THE BIGGEST NIGHT IN LGBT MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT WILL ROCK

 THE LGBT RECORDING ACADEMY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOGO/MTV NETWORK
PRESENTS THE 2009 OUTMUSIC AWARDS  -NEW YORK CITY’S LEGENDARY WEBSTER HALL TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2009                 

 POLITICAL HUMORIST KATE CLINTON AND NOAH’S ARC’S RODNEY CHESTER WILL HOST THIS NIGHT OF RECOGNITION OF LGBT MUSICAL EXCELLENCE  

New York, NY (November 18, 2009) – The OUTMusic LGBT Recording Academy and its Board of Directors today announced that the 2009 OUTMusic Awards will take center stage at New York City’s legendary Grand Ballroom of Webster Hall on Tuesday, December 8th at 8 p.m. The 2009 OUTMusic Awards will be hosted by Kate Clinton and Rodney Chester. This year’s milestone celebration will recognize and celebrate musical excellence while featuring performances from some of the hottest names in LGBT music. Nominations for the 2009 OutMusic Awards can be viewed at www.outmusic.com/awards.html.  

“We have cultivated new partnerships with some amazing organizations that know of our struggle,” said Diedra Meredith, OUTMusic executive director. It is my hope to create an equivalent presence in the music industry for these amazing artists and performers through the OUTMusic Awards. I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment to arrive! Our community is tenaciously strong, it’s been a long tough road, but with the OUTMusic Awards, we will make history during a time when LGBT Equal Rights is gaining momentum! This is our entry into the fight for LGBT Equal Rights.”  

This special night of celebration for LGBT recording artists will be filled with celebrity presenters to honor openly gay recording artists for their achievements and courage to be OUT and proud through their free expression of music. Throughout the night, special presentations will be made to Kevin Aviance, who will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Toshi Reagon with the Heritage Award. Also, the late Willie Ninja will be named OUTMusic Icon for his worldwide, inspirational, innovative and trendsetting contribution to the artistry of Vogue, fashion and performance. OUTMusic will also honor founders Dan Martin and Michael Biello with the Visionary Award.

The 2009 OUTMusic Awards Pre-Show will be hosted by Julie Goldman of LOGO’s Big Gay Sketch Show and DeMarco Majors of LOGO’s “Shirts and Skins.” DJ Shane Phoenix and the Rickster of Q Nation FM’s hit radio show “Q’s In The Biz” will broadcast LIVE from the Red Carpet and can be seen on www.qsinthebiz.com. DJ Stacy will broadcast LIVE from the Red Carpet on Girlscenenyc.com her popular show “Listen 2 Me” presented by JAMBOX.

For this year’s awards, OUTMusic has partnered with LOGO/MTV Networks to create three new, special award categories for those artists who have befriended the LGBT community and are seen as tastemakers by the LGBT community. The three award categories included NEXT GAY ICON, FIERCELY FASHIONABLE and KEEP BRINGIN SEXY BACK. The winner will be determined by the number of votes received by fans of the artists. To vote for your favorite artist in each category, please log onto www.logoonline.com.    

The evening will be filled with some of the best recording artists in the LGBT entertainment industry including a spectacular opening performance by Christine Martucci, whose song “There You Are” has been chosen as the theme song for the 2009 OMA. Also, performances by Jason Walker, Toshi Reagon, R&B crooner Nhojj, Rachael Sage, Jasper James, Levi Kreis, Deepa Soul and Kevin Aviance. Also, a Gay Hip-Hop Evolution segment will feature Tori Fixx, J.R., Soce The Elemental Wizard,Mack Mistress and Da Fresh Geex. 

Tickets for the 2009 OMAs can be pre-purchased for $25.00. Special Group discounts of 10 or more are available. Please visit www.outmusic.com to purchase tickets. Tickets will also be available at the door for $40.00.

OUTMusic is the premier 501c3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to honoring, supporting and advocating on behalf of under represented openly (LGBT) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Recording Artist & Performers. The organization was founded by life partners Dan Martin and Michael Biello over 18 years ago to provide a safe and supportive environment for LGBT recording artists & performers.

The organization is a network of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered musicians and supporters. Performers, composers, lyricists, producers, recording artists, activists, promoters, press/media and even non-musicians who believe in the importance of Queer Music History have joined Outmusic over the years.

The mission of OUTmusic is to ensure that underrepresented OUT artists/entertainers have equal and inclusive presence in the mainstream entertainment industry; an industry that has fostered the silent “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. This policy has perpetuated the stigma of homophobia & discrimination in the entertainment industry, the military and the work place. OUTmusic works to put an end to homophobia in the entertainment industry and the world we live in. They educate, advocate and raise awareness with the goal of bridging the gap between the mainstream and LGBT entertainment industries.   

