Hollywood, California – Musicians will always tell you a cornerstone of their trade is uniqueness and individuality. The music industry is about setting trends, not following them.

Oxymoronically, once the trend is set, many musicians tend to follow it for awhile instead of searching for the next big thing.

Such is the case with music award shows -– it became cool, almost revolutionary, to recognize artists across the board instead of the most popular.

The “breakthrough” idea became a trend, and now every award show is going out of its way to honor everyone, regardless of their name or popularity.

Perhaps this is a trend worth copycatting.

In a weekend full of musicians gathering to honor its best, Buzzine covered two music awards, including Saturday’s New Music Awards.

Presented by New Music Weekly magazine and hosted by country singer Buck McCoy, the 2008 New Music Awards honored mainstream and independent artists alike at the lavish Avalon Theater on November 22nd.

Known as “New Music’s Biggest Night,” the New Music Awards brought the radio and music industry together in one of Hollywood’s most famed venues to celebrate the hard work of talented musicians while also acknowledging the undying support of record labels, radio stations, and programmers.

As stated by the award show’s organizers, the New Music Awards recognizes “the true talent which exists in the music industry today.”

Paying tribute to mainstreamers such as Maroon 5, Leona Lewis, and Brad Paisley, this year’s New Music Awards also recognized top independent artists such as Starfish & Coffee, Will Peppers, and Tom Savell, among others. Not to be outdone, the show also shined the spotlight on several radio stations, program directors, and record labels.

The complete list of winners:

Top40 Single of the Year: Katy Perry “I Kissed A Girl”
Top40 Male Artist of the Year: David Cook
Top40 Female Artist of the Year: Colbie Caillat
Top40 Group of the Year: Maroon 5
Top40 New Artist of the Year: Leona Lewis
Top40 New Group of the Year: Starfish & Coffee
Top40 Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Alyson
Top40 Radio Station of the Year: KLQQ
Top40 Program Director of the Year: John Mangan
Top40 Music Director of the Year: Beth Valiant
Top40 Promotion of the Year: Jerome Promotions
Top40 Record Label of the Year: Interscope
AC Single of the Year: “Realize” Colbie Caillat
AC Male Artist of the Year: Michael Buble
AC Female Artst of the Year: Natasha Bedingfield
AC Group of the Year: Coldplay
AC40 New Artist of the Year: Tom Savell
AC Group of the Year: Fools
AC Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Sandra Crede
AC Radio Station of the Year: KKRB
AC Program Director of the Year: Randy Adams
AC Music Director of the Year: Nikki Thunder
AC Promotion of the Year: Jennifer Lyneis
AC Record Label of the Year: Capitol/EMI
Country Single of the Year: “Don’t Blink” Kenny Chesney
Country Male Artist of the Year: Brad Paisley
Country Female Artist of the Year: Carrie Underwood
Country Group of the Year: Lady Antebellum
Country New Artist of the Year: Will Peppers
Country New Group of the Year: The Roadhammers
Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Christine Van Hoy
Country Radio Station of the Year: KTTI
Country Program Director of the Year: Mike Thomas
Country Music Director D of the Year: Lee Richey
Country Promotion of the Year: James Williams
Country Record Label of the Year: Big 7/Lofton Creek
Crossover Artist of the Year: Char Butler
College Artist of the Year: Jacob Dylan
College Band of the Year: Thieves & Liars
College New Artist of the Year: Vic Ruggiero
College New Band of the Year: A Band Of Bees
College Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Kevin Lucas Orchestra
College Radio Station of the Year: KLCC
College Program Director of the Year: Jason Wells
College Music Director of the Year: Terry Moses
College Promotion of the Year: Powderfinger Promotion
College Record Label of the Year: Tooth & Nail
Record Pool of the Year: Starfleet
Internet Radio Station of the Year: I-Radio/Los Angeles, California
Publicity Firm of the Year: Rogers & Cowans

Photos courtesy of Avani Parmar