The 2019 VTHH Awards: The Final Mistake
It was fast, it was painless, and it’s over: the 2019 VTHH Awards are here.
As expected, this has drawn a lot of criticism, both public and private. As ever, I agree with the critics. This is a nothingburger website, doing a quick online poll isn’t a serious attempt at an annual awards ceremony; and I don’t respect your artistry or your careers. All of this is true.
The two most important things that need to change: 1) the nominations period needs to be extended, and 2) voting shouldn’t be open in 2020. That’s not a joke. Democracy leads to stupid shit and popularity contests don’t matter.
Most of them don’t matter, at least -- and the few that do, happen in public every day. You can buy 10,000 plays on Soundcloud, but you can’t buy sets at Lollapalooza. You can buy features with indie rappers, but you’re not doing projects with Travis Barker.
Still, real world feedback is useful. Especially if you’re working towards a career selling a popular product. With that in mind, I’m just going to share the results as screenshots. Let’s begin.
D.FRENCH is the only winner who was winning early and still winning at the end. People love that dude, they really do. He also dropped two album-grade projects this year, so maybe that’s inevitable. Just Cauz and Omega Jade both released landmark-type debut albums this year. Big props to Juni of Hella Fader and Kurt Stewart, too.
Even with a Top Five, this ballot couldn’t approach the depth of the 2019 rookie class. This year has been a high water mark for boom bap music overall.
Remember when I said people love D.FRENCH? How absurd is it to be #1 and #2 in the same year? Pro’s debut LP came in third place. Aztext family co-founder Learic came in at #4 with a burner of a masterpiece that hasn’t left rotation here at the River House since it came out. Then there’s SkySplitterInk, who made the ballot for Album of the Year with an instrumental album. You know why?
Because he got more than 1/3rd of the votes for Producer of the Year. He’s done pro-grade engineering for more than half the scene -- sure. But more than half the reason he’s won is his sheer, undeniable talent. The man is a born musician. Nobody who’s placing after him here would disagree, either.
That said, you know: holy shit, Vermont’s production talent pool is deep.
With 2019’s record output, the Producer of the Year category is more closely contested than ever. Let’s keep that up. This state has always been full of hidden gems, and many of them didn’t even get nominated.
Finally, Music Video of the Year. I am grateful to see another crowded category. Are there categories we should do a Top 10 for next year? Drop a line.
I’ve also recommended that artists I know, inside and far outside Vermont, watch the video that won, because it’s a powerful example of how to make the most from a minimal shoot. Watch “Extortion” three times. Watch it once, then watch it again, then watch it with the sound off. Take notes. This is how you maximize a minimal shoot, this is wisdom.
Big props to the team of Chyse and Miles Goad -- both of these cats do top-notch work, and both them have bright futures far, far outside the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Like a lot of old heads I have talked to in the past week, I have strong feelings about one of the videos on this ballot, and it wound up placing dead last. “Ripstick” was a fucking masterpiece. The fact Television didn’t get an album of the year nomination is just proof 2019 was all over the map.
Next year has to be different.
Who has the biggest online fanbase they can mobilize to vote for them? In twelve months, that shouldn’t matter. The 2020 Awards should more closely resmeble The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: nothing but certified heads giving props to the artists they respect. You can lie about making money off your fans. You can’t lie about getting respect from your peers.
