Ranging from artists with long standing recording credits to emerging talent with growing national fan bases; to developing acts with a draw in their native markets; and hailing from the USA, Canada, Cuba, Armenia, Virgin Islands, Australia and Mali, IMA winners prove once again, that indie talent knows no boundaries.

Says IMA Program Director, Martin Folkman "The only thing that separates these fine artists and their music from multi-platinum success is access to major market promotion outlets and a broader definition of what is commercial. Since it's inception the IMAs focus has been to create wider recognition for artists from both industry and music fans."

IMA Winners Promoted To More Than 8 Million
Key to the success of the IMA program is the strategic partnerships, distribution alliances and yearlong marketing initiatives MRG has established.

As in the past, Borders Books & Music will promote the winners of this year’s program to more than 7 million of their customers via links to the IMA Jukebox. The winners’ own releases will also be available for sale on the BordersStores.com retail site.

In addition to posting music for all the winners on an Independent Music Awards Jukebox, MRG will press 10,000 copies of the "IMA Winners 2006" CD. The compilation will be distributed to music journalists, commercial, public & college radio stations, industry movers & shakers, and music fans.

Additionally, Boston-based radio promotion company, The Planetary Group, will service the IMA Winners CD to college stations throughout USA & Canada; and Mediaguide, a Berwyn, PA-based radio airplay tracking company, will provide a year of radio airplay results for all tracks included on every IMA winning artist’s full-length CD. Mediaguide currently monitors more than 2,500 stations.

"Many past IMA winners and finalists credit the program for boosting their profile with festival and club talent buyers, distributors, publishers, record label A&R and increasing their CD sales," Folkman said.

Previous IMA winners and finalists include: Mary Gauthier, Ronnie Earl, Richard Julian, Girlyman, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Sugarcult, Lacuna Coil, Darrell Scott, Johnny Society, Paris Combo, Rebecca Martin, Phil Roy, Eleni Mandell, Rachel Sage, IIIrd Tyme Out, The Mooney Suzuki and the late, great Chris Whitley.

The winners of this year’s program were selected by a celebrity panel of judges that included: Norah Jones; Melissa Etheridge; Joe Perry; Bill Wyman; George Clinton; Jonatha Brooke; Chris Thile; Paquito D’Rivera; Sara Lee; Hubert Sumlin; Abby White, music editor of Performing Songwriter; Melinda Newman, music editor of Billboard; Dan Storper, president of Putumayo World Music; Alexandra Patsavas, music supervisor & founder of The Chop Shop; and Robert Goodale, co-founder of UltraStar Entertainment.

Previous IMA judges include:
Tom Waits, Ray Davies, Amy Ray, Lou Reed, Aimee Mann, Erykah Badu, Arturo Sandoval, William Ackerman, Delbert McClinton, Steve Vai, DJ Spooky, Loudon Wainwright III, Rosanne Cash, Me'shell Ndegeocello, Mickey Hart, Mavis Stavis, Wilson Pickett, Victor L. Wooton, Steven Halpern, Tina Weymouth, John Medeski, Kelly Willis, Charlie Hunter, Robbie Fulks, Joe Henry, Mitchell Froom, Alan Light, Lisa Loeb, Merri Cyr, Wendy Waldman, Ricky Skaggs, Michael Rose, Don Bryon, Eileen Ivers, Joan Baez, Suzanne Ciani, Joshua Redman, Yolanda Adams, Kenny Aronoff, Ben Folds and Jimmy Cliff.

Now meet and hear the winners of the 5th Independent Music Awards.