And the nominees are…
Rock music’s newest and most popular awards show, the Journeys Alternative Press Music Awards, fueled by Monster Energy Drink, has announced this year’s headliners, award categories and nominees, as well as voting information, ticketing, broadcast details, sponsor partnerships and more. The APMAs take place on July 22 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, hosted by hilarious heartthrobs Alex Gaskarth and Jack Barakat of Billboard-chart topping, five-time AP cover stars All Time Low.
Fifteen awards will be presented, including the brand new Journeys “Best Music Video” category, as well as the honorary “Vanguard” and “Icon” awards. Last year’s recipients included Smashing Pumpkins founder Billy Corgan and Joan Jett.
Rock legends and four-time AP cover stars Weezer — whose 2014 album Everything Will Be Alright In The End is nominated for the prestigious “Album Of The Year” award — will serve as the evening’s headlining performance. “We’re incredibly excited to play for all of our fans at the APMAs this year!” said Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo.
Additional live performances include Panic! At The Disco, Taking Back Sunday, Motionless In White, All Time Low, a special performance from New Found Glory featuring Hayley Williams, Echosmith, Halestorm and the Madden Brothers. The world-renowned Contemporary Youth Orchestra will also be returning to the APMAs to accompany many of the evening’s performances and event proceedings.
Fellow pop-punk superstars Simple Plan will also be making their much anticipated return to the stage after a three-year hiatus from the American stage. Simple Plan’s lead singer Pierre Bouvier captured the excitement best by saying, “We’re super excited to be part of the APMAs this year. It’s like the ultimate party with all the bands we care about and the scene that we’re proud to be a part of. We’re also stoked to finally be playing some new material in the U.S. for our fans that have been waiting for so long. It’s gonna be a hell of a night!”
Last year’s “Most Dedicated Fans” award recipients Black Veil Brides will return to perform a special set. Lead singer and Ohio native Andy Biersack commented “We are so excited to be a part of the 2015 APMAS! Last year, AP granted me not only the opportunity to perform with my heroes, but also to give back to the fans who have given us everything with the Most Dedicated Fan award! We are stoked to perform and would be honored to win. But most importantly, we can’t wait to see everyone there!”
The 2015 APMAs CATEGORIES, NOMINEES, and PRESENTERS are:
Artist Of The Year presented by Monster Energy Drink
Against Me!
Black Veil Brides
Crown The Empire
Issues
Motionless In White
New Found Glory
Of Mice & Men
Slipknot
Taking Back Sunday
Weezer
Album Of The Year presented by Journeys
Beartooth • Disgusting
Black Veil Brides • Black Veil Brides
Circa Survive • Descensus
Every Time I Die • From Parts Unknown
frnkiero andthe cellabration • Stomachaches
Gerard Way • Hesitant Alien
Issues • Issues
La Dispute • Rooms Of The House
Linkin Park • The Hunting Party
Real Friends • Maybe This Place Is The Same And We’re Just Changing
Artist Philanthropic presented by Sub City / Take Action
Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness • Dear Jack Foundation
Bayside • The Human Rights Campaign
Koji • Doctors Without Borders
Jake Luhrs of August Burns Red • HeartSupport
Simple Plan • The Simple Plan Foundation
Taking Back Sunday • American Cancer Society
Best Live Band presented by Macbeth
A Day To Remember
letlive.
Panic! At The Disco
Paramore
twenty one pilots
The Wonder Years
Breakthrough Band presented by Splat!
