Madison Area Music Association

The Madison Area Music Awards (MAMAs) were founded in 2003 by Rick Tvedt with support from friends Stephen Ellestad and Mark Adkins. Tvedt, then publisher of Rick s Cafe, wanted to recognize the talented local musicians he met. The first awards show took place on March 28, 2004, at the historic Orpheum Theater, styled as a Grammy-like gala. In the second year, Roy Elkins from Broadjam helped transition the awards to an online voting model. Tvedt and Elkins, along with many volunteers, grew the MAMAs into a nonprofit focused on supporting the local music scene and providing instruments to kids. In 2009, the organization s name changed to the Madison Area Music Association to reflect its expanded mission. The awards show moved through several venues, finally settling at the Capitol Theater in 2010, where it stayed until 2019. Beth Kille became the Awards Show Executive Producer in 2013.