Category Archives: News
Production Award Winners
From Christina Lucchesi, WAMI Board Member:
“The Wisconsin Area Music Industry is gathering today to celebrate members of the music
industry who stand outside the spotlight yet shape every moment we hear, feel, and remember in
live and recorded music. We’re here to honor the production professionals whose essential,
transformative work is the magic behind the music.
Production professionals carry a special kind of responsibility. They don’t just support the music,
they help create the environment in which artists can be their best, where creativity can flourish,
and where audiences can experience something unforgettable. Their dedication and diligence
elevate not only the music but the entire industry. Producers, engineers, designers, technicians,
and crew across studios and stages are entrusted to get it right under pressure, often without
recognition, while bringing precision to creativity and reliability to moments that only happen
once.
To all the production pros in the room and to everyone being honored today, the music would not
reach us the way it does without you. The industry runs on your judgments, your instincts, your
passion, your excellence, and your care.
Thank you and congratulations”
2026 Production Award Winners:
Studio Sound Engineer – Jeff Hamilton
Roadie/Tech – Leighton Thompson
Recording Studio – Rock Garden Studio
Producer – Jeff Hamilton
Live Sound Engineer – Trevor Powers
Live Sound Company – Clearwing Productions
Lighting Engineer – Glenn Ottenbacher
2026 WAMI Awards Voting is Now Live!
Voting is officially open for the 2026 WAMI Awards, celebrating the artists, industry professionals, and community members who make Wisconsin’s music scene thrive.
From performers and producers to venues and behind-the-scenes talent, this year’s finalists represent the depth, diversity, and energy of music across the state.
As part of this year’s celebration, WAMI is proud to highlight and elevate the contributions of women in music throughout Wisconsin — on stage, in studios, and across the industry.
We invite fans, peers, and supporters to cast their votes and show up for the individuals and teams shaping the sound of our communities.
Vote Now:
https://www.broadjam.com/wami
WAMI Finalist Celebration & Production Awards
WAMI Finalist Celebration + Production Awards
April 12 at Ope! Brewing
Finalists will be announced live, Round Two voting will open, and we will present the first-ever WAMI Production Awards.
The WAMI Finalist Celebration brings together Wisconsin’s music community for an afternoon of original live music, industry voices, and a key moment in our awards season.
Live Performances (All Original Music)
Dolt
Mystical Zenith
Production Seminar + Showcase (2:00 – 2:45 PM)
Featuring Glenn with Obsidian Control Systems (lighting consoles + software)
Live demos, Q&A, and hands-on exploration for production professionals, venues, and technical teams.
WAMI Production Awards
Lighting Engineer
Live Sound Company
Live Sound Engineer
Producer
Recording Studio
Roadie / Tech
Studio Sound Engineer
Finalists
Official WAMI finalist certificates and laminate passes will be distributed at the event.
Must be present to receive.
Schedule — April 12
2:00 PM — Production Seminar + Showcase
3:00 PM — Dolt
3:30 PM — Welcome Remarks
4:00 PM — The Spirit of Production
4:05 PM — Production Awards
4:30 PM — Mystical Zenith
5:00 PM — WAMI: The Path Forward
Finalists Announced LIVE + Round Two Voting Opens
6:00 PM — Event concludes
Battle of the Bands WISCONSIN!
At Battle of the Bands WISCONSIN presented by Sound Check Entertainment and Throughline Studios and partnering with the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI), our mission is to empower emerging bands with the tools and resources needed to thrive in the music industry. We provide professional video production, photography, media promotion and recording opportunities, giving artists a platform to showcase their talents and build a strong foundation for future success.
By fostering creativity, collaboration, and exposure, we aim to launch the next generation of Milwaukee’s musical talent into the spotlight
Prizes
– Studio Recording Time at TreeHouse Studios (formerly the Exchange)
– Photo Shoot Session
– Full Music Video
– Summerfest slot for your band
– Rockstar Trophy
in total a $5000 value plus
prizes for 2nd and 3rd place
Qualifying Rounds
Jan. 16th – Ope! Brewing Co., West Allis, Wi
Feb. 21st – the Bur Oak, Madison, Wi
3rd Qualifying Round – TBDFinale
March 27th – RallyPoint, OconomowocTop 3 bands will receive a Paid Performance
Eligibility
All band members must be over 18
Minimum of 2 band members – Max 10
50% of performance must be your original songsWhat You Receive for your Entry
Performance video provided to all bands
Performance Photos
Eligibility for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes
Multimedia promotion of your band
Professional critique by industry leaders
1 year WAMI membership
$150 entry fee
$100 entry fee for returning bands from the 2025 BoB.
Limit 10 bands per date/venue
2 song performance
How to Enter
Just complete the entry form below and hit submit.
You will be taken to the entry fee page.
Your enrollment is not confirmed until the entry fee has been received.
REGISTER HERE!
Click here for full rules and details!
Registration for Artists to be Nominated Now Open!
IT’S TIME! Today is the day! The registration period for the 2026 WAMI Awards is officially OPEN. Now’s your chance to be part of Wisconsin’s premier music celebration.
