Peter Gabriel, Suzanne Vega, George Jones, Buddy Guy, Keith Urban, Roger Daltrey,
Clint Black, Paquito D’Rivera and Zakk Wylde
To Determine Winners of
8th Annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards (IMAs) has announced the first wave of distinguished artists and industry professionals joining the IMA judging panel that will determine the winners of the upcoming 8th annual IMA program.
Artist panelists already confirmed for this year’s program:
Peter Gabriel, Roger Daltrey, Suzanne Vega, George Jones, Buddy Guy,
Paquito D’Rivera, Lee Ritenour, Keith Urban,
James “Blood” Ulmer,
Steve Vai, Clint Black,
Rob Wasserman,
DJ Skribble, John Patitucci,
Zakk Wylde,
Butch Walker, Brian Littrell
(Backstreet Boys),
Tim Lambesis (As I Lay Dying, Austrian Death Machine), Daryl Palumbo
(Head Automatica, Glassjaw), Kristen Henderson (Antigone Rising), Billy Graziadei (Biohazard,
Suicide City), and Jennifer Arroyo (ex-Kittie,
Suicide City).
Industry panelists participating in this year’s program include influential music and new media press as well as radio, TV & Festival programmers such as:
Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone, Contributing Editor),
Bob Ludwig (Gateway Mastering, Engineer),
Aimee Allen (Indie 103.1, DJ), Jason Olaine
(The Festival Network, VP of Programming), Mike Errico (Blender.com, Editor), Joe Cuello (MTV Networks),
Barbara Dacey (mvyradio.com, Director of Worldwide Programming), Lee Mergner (JazzTimes, Editor In Chief), Paul Anthony (Rumblefish, CEO), K. Tighe (Venus Zine, Music Reviews Editor).
The judging panelists are responsible for selecting the winners in the programs’ 54 song, design and music video categories. Additional judges and new program highlights are expected before the submission deadline on August 1, 2008.
The IMAs – ‘the awards program for the indie revolution’ is an unique international program that promotes
top-ranked independent artists, labels and releases
to more than 15 million music fans and industry decision makers.
“Everyone affiliated with the IMAs is honored to have these visionary artists and influential industry pros participate in what is regarded as one of the music industry’s most effective programs for giving vetted indie talent access to larger fan bases, airplay distribution, broadcast and performance opportunities” said Martin Folkman, Director of the Independent Music Awards. “Their creative and professional perspectives and their industry affiliations help us to support a wide variety of independent musicians and releases that are making an impact on today’s chaotic music scene” said Folkman.
Music Resource Group, parent of the Independent Music Awards and publisher of the music industry’s popular print and online contact databases, the Musician’s Atlas and AtlasOnline is able to promote IMA Winners to more than 15 million music fans and key industry gatekeepers such as radio programmers, talent buyers, film, TV & gaming music supervisors, distributors and retailers due to its unique relationships with the music industry overall as well as its strategic partnerships that include: online retail giant eMusic, digital network ManiaTV; radio promotion gurus The Planetary Group, HIP Video Promo, The Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Venus Zine, Burnside Distribution and radio tracking service, MediaGuide.
IMA Winners & Finalists enjoy a full year of print, online, broadcast and retail promotions as well as performance opportunities throughout the year. The finalists of the 8th program will be announced in October 2008; Winners to be announced in December.
In addition to the winners selected by the IMA reviews panel, the program also features a ‘peoples choice’ component – the IMA Vox Populi poll designed to provide more opportunities for indie artists to be heard and win new fans. The IMA Vox Populi Winners are also promoted to industry and music fans via print, online and other promotional initiatives. Last year, more than 37,000 music fans from around the globe cast their votes in the Vox Populi poll.
To see a full list of judges and to read their bios, click here.
IMA ARTISTS GET SEEN AND HEARD
Bitter:Sweet
(Pop/Rock Song Winners, 6th Annual IMAs)
After winning the 6th Annual Pop/Rock Song IMA category, Bitter:Sweet has been popping up everywhere. Perhaps you’ve heard the band’s tunes featured on The Devil Wears Prada soundtrack, or on television shows like Lipstick Jungle, Grey’s Anatomy,
Nip Tuck, Entourage, Men in Trees, Dirty Laundry and What About Brian. Now hear Bitter:Sweet live, as the band embarks on a cross-country tour promoting its new album, Drama. Bonus content on the disk includes ringtones, wallpaper, buddy icons and a version of the title track with Serj Tankian on guest vocals. Get Bitter:Sweet dates and info at: www.bittersweetmusic.com.
Twilight Hotel
(Americana Album Finalists, 6th Annual IMAs)
After much success in their native Canada (including airplay on CBC radio and Campus & Community Stations), multi-instrumentalist couple Dave Quanbury and Brandy Zdan have set their new album, Highway Prayer, loose in Europe. Distributed by Corazong Records, Highway Prayer is a public extension of the duo’s provocative love story and showcases their characteristic dark twang and noir cabaret. US fans can find the album available now on eMusic. It was recorded in Nashville and features prolific guest musicians including the late Richard Bell (Janis Joplin, The Band), Stephen Hodges
(Tom Waits), and Dave Roe (Johnny Cash). No reservations needed to check out Twilight Hotel’s latest: www.twilighthotel.ca.
Tannis Slimmon
(Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song Winner, 7th Annual IMAs)
7th Annual IMA Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song Winner,
Tannis Slimmon’s album, Lucky Blue, has been named one of the 10 Best Folk Albums of the Year by Canadian Roots/Folk magazine, Penguin Eggs. This is a great achievement for her, as her album, which features the IMA winning track "Ernest, Charlie & Allan," was recognized alongside releases by such celebrated musicians as the dynamic duo
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Levon Helm and former IMA Judge Mavis Staples. Find out more about Tannis at her space at: www.myspace.com/tannisslimmon.
Phil Roy
(Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song Winner, 2nd Annual IMAs)
2nd Annual IMA Folk/Singer-Songwriter Song Winner,
Phil Roy, released a new album this month. Titled The Great Longing and available via Decca/Universal, this disk has already been hailed as “Brilliant” by XM Radio and chock full of "From-the-heart epiphanies" by
The Philadelphia Daily News. His new album is his third release, after penning songs that were recorded by
Ray Charles, Mavis Staples and Aaron Neville, among many others. Tune in to Roy at: www.philroy.com.
Lynn Patrick
(New Age Song Winner, 6th Annual IMAs)
6th Annual IMA New Age Winning song, “Mysteriously Drawn,” rose to the #1 spot on Music Choice’s Soundscapes in May. Meet Lynn at www.lynnpatrick.com.
The IMA Now Hear This Volume 2008 compilation keeps earning enthusiastic reviews from eMusic users.
Click Here to view more.
Entries for the upcoming Independent Music Awards
must be postmarked by August 1, 2008.
Go to www.IndependentMusicAwards.com for complete
details, judges, and entry forms.
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Contact Joelle Caputa: Joelle@IndependentMusicAwards.com
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