The Industry Source for New Age, World, Ambient, Electronic, Solo Piano, Relaxation, Instrumental and many other genres of Music. Top 100 international airplay chart.
[see bottom of this article for how the awards work]
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
A Better Place
Michael Stribling
Leela Music
2015
5/10/2015
A Thousand Springs
Adam Andrews
Adam Andrews Music
2015
4/28/2015
Across The Water
Bill Leslie
Greycliff Music
2015
10/4/2015
All Our Yesterdays
Blackmore's Night
Frontiers Records
2015
Among Friends: 19752015 (Bonus Version) [Revised]
Steven Halpern
Inner Peace Music
2014
Another Time, Another Place
Robin Spielberg
playMountain Music
2015
4/28/2015
Aquarian Dream
Carmen Rubino
Riga Records, Inc.
2014
12/1/2014
Beyond Borders
Randy Armstrong & Volker UMP Records Nahrmann
2015
6/23/2015
Bloom Road
Dan Kennedy
Mt. Pollux Music
2015
2/24/2015
Bridge To Vallabha
Tina Malia
Self-Released
2015
Ca Sarvetaratra (and Everything Else)
Vive
Self Released
2014
Celestial Resonance
Paradiso & Rasamayi
5th Element Music
2015
6/2/2015
Daydream Alley
Holland Phillips
Ageless Records
2015
7/21/2015
Drum Travel
James Asher and Sandeep Starfield Raval
Encantado
Jim Stubblefield
Natural Elements Records
2015
8/25/2015
Endless
Rick Sparks
Self Released
2014
10/1/2014
Equilibrium
Kerani
Kerani Music
2015
5/26/2015
Fire In The Rainstorm
Kori Linae Carothers
iRoknNod Records
2015
Firelight
Terra Guitarra
Earthsign Records
2015
First Light
Peter Calandra
Self-Released
2015
Heart Song
Elise Lebec
Tabitha Lebec Publishing Company
2015
2014
1/6/2015
3/3/2015
Horizons
Lisa Hilton
Illumination of the Heart Deuter
Ruby Slippers Productions
2014
New Earth Records
2015
8/4/2015
Imaginings
Paul Adams, David Hoffman, Elizabeth Geyer & Pravin Godkhindi
Lakefront
2015
It's About Love
Karen Marie Garrett
WaterStreet Records
2015
Keys of Light
Dan Chadburn
Self Released
2015
8/25/2015
Learning To Fly
Neil Tatar
Self-Released
2015
5/31/2015
Letters from Far Away
Heidi Anne Breyer
Self Released
2015
1/15/2015
Love Language
Wouter Kellerman
Listen 2 Entertainment
2015
8/28/2015
Midwinter's Night
Erwilian
Self Released
2014
12/22/2009
Mississippi
Eric Tingstad
Cheshire Records
2015
4/21/2015
Moon and Shadows
Barbara Hills
House in the Wood Productions
2014
10/19/2014
Music For Commuting Volumes 7-12 Box Set
Ken Elkinson
August Son Productions
2015
2/3/2015
My Beloved
Michael Dulin
Equity Digital
2015
1/20/2015
Mystical Morning
Uwe Gronau
GEMA
2015
10/27/2015
Nanda Devi
Hans Christian
New Earth Records
2015
8/4/2015
Next
Jeff Oster
Retso Records
2015
4/28/2015
Nightbound
David Lindsay
Fallingfoot Records
2015
One Journey
Ryan Stewart
Ryan Stewart Music
2015
OOTI (Observation of the Invisible)
Forrest Smithson
Self Released
2014
Patterns of Sun and Shade
Kathryn Kaye
Overland Mountain Music
2014
Piano Meditations
Tron Syversen
TK Music Production 2015
4/28/2015
Playing With Shadows
David Franklin
Self Released
2015
5/5/2015
Radio God
Get Tribal
Get Tribal Music
2015
10/6/2015
Reiki Hands of Love
Deuter
New Earth Records
2015
1/13/2015
Sacred Alliance
Anima
Anima Sound Productions
2015
7/21/2015
Seasons of the Heart
ReneĂŠ Michele
Self Released
2014
Signature - Solo
Fiona Joy
Tiny Island Music
2015
Songs of Leaving
Angelo Rapan
Self-Released
2015
Souvenirs
Christine Brown
Key Image Music
2014
Spirits
Erik Scott
Self Released
2014
Spiritual Haven
Russell Suereth
Haven Tone Records
2015
3/31/2015
Spiritus
David Wahler
Darius Productions
2015
2/14/2015
Summon the Wind
