed in differing locations.[10][11][12] The ceremony drew in 150,000 votes and was watched by 177,000 people online.[13][14][15] The 2021 edition Heavy Metal Awards was held as both an in-person event (at the O2 Forum Kentish Town) and a livestream, and saw a sharp increase in voters; between 16 June and 14 July 2021,[16] the awards finalists collectively received over 1.4 million votes.[14] The livestream was shut down by Twitch after Milkie Way of Wargasm suffered a wardrobe malfunction that exposed her nipples whilst performing onstage with Trash Boat, leading the Heavy Metal Awards channel to be striked for nudity and suspended for three days.[17] Way refused to apologize for the incident, whilst Trash Boat vocalist Tobi Duncan accused Twitch of using a double standard, as both musicians were wearing outfits that exposed their nipples during the performance.[17]
The 2023 edition was hosted at the OVO Arena Wembley, drawing in a crowd of 5,000 and receiving over 1.3 million votes from people in 161 countries.[18][19][20]
Awards process[edit]
Nominees are selected for the Heavy Music Awards from a panel of people involved in the heavy music industry, from the UK and internationally.[1][4] They are invited to list their top three albums for any given category, given it has been released in the previous year (between 1 January and 31 December) and fits specific criteria.[1] The HMA has no say in selecting its finalists.[1][21] The top 7 artists in each category are then listed as finalists that are voted on by the general public on the Heavy Music Awards website.[1] Its trophies are manufactured by Gaudio Awards.[22]
The Heavy Music Awards 2017 had an panel size of 300+ personnel, which has been expanded upon with its subsequent editions.[N 1] The panel for the Heavy Music Awards 2024 is made up of almost 1,000 personnel.[26][27]
List of ceremonies[edit]
| Year | Date | Venue | Host city | Host(s) | Performers | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 24 August | House of Vans | London | Alex Baker and Sophie K | Creeper, Venom Prison, Vukovi, Dead!. | [28] |
| 2018 | 23 August | KOKO | Sophie K | Fever 333, Milk Teeth, Black Peaks, Coldbones | [29] | |
| 2019 | 22 August 2019 | O2 Forum Kentish Town | Laura Jane Grace | Cancer Bats, Loathe, Nova Twins, Delaire The Liar | [30] | |
| 2020 | 3 September | Twitch (livestream) HMA's Offices (awards) Afterlive Music (performances) |
Sophie K and Jon Mahon | The Hunna, Holding Absence, Heart of a Coward, Wargasm, Coldbones, Hawxx | [10] | |
| 2021 | 2 September | O2 Forum Kentish Town | Alex Baker | Sleep Token, Trash Boat, Hot Milk, As Everything Unfolds | [31] | |
| 2022 | 5 June | Beartooth, Holding Absence, Meet Me @ The Altar, Static Dress | [32][33] | |||
| 2023 | 26 May | OVO Arena Wembley | Alex Baker, Alyx Holcombe and Nels Hylton | Boston Manor, Creeper, Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger (Unplugged ft. Sophie Lloyd), Underoath, Vukovi ft. Scene Queen | [34][35][36][37] | |
| 2024 | 22 August | O2 Forum Kentish Town | TBA | TBA | [27] |
Award categories[edit]
Voted categories[edit]
As of the Heavy Music Awards 2024, nominees can win in the following categories:[26]
- Best Album
- Best Breakthrough Album
- Best UK Artist (awarded as Best UK band from 2017 to 2021)
- Best UK Live Artist
- Best International Artist (awarded as Best International Band from 2017 to 2021)
- Best International Live Artist
- Best Breakthrough Live Artist
- Best UK Breakthrough Artist (awarded as Best UK Breakthrough Band from 2017 to 2022)
- Best International Breakthrough Artist (awarded as Best International Breakthrough Band from 2017 to 2022)
- Best Album Artwork
Non-voted categories[edit]
- The H (awarded for "exceptional positive contribution to the heavy music scene")
- Pioneer (awarded for "groundbreaking approach to artistry and presentation")
- Icon (presented for "exceptional long-standing positive contribution to the heavy music scene")
Retired categories[edit]
- Best Photographer (2017 to 2020)
- Best Live Band (2017 to 2020), Best Live Artist (2021 to 2022)
- Best Festival (2017 to 2023)
- Best Production (2017 to 2023) (awarded as Best Producer from 2017 to 2020)
- Best Video (2020 to 2023)
- Best Podcast (2021 to 2022)
- Best Single (2021 to 2023)
One-off categories[edit]
- Best Breakthrough Band (2017)
- Best Venue (2017)
- Innovation Award (2022) (awarded for "for innovative application of new ideas for the greater good of the heavy music scene")
List of Heavy Music Awards winners and nominees[edit]
Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
2017[edit]
The H award was posthumously given to Kerrang! photographer Ashley Maile, and was accepted by on his behalf by his wife Caroline, sister Carly and friend Paul Harries.[5]
| Best Album[28][38] | Best UK Band[28][38] |
|---|---|
| Best Live Band[28][38] | Best International Band[28][38] |
| Best Photographer[28][38] | Best Album Artwork[28][38] |
