Every year, coinciding with Winter Music Conference, the International Dance Music Awards (IDMAs) recognizes those who make electronic music great. Sure, it's not exactly the Grammys or MTV's Video Music Awards. But dammit, it's a homegrown awards show and that's reason enough to give it some respect.
The list of nominees is already out. And even you can vote for this year's Best Underground Track, Best Trance Track, Best Pop Track, or Best U.S. Club. Go cast your ballot before February 18 at wintermusicconference.com.
Of course, we wouldn't be us if we didn't handicap the damn thing for you. So here are some of our picks, those we think deserve the trophy, next to those we know will probably win.
Best Underground Track
Barbra Streisand - Duck Sauce - Fool's Gold/Downtown
Brrrat! - Steve Aoki & Armand Van Helden - Dim Mak Records
I Can Change - LCD Soundsystem - DFA
I Feel Better - Hot Chip - Astralwerks
No Worries - Butch - Cecille
Paradise Garage - Massive Attack - Virgin
Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites - Skrillex - Big Beat/Mau5trap
Our Pick: "I Can Change" by LCD Soundsystem or "I Feel Better" by Hot Chip
Who Will Probably Win: "Brrrat!" by Steve Aoki & Armand Van Helden
Best Commercial Dance Track
Dancing On My Own - Robyn - Konichiwa/Cherrytree/Interscope
Gettin' Over You - David Guetta & Chris Willis Feat. Fergie & LMFAO - Astralwerks
Hello - Martin Solveig & Dragonette - Big Beat/Atlantic
Not Giving Up On Love - Armin van Buuren Feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Ultra/Armada
Pyromania - Cascada - Robbins Entertainment
Seek Bromance - Tim Berg - Napith/Sirup/DIY
Stereo Love - Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina - Ultra Records
Our Pick: "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn
Who Will Probably Win: "Gettin' Over You" by David Guetta & Chris Willis Feat. Fergie & LMFAO
Best Dubstep/DnB/Jungle Track
Gold Dust - Dj Fresh - Data/Breakbeat Kaos
Hold On - Rusko - Mad Decent/Downtown
Innocence - Nero - MTA Records
On My Own - Blame Feat Ruff Sqwad - New State Music
Raise Your Weapon - Deadmau5 - Ultra Records/Mau5trap
Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites - Skrillex - Big Beat/Mau5trap
Our Pick: "Hold On" by Rusko
Who Will Probably Win: "Raise Your Weapon" by Deadmau5
Best Pop Dance Track
Alejandro - Lady Gaga - Streamline/Interscope/KonLive/Cherrytree
All The Lovers - Kylie Minogue - Astralwerks
Dirty Talk - Wynter Gordon - Big Beat/Atlantic
Dynamite - Taio Cruz - Mercury/IDJMG
Firework - Katy Perry - Capitol
Only Girl (In The World) - Rihanna - Def Jam/IDJMG
Your Love Is My Drug - Ke$ha - RCA
Our Pick: "Only Girl (In The World)" by Rihanna
Who Will Probably Win: Rihanna is a strong contender but so is the insufferable "Firework" by Katy Perry
Best Break-Through Artist (Group)
Duck Sauce
Far East Movement
Florence + The Machine
Magnetic Man
Swedish House Mafia
The Temper Trap
Our Pick: Duck Sauce
Who Will Probably Win: Swedish House Mafia
Best Artist (Group)
Above & Beyond
Black Eyed Peas
Daft Punk
Goldfrapp
LCD Soundsystem
Pendulum
Phoenix
Swedish House Mafia
Our Pick: LCD Soundsystem
Who Will Probably Win: Swedish House Mafia or Black Eyed Peas
Best Music Event
Coachella - Indio, CA
Creamfields - United Kingdom
Electric Daisy Carnival - Los Angeles
Electric Zoo - New York
Sensation White - Amsterdam
Tomorrowland - Belgium
Trance Energy - Utrecht
Ultra Music Festival - Miami
Our Pick: We've only really been to Ultra Music Festival.
Who
Will Probably Win: Coachella. No way that after the in-fighting is
Ultra going to sweep this again. Probably for the best though.
Best U.S. Club
Beta Nightclub - Denver
Cielo - New York
Glow - Washington D.C.
LIV - Miami
Pacha - New York
Rain - Las Vegas
Ruby Skye - San Francisco
Space - Miami
Our
Pick: Since we spend so much time at clubs here in Miami, when we
vacation elsewhere, the last thing we want to do is go clubbing, so LIV
and Space are the only ones we've been to on this list. That being said
LIV and Space are a tie for us; both serve completely different
purposes.
Who Will Probably Win: Miami clubs rarely take home the prize. Sorry, LIV and Space.
For the full list of nominees and to cast your vote, visit wintermusicconference.com. Voting ends February 18.
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