8th Independent Music Awards FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Fan Favorites To Be Determined at the IMA Vox Pop Poll
Music Resource Group (MRG) has announced Finalists in the Song, Album, Design & Music Video categories of the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards (IMAs) an int’l program that supports independent musicians and releases. A 50-person judging panel consisting of influential artists and industry decision makers including Peter Gabriel, Suzanne Vega,
Roger Daltrey, George Jones, Buddy Guy, Keith Urban, James “Blood” Ulmer,
Butch Walker, Paquito D’Rivera, Lee Ritenour, and others will determine this years’ Winners in January, 2009.
As these results are being tallied, music fans from around the globe are flocking to the online IMA Vox Populi Jukebox to select their fave indie artists in all the IMA Music, Design and Video categories.
While this “peoples choice” vote will not affect the Judges’ final decisions, these IMA Vox Populi winners will be announced early next year and benefit from yearlong print, online, broadcast, live performance and event promotions alongside formal IMA Winners. Vox Populi Voting will remain open through February 2009.
This year’s IMA Finalists, culled from thousands of submissions from around the globe, include indie artists from the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, Cuba, China, Mongolia, Republic of Guinea, South Africa, Italy, France and Sweden and represent every level of experience including a variety of seasoned recording artists: Martin Sexton, nominated for Solo his career-spanning retrospective in the Live Performance Album category; banjo virtuoso
Tony Trischka, nominated for his release Territory; Dan Zanes, who received a nomination in the Children’s Album category for the album
Nueva York; John Sebastian & David Grisman in the Americana Album category for their collaboration, Satisfied; and the late blues guitarist
Jeff Healey who is nominated in the Blues Album category for his record, Mess Of Blues.
In addition to honoring veteran indies over the years, the IMA’s recognizes acts at the forefront of new music. Leading the way this year are several first-time finalists placing in two categories. Acclaimed Epitaph Records’ act, The Matches, is nominated for its “Yankee in a Chip Shop” Music Video and Band Web Site. Vocal chanteuse, April Smith, is honored for Pop/Rock Song (“Colors”) and joined by her band, The Great Picture Show, in Live Album for Live From The Penthouse. Best-selling South African act, The Parlotones was recognized in Pop/Rock Song for “Louder Than Bombs,” and Music Video for "Dragonflies & Astronauts." Also receiving Finalist credits are Nova-Scotia natives, The Trews, which got a nod for its Metal song “Hold Me In Your Arms;” Vampire country troubadour, Unknown Hinson, who is recognized in Alt. Country Song for “Torture Town” and crooner Jamie Lidell earned a spot among Pop/Rock Album finalists for Jim. The Punk Song category recognizes Blackheart Records’ The Cute Lepers for “Terminal Boredom” alongside Denmark’s A Kid Hereafter for “Defenders of Faith.”
Some IMA Winners & Finalists from previous years are also nominated this year including Duane Andrews and Marco Benevento, who are each nominated in the Jazz album category; Amy Speace and Rebecca Martin, respectively, in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category; Val Emmich for Music Video and Muza who’s a Finalist in both the Latin Album category and a new category that honors artistic interpretations of Cover Songs.
IMA Winners Promoted To More Than 20 Million
Unlike songwriting competitions and band contests that award cash prizes, The IMAs is a unique, international program that helps vetted indie artists and releases overcame mainstream obstacles and reach wider audiences via strategic partnerships and active promotions.
Produced by Music Resource Group, publisher of the popular industry print and online contact database, The Musician’s Atlas & co-sponsors that include online retailers eMusic and PureVolume; radio promotion firm
The Planetary Group; radio tracking service, MediaGuide; HD radio station eRockster.com; online digital networks maniaTV & HavocTV, The Coalition of Independent Music Stores, Burnside Distribution, PunkNews.org, CMJ Music Marathon, music community Sound Click, Venus Zine, LIFEbeat, SESAC and Rock the Vote, IMA Winners are promoted to more than 20 Million music fans & key industry players.
Many past IMA Winners and Finalists credit the program for boosting their profile with festival and club talent buyers, distributors, publishers, radio programmers, record label A&R and fans. Previous winners include Apples In Stereo, Koko Taylor, Lacuna Coil, Joan As Policewoman, Miguel Migs, Sugarcult, Chris Whitley, Richard Julian, Speech,Hoots & Hellmouth, Bitter:Sweet, Jennifer Nettles, God Forbid, Mary Gauthier, Eleni Mandell, Girl In A Coma, The Mooney Suzuki, Phil Roy, Miko Marks and Kristy Kruger.
PROGRAM EXPANSION
In addition to honors in 50 music categories, including Social Action Song, the 8th Annual IMAs also recognize achievements in several creative design categories including Album Packaging, Album Photography, Poster Art, Band Website, Indie Record Label Website and Swag.
Live Concert Photography, Artist/Band Press Photo, Cover Song and Ringtone categories were added to this year’s program. New categories and events planned for the 9th Independent Music Awards will be announced in 2009.
Submissions for the 9th annual Independent Music Awards are now being accepted – Get details Now:
www.IndependentMusicAwards.com
Listen & Vote at the IMA Jukebox
Submissions for the 9th Independent Music Awards are now being accepted. These Winners and Finalists will be promoted throughout 2010.
CONNECT WITH THE IMAs:
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To learn about Music Resource Group, publisher of The Musician’s Atlas and producer of the Independent Music Awards, visit www.musiciansatlas.com and www.myspace.com/musiciansatlas.
