Contact: Lauren Veteri
Music Resource Group
973-509-3140
Lauren@MusiciansAtlas.com
Montclair, NJ - December 5, 2006: A diverse group of independent musicians have been announced as winners of the 6th Annual Independent Music Awards. Winners encompass both established and emerging talent including Speech, the GRAMMY® Award-winning artist of Arrested Development fame; God Forbid, the heavy metal band fresh from Ozzfest; and The Vacancies, the new addition to Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records. All IMA winners were selected by a panel of celebrity and industry judges and will receive year-long marketing support to enhance the campaigns for their current projects and careers.
IMA winners will appear in the updated 2007 edition of The Musician’s Atlas – the independent musicians’ and entrepreneurs’ definitive guide to the music business, available on December 15, 2006. Developed and coordinated by Music Resource Group, publisher of The Musician’s Atlas, the Independent Music Award program delivers a variety of premiums to Winners including:
Other notable winners include: Sheva, the world music ensemble made up of Israeli and Palestinian musicians, winner of the Best Live Performance for "Sheva - Live In Australia;" the electronic pop duo Bitter:Sweet, winner of the Best Pop/Rock Album for "The Mating Game" – the band’s songs have appeared in the official soundtrack for the film "The Devil Wears Prada" ("Bittersweet Faith") as well as two national TV commercials for Korbel Champagne, and the Bebe clothing chain; jazz guitarist Duane Andrews, winner of the Best Jazz Album for "Crocus," who recently performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Sunfest and the Atlantic Jazz Festival; activist Dan Bern, winner in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category for his album "Breathe;" and Melissa McClelland, winner of Best Americana Song for "Passenger 24," who is currently touring with Sarah McLachlan.
The IMA Winners were determined by a celebrity and industry judging panel that included: Peter Gabriel, Wynonna, Suzanne Vega, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Frisell, Afrika Bambaataa, Paul Oakenfold, Buddy Guy, Bebel Gilberto and McCoy Tyner, among others.
Music industry pros that were not part of this year’s judging panel and music fans can cast their vote at the IMA site. Winners of this "Vox Populi" poll will be announced January 17, 2007.
See IMA winners in the album and song categories below:
For a complete list of winners and categories go to:
http://www.IndependentMusicAwards.com/pages/jukebox2007.asp
ALBUM CATEGORIES
AMERICANA - Kristy Kruger, "Songs From A Dead Man’s Couch;" BLUES - Watermelon Slim & The Workers, "Watermelon Slim & The Workers;" CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN - Chris Kipp, "Chris Kipp;" COUNTRY - Miko Marks, "Freeway Bound;" DANCE & ELECTRONICA - Paul & Price, "Sounds Like Sex 2;" FOLK/ SINGER-SONGWRITER - Dan Bern, "Breathe;" GOSPEL - Ernest Pugh, "A Worshipper’s Perspective;" HARD ROCK/ METAL - The Vacancies, "A Beat Missing Or A Silence Added;" JAM - Garaj Mahal, "Blueberry Cave;" JAZZ - Duane Andrews, "Crocus;" LATIN - Ana Laan, "Oregano;" LIVE PERFORMANCE – Sheva, "Sheva -Live In Australia;" NEW AGE - Jonathan Still, "Under The Bodhi Tree;" POP/ROCK - Bitter:Sweet, "The Mating Game;" R&B - Martha Redbone, "SkinTalk;" RAP/HIP-HOP – Speech, "The Vagabond;" WORLD FUSION - Novalima, "Afro;" WORLD TRADITIONAL - The McDades, "Bloom"
SONG CATEGORIES
AMERICANA - Melissa McClelland, "Passenger 24;" BLUES - Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ Blues Band, "Angels Sing The Blues;" CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN - David Harper, "Everything;" COUNTRY - Sean Patrick McGraw, "Fiona;" DANCE & ELECTRONICA - Paul & Price, "Little White Roses;" FILM/TV & MULTIMEDIA - Dave’s True Story, "Everlasting No;" FOLK/ SINGER-SONGWRITER (Tie) - Jonah Smith, "My Morning Scene" -and- The Guggenheim Grotto, "A Lifetime In Heat;" GOSPEL - The Borderers, "Sinner & The Saint;"e; HARD ROCK/METAL - God Forbid, "To The Fallen Hero;" JAM - The Mars Hall, "Nu Song;" JAZZ - Michael White Quintet, "Mechanical Man;" LATIN - Henry Iglesias, "Pasto Ajeno;" NEW AGE - Lynn Patrick, "Mysteriously Drawn;" POP/ROCK - Whitfield, "Wait;" RAP/HIP-HOP - Proph, "Back Of The Bus;" R&B - Vanessa Randall, "Praise;" SOCIAL ACTION - Piet Shaw & The Revolutionary Theatre, "We Don’t Want No War;" WORLD FUSION - Seed And Root, "Paraiso;" WORLD TRADITIONAL - Inca Son, "Viaje A La Montana"
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For more information on Music Resource Group, The Musician's Atlas and The Independent Music Awards, please contact Joelle Caputa at joelle@musiciansatlas.com or at 973-509-9896.