First round ballots for the 2006 IBMA Awards have been entered, and the second round ballots will be mailed by July 10. One of the last details to be concluded before the second round ballots go out are the candidates for certain awards, which while finally selected by a vote of the membership, have the initial candidates chosen by a special IBMA Committee. Examples include Recorded Event and Emerging Artist, which are subject to stricter eligibility requirements.

Other awards, designated by IBMA as Special Awards, have candidates nominated and recipients chosen wholly by special select committees of the organization. The five committee members are chosen annually from among the professional membership, and selection requires a minimum of ten years experience in bluegrass music and “a demonstrated significant knowledge of the history of the music.”

The awards in this category include:

Any IBMA member can put forward a candidate to be considered for these Special Awards, and the submission deadline is June 30, 2006. These awards will not be announced during The 17th International Bluegrass Music Awards Show on September 28, but at a special presentation during the World Of Bluegrass Trade Show that week.

You can read more about the eligibility requirements and the nomination procedures on the IBMA web site. If you would like to submit a candidate, please be sure to read the requirements, as they are quite specific, and get your package to IBMA by next Friday (6/30).