Michele Bettencourt & her Vampire Time band have a brand new single at Mainstream radio entitled “Guiled Age” (Licorice Pizza). It’s the follow-up to the chart topping singles “Vampire Time” and the debut Chart-breaker “Everybody Loves A Circus”. Michele Bettencourt & Vampire Time recently won Mainstream Breakout Single of the year for “Everybody Loves A Circus” (Licorice Pizza) during the annual Independent Music Network Awards. The group is also nominated for this year’s New Music Weekly Awards. Visit licoricepizza.com for additional information. With the release of “Gilded Age” (Licorice Pizza) the best is yet to come for the brilliant Michele Bettencourt & the Vampire Time band.
Additional Artist/Song Information:
Artist Name: Michele Bettencourt w/Vampire Time
Song Title: Gilded Age
Publishing: Michele Bettencourt Music
Publishing Affiliation: BMI
Album Title: Gilded Age
Record Label: Licorice Pizza
Record Label:
Licorice Pizza
Kerry Brown
3236587449
masika@aol.com
Radio Promotion:
National Record Promotion
Larry Weir
3236587449
larry_weir@sbcglobal.net
New Music Weekly has officially revealed the nominations for the 2026 New Music Awards, kicking off another year of celebrating the artists, radio programmers, and industry professionals who help shape today’s music landscape. This year’s ballot reflects the continued rise of both chart‑topping stars and fast‑growing independent voices.
Among the major‑label standouts earning top recognition are Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, and Teddy Swims—all of whom have dominated playlists, airwaves, and fan conversations throughout the past year. On the independent side, Michele Bettencourt, John Jurney, and Eileen Carey lead a diverse group of emerging and established indie artists whose momentum has been impossible to ignore.
The New Music Awards also extend beyond artists, honoring the essential contributors behind the scenes. This year’s nominations include a wide range of radio stations, program directors, music directors, and industry executives, acknowledging their ongoing commitment to breaking new music and supporting rising talent.
For the first time this cycle, fans and subscribers will play an even more active role in determining the winners. Voting is now open on the New Music Weekly website, giving music lovers the chance to directly influence the outcome of one of the industry’s most inclusive award platforms.
Meanwhile, the magazine is already in pre‑production for a special NMA Nominees Edition, which will spotlight this year’s contenders with expanded features, artist reflections, and behind‑the‑scenes insights. Nominees are encouraged to participate, and many are expected to share their excitement and achievements within this commemorative issue. Special advertising opportunities tied to the NMA nominations are now available through New Music Weekly.
Fans, artists, and industry members can explore the full list of nominees and cast their votes by visiting the NMA Ballot
Top40/CHR Song of the Year:
“Abracadabra” Lady Gaga
“Anxiety” Doechii
“Apt.” Rosé and Bruno Mars
“DtMF” Bad Bunny
“Manchild” Sabrina Carpenter
“Testimony” Cabela & Schmitt
“Wildflower” Billie Eilish
Top40/CHR Male Artist of the Year:
Alex Warren
Bad Bunny
Benson Boone
Myles Smith
Jelly Roll
Justin Bieber
Weeknd
Top40/CHR Female Artist of the Year:
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Doechii
Lady Gaga
Raye
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift
Top40/CHR Group of the Year:
Clipse, Pusha T, and Malice
Huntr/X, Ejae, Audrey, Nuna, Rei Ami
Kendrick Lamar with SZA
Rosé and Bruno Mars
New Top40/CHR Artist/Group of the Year:
Addison Rae
Katseye
Leon Thomas
Lola Young
MGK
Olivia Dean
Sombr
Top40/CHR Breakthrough Artist of the Year:
Cabela & Schmitt
Huntr/x
Lola Young
PT The Gospel Spitter
Turnstile
Zara Larsson
Top40/CHR Radio Station of the Year:
KLQQ
KQID
KRYC
KSPI
Top40/CHR Program/Music Director of the Year:
Dan Mathews
Jason Kranz
Jim Koski
Joshua Godwin
Top40/CHR Record Label of the Year:
BMG
Columbia
Sony
Universal
AC Song of the Year:
“Holy Water” Marshmello & Jell Roll
“Love Me Not” Ravyn Lenae
“Manchild” Sabrina Carpenter
“Mystical Magical” Benson Boone
“Ordinary” Alex Warren
“Revolving Door” Tate McRae
“Undressed” Sombr
“Wildflower” Billie Eilish
AC Male Artist of the Year:
Benson Boone
John Jurney
Justin Bieber
Myles Smith
Sombr
AC Female Artist of the Year:
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan
Eileen Carey
Ravyn Lenae
Sabrina Carpenter
Sarah Reeves
AC Group of the Year:
Alex Warren w/Rose
Harper Grace w/Kelsey Hart
Jonas Brothers
OneRepublic
Maroon 5 & Lil Wayne
Marshmello & Jell Roll
Morgan Wallen w/Tate McRae
New AC Artist/Group of the Year:
Bad Suns
Blackpink
Head And The Heart
Huntr/X
Luchino
Michele Bettencourt w/Vampire Time’s