Timothy Wenzel
Coyote Floe Music
2015
1/6/2015
Surrounding Sky
Al Jewer and Andy Mitran
Laughing Cat Records
2015
10/6/2015
Transcend
Philip Wesley
Autumn Music
2014
9/5/2014
Undercurrent
Michele McLaughlin
Michele McLaughlin Music
2015
2/24/2015
When
AeTopus
12 Ton Productions
2015
9/20/2015
3/17/2015
4/2/2015 8/21/2014
Where Did The Time Go
Neil Tatar and David Darling
Tasker Music and Tatar Associates
2013
8/23/2013
Winding Down
David Nevue
Midnight Rain Productions
2015
8/2/2015
Wonders in the Deep
Mary-Kathryn
Rhythm House Records
2015
3/9/2015
BEST NEW ARTIST: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
Aquarian Dream
Carmen Rubino
Riga Records, Inc.
2014
12/1/2014
Echoes of Life
Lynn Tredeau
Self Released
2015
1/4/2015
Moon and Shadows Barbara Hills
House in the Wood Productions
2014
10/19/2014
Reminiscent
Anastasia
Secret Formula Records
2015
6/1/2015
Songs of Leaving
Angelo Rapan
Self-Released
2015
The Ascent
Amy Faithe
Self Released
2015
9/1/2015
Under The Stars
Joanne Lazzaro
Self-Released
2015
3/1/2015
Where Did The Time Go
Neil Tatar and David Darling
Tasker Music and Tatar Associates
2013
8/23/2013
White Sun
White Sun
Self Released
2015
5/12/2015
BEST PIANO ALBUM - SOLO: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
A Thousand Springs
Adam Andrews
Adam Andrews Music
2015
4/28/2015
Another Time, Another Place
Robin Spielberg
playMountain Music
2015
4/28/2015
Echoes of Life
Lynn Tredeau
Self Released
2015
1/4/2015
Fire In The Rainstorm
Kori Linae Carothers
iRoknNod Records
2015
Galaxy
Tim Neumark
Neumark Music
2015
5/1/2015
Haiku
Doug Hammer
Self Released
2015
7/1/2015
Healing Piano
Steven Cravis
Self Released
2010
Lake Song
Greg Maroney
Self Released
2015
Love
Peter Kater
Mysterium Music
2015
Moments
Tim Neumark
Neumark Music
2015
Mountain's Majesty
Darla Bower
Self Released
2014
My Beloved
Michael Dulin
Equity Digital
2015
1/20/2015
Reminiscent
Anastasia
Secret Formula Records
2015
6/1/2015
Safe Harbor
Rhonda Mackert
Self Released
2014
12/1/2014
Shine
Michael Logozar
Self Released
2015
9/15/2015
Signature - Solo
Fiona Joy
Tiny Island Music
2015
4/2/2015
Souvenirs
Christine Brown
Key Image Music
2014
8/21/2014
The Arrow And The Song Brad Jacobsen
Self Released
2014
11/22/2014
The Sunflower Waltz
Shadetree Records
2015
10/2/2015
Anne Trenning
6/18/2015 1/10/2015
Transcend
Philip Wesley
Autumn Music
2014
9/5/2014
Undercurrent
Michele McLaughlin
Michele McLaughlin Music
2015
2/24/2015
Winding Down
David Nevue
Midnight Rain Productions
2015
8/2/2015
You Are My Home
Michael Whalen
Michael Whalen Music
2015
10/16/2015
BEST INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM - ACOUSTIC: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
Crosswinds: World Flute Conversations
Rajendra Teredesai w/ Rasull Soon (aka BlueMonk)
Real Music
2015
Eight Winds
Bob Ardern
Self Released
2015
10/1/2015
Falling Water Shimmering Strings
Chris Haugen
Real Music
2015
12/1/2015
Firelight
Terra Guitarra
Earthsign Records
2015
1/6/2015
Mandala
John Calvert
Heart Dance Records
2015
9/11/2015
Midwinter's Night
Erwilian
Self Released
2014
12/22/2009
Nightbound
David Lindsay
Fallingfoot Records
2015
Reflets
Guy Bergeron
Disques Boghei Records
2015
3/6/2015
Under The Stars
Joanne Lazzaro
Self-Released
2015
3/1/2015
BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
Across The Water
Bill Leslie
Greycliff Music
2015
10/4/2015
Alien History
4th Dimensional Beings
Three Twins Records
2000
Aquarian Dream
Carmen Rubino
Riga Records, Inc.
