Dear Colleague,
Greetings from the Independent Music Awards.

As you probably know, the 8th annual IMA program is no longer accepting submissions. However, we’ve added another opportunity for independent artists to get their music heard by millions of fans.

We recently partnered with Myxer, the leader in ad-supported mobile content, to create a new “Ringtone” category for this 8th annual IMA program. The new IMA Ringtone category reflects an industry that must always be on the cutting-edge of new media opportunities.

A nominal entry fee of $5.00 is all it takes to participate in this groundbreaking award category. Myxer will promote all IMA Ringtone submissions to their 12 Million customers.

As in the general IMA program, Music Resource Group will also promote the Ringtone Winners and Finalists to millions of additional music fans and industry gatekeepers.

Unlike the general program however, which closed submissions in August, submissions for the “Ringtone” Category will be accepted until November 21, 2008.

Additionally, in the general IMA program, Winners are determined by influential artists and industry professionals including Peter Gabriel, Roger Daltrey,
Keith Urban, Clint Black, Pacquito D’Rivera, Suzanne Vega, Steve Vai and
John Patitucci; Winners in the Ringtone category will be determined solely by music fans voting (via downloads) at the official IMA and Myxer official sites.

Artists who don’t already have a Ringtone can easily create them for free from clips of their songs at www.myxer.com/share.

Get more details about the Ringtone at the IMA site or contact Lauren Veteri at 973.509.7580; Lauren@IndependentMusicAwards.com.

The first round of judging for the general IMA program is nearly completed. The program Finalists will be announced in early November, Winners in December. These talented artists will be promoted to more than 15 million music fans, radio programmers, talent buyers, journalists and other industry gatekeepers via yearlong print, broadcast, online and retail marketing initiatives and performance opportunities.

Winners and Finalists will also be featured in a special gatefold section of the 2009 Musician's Atlas, sold at retail throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, and of course, online. You will have an opportunity to vote for your favorites at the IMA Vox Populi jukebox in November.

Finally, despite a seemingly constant barrage of gloom and doom, our polling indicates that independent music is going strong. We at Music Resource Group are committed to helping independent music and music business entrepreneurs thrive and look forward to supporting your efforts any way we can in 2009 and beyond.

Wishing you great success,

Martin Folkman
Independent Music Awards Program Director