|
|
| Best Breakthrough Band[28][38] | Best Festival[28][38] |
| Best Producer[28][38] | Best Venue[39][38] |
|
|
| The H[28] | |
| Ashley Maile | |
2018[edit]
| Best Album[29][40] | Best UK Band[29][40] |
|---|---|
| Best Live Band[29][40] | Best International Band[29][40] |
| Best Photographer[29][40] | Best UK Breakthrough Band[29][40] |
|
|
| Best Album Artwork[29][40] | Best International Breakthrough Band[29][40] |
|
|
| Best Festival[29][40] | Best Producer[29][40] |
| |
| The H[29][7] | |
| The Sophie Lancaster Foundation | |
2019[edit]
The H Award was given to the Dixon family. According to MMH News, the family "are revered on the live circuit for selflessly offering accommodation to bands touring the north east [of England] for many years."[41]
| Best Album[30][42] | Best UK Band[30][42] |
|---|---|
|
|
| Best Live Band[30][42] | Best International Band[30][42] |
| Best Photographer[30][42] | Best UK Breakthrough Band[30][42] |
|
|
| Album Artwork[30][42] | Best International Breakthrough Band[30][42] |
|
|
| Best Festival[30][42] | Best Producer[30][42] |
| |
| The H[30] | |
| The Dixon Family | |
2020[edit]
Bring Me the Horizon, Slipknot and Rammstein all had four nominations each.[43] Catherine Marks and Ester Segarra became the first women to win in each of their respective categories, for Best Producer and Best Photographer.[15] The H Award was given to Dom Fraiser and Space, owners of the Boileroom venue in Guildford.[15] Space also produced Idles' Joy as an Act of Resistance.[15]
| Best Album[10][44] | Best UK Band[10][44] |
|---|---|
|
|
| Best Live Band[10][44] | Best International Band[10][44] |
| Best Photographer[10][44] | Best UK Breakthrough Band[10][44] |
|
|
| Best Video[10][44] | Best Album Artwork[10][44] |
|
|
| Best International Breakthrough Band[10][44] | Best Festival[10][44] |
| Best Producer[10][44] | |
| |
| The H | |
| Dom Fraser & Space | |
2021[edit]
| Best Album[16][31] | Best UK Band[16][31] |
|---|---|
| Best International Band[16][31] | Best UK Breakthrough Band[16][31] |
| |
| Best International Breakthrough Band[16][31] | Best Album Artwork[16][31] |
|
|
| Best Video[16][31] | Best Podcast[16][31] |
|
|
| Best Production[16][31] | |
| |
| The H | |
| Music Venue Trust | |
2022[edit]
The H Award was given to Heavy Metal Truants, a charity cycle challenge established in 2013 by ex-Metal Hammer editor-in-chief Alexander Milas and Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood. As of 2022, it has raised over £1 million for Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins, Childline, and Save The Children.[45] The Innovation Award was given to While She Sleeps in recognition of their fan-led Sleeps Society initiative,[46] which allowed the band to release their fifth album Sleeps Society (2021) and stay afloat without the backing of a label and touring amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.[47][48]
| Best Album[32][24] | Best UK Artist[32][24] |
|---|---|
|
|
| Best International Artist[32][24] | Best Live Artist[32][24] |
| Best UK Breakthrough Band[32][24] | Best International Breakthrough Band[32][24] |
|
|
| Best Single[32][24] | Best Production[32][24] |
|
|
| Best Podcast[32][24] | Best Video[32][24] |
|
|
| Best Album Artwork[32][24] | |
| |
| The H[32] | |
| Heavy Metal Truants | |
| Innovation Award | |
| The Sleeps Society – While She Sleeps | |
2023[edit]
The Scottish pop-punk band Vukovi led the Heavy Music Awards 2023 with five nominations (winning one), whilst Nova Twins, Halestorm and Ghost all received four nominations.[49] The H Award was given to the Teddy Rocks Festival, founded by The Bottom Line guitarist Tom Newton to raise money for Teddy20, a children's cancer charity.[49] The Icon award was given to Daniel P. Carter, radio DJ and host of the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show.[19]
| Best Album[34][50] | Best Breakthrough Album[34][50] |
|---|---|
| |
| Best UK Artist[34][50] | Best UK Live Artist[34][50] |
| Best International Artist[34][50] | Best UK Breakthrough Artist[34][50] |
| |
| Best International Breakthrough Artist[34][50] | Best Single[34][50] |
| |
| Best Production[34][50] | Best Video[34][50] |
|
|
| Best Album Artwork[34][50] | Best Festival[34][50] |
|
|
| Best International Live Artist[34][50] | Best Breakthrough Live Artist[34][50] |
|
|
| The H[34] | |
| Teddy Rocks Festival | |
| Pioneer[34] | |
| Biffy Clyro | |
| Icon[34] | |
| Daniel P. Carter | |
2024[edit]
| Best Album[51] | Best Breakthrough Album[51] |
|---|---|
|
|
| Best UK Artist[51] | Best International Artist[51] |
| Best UK Live Artist[51] | Best International Live Artist[51] |
| Best Breakthrough Live Artist[51] | Best UK Breakthrough Live Artist[51] |
|
|
| Best International Breakthrough Artist[51] | Best Album Artwork[51] |
|
|
| The H | |
| TBA | |
| Icon | |
| TBA | |
References[edit]
Notes
Citations
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