2014
12/1/2014
Bloom Road
Dan Kennedy
Mt. Pollux Music
2015
2/24/2015
Daydream Alley
Holland Phillips
Ageless Records
2015
7/21/2015
Farrago
Gary Farr
Secret Formula Records
2015
1/28/2015
Imaginings
Paul Adams, David Hoffman, Elizabeth Geyer & Pravin Godkhindi
Lakefront
2015
Learning To Fly
Neil Tatar
Self-Released
2015
Lichens
Mike Howe
Self Released
2015
Mississippi
Eric Tingstad
Cheshire Records
2015
4/21/2015
Moog & Nylon
Tom Caufield
Self Released
2015
8/17/2015
Playing With Shadows
David Franklin
Self Released
2015
5/5/2015
Rhythms Of The Night
Douglas Blue Feather
Spirit Hawk Records
2015
2/22/2015
5/31/2015
Sky Before a Storm
Gareth Laffely w/ Laura Sullivan
Self Released
2015
8/21/2015
So Near, So Far
Air Craft, Douglas McKeehan
Craftedair
2015
11/6/2015
Spirits
Erik Scott
Self Released
2014
Spiritual Haven
Russell Suereth
Haven Tone Records
2015
3/31/2015
Summon the Wind
Timothy Wenzel
Coyote Floe Music
2015
1/6/2015
The Wind Pearl
John Adorney
EverSound
2015
8/5/2015
Things I Heard While Tom Caufield in the Womb
Self-Released
2015
5/26/2015
Voyager
MG Music Ltd.
2015
7/1/2015
Tasker Music and Tatar Associates
2013
8/23/2013
Catherine Duc
Where Did The Time Neil Tatar and David Darling Go
BEST VOCAL ALBUM: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
All Our Yesterdays
Blackmore's Night
Frontiers Records
2015
Bridge To Vallabha
Tina Malia
Self-Released
2015
Ca Sarvetaratra (and Everything Else)
Vive
Self Released
2014
Darshan
Ajeet Kaur
Spirit Voyage Records
2015
Hvel
Arstidir
Broken Silence Records
2015
Lights of Laniakea
Kathy Sanborn
That Other Label
2015
8/14/2015
Sevati
Mirabai Ceiba
Spirit Voyage Records
2015
9/4/2015
The Ascent
Amy Faithe
Self Released
2015
9/1/2015
Vox Topography, Vol. 1
Alysia Tromblay Self Released
2015
1/5/2015
White Sun
White Sun
Self Released
2015
5/12/2015
Wonders in the Deep
Mary-Kathryn
Rhythm House Records
2015
3/9/2015
BEST ELECTRONIC ALBUM: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
Blue Radiance
Erik Wøllo
Projekt
2015
4/14/2015
Canyon
Robert Carty Deep Sky Music
2015
Echotides [EP]
Erik Wøllo
Projekt
2015
Etheric Imprints
Steve Roach
Projekt
2015
6/24/2015
Konnektions
Jeffrey Koepper
Air Space
2015
9/12/2015
March of the Timeshifters
Sensitive Chaos
Subsequent Records
2015
9/4/2015
Moon and Shadows
Barbara Hills
House in the Wood Productions
2014
10/19/2014
Moth in Flames
Paul Ellis
Spotted Peccary Music
2015
9/8/2015
Music For Commuting Volumes Ken Elkinson August Son Productions 7-12 Box Set
2015
2/3/2015
OOTI (Observation of the Invisible)
Forrest Smithson
Self Released
2014
Skeleton Keys
Steve Roach
Projekt
2015
5/5/2015
The Blue Star
Mingo
Sonarweb Communications
2015
4/19/2015
When
AeTopus
12 Ton Productions
2015
9/20/2015
BEST CHILL/GROOVE ALBUM: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