The Grimm
AC Breakthrough Artist of the Year:
Cabela & Schmitt
DPB w/Ouiwey Collins
John Jurney
Lana Del Rey
Lawrence Cameron McGhee
Shinedown
AC Radio Station of the Year:
KKUL
Radio Max Music
WDNH
WNHE-1
WOCO
AC Program/Music Director of the Year:
Brigitte Reinert
Larry Kazynsnki
Michael Stanton
Ron Dale
Ron Kovacs
AC Record Label of the Year:
Atlantic
Sony
UMG
WMG
Country Song of the Year:
“A Song To Sing” Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
“Good Times & Tan Lines” Zach Top
“I Got Better” Morgan Wallen
“Happen To Me” Russell Dickerson
“Heart Of Stone” Jelly Roll
“Nose On The Grindstone” Tyler Childers
Country Male Artist of the Year:
Blake Shelton
Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Rob Georg
Russell Dickerson
Zach Top
Country Female Artist of the Year:
Dasha
Kelsea Ballerini
Lainey Wilson
Margo Price
Megan Moroney
Miranda Lambert
Country Group of the Year:
Brandon Lake w/Jelly Roll
Lauren Alaina w/Chase Matthew
Megan Moroney & Kenny Chesney
Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
Parmalee
Rascal Flatts & Jonas Brothers
Riley Green w/Ella Langley
Scotty McCreery w/Hootie & The Blowfish
Tim McGraw w/Parker McCollum
New Country Artist/Group of the Year:
Ella Langley
Greyland James
Gigi Perez
Hudson Westbrook
Joshua Slone
Tucker Wetmore
Zach Top
Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year:
Bailey Zimmerman
Corey Kent
Ella Langley
Megan Moroney
Riley Green
Shaboozey
Zach Bryan
Zach Top
Country Radio Station of the Year of the Year:
Country Bear
Hot Country 102
KDKD
KGFY
KKUL Country
KOKX
WOCO
Country Program/Music Director of the Year:
Brian Dougherty
Jay McRae
Larry Kaszynski
Randy Gerrald
Stan Edwards
Steve Stevens
Thomas Barstow
Country Record Label of the Year:
RCA
Stoney Creek
Sony
UMG
WMG
Crossover Artist/Band of the Year:
Jelly Roll
Post Malone
The Grimm
“Michele Bettencourt w/Vampire Time’s “Everybody Loves A Circus” (Licorice Pizza) tops WNHE”
Ron Dale/Nashville, TN
Michele Bettencourt and the Vampire Time band broke wide open at radio with the debut single “Everybody Loves A Circus” (Licorice Pizza) that is still rocking the radio charts. Now they take it to an even higher level with the release of “Vampire Time” just in time for Halloween. Michele Bettencourt is a singer/songwriter who found her own voice in 2018. She grew up as an only child in a lower middle-class household in northern California. Michele’s love of music was fostered by her mother who kept their home filled with sounds of Janis Joplin, Neil Young, Crosby Stills and Nash, Carol King and others whose music echoed with resonant the defiance against the Vietnam War and racial atrocities that shook America in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, As a child, she knew she was different and very much felt like an outsider, unwelcome and uncomfortable in her own skin. It was gender confusion, which she had always considered a shameful secret, that simmered deep within. Her mother’s own on-going mental health problems only complicated matters, making the fear of Michele’s own struggles only worse, pushing the her secret deeper. She was a he on the outside. The persistent feeling of “being less than,” however, became the fuel of her ambition. She taught herself how to play drums at the age of 13, but never felt skilled enough. She attended university and had dreams of being a writer, but became a college drop out at the age 21, setting her sights instead on a career in the Silicon Valley. Married at 21 and then a father at 27 of triplet daughters, she was divorced by the age of 31. Hers own personal failures multiplied- gender confusion, dropping out of college, divorcing with three young daughters. However, her career success seemed unstoppable. She was a Vice President of a public company at the age 35, president by 40 and opened the NASDAQ as CEO by 43. Her love of music was a constant. She helped form a band as the drummer, and took them into The Plant recording studio and recorded her first album. It became a calling card and they became a regional opening band for Journey, Def Leppard, Foreigner, UFO. In 2025, the Vampire Time project features guest performances by Carmine Rojas, Conrad Korsch, Steve Ferrone, Shawn Pelton, Russ McKinnon, Andrew Synowiec and many notable others, produced by Kerry Brown. Today with the release of the second single “Vampire Time” (Licorice Pizza) Michele Bettencourt and the Vampire Time band are set for an even higher level for music fans and on US radio.
Additional Artist/Song Information:
Artist Name: Michele Bettencourt w/Vampire Time
Song Title: Vampire Time
Publishing: Michele Bettencourt Music
Publishing Affiliation: BMI
Album Title: Vampire Time
Record Label: Licorice Pizza
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