The TEC Awards is an annual program recognizing the achievements of audio professionals. The awards are given to honor technically innovative products as well as companies and individuals who have excelled in sound for television, film, recordings and concerts. "TEC" stands for "Technical Excellence & Creativity".
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Originally founded in 1985 by Mix magazine, since 1990 the TEC Awards program has been headed by the TEC Foundation (formerly the Mix Foundation) for Excellence in Audio, a 501(c)(3) public benefit organization that also offers scholarships and works to mitigate noise-induced hearing loss.[1]
The TEC Awards list of nominations are compiled annually by the TEC Awards nominating panel; a committee of more than 100 industry professionals. The list of nominees is published on the Foundation's website.[2] The winners are announced and the awards presented at a ceremony held at the NAMM Show, one of the largest trade show for the music products industry, held each January in Anaheim, California.[3]
Similarly, a pioneering or innovative person is chosen annually for the honor of induction into the TEC Awards Hall of Fame. This special award was established in 1988; the winner is selected by the TEC Awards nominating panel.[4]
In addition, through the Les Paul Award, the TEC Awards nominating panel and the Board of Directors of the TEC Foundation honor "individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of audio technology." This special award was established in 1991.[5] In 1997, Les Paul himself presented his namesake award to Stevie Wonder[6] and in 2003, with Bob Ludwig, he co-presented the award to Bruce Springsteen, who was unable to attend.[7][8] In 2007, at age 92, Les Paul presented the award to musician, songwriter and producer Al Kooper.[9] Gibson Musical Instruments, maker of the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, is the sponsor of the Les Paul Award.[10]
The TEC Awards nominating panel may choose to honor a number of pioneering or innovative audio products with induction into the TECnology Hall of Fame. A product must be ten years old to receive the honor.[11] At the establishment of this award category at the AES Convention in San Francisco in October 2004, the initial 25 inductees included the venerable Edison cylinder (1877), Emile Berliner's flat disc recorder (1887) and Alan Dower Blumlein Stereo Patent (1931).[12]
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