It was a big year for Milwaukee music, and that was capped off with the 8th annual RadioMilwaukee Music Awards last night. The event was held at 88Nine’s studios in the Third Ward, and it was nothing less than something special. Oodles of local music talent were in the room, both onstage and off, and it felt like one big party to celebrate how far the city’s musical landscape has come in 2015.

The performances were nothing short of wonderful, with NONOYEAHOKAY setting things off in proper fashion, Klassik slaying the stage as always, and Greatest Lakes getting everyone dancing late in the night. A personal highlight for me, though was Siren shining as always, including a cover of My Chemical Romance’s “Helena” fittingly (?) intertwined with the sound of Drake’s “Hotline Bling”. If anything captured the landscape of Milwaukee music, it was that moment. It seems like 2015 was the year of the experimental style blending, and 2016 will build upon that.

Speaking of New Age Narcissism, WebsterX won big, taking home three awards, including Solo Artist of the Year, and fittingly, Music Video of the Year for the Damien Klaven/Cody LaPlant-directed “Lately”. Album of the year, however, went to Kiings, and Band of the Year to The Living Statues, who had a breakout 2015. Here’s the full list of winners:

• Album Of The Year (Presented By Pabst Blue Ribbon) – Kiings, “WWYDF”
• Song Of The Year (Presented By Wire & Vice) – WebsterX, “Doomsday”
• Band Of The Year (Presented by Cascio Interstate Music) – The Living Statues
• Solo Artist Of The Year (Presented By Koss Stereophones) – WebsterX
• Album Artwork Of The Year (Presented by Milwaukee Home) – No No Yeah Okay, “Dual”
• Independent Release (Presented by The Milwaukee Bucks) – No No Yeah Okay, “Dual”
• Best Disc We Missed (Presented by BMO Harris Bradley Center) – Devil Met Contention, “American Times”
• Music Video Of The Year (Presented by Enterprise Films) – WebsterX, “Lately”
• Music Ambassador Award (Presented by and RCB Awards Milwaukee) – David Ravel, Director of Alverno Presents
• Humanitarian Award (Presented By Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin) – DJ Bizzon (Tyrone Miller), Music Director of True SKOOL
• Critics Choice Award (Presented by UWM Peck School of the Arts) – Klassik, “Seasons”

Thank you to 88Nine for including us in the voting for their Critic’s Choice Award. This was a big year for Milwaukee, and we’re glad to see the city’s scene prepare to go even farther next year.

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