Whether you’re submitting your own work or nominating someone who inspires you, here’s everything you need to get started:
KEY DETAILS
Registration Period
Open now—WAMI Wednesday, November 19, 2025—until 11:59 PM on January 31, 2026.
Do I need to be a WAMI member to participate or win an award?
No. WAMI membership isn’t required to nominate, register, or even win.
If you were nominated by someone else or registered yourself last year, the WAMI Board has carried your nomination/registration forward — except for the categories below, which require fresh submissions each year:
There is an exception for these categories:
Album of the Year
Album Artwork of the Year
New Artist of the Year
Rising Star of the Year
Song of the Year
Video of the Year
How to Participate
👉 Register Here to add yourself, your band, venue, club, or your work (album, song, video, artwork) to the 2026 WAMI Awards consideration.
https://wami.org/2026-award-show-registration-nominations-now-open/
FAQs
Can I nominate someone else?
Absolutely! You can nominate a name, band, club, or venue for recognition.
What do I need to submit a nomination or registration?
You’ll need the name of the artist, band, club, or venue you’re nominating, plus their email address.
Who can submit works like songs, albums, videos, or artwork?
Only the artist or their team can submit works for these categories.
Do I need to be a WAMI member to participate or win an award?
No. WAMI membership isn’t required to nominate, register, or even win.
As we begin this year’s awards cycle, we want to clarify an important distinction that often causes confusion:
Nomination vs. Registration — What’s the Difference?
Nomination:
Someone else submits your name, band, club, venue, or project for a category. It’s simply a recommendation.
Registration:
Registration is the official step that enters you or your organization into the awards process. You, your team, or your representative can register your name, band, venue, club, or work to ensure it appears on the ballot once voting begins.
Important:
Many Wisconsin artists and venues aren’t aware that they must register to be included in the voting pool.
If you have someone’s email address — and their permission — you may register on their behalf.
They will receive one email notification that they’ve been registered, with the option to decline if they prefer not to participate.
Why Registration Matters
✔ Ensures you are included when voting opens
✔ Allows you to confirm or correct the category you’re placed in
✔ Gives artists, venues, industry members, and supporters full visibility in their field
✔ Helps WAMI accurately represent Wisconsin’s diverse music landscape
Registration only takes a few minutes and ensures your work is properly recognized.
Thank you for being part of Wisconsin’s vibrant and creative music community. We look forward to celebrating you!
With appreciation,
The WAMI Board of Directors
WAMI Winners! Grab Your Official 2025 Winner Overlay Image
Hey! We’re still buzzing from the energy of the 2025 WAMI Awards Show, man what an incredible night honoring Wisconsin’s finest musicians, industry professionals, and behind-the-scenes rockstars. As part of this year’s celebration, we’re thrilled to offer all 2025 WAMI Award winners an official “WAMI Award Winner” overlay image to share across social media, press releases, and websites.
If you haven’t yet, check out the list of winners here.
You can find the image here:
How to Use It:
- Post it over a photo of your choice
- Add it to your event posters or flyers
- Use it in your profile picture or album art
- Share it on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or wherever you connect with your audience and fans
We’d love to celebrate with you: tag @WAMI.Music facebook and @wisconsinareamusicindustry on Instagram and be sure to use hashtags #WAMI2025Winner and #WeAreWAMI so we can repost and show the world the incredible talent Wisconsin has to offer.
This overlay is just one more way to celebrate your success. You earned it.
Now let the world know!
Rock on,
The WAMI Board
WAMI 2025 Award Winners
We would like to congratulate the 2025 Award Winners!
| Acoustic Bass | Andy Mertens | NORTHEAST |
| Acoustic Guitar | Myles Wangerin | SOUTHEAST |
| Album Artwork | Sun Will Follow – Dave Schoepke | SOUTHEAST |
| Album Of The Year | Copper Box – Copper Box | NORTHEAST |
| Artist Of The Year | Boogie And The Yo-Yoz | NORTHEAST |
| Banjo & Ukelele | Jon Peik | SOUTHEAST |
