Music fans: Time to vote for San Diego Music Awards

• That program, launched to offset cuts to school music programs, has served more than 91,000 students in 121 schools.

How it works: Industry professionals from the San Diego Music Academy determine a list of nominees each year, then open voting to the public within each category.

• Public voting is open through March 27 at 5pm.

By the numbers: The San Diego Music Awards recognizes winners in 25 categories, covering folk, country, Americana, jazz, blues, R&B, funk, soul, rock, pop, indie, world, hip-hop and rap.

Past winners include Eddie Vedder, blink-182, Jewel, Jason Mraz, P.O.D., Switchfoot and Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek.

You may have heard the names of some of these nominees for Artist of the Year:

• Band of Gringos (rock)
• Cattle Decapitation (rock)
• Daring Greatly (rock)
• Earl Thomas and the Gospel Ambassadors feat. Sister Lola (blues)
• Earthless (rock)
• Sandollar (reggae)
• Thee Sacred Souls (soul)

What's next: The San Diego Music Awards ceremony will be April 30 at 7pm at Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay.

• Tickets start at $40 and are on sale now.