The Hoboken Music Awards were founded in 2009 by Dave Entwistle, a long-time host of the weekly showcase Peoples Open Mic.

The judges included record label executives, a radio disc jockey, and industry insiders, with sponsorship from Heineken, HMag, local recording studios, and Guitar Bar, with performances by Rainbow Fresh, Hey Tiger, Davey & the Trainwreck, Shae Fiol, Karyn Kuhl, Hudson Crossing, the Fave and Sylvana Joyce & the Moment.

[7] The judges included disc jockeys Lindsay Klein of WDHA and Brian Phillips of WRXP, Dan McLoughlin, owner of Garden Street Music, Tris McCall and Steve Shelley.

As a consequence of Superstorm Sandy, organizers transformed the awards night into a benefit for local musicians, and raised over $1600 with a concert at Maxwell's on November 17.

The judges included Lindsay Klein from WDHA, Dan McLoughlin from Garden Street Music, Chris "Gibby" Gibson from Upstart Studios, Al Crisafulli from Dromedary Records, Kevin Cale from hMag and Dwight Thompson from D's Soul Full Cafe, with performances by Parlance, Big Wake, Rob Nicholas Band, Khaled & the Naguals, the Defending Champions, the Fave and Karyn Kuhl.