A Better Place
Michael Stribling
Leela Music
2015
5/10/2015
In These Storms
Dave Preston
Dave Preston Music
2015
8/4/2015
Kundalini Chillout: Liquid Mantra Remixes
Kirshan
Spirit Voyage Records
2014
Monuments of Ecstasy
Byron Metcalf, Steve Roach and Rob Thomas
Projekt
2015
1/20/2015
Mystical Morning
Uwe Gronau
GEMA
2015
10/27/2015
Next
Jeff Oster
Retso Records
2015
4/28/2015
Radio God
Get Tribal
Get Tribal Music
2015
10/6/2015
BEST AMBIENT ALBUM: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
A Place To Belong
Time Being
Spotted Peccary Music
2015
7/9/2015
Aftermath
Stratosphere
Projekt
2015
5/12/2015
Atomos
A Winged Victory For The Sullen
Kranky
2014
10/7/2014
Blood Moon
Frore & Shane Morris
Spotted Peccary Music
2015
Blueprint
Bob Holroyd
Real World Works
2015
Broken Stars through Brilliant Clouds
Numina / Zero Ohms
Spotted Peccary Music
2015
Change of Weather
Dan Pound
Pound Sounds
2015
Dawn Treader
Chronotope Project
Spotted Peccary Music
2015
Disorientation Flow
Dirk Serries
Projekt
2015
5/12/2015
Fall Into Winter
Bryan Carrigan
Peonies Music
2015
10/1/2015
Filaments
Robert Rich
Soundscape Productions
2015
Holographic Codex
Alio Die and Lorenzo Montan�
Projekt
2015
Invisible
Steve Roach
Timeroom
2015
Letters to the Farthest
Forrest Fang
Projekt
2015
11/1/2015
3/3/2015
Star Life Flows Water
Howard Givens & Craig Spotted Peccary Padilla Music
2015
Silent World
Csillagkod
Spotted Peccary Music
2014
The Ancestor Circle
Steve Roach & Jorge Reyes
Projekt
2014
11/4/2014
The Pale Catalog
Kerry Leimer
Palace Of Lights
2015
9/4/2015
The Past Is Another Country
Amongst Myselves
Self Released
2014
Waves of Life
Ashaneen
Real Music
2015
8/7/2015
Wise Trees
Soundician
Self Released
2015
1/22/2015
3/10/2015
BEST RELAXATION/MEDITATION ALBUM: Label
Release Year
Among Friends: 1975-2015 Steven Halpern (Bonus Version) [Revised]
Inner Peace Music
2014
Angel's Blows
Ponderosa Music & Art
2015
Atlantis Trilogy: Brave New Robert Slap World
Highpooch Music
2015
Celestial Resonance
Paradiso & Rasamayi
5th Element Music
2015
6/2/2015
Chants For Meditation
Omneity
August Son Productions
2015
10/9/2015
Crosswinds: World Flute Conversations
Rajendra Teredesai w/ Rasull Soon (aka BlueMonk)
Real Music
2015
Darshan
Ajeet Kaur
Spirit Voyage Records
2015
Element Series: Etheria
Peter Kater
Real Music
2015
1/20/2015
Eye of The Wizard
Deborah Martin
Spotted Peccary Music
2015
10/2/2015
Flute Flight
Sherry Finzer and Mark Holland
Cedar 'N Sage
2015
6/30/2015
Grace
Paul Avgerinos
Round Sky Music
2015
8/21/2015
Heart of Silence
Peter Kater and Michael Sounds True Brant DeMaria
2015
Illumination of the Heart
Deuter
New Earth Records
2015
8/4/2015
Mystic Voyage
Deuter
New Earth Records
2015
3/15/2015
Nanda Devi
Hans Christian
New Earth Records
2015
8/4/2015
