Night Beat Rewind: March 2105

Though the nominations for #PlatVnyl5 are in, the nominations never stop coming in. The end of March not only brings Spring with it, but it also marks the half-way pole of the race that is the #PlatVnyl6 Eligibility Period. No singles were announced this month, so we move on to those entries which will not be in the pool, those that

Missed The Mark

• Joseph Habedank - Take Time to Be Holy 3.75 Emeralds
• Britt Nicole - The Remixes 3.75 Emeralds
• The McCrary Sisters - Let's Go 3.75 Emeralds
• Mike Real - Mind of Hollis 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - Songs 4 Worship: Hymns of the Ages 3.75 Emeralds
• Various - Worship Anthems Inspired By A.D. the Bible Continues 3.75 Emeralds
• We Are The City - Violent 3.75 Emeralds

Of this group, while all are good, though not particularly award worthy, I Was disappointed most by Britt Nicole. A regular album is borderline dance music, so a remix should have been a shoe in. The result fell flat however.

Nothing Flat about our next grouping, however.

Pure Platinum Perfection

• Altar Boys - Gut Level Music '2015 Edition' by Altar Boys 5 Emeralds
• Eshon Burgundy - The Fear of God 5 Emeralds
• Erica Campbell - Help 2.0 5 Emeralds
• Jonathan Thulin - Science Fiction 5 Emeralds
• Various - MOM: A Son's First Love. A Daughter's Best Friend 5 Emeralds
• Various - WOW Hits Party Mix 5 Emeralds
• Kirk Whalum - The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter IV 5 Emeralds

7 Perfect 5's in a month means that the Candy Store is officially open once again. Really, it never does seem to close. A few caveats, though. The Altar Boys is a re-release, though I am not sure if a reunion is planned at the same time, so there may be no comeback award nomination. Kirk Whalum's 5 is for the Jazz alone. The between song banter about how Obamacare is so great or guns should be banned kind of bugged me, but I put it aside and listened to the music.

Our next grouping goes between the extremes. These are.

Semi-Precious Metal

• 21:03 - Outsiders 4.75 Emeralds
• Among the Thirsty - Who You Say I Am 4.75 Emeralds
• Jared Anderson - Where I Am Right Now EP 4.50 Emeralds
• Chris Cobbins - August Season (Take One) 4.75 Emeralds
• Trev Conkey - Mighty Ocean Strong 4.50 Emeralds
• Copperlilly - Copperlily 4.75 Emeralds
• Hawk Nelson - Diamonds 4.50 Emeralds
• Danen Kane - Flesh and Soul 4.75 Emeralds
• JSon - No Filter 4.75 Emeralds
• Matt Maher - Saints and Sinners 4.75 Emeralds
• Kevin Max - Broken Temples 4.75 Emeralds
• NF - Mansion 4.75 Emeralds
• National Community Church - You Alone 4.50 Emeralds
• New Method - Greater 4.50 Emeralds
• Newport - Paradise 4.50 Emeralds
• Pacific Gold - Sing My Welcome Home 4.75 Emeralds
• Passion - Passion: Even So Come (Live) 4.75 Emeralds
• Ravenhill - Soul 4.75 Emeralds
• Sixpence None The Richer - The Ultimate Collection 4.75 Emeralds
• Social Club - Us 4.75 Emeralds
• Third Day - Lead Us Back: Songs of Worship 4.50 Emeralds
• Urban Rescue - Re-Imagined 4.75 Emeralds
• Various - A.D. The Bible Continues: Music Inspired By The Epic NBC Television Event 4.50 Emeralds
• Various - Top 25 Songs Of Grace 4.50 Emeralds
• Watoto - Oh What Love 4.50 Emeralds
• Worship Mob - Carry the Fire 4.50 Emeralds

That finishes off the March releases. Thank God it still is only April. Being two months behind would have been to embarrassing. I am done. Until next time, I am Awaiting Your Reply.

#PlatVnyl5: The Nominations Are In

The nominations are over. #PlatVnyl5 moves into the final judging period and the winners will soon be announced. The world waits with baited breath. Excluding compilations, there were 130 nominated artists, though featured appearances may have inflated the total by a few votes.

There were 55 categories, a record. The awards are spread over four fields: Album, Song, Video and General. Heading into the finals, British Expats Ben and Anita Tatlow, aka Stockholm's Salt of The Sound, lead the nomination pack with a record setting 11 nominations. Due to multiple nominations in a category, however, the maximum times they can step up to the virtual podium is 7.

They can be beat by the second place nominee holder, Kari Jobe of Gateway Church in Southlake, TX. Her 9 nominations for Majestic (Live) and its signature song Forever were all individual category nominations, so she has the opportunity to make 9 trips for 9 nominations. The album certainly lived up to its name. I confess at the first it didn't impress me, going only by Amazon clips. Once I saw and heard the video I changed my tune and upgraded it from 4.5 to a perfect 5 emeralds. It is a formidable hurdle for the others.

Tied for Second with 9 nominations is someone who probably will never be on the same stage with Kari Jobe. Metal Pioneers Stryper. Since they also had multiple nominations for two albums, they will only be eligible for 8 wins, which is pretty good considering.

Salt of The Sound led the debut artists, but they had a lot to crow about. Taking out the leader, the others had 34 entries between them. Rockers Veridia and Folk-Rock/Worship For The Fatherless were in second place with 6 apiece.

Though there is still no hardware and only a virtual venue as well (no pretty presenters or speeches), things are heating up and word is getting around. I give God all the glory for the growth of these awards, as I really am flying by the seat of my pants on this. And while all this is going on #PlatVnyl6 is halfway through the nomination period. Never a dull moment. 

I may be spotty on the blog. (Big Surprise) as it is my Birthday. No I won't tell you how old I am. So until next we meet, I am Awaiting Your Reply.