Anyone can become a member of Outmusic, as they welcome fans as well as artists. If you support the idea that LGBT artists should have an organization that works to raise awareness of their music. 

Please go to OUTmusic Awards Website  (here) and see how you can support this extraordinarily important organizations.  These musicians and artists help provide critical visibility that our community must engage in our quest for Civil Rights.

OUTSTANDING ROCK SONG 2009 NOMINEES
(*) Stewed Tomatoes (*) Leather Daddy
Athena Reich Love is Love
Jen Urban & the Box Let’s Ride
Josh Zuckerman Got Love?
Phil Putnam I’m No Prize

OUTSTANDING POP SONG 2009 NOMINEES
Athena Reich Love is Love
Billie Myers I Hope You’re Happy Now
Ellen Rosner Ready, Steady, GO
Heiskell Sick Of Nothing
Rachael Sage Too Many Women (from the FAME Soundtrack)

OUTSTANDING HIP HOP/RAP SONG 2009 NOMINEES
baron. Feel Like Fashion
Jasper James ROCKET
Mack Mistress Make it Bounce
Soce, The Elemental Wizard Grossed Out
Tori Fixx I’m the Same

OUTSTANDING R & B/SOUL SONG 2009 NOMINEES
Kalup Linzy presents Asshole
Nhojj Love
Robert Anton Bigger Than Me

OUTSTANDING ELECTRO/DANCE SONG 2009 NOMINEES
Ari Gold Where The Music Takes You
Brian Kent Breathe Life
Christian Andreason Running Back to You – HITPLAY Mix
Jason Walker Can’t Stop (Joey Negro Remix)
Lori Michaels Meet Me At The Partay

OUTSTANDING FOLK/COUNTRY SONG 2009 NOMINEES
Blair Hansen & Vicci Martinez Break Away – (HANNAH FREE Soundtrack)
Crooked Willow Fall Away (Reprised)
Julie Clark Growin’ Up
Nick Granato Who I Am
Rachael Sage Hunger In John

OUTSTANDING JAZZ SONG 2009 NOMINEES
Avi Wisnia No Scrubs
Lucy Smith You Pause – (HANNAH FREE Soundtrack)
Rachael Sage Site-Seeing
Steven Franz Skins & Shirts

OUTSTANDING INSTRUMENTAL/SOUNDTRACK SONG 2009 NOMINEES
HANNAH FREE, Starring Sharon Gless Goodby Rachel
HANNAH FREE, Starring Sharon Gless On the Lake
HANNAH FREE, Starring Sharon Gless Meadow Waltz
Jon Gilbert Leavitt Lullaby Valkyrie (Lullaby (Walkure)
Jon Gilbert Leavitt Love Theme from “Heels”

OUTSTANDING CHORAL SONG 2009 NOMINEES
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Make Your Own Kind Of Music / New World Coming
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus We Looked To The Future
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus U.S.S. Metaphor Highlights
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus ensemble: The Lollipop Guild UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus with Joan Baez Swingin’ With The Saints

OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY SPIRITUAL SONG 2009 NOMINEES
Christian Andreason I Belong to You
Deepa Soul Stand Together
Levi Kreis Stained Glass Window
Sir Ivan Kumbaya

OUTSTANDING THEATRE/CABARET/COMEDY SONG 2009 NOMINEES
Brian Wilbur Grundstrom Pepe! The Mail Order Monkey Musical – Bridge Club
D. C. Anderson What’s Happened Since
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus My Gallant Crew
Terese Genecco The Man I Love
Vontanner A Shangri-las Girl

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL SONG 2009 NOMINEES
Caera Suantrai (Seothin Seotho)
Isle of Klezbos/Metropolitan Klezmer Miracle Medley: Hasidic Nign/Poor Man’s Tune
Lee Adam Wilshier Last Of The Secret Agents
SONiA of disappear fear shorashim
Sugarbeach Mama I Love Her

OUTSTANDING PRODUCER 2009 NOMINEES
Jon Gilbert Leavitt Pride 2009
Rachael Sage Vertigo
Scott Free Equal
Soce, The Elemental Wizard Slippin Away
Tori Fixx CoExist (DJNB’s Club Video Mix)

OUTSTANDING SONGWRITER 2009 NOMINEES
Athena Reich Love is Love
Dudley Saunders Love Song for Jeffrey Dahmer

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TOMBOY FRESH, California.