Piano Meditations
Tron Syversen
TK Music Production 2015
4/28/2015
Pure Ceremony
James Hood
Edible Sounds
2015
6/2/2015
Reiki Hands of Love
Deuter
New Earth Records
2015
1/13/2015
Remembering
Bernward Koch
Real Music
2015
9/28/2015
Sacred Alliance
Anima
Anima Sound Productions
2015
7/21/2015
Spiritus
David Wahler
Darius Productions
2015
2/14/2015
Surrounding Sky
Al Jewer and Andy Mitran
Laughing Cat Records
2015
10/6/2015
Recording
Artist
Dimitri Grechi Espinosa
Release Date
Sweet Awakenings
Terry Oldfield
New Earth Records
2014
9/18/2014
The Blue Star
Mingo
Sonarweb Communications
2015
4/19/2015
Universal Sacred Music For Chorus
Roger Davidson
Soundbrush
2015
BEST NEO-CLASSICAL ALBUM: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
Celloverse
2Cellos
Sony Music Entertainment (Sony Classical - Masterworks)
2015
1/27/2015
Elements
Ludovico Einaudi
Ponderosa Music & Art
2015
10/16/2015
Equilibrium
Kerani
Kerani Music
2015
5/26/2015
La Strada
Kevin Keller
Kevin Keller Productions
2015
10/16/2015
Ludovico Einaudi: Portrait
Angele Dubeau w/ Analekta La Pieta
2015
So Near, So Far
Air Craft, Douglas Craftedair McKeehan
2015
11/6/2015
Songs from the Arc of Life
Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott
Sony Masterworks
2015
9/18/2015
The Woman Astronaut
Penka Kouneva
Self Released
2015
7/10/2015
BEST WORLD ALBUM: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
Asia Beauty
Ron Korb
Humbledragon
2015
8/1/2015
Beyond Borders
Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann
UMP Records
2015
6/23/2015
Ca Sarvetaratra (and Everything Else)
Vive
Self Released
2014
Chants For Meditation
Omneity
August Son Productions
2015
Drum Travel
James Asher and Sandeep Raval
Starfield
2014
Encantado
Jim Stubblefield
Natural Elements Records
2015
8/25/2015
Firelight
Terra Guitarra
Earthsign Records
2015
1/6/2015
Hvel
Arstidir
Broken Silence Records
2015
Love Language
Wouter Kellerman
Listen 2 Entertainment
2015
8/28/2015
One World
Jesse Cook
Coach House Music
2015
4/28/2015
Taranta Project
Ludovico Einaudi
Ponderosa Music & Art
2015
5/5/2015
The Drop that Contained the Sea
Christopher Tin
Tin Works
2014
5/8/2014
10/9/2015
BEST PIANO ALBUM - WITH INSTRUMENTATION: Recording
Artist
Label
Release Year
Release Date
Endless
Rick Sparks
Self Released
2014
10/1/2014
First Light
Peter Calandra
Self-Released
2015
Forgotten Road
Eamonn Karran
Real Music
2015
4/1/2015
Heart Song
Elise Lebec
Tabitha Lebec Publishing Company
2015
3/3/2015
Horizons
Lisa Hilton
Ruby Slippers Productions
2014
It's About Love
Karen Marie Garrett WaterStreet Records
2015
Keys of Light
Dan Chadburn
Self Released
2015
8/25/2015
Letters from Far Away
Heidi Anne Breyer
Self Released
2015
1/15/2015
Maiden's Voyage
Catherine Marie Charlton
Birds Flowers Music
2015
8/7/2015
Momentum
Frank Steiner, Jr.
