IMA Winners Will Now Reach
More Than 20 Million Music Fans

Deadline Extended to
August 17, 2007

The Independent Music Awards (IMAs) – an international program that gets major results for indie releases – has just added new judges and promotional programs that will now place IMA Winners in front of
20 Million music fans and industry decision makers.

The deadline for entries has been extended to August 17, 2007 – providing procrastinating artists around the world a brief window to still submit materials to the only industry program that provides yearlong promotion, marketing and distribution opportunities for independent artists, labels and releases.

For the past 7 years, the Independent Music Awards has helped indie artists & releases worldwide overcome mainstream obstacles & reach larger audiences & opportunities.

Supporting a wide spectrum of music genres from Punk to New Age and design categories including Music Video & Swag, IMA Winners benefit from yearlong promotion, marketing & distribution programs via print, broadcast & online initiatives.

Produced by The Musician’s Atlas & co-sponsored by mega retailer, Borders Books & Music; online retail giant eMusic; radio promotion gurus, The Planetary Group; digital networks, ManiaTV & HavocTV; Burnside Distribution; social networking community, Trig.com and radio tracking service, MediaGuide, IMA Winners will now be promoted to more than 20 Million music fans & key industry players including Radio Programmers, Talent Buyers, Film, TV & Gaming Music Supervisors and Music Press.

Artist Judges Confirmed for the 7th Annual IMA program include:

  • Ray Davies
  • Suzanne Vega
  • Les Claypool (Primus)
  • Snoop Dogg
  • Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
  • Mavis Staples
  • Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance)
  • Angelique Kidjo
  • Rob Wasserman
  • Tim Pagnotta (Sugarcult)
  • Duncan Sheik
  • Judy Collins
  • Chuck Comeau (Simple Plan)
  • Charles Musselwhite
  • Mobb Deep
  • Susan Tedeschi
  • MickDeth (18 Visions)
  • Martin Atkkins (Public Image Ltd./ Nine Inch Nails)
  • Ice-T
  • Chuck Comeau (Simple Plan)
  • Danny Saber (Black Grape)

INDUSTRY JUDGES CONFIRMED INCLUDE:

  • Carrie Hughes (MTV Music Supervisor)
  • Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone)
  • Kevin Lyman (Creator/Producer Vans Warped Tour)
  • Stefan Goldby (Music Programming Mania TV)
  • Josh Rabinowitz (Grey Advertising Worldwide – SVP/Director of Music)
  • Chris Douridas (Tastemaker/KCRW DJ)
  • Mike Errico (Blender.com)
  • Joe Cuello (MTV Director Creative & Licensing)

Click here to view the up-to-date list of IMA Judges.

Entries received from Japan, Austrailia, Malaysia, Guam, Argentina, England, Mexico, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Greece, Nigeria, Estonia, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Israel, Spain, Canada and the United States reflect the program's stature and reach throughout the international indie music community.

Winners & Finalists credit the program with boosting their visibility among festival bookers, club talent buyers, radio programmers, distributors, industry insiders and fans. Past Winners & Finalists include: Speech, Lacuna Coil, Sugarcult, Chris Whitley, Richard Julian, Eleni Mandel,
The Mooney Suzuki , Sweet Honey in The Rock, God Forbid, Bitter-Sweet, Mary Gauthier, Eleni Mandell and Dan Bern.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

  • Winning songs and contact information are promoted to over
    10 million     Borders Books & Music customers in 12 consecutive weekly “Shortlist” opt-in eNewsletters. The artist’s own releases will be available for purchase at the BordersStores.com site.

  • IMA jukeboxes allow music fans to vote for their favorite songs and feature the music & contact info for Winners & Finalists.

  • 10,000 copies of the IMA Winners CD compilation are distributed to music fans & industry at international music conferences, festivals, Spring Break & other events throughout the year.

  • The sampler, promoted at 650+ US & Canadian college & public stations by leading promotions company, The Planetary Group routinely places in the Top 1-25 CMJ charts.

  • The IMA Winners CDs is promoted to more than 1 Million eMusic subscribers.

  • Winners & Finalists to be promoted to more than 9 Million at digital broadcast sites including ManiaTV.com & HavocTV.com.

  • Winners & Finalists to be promoted to Trig.com, MySpace & other social networking communities.

  • Winners & Finalists featured in a special pull-out spread in
    The Musician’s Atlas, read by more than 250,000 industry pros.

Entries must be postmarked by August 17, 2007

Go to www.IndependentMusicAwards.com for complete program details, judges and entry forms.