| Bass Guitar | Matt Hammen | NORTHEAST |
| Blues Song | Don’t Tell Me I Can’t – Altered Five Blues Band | SOUTHEAST |
| Classical, Jazz, New Age Album | Ultraviolet – Natural Satellite | NORTHEAST |
| Classical, Jazz, New Age Song | His Arms, Her Heaven – Kathy Mancl | NORTHWEST |
| Country Song | That Waylon Sound – Madison County | SOUTHWEST |
| Country, Blues Album | Three Sheets To the Wind – Madison County | SOUTHWEST |
| Cover Band/Act | Boogie And The Yo-Yoz | NORTHEAST |
| Cover Song | Autumn Leaves – Shari Sarazin Harp & Song | NORTHWEST |
| DJ | Kayla Kush | SOUTHWEST |
| Drum Kit | Eric Johnson | NORTHEAST |
| Electric Guitar | Jason Busse | NORTHEAST |
| Ensemble Vocals | Wanderlust | SOUTHEAST |
| Fan | Ed “Fast Eddie” Bailey | SOUTHWEST |
| Female Vocalist | Carmen Nickerson | SOUTHEAST |
| Folk Song | Walmart Parking Twilight – Sam Ness | SOUTHWEST |
| Folk, Singer/Songwriter Album | Copper Box – Copper Box | NORTHEAST |
| Free Reed & Wind | Danny Jerabek | NORTHEAST |
| Harmonica | Big Al Dorn | SOUTHEAST |
| Instrument Repair | Jeff Johnston | NORTHEAST |
| Instrument Store | Heid Music – Appleton | NORTHEAST |
| Instrumentalist Of The Year | Junior Gamez (Drum Kit) | SOUTHEAST |
| Latin, World, Unique, Spoken Word Song | The Quiet Quiet – Felsteg | SOUTHEAST |
| Lighting Engineer | Glenn Ottenbacher | SOUTHEAST |
| Live Sound Company | Event Production Systems | NORTHEAST |
| Live Sound Engineer | Audrey Martinovich | SOUTHWEST |
| Male Vocalist | Dennis Peters | NORTHEAST |
| Mandolin | Bobby Burns | NORTHEAST |
| Music Benefactor | The Farley Center | SOUTHWEST |
| Music Teacher | Dave Schoepke | SOUTHEAST |
| Music Venue – Club | Paulie’s Pub & Eatery | SOUTHEAST |
| Music Venue – Concert Hall | Gibson Community Music Hall | NORTHEAST |
| Music Venue – Festival | Mile of Music Festival | NORTHEAST |
| New Artist | The Supertramp Tribute Band | SOUTHEAST |
| On-Air Personality | Rokker | SOUTHWEST |
| Orchestral Brass | David Jerabek | NORTHEAST |
| Orchestral Strings | Thea Vorass | SOUTHEAST |
| Orchestral Woodwinds | Erin Krebs | NORTHEAST |
| Organ | Jimmy Voegeli | SOUTHWEST |
| Percussion | James “Pie” Cowan | SOUTHWEST |
| Performer – Blues | The Jimmys | SOUTHWEST |
| Performer – Classical, New Age, Spoken Word, Unique | The Squeezettes | SOUTHEAST |
| Performer – Country | Madison County | SOUTHWEST |
| Performer – Electronic | Steez | SOUTHWEST |
| Performer – Faith Based | His Way | SOUTHEAST |
| Performer – Folk | Sam Ness | SOUTHWEST |
| Performer – Jazz | Erin Krebs | NORTHEAST |
| Performer – Latin & World | Natty Nation | SOUTHWEST |
| Performer – Pop | Kat and the Hurricane | SOUTHWEST |
| Performer – R & B | People Brothers band | SOUTHWEST |
| Performer – Rap | K.I.L.O. aka SkitL’z | SOUTHWEST |
| Performer – Rock | Dave Steffen Band | NORTHEAST |
| Performer – Singer/Songwriter | Pat McCurdy | SOUTHEAST |
| Performer Of The Year | The Glam Band | NORTHEAST |
| Photographer | Ty Helbach | SOUTHEAST |
| Piano | Dave Adler | SOUTHEAST |
| Podcast | Into the Music Podcast | NORTHEAST |
| Pop Song | Caffeine & Alcohol – Kat and the Hurricane | SOUTHWEST |
| Pop, Rap, Electronic, R & B Album | Feel Your Feelings – Complete Version – 7000apart | NORTHEAST |
| Producer | Marc Golde | NORTHEAST |
| Radio Station | WMSE 91.7FM | SOUTHEAST |
| Rap, R & B, Electronic Song | Celebration – Marcus Porter | SOUTHWEST |
| Record Store | Mad City Music | SOUTHWEST |
| Recording Studio | Rock Garden Studio | NORTHEAST |
| Rising Star | Paige Kleber | SOUTHWEST |
| Roadie/Tech | Jesse Kohl | NORTHEAST |
| Rock Album | Rising Up From A Downward Spiral – Trash Pandas | NORTHEAST |
| Rock Song | Red Hot Lover – Kathy Mancl | NORTHWEST |
| Saxophone | John Vollmar | SOUTHEAST |
| Singer/Songwriter Song | Lessons Learned So Hard – Kurt Gunn | NORTHEAST |
| Song Of The Year | The Harlot – Abaddon’s End | NORTHWEST |
| Specialty Strings | Frank Anderson | NORTHEAST |
| Studio Engineer | Jeff Hamilton | SOUTHEAST |
| Synthesizer | Dave Schepp (Dee Flatt) | NORTHEAST |
| Tribute Band/Act | The Glam Band | NORTHEAST |
| Trombone | Mike Clobes | SOUTHEAST |
| Trumpet | Steve Winters | SOUTHEAST |
| Turntables/Decks | Chris Thomas (“DJ Trans Am”) | SOUTHEAST |
| Video Of The Year | The Harlot – Abaddon’s End | NORTHWEST |
| Violin | Gina Wood | SOUTHEAST |
| Web Media | WI Party | NORTHEAST |
| World, Unique Album | Sun Will Follow – Dave Schoepke | SOUTHEAST |
