The NAMM Foundation announced nominees for the 33rd NAMM Technical Excellence & Creativity (TEC) Awards, with 31 categories of products and projects being recognized in the areas of Technical or Creative Achievement to honor the many individuals, companies and technical innovations used in sound recordings, films, broadcast television and video games.
The annual awards will be presented at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif., on Jan. 27.
“The nominations for the TEC Awards and the creative luminaries behind them offer an incredible snapshot of the foremost advancements in audio products and projects,” said Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO. “Recognizing their contributions and sharing in the special camaraderie found among industry peers makes this event truly a special part of The NAMM Show.”
The TEC Awards Nominating Panel, comprised of leaders in audio and production, considered more than 1,000 products and projects in the nomination process. This year’s Outstanding Technical Achievement Nominees were chosen across 23 categories, ranging from Computer Audio Hardware to Recording Microphones to Wireless Technology. Reflecting the growth of live sound and event tech at The 2018 NAMM Show, the category of Sound Reinforcement Loudspeakers received the most nomination entries, with finalists among the likes of Bose Professional’s ShowMatchTM DeltaQTM Array loudspeakers, d&b audiotechnik 24S|24S-D, JBL’s EON ONE Pro, L-Acoustics’ Syva System, the LINA Very Compact Linear Line Array Loudspeaker from Meyer Sound, the PreSonus Air Series and QSC’s K.2 Series.
Eight categories for Outstanding Creative Achievement represent the top artists and productions that led the industry with innovative application and commitment to excellence. They include multi-Platinum recordings by hit-makers Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar, among other music artists. In the category of Television Sound Production, fan favorites “Better Call Saul,” “Game of Thrones,” “Homeland,” “Saturday Night Live” and “The Voice” will compete for a TEC Award. In the category of Film Sound Production, this year’s box office winners, including “Dunkirk,” “La La Land,” “Hacksaw Ridge,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” have been nominated for their creative application of sound in creating a defining audible experience. Other categories include Interactive Sound Production; Record Production Single/Track; Remote Broadcast Production; Television Sound Production; and Tour Sound Production, which includes nominations from 24K Magic World Tour (Bruno Mars); The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 (U2); Metallica WorldWired Tour; and others.
The TEC Awards will also honor two individuals for their contributions to music and recording. Soon to be announced, an honoree who embodies the creative, innovative and enterprising spirit of Les Paul will be honored with the Les Paul Innovation Award. Past Les Paul recipients include Joe Perry (Aerosmith, Hollywood Vampires), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Don Was (Was, Not Was), Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), Pete Townsend, Stevie Wonder, Todd Rundgren and others. The NAMM TEC Hall of Fame, which was created nearly 30 years ago to honor the industry’s most pioneering producers and audio recording professionals, will again induct an industry luminary to its list of honorees. Past recipients include Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, Miles Davis), Skunk Baxter (Steely Dan, Elton John), Ed Cherney (Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan) and others.
For invited members, voting in each category will begin in November. Winners from the 31 categories will be selected by industry professionals across major music, sound and game audio associations, along with pro audio-focused media groups.
The TEC Awards begins with a VIP-only reception at 6 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 7 p.m., taking place at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel’s Pacific Ballroom. Tickets can be purchased on site or in advance beginning Sept. 27 for $65 (General Admission) or $195 (VIP).
A full list of nominees can be found on the TEC Awards website.