Beartooth
Echosmith
Modern Baseball
Neck Deep
PVRIS
This Wild Life
Song Of The Year presented by Epitaph Records
Beartooth • “Beaten In Lips”
Motionless In White • “Reincarnate”
Real Friends • “I Don’t Love You Anymore”
Set It Off • “Why Worry”
Sleeping With Sirens • “Kick Me”
PVRIS • “My House”
Best International Band
The 1975 (UK)
The Amity Affliction (Australia)
Marmozets (UK)
New Politics (Denmark)
Northlane (Australia)
Crossfaith (Japan)
Best Music Video presented by Journeys
Bring Me The Horizon • “Drown”
A Day To Remember • “End Of Me”
Fall Out Boy • “Centuries”
Modern Baseball • “Your Graduation”
PVRIS • “St. Patrick”
Set It Off • “Why Worry”
Most Dedicated Fans presented by Fearless Records
All Time Low (Hustlers)
Crown The Empire (The Runaways)
Fall Out Boy (Overcast Kids)
Motionless In White (Creatures)
Paramore (Parafamily)
twenty one pilots (Skeleton Clique)
Best Underground Band presented by Sumerian Records
Being As An Ocean
The Hotelier
Knuckle Puck
Major League
State Champs
Tigers Jaw
Best Vocalist
Tyler Carter (Issues)
Vic Fuentes (Pierce The Veil)
Lynn Gunn (PVRIS)
Adam Lazzara (Taking Back Sunday)
Jeremy McKinnon (A Day To Remember)
Hayley Williams (Paramore)
Best Guitarist
Arun Bali (Saves The Day)
Jordan Buckley (Every Time I Die)
Tony Perry (Pierce The Veil)
Kevin Skaff (A Day To Remember)
Will Swan (Dance Gavin Dance)
Jacky Vincent (Falling In Reverse)
Best Bassist presented by Razor & Tie Records
Kyle Fasel (Real Friends)
Jeph Howard (The Used)
Ryan Jay Johnson (letlive.)
Zack Merrick (All Time Low)
Devin “Ghost” Sola (Motionless In White)
Dallon Weekes (Panic! At The Disco)
Best Drummer presented by DW Drums
Cyrus Bolooki (New Found Glory)
Rian Dawson (All Time Low)
Jake Garland (Memphis May Fire)
Adam Gray (Texas In July)
Matt Greiner (August Burns Red)
Luke Holland (The Word Alive)
Voting on all awards begins today via www.altpress.com/apmas, in addition to the “Best Music Video” award, which can be voted upon exclusively at any Journeys retail location via voter mobile device and store-provided QR codes or via journeys.com/bestmusicvideo. Voting ends on July 6, 2015.
A limited amount of discounted early bird tickets as well as VIP packages, Monster travel packages and pit tickets will go on sale Friday, April 3 at 10:00 am EDT. Both the VIP and Ultimate Monster packages will include exclusive merch limited APMAs merch, premium seating, early entry and more. Head to www.altpress.com/apmas for all the ticket offerings and details.
The APMAs are very pleased to announce brand new partnerships with several of today’s leading companies, including retail, technology, merchandise, music industries and more. This year’s new title sponsor is none other than Journeys, the leader in the teen-specialty retail scene focused on lifestyle-driven branded footwear and accessories with 850 stores across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. The APMAs are thrilled to include Journeys as their title sponsor and official retail partner for the 2015 APMAs.
Kari Irons, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Journeys says, “Journeys is excited to join the 2015 & 2016 AP Music Awards as the title sponsor. Music has been in our DNA since we opened our first store in 1986. Through our two-year partnership, we’re able to capture exclusive content and customize unique campaigns and contests — all to support our employees, our core consumers and a talented community of artists. We’ve worked with Alternative Press for several years as an advertiser, and are looking forward to building upon an already stellar relationship.”
In addition, this year’s APMAs is once again joined by lead presenting sponsor Monster Energy Drink, who will be energizing the event by hosting meet & greet experiences for the APMAs fans with top-tier talent from the rock ’n’ roll world.
The 2015 APMAs are proud to team up once again with official broadcast partner AXS TV. Last year’s award show marked the highest social engagement in the channel’s history. The APMAs are looking forward to another successful year.
The APMAs are made possible by many other great sponsors and partnerships including Affliction Clothing, Another Century Records, CreativeLive, Disc Makers, DW Drums, EarthQuaker Devices, Epitaph Records, Equal Vision Records, Full Sail University, Fearless Records, Hopeless Records, idobi radio, Lace Pickups, Macbeth, MerchNow, Razor & Tie Records, Rise Records, Splat! Hair Care, Sumerian Records and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum.
The APMAs are produced by Josh Bernstein, Mike Shea, Kevin Lyman, Dawn Marshman, Joe Scarpelli and Marc Grant.
