THE 2026 WAMMIE MUSIC AWARDS ANNOUNCE LIFE, LEGACY & LYRICS HONOREES

For Immediate Release  2.5.2026‍

Press Contact: Dana Nearing (he/him), Exec. Producer

dnearing@themusicianship.org | 202-805-2802 

THE 2026 WAMMIE MUSIC AWARDS ANNOUNCE LIFE, LEGACY & LYRICS HONOREES 

Washington, DC - The MusicianShip, the region's leading provider of free music education programs for youth and producer of the annual Wammie Music Awards, announced today its 2026 Music Industry Achievement Honorees. This select group of contributors representing different facets of the DMV music ecosystem, will be recognized at the upcoming 37th Annual Wammie Music Awards, Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Capital Turnaround in Washington, DC.  

Their combined accomplishments signal this historic award show’s return to the District after a two-year hiatus. The public voting period closed on 1/15/26  breaking previous years engagement records with more than 900 music nominations garnering more than 32,000 votes from DMV music fans. 

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“From the pre-event music education sessions to the red carpet receptions, award show and after-party, this evolving music platform reflects our unwavering commitment to uplift the local ecosystem and celebrate all of its deserving participants during these unprecedented times”, says Eric Liley, Executive Director & CEO of The MusicianShip

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The 2026 Wammie Awards, funded and provided in part with the support of the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and The Council of the District of Columbia and in partnership with WUSA-9 and WHUR 96.3 FM/WHUT-TV, will bestow 50 fan-inspired awards to the DMV region's best and brightest musical stars from the last two years. In acknowledgment of Women's History Month in March, the 2026 Wammies will be co-hosted by dynamic DC on-air broadcast personalities, Allison Seymour and Nina Brown.

2026 Wammie Honorees include legendary band, The Blackbyrds; Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center; BMI Songwriter & Country Music Artist, Brittney Spencer; Furnace Record Pressing CEO, Ali Miller; Founder, the Go-Go Museum & Cafe, Ronald Moten; R&B King and Host of WHUR-FM's Quiet Storm, Raheem DeVaughn; plus DC Music Educator Dr. Steven Garrison.                                       

FUNDERS & PARTNERS - BMI, Furnace Record Pressing, DC Commission on The Arts and Humanities (CAH) Events DC, Stonebridge Music, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Giant Food, Eaton DC, Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center, The Law Office of Duane King, Levine Music, Destination DC, Strathmore, Terk Entertainment Group, Washington Performing Arts, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Women in Music; Special support of The MusicianShip is provided by SoundExchange, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and Weissberg Foundation. Additional supporters will be announced over the coming weeks.

Contact us today to learn more about event sponsorship and media credentials!  Tickets to the live show are now available at www.wammies.org!

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