Real Music
2015
8/2/2015
One Journey
Ryan Stewart
Ryan Stewart Music
2015
3/17/2015
Patterns of Sun and Shade
Kathryn Kaye
Overland Mountain Music
2014
Playing With Shadows David Franklin
Self Released
2015
5/5/2015
Safe in Your Arms
Scott Cossu
Heart Dance Records
2015
8/7/2015
Seasons of the Heart
Reneé Michele
Self Released
2014
Songs of Leaving
Angelo Rapan
Self-Released
2015
Synfonia
Joe Bongiorno
Piano Haven
2015
3/10/2015
Time and Tides
Yu Ya Huang
Self Released
2015
6/1/2015
Treasures of Peace
Stanton Lanier
Music to Light the World
2014
11/7/2014
HOW THE AWARDS WORK: ZoneMusicReporter.com is continuing the tradition of hosting an annual Music Awards program. Welcome to the 12th Annual ZMR Music Awards. Last years ZMR Awards were a huge success. As we expected the cream rose to the top of a very competitive field of nominees. We hope this years awards are bigger and better than ever. Like last year, there is no submittal fee or registration required for an artists or label to qualify. If you meet the qualifications listed below, your included in the field of award qualifiers:
• • •
An Artist or Label must have had a recording(s) that appeared in the Top 50 of our Top 100 Chart during the period December 2014 thru November 2015 to qualify for all catagories except "Album of the Year". To qualify for "Album of the Year" a recording had to appear in the Top 10 of our Top 100 Chart during the period December 2014 thru November 2015. Your recording didn't appear in previous years ZMR Music Awards Qualifier list.
That's it. If you have a recording meeting those three criteria, you're eligible for nomination. Where can I find the list of Qualifying Recordings? A link to the listing of all recordings that qualify for nomination will be shown on this page and will have a link in the menu above. These are the only recordings in contention for the ZMR Music Awards. Write in candidates will not be accepted.
A listing on all recordings that qualify will be released Sunday, January 17th, 2016! What are the Award Categories? There are 13 award categories. The categories are:
• • • • • • • •
Album of the Year Best New Artist Best Piano Album - Solo Best Piano Album - with Instrumentation Best Instrumental Album - Acoustic Best Contemporary Instrumental Album Best Vocal Album Best Ambient Album What if my recording is not in the correct category?
• • • • •
Best Electronic Album Best Groove / Chill Album Best Relaxation / Meditation Album Best Neo-Classical Album Best World Album
Categorization is not an easy task. It takes us time to put together the listings and make sure everything is categorized properly. We hold internal discussions for all of the categories and contemplate the merits of each recording in consideration. Recognizing that this process is not an exact science and that we know we aren't perfect, after our internal review period we post the recordings online and open a 2 week period where comments are accepted from the artist / label community. We will consider requests for a change in category during this 2 week period. Recognize that we think we have a pretty good case for where we put it so it won't be easy to convince us otherwise unless it is a glaring, obvious mistake. After the voting is opened, requests for changes will not be considered. Who does the voting? Voting for the Category Nominations and Category Award winners will be done by the Broadcasters (Show Hosts) that have reported Top 20 Playlist to ZoneMusicReporter during the December 2014 thru November 2015 time period. In addition, both RJ Lannan And Bill Binkelman will be on the voting panel. This is a far-reaching panel of Industry experts and lovers of the music ZoneMusicReporter represents. We could not think of a more worthy and knowledgeable panel to decide both the Category Nominees and Category winners. How does the Awards process work? The complete rules and process is available on the Rules page. When will the Category Nominees and Awards Winners be announced? These are the important dates to remember: This years Qualifiers will be announced on Sunday, January 17th, 2016.
Nomination voting will open on Monday, February 1st, 2016. Category Nominees will be announced on the ZoneMusicReporter site on Sunday, February 21st, 2016. Category Finalists voting will open on Monday, March 7th, 2016.
Award Winners will be announced in New Orleans at the 12th Annual ZMR LIVE Music Award Show on Saturday May 7th, 2016.
What do the Award Winners receive? The winner in each category will receive an engraved Award Plaque. The four remaining nominees in each category will receive a Certificate. We at ZoneMusicReporter wish all of the eligible artists the very best of luck. It's not going to be an easy process since so many outstanding recordings are in contention for this years awards, but the journey must be made to recognize the Best of the Best. Good luck to all!