There is a revolution going on. The Big Five record labels are losing their stranglehold on the industry as consumers and bands are doing things themselves, for themselves. "Independent" usually means "local," and these types of bands are packing clubs and selling lots of records without any commercial radio airplay or mondo-label sponsorship. If you're reading this, you're more than likely part of this movement.

We got more than 2,000 votes in our music awards competition this year -- a response that was inspiring both in quantity (more than last year) and quality. Four of us -- including two who were a little hung over from the Music Awards showcase the night before -- spent Sunday morning counting ballots.

For one thing, it renewed our faith in the Weekly's readers (they have good taste, after all). Tony Dukes? Easily this year's biggest vote-getter. We vote-counters, ever cynical and frankly a little miffed with the ballot-stuffing on behalf of Aggressive Christine, wanted to accuse Dukes' fans of trying to take advantage of us -- but the ballots were coming from all over the area and signed by lots of different people. One big surprise was that Live at Caravan of Dreams by Bertha Coolidge won album of the year -- incredible, not because it's a bad album by any stretch (it's pretty friggin' awesome), but because the awards themselves, like the local music scene, are heavy on the alt-rock. The record received about 75 votes.

Most musicians who won said they were honored just to appear on the ballot, constructed with the help of a nominating committee made up of local club owners, record label execs, commercial radio personnel, and other area musicians. Though Dallas-heavy, the ballot is a pretty good reflection of the North Texas scene. Now, onward and upward with the winners. -- Anthony Mariani NEXT »

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