For those of you who may be wondering, the San Diego Music Awards are indeed happening in 2016 -- although details are still being worked out.
The annual event, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2015, is typically held in September/October at the scenic waterfront venue Humphreys By the Bay. However, when both San Diego Music Foundation president Kevin Hellman and Executive Director Marjy Taylor stepped down to pursue other projects earlier this year, rumors ran rampant that the SDMAs were in danger of being kaput.
The awards’ official website hasn’t been updated at any point this year, and in an unusual move, the announcement that the show would go on came in a personal Facebook post by SDMA academy member Bart Mendoza on Thursday night. SoundDiego reached out to San Diego Music Foundation President Scott Richison, who confirmed the information on Friday and said the event will be different in scope than years prior.
“It’ll be held on Nov. 10 as part of the San Diego Music Thing,” Richison said. “We’re still putting the details together, but it will not be at at Humphreys. It’ll be scaled down a bit … but we’re trying to make it the best we possibly can. We’ll also be making a few small tweaks here and there -- but there will be two different categories of awards like usual, the ones that people can vote on, and the awards that the academy decides. We’re looking to shake it up a little bit and have a little bit more fun -- but overall, we’re excited to keep the spirit alive.”
The 2016 Music Thing is scheduled Nov. 10-12, with venues and acts TBA.
A call for music submissions also came in Mendoza’s Facebook post. In years prior, the submission process usually had a deadline in July (last year’s deadline was July 15) but no clear deadline for this year’s ceremony was specified. In the post, Mendoza’s said submissions could be mailed to: SDMA, attn Bart Mendoza, PO Box 13801, San Diego, CA 92170. Locals can also drop off submissions in person at Bar Pink (3829 30th St., San Diego, CA 92104), addressed to Dang Nyugen. There is no submission process for digital entries at this time.
SoundDiego.com will be updating this story as more information becomes available.
Dustin Lothspeich is the talent buyer for The Merrow, plays in Diamond Lakes and Boy King, and runs his own music equipment-loving blog Gear and Loathing in San Diego. Follow his updates on Twitter or contact him directly.
