Ballot 2 is upon us! Ballot 1 is actually still open if you’d like to take a pass at it and be in the running for the Guso Drop CD+poster and/or potentially any other goods that make it. Details on that, and other things, here.

This round is quite the challenge, team. The B-side and Video of the Year categories were both plenty dramatic on the first ballot (with drama continuing to unfold!); I can only imagine how some of these are going to shake out.

Ready?

There were a lot of highs in 2016; there were also a lot of disappointments. Which left the worst taste in your mouth? Was it YouTube Red greatly complicating our ability to access official video content? Rum’s brief run in Fruitpochette? The even shorter run of SiS? Maybe you felt a little failed when Babymetal’s big post-Dome announcement turned out to be much ado about nothing, or your GANG PARADE fandom was tested by their almost comical run of membership issues. Vote your heart, vote your gut; just vote!

Idol performance is a big part of why we like idols in the first place. Whose stage work left the best impression on you? The juxtaposition of venue size, performance style and fan intensity makes this a very interesting list.

A lot of really cool groups and solo performers debuted in 2016, and some relative veterans took a big step forward. Some even graduated into the limelight! Whose turn will it be in 2017? Maybe Hanako-san? Guso Drop? Maison Book Girl? Yukueshirezutsurezure? Osaka Shunkashuto? Hell, it could be all of the above. What matters is who you think took the biggest steps forward and has the best chance to become a big deal in the new year.

Quoting me: “Idols and singles go together like eggs and bacon.” The nominations process was a little uncertain about whether physical single releases or lead singles off of larger records were the criterion, so we included them all, and I think you’ll agree that this is a very, very strong crop.

In a banner year for albums, we wound up with more nominees than anybody could shake a stick at. But, looking at the finalists, who would you leave off? Exactly. I didn’t get to review all of these, so rather than randomly link to stuff, I’m giving you yet another playlist to peruse with one song from each — but it helps if you already know your stuff!

Vote!

Yes, you have to put your email on this one, too. How else am I supposed to match ballots and proclaim a winner/s?

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