LOS
ANGELES (MRG) - At a time when record numbers of musicians are working
to advance their careers without major label support,
Music Resource
Group (MRG) announced the winners of its 4th annual Independent Music
Awards (IMAs), a program that provides increased exposure for
Independent music by developing new markets for Independent artists,
labels and releases.
Co-sponsored by Border's Books & Music, the IMAs unveiled the winners in a total of 18 categories.
The
winners range from artists with established credits including Darrell
Scott (Album Of The Year) and Chris Whitley (Blues/R&B); to bands
with growing fan bases like 2004 OzzFest opener
Lacuna Coil (Hard
Rock/Metal), the recent Grammy� nominated
Angel Melendez & the 911
Mambo Orchestra (Latin), Rachael Sage (Folk/Singer-Songwriter) and
Shamra (Pop/Rock).
"IMA winners and finalists are on the
forefront of a movement that is verging on truly democratizing the
music business. These talented and entrepreneurial artists are leaders
of a new music revolution," said
Martin Folkman, IMA Program Director.
MRG,
publisher of the best-selling music industry contact directory, The
Musician's
Atlas and the interactive AtlasOnline, has developed a
coordinated campaign that will direct more than 6 million music
industry professionals and music fans to two IMA Jukeboxes at:
www.disclogic.com/imawinners.jsp and www.disclogic.com/imafinalists.jsp.
While
there, listeners can stream tracks from all of the music category
winners and hyperlink to the artists' websites. The winners albums will
soon be available for purchase through BordersStores.com and as digital
downloads.
Design Categories Spotlight Merchandising Excellence
In
addition to honors in music categories, the IMAs also recognized
achievements in several design categories including Album Art (John
Cage & Lejaren Hiller's "HPSCHD"); Album Photography (The Cringe
"Scratch The Surface"); and Merchandising (Yonder Mountain String Band
Tour Poster).
IMA Winners Promoted To More Than 6 Million
Key
to the success of the IMA program is the strategic partnerships,
distribution alliances and yearlong marketing initiatives MRG has
developed.
In addition to the two online jukeboxes, 10,000
copies of the "IMA WINNERS 2005" CD will be distributed to music
journalists; commercial & public radio stations, industry insiders
and music fans. Boston-based promotion company The Planetary Group will
service the IMA Winners CD to college stations throughout North America.
This
year, IMA sponsor Borders Books &
Music will expand its program
participation by sponsoring a variety of in-store events in the chain's
top-ranked music sales markets.
As in the past, Borders will
promote the winners and the IMA jukebox to its 6 million-customer
database via the chain's monthly newsletter. The winners' own releases
will also be available for sale on the BordersStores.com website.
"Many
past IMA winners and finalists credit the program with boosting their
profile with festival bookers, talent buyers, distributors, industry
decision-makers and fans," said Folkman. "Last year, program winner
Girlyman signed to Amy Ray's Daemon Records as a result of the program,
and Jazz winner Matt Shulman sold several hundred CDs in 24 hours
following an IMA/Borders Jazz promotion.
About The Independent
Music Awards
Established
in 1999 to provide real opportunities for independent artists, labels
and releases, the IMAs goal is to build pipelines for independent music
to reach fans and industry decision makers.
This year's
celebrity judging panel included Delbert McClinton, Erykah Badu, Loudon
Wainwright III,
William Ackerman, Victor L. Wooton and Alan Light. The
Design category panel included Jeri Heiden, Merri Cyr, Spencer Drate
&
Judith Salavetz.
Past IMA judges include: Tom Waits, Ray
Davies, Amy Ray, Lou Reed, Arturo Sandoval, Aimee Mann, Steve Vai, DJ
Spooky, Eileen Ivers, Ben Folds, Ricky Skaggs, Me'shell Ndegeocello,
Joan Baez, Don Byron, Mickey Hart, Rosanne Cash, Mavis Staples, Jose
Feliciano, Kenny Aronoff, Tina Weymouth, Jimmy Cliff, John Medeski,
Joshua Redman, Joe Henry and Robbie Fulks.
The expanded 5th
Annual Independent
Music Awards program will honor 37 music categories
including albums for all genres and 6 design/promotion categories.
MRG And The Musician's Atlas
Music
Resource Group, formed in 1997, develops products and programs used by
artists and music business professionals to successfully create,
perform, promote and distribute music. With or without label support.
The Musician's
Atlas premiered in 1998 and quickly became the
best-selling music industry resource. MRG launched an interactive,
online version of the annual print edition, AtlasOnline, in 2004.
The postmark deadline for submissions for the 5th annual Independent
Music Awards program is Friday, August 12, 2005.
More
information on the Independent
Music Awards including and The
Musician's
Atlas is available online at: www.MusiciansAtlas.com
