The 87th annual DownBeat Readers Poll is open for voting. A time-honored tradition, it’s the longest-running poll in music. If you’re a subscriber to any of DownBeat products (eNewsletter, print magazine or digital edition), then you are eligible to click below and vote for your favorite jazz, blues and beyond artists of the past year. Results will be published in the magazine's printed and online December issue along with the inside story on many of the honorees.

First of all, YOU MUST BE a subscriber in order to vote. it's FREE to subscribe to DownBeat's E-newsletter.

Direct link to vote:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/DB22Readers
In order to vote, please subscribe first: Subscribe to DownBeat’s FREE eNewsletter [HERE]!

Message from Frank Alkyer, DownBeat's editor and publisher:

"Welcome to the 87th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll. To be very clear, this is a poll for actual DownBeat Readers. It is not a fan poll. You MUST subscribe to the magazine or our FREE weekly newsletter to vote. Any other votes will be disqualified.The first step is to enter your name and email address below. Then proceed through the ballot and vote for your favorite artist, group or album in each category. IMPORTANT: Please vote in each category only once; multiple votes will be also be disqualified. You may select a name from the ballot, or you may write in a vote, but you cannot do both within the same category."

Every year I am asking label’s fans and supporters to vote for MoonJune. Why? Not only that it helps MoonJune, a brutally independent record label run solely by yours truly, but because also because many of MoonJune associated artists that are based in secondary and tertiary music-industry territories, far from the glitziness and eyes of New York, Los Ángeles, London, Paris or Berlin. Being associated with MoonJune, they can be better exposed internationally, they can get more attention in their own country, and they also can apply for grants. MoonJune musicians often come from places such as Indonesia, Serbia, Spain, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Belgium, Uruguay not only from the USA, UK, Germany or Italy. And soon there will also artists from Iran, South Africa and so on and on. Musicians cannot do everything by themselves, they need help, guidance, support - specially if they are coming from secondary and tertiary territories.

This year, MoonJune Records has moved to Toledo (Spain) after 21 years operating from New York City. It's a big move and a big challenge. The label is on a temporary hiatus until the first week of September, due to complex logistics of sea-cargo delivery MoonJune Records will reassume operations with some releases this coming Fall and from 2023, there will be brand new resurrected MoonJune Records with new attitude and many exciting releases in that no-defined genre exploring and expanding boundaries of jazz, rock, avant, ethno, the unknown, and anything in between and beyond. Last June, MoonJune had it's own music festival, in the historic beautiful city of Jajce in Bosnia & Herzegovina, and in June of 2023, a similar festival will be held in Toledo, Spain.

In order to vote in the 87th Annual DownBeat Readers Poll, the magazine requirement is to be subscribed, and the E-SUBSCRITION is absolutely FREE, with no obligation to buy anything, and You will be receiving occasional email newsletter from them, and DownBeat doesn’t cover only jazz, they have covered King Crimson, The Allman Brothers Band, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, The Doors, Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and many other. They are very open minded.

Direct link to vote:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/DB22Readers
Please select: Subscribe to DownBeat’s FREE eNewsletter [HERE]!
Once signed, You will receive an e-mail that will let You vote!
Please check Your SPAM FOLDER!
Besides voting for MoonJune in the Record Labels category, I suggest also to vote for the following:
* Allan Holdswsorth - in the category (1) Hall Of Fame.
* Soft Machine - in category (4) Jazz Group.

* Beledo, Seriously Deep (MoonJune) - in category (6) Jazz Album Of The Year (albums released between June 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022.

* Beledo - in category (16) Piano.

* Gary Husband - in category (17) Keyboards.

* Beledo - in category (19) Guitar.

* Tony Levin - in category (20) Bass.

* Tony Levin and/or Percy Jones - in category (21) Electric Bass.

* Asaf Sirkis and/or Gary Husband and/or Kenny Grohowski - in category (23) Drums.

* Markus Reuter (touch guitar) and/or Tony Levin (stick) - in category (26) Miscellaneous Instrument.

* Beledo - in categories (30) Arranger.

* Leonardo Pavkovic - in category (32) Producer.

* Stick Men - in category (35) Beyond Artist.

* Stick Men, Tentacles (MoonJune) - in category (36) Beyond Album.
Direct link to vote:
downbeat.com/readers-poll
Please select: Subscribe to DownBeat’s FREE eNewsletter [HERE]!

Of course, You can vote for whoever You like, Your friends, favorite new and niche musicians.  And do not think this kind of polls are not important - it's a fake news. They are VERY important for independent labels and musicians. We all love Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Jack DeJohnette, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland, and other legends - but less known artists deserve a bigger spotlight, more attention. Now more than ever.  Legends and big names will always be there, no matter what.

Yours truly and immensely thankful

LEONARDO PAVKOVIC

in the name of the extended MoonJunista family.