“We are constantly inventing subjective rankings across society, culture, and the economy that deem certain people, projects, and companies ‘best,’” observed Emily Stewart in her “Money” column in Vox from February, 2023 entitled, ‘Awards Are Meaningless.’ “We do it in entertainment, in business, in art, and across a variety of professions, from journalism to law and beyond. At the flashiest level, this looks like the Oscars or the Grammys: award shows that perpetually make audiences mad. At a more mundane level, it’s the supposed ‘best businesses’ in Dayton, Ohio, or an arbitrary list of ‘rising stars’ in advertising, or a ranking of the ‘best places to work’ where nobody’s asked a single employee how they feel about anything.”
To be sure, institutional gratification in the form of an endless stream of trophies handed out to all manners of folks in every conceivable role from all possible industries (I have a few, myself – as well as my crowning achievement: Hampton Beach Dart Champ, 2000) have sort of watered down whatever meaning such accolades once held.
But Stewart digs deeper, exposing a well-known, but oft-relegated to “let’s just pretend we’re all oblivious to this” status within many industries: pay-to-play. “Much of the time, when a business or person applies for an award, they have to pay a fee,” she reveals. “The entities giving out that award need to keep the lights on, and hosting awards can be lucrative. (There’s a reason media, which is rife with economic troubles, gives out so many awards.) Awards entities squeeze money out of applicants and winners beyond entry fees, by getting them to pay for tables at ceremonies, or buy booths, sponsorships, and tickets for festivals and events. You can start to see the issue here: The awards game is one you have to pay to play, and not everybody can.”
Indeed, whether overt (and there are lots of examples in this category), or implied/causal (there are even more of these), many – nay most – industry certificates, medals, trophies, plaques, et cetera are given out to clients and/or advertisers who, directly or indirectly, pay for the honor.
Not so the MMR Dealers’ Choice Awards (DCAs). A quick review of the finalists for the 2024 DCAs (pages 20-22) in this issue reveal to even the most casual reader of this magazine that many of the finalists are either infrequent advertisers with this publication, or entities who have never (or, at least, not in many years) partnered with us on a business level.
This is what makes the DCAs unique and, to my mind, truly special. I, personally, had no say in determining who’s up for one of these pointy, heavy crystal trophies come NAMM-time this January (when I say “heavy,” I know of what I speak – I lug these monsters around from winner’s booth to winner’s booth throughout the NAMM Show. Good for trapezius muscles, hell on knee-joints. But I digress…), the sales staff didn’t sway the selection, even owner/publisher Mike Lawson had no influence. These awards, as the name suggests, are determined by folks in MI retail – and that’s it. If you occasionally find yourself confused when certain brands and products win other, seemingly similar MI-related “prizes,” well…
Online voting is live right now and if you’re a current MMR subscriber, you are welcome – and encouraged – to vote for your choices in the 2024 Dealers’ Choice Awards by visiting mmrmagazine.com and clicking on “Awards!” The ballot will close at 5pm (ET) on November 8.
Take a few moments and share your honest thoughts with your colleagues in MI. It costs you nothing – and the ultimate victors of these, the 32nd Annual MMR Dealers’ Choice Awards, won’t be buying their places atop the winner’s podium!
