1. Purpose of the HTMA Awards

Honky Tonk Music Association recognizes artists, musicians, songwriters, performers, broadcasters, entertainment professionals and others whose work demonstrates excellence, authenticity, musicianship, creativity, dedication or meaningful contribution to music and entertainment.

HTMA is an international, multi-genre organization. Recognition is not restricted to one country, one genre, one level of fame or one stage of a person’s career.

2. Performance Comes First

HTMA’s awards philosophy begins with the music and the performance itself.

Social-media followers, likes, views, chart visibility, celebrity status or popularity may provide context, but they do not by themselves determine whether a person deserves an HTMA award.

3. Nominations

A nomination is an official HTMA recognition in its own right. A nominee has been selected for consideration in an established award category or recognition.

A nomination does not guarantee that the nominee will ultimately receive the award.

When a nominee later becomes the winner, the original nomination remains part of that person’s or group’s historical HTMA record.

4. Winners

A winner is a person, group, organization, performance, composition or other recognized recipient officially designated by Honky Tonk Music Association as the recipient of an award.

Winners may receive an official certificate, trophy, registry recognition, editorial or promotional coverage, ceremony recognition or other benefits associated with the particular award.

5. Award Categories

HTMA may establish, modify, expand, combine, rename, suspend or retire award categories as the Association and its programs develop.

Categories may recognize a specific performance, song, recording, musician, songwriter, artist, band, broadcaster, lifetime contribution, historical contribution or another area of distinction.

Special recognitions may also be created when the Association determines that a contribution deserves recognition beyond an existing category.

6. Award Seasons & Years

Awards are recorded according to the official award year or season designated by HTMA.

Because nominations and recognitions may be announced at different points during an awards season, the date of a public announcement does not necessarily replace the official year assigned to the award.

7. Official Awards Registry

The Honky Tonk Music Association Official Awards Registry is the controlling public record for HTMA awards, nominations and recognized award history.

News articles, social-media posts, videos, announcements, certificates and earlier website pages may document the history of an award. However, if conflicting information appears between an older publication and the current registry, the current Official Awards Registry controls unless HTMA expressly states otherwise.

8. Corrections & Record Accuracy

HTMA may correct spelling, artist attribution, songwriter attribution, award titles, categories, duplicate records, status designations, dates or other information when an error or incomplete record is discovered.

A correction made for accuracy does not invalidate an otherwise legitimate award or nomination.

HTMA may also update historical records when additional verified information becomes available.

9. Artist & Professional Names

HTMA endeavors to identify recipients using the artist, professional, group or legal name appropriate to the particular recognition.

A songwriter credit may therefore differ from the professional name used by the same individual as a performer.

HTMA may maintain cross-reference information internally or within its registry system when necessary to ensure that related records can be located without improperly altering an individual’s official credited name.

10. International Winners & Nominees

International artists and professionals are eligible for HTMA recognition unless a particular award expressly provides otherwise.

International winners and nominees are recognized on the same official registry as recipients based in the United States.

An international recipient is not required to relocate to the United States or surrender professional independence as a condition of receiving recognition.

If an international recipient chooses to attend or participate in an event in the United States, that individual remains responsible for obtaining any passport, visa, travel authorization, work authorization, tax documentation or other governmental approval that may legally be required.

11. Awards Ceremony Participation

Receiving an award or nomination does not automatically require attendance at an HTMA ceremony unless a particular award or program expressly establishes an attendance requirement.

Invitations to perform, present, appear, participate in media activities or otherwise take part in an awards ceremony are separate from the underlying award recognition.

Performance arrangements, rehearsal requirements, production schedules and related ceremony matters may be communicated separately to invited participants.

12. Travel & Expenses

Unless HTMA provides written terms stating otherwise, recipients and participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, transportation, documentation and incidental expenses associated with attending an event.

Any travel assistance, reimbursement, hospitality, transportation or other benefit offered for a particular recipient or event must be confirmed separately in writing.

13. Trophies & Certificates

HTMA may issue trophies, certificates or other physical or digital recognition associated with an award.

Delivery, presentation or receipt of a physical trophy or certificate is separate from the existence of the award itself. A recipient’s official registry status does not disappear merely because a physical item has not yet been presented, shipped or collected.

14. Standard Awards & Affinity Awards

Standard HTMA performance and recognition awards have no automatic cash value and do not constitute a promise of payment.

Certain awards specifically designated as Affinity Awards may include monetary prizes, benefits or other consideration under the separate terms announced for that particular award.

No recipient should assume that a prize or payment applies unless HTMA or Affinity Publishing Group, Inc. has expressly stated that it applies to that award.

15. Membership Is Separate From Awards

Membership in Honky Tonk Music Association is not required merely to be considered, nominated or recognized unless specific rules for a future program expressly provide otherwise.

Likewise, receiving a nomination or award does not automatically create an HTMA membership.

Membership opportunities and participation information will be announced separately when the official HTMA membership system is ready for public use.

16. Independence of Recipients

An HTMA nomination or award does not create an employment, agency, management, recording, publishing or exclusive representation relationship between the recipient and Honky Tonk Music Association or Affinity Publishing Group, Inc.

Recipients remain free to pursue their careers, performances, recordings, publishing arrangements, management relationships and other professional opportunities.

17. Use of HTMA Award Titles

Winners and nominees may accurately identify themselves using the official award or nomination title appearing in the HTMA Official Awards Registry.

Award titles should not be altered in a manner that materially misrepresents the recipient’s actual recognition, award year, nomination status or category.

18. Publicity & Recognition

HTMA may publicly announce and report its nominations, awards and ceremonies through its websites, registry, news operations, social-media channels, video programming, promotional materials and affiliated media.

Public recognition of an award does not by itself create a paid endorsement, sponsorship, employment relationship or commercial partnership with the recipient.

19. Declining Recognition

A recipient who does not wish to accept or publicly participate in an HTMA recognition may contact the Association.

HTMA will determine how the historical record should reflect a declined recognition while preserving the accuracy of previously documented nominations, announcements or award history.

20. Changes to These Rules

Honky Tonk Music Association may revise these rules as the Association, awards program, ceremony and international operations develop.

Material changes may be published on the official HTMA website. Rules applicable to a special competition, fan-voted award, monetary award or other specialized program may also be published separately.

21. Questions About an Award Record

Winners, nominees, representatives and other interested parties who believe an official registry entry contains an error should contact Honky Tonk Music Association so the record can be reviewed.