The Independent Music Awards is a unique program that delivers year-long promotion, marketing and distribution support for independent artists, independent labels and their releases. The program honors artists in 37 Album and Song categories and six Design categories. A new category, Sing Out For Social Action, was recently added to the 2007 program.

IMA program information and submission details are available at: www.IndependentMusicAwards.com

Produced by The Musicians Atlas and co-sponsored by Borders Books & Music, Media Guide, and The Planetary Group, winners and finalists are promoted in print, broadcast, and online programs throughout the year and to more than nine million consumers and tens of thousands of industry contacts including: Commercial, Public & College Radio Programmers; Music Journalists; Club & Festival Talent Buyers; Film & TV Music Supervisors and Record Label Executives.

Tracks from all the winners and their contact info are featured online on the IMA Winners Jukebox. Borders Books & Music promotes the winners and the Independent Music Awards Jukebox in 12 consecutive Shortlist eNewsletters, each issue distributed to nine million opt-in customers. Full-length releases for all artists are also available for purchase at the BordersStores.com site.

Copies of the IMA Winners' CD are distributed at major music events such as SXSW, NXNE, Folk Alliance, Popkomm, NEMO, Americana Music Conference, The Warped Tour, OzzFest and more. The CD is also serviced to 500+ College & Public radio stations. For the past 2 years, the IMA Winners' CD was placed in heavy and medium rotation at more than 300 stations, with several tracks hitting Top 5, Top 10, Top 20 and Top 25 on the CMJ charts.
 

Another new premium for artists and bands that enter the program: winners, finalists and entrants will be considered to participate in an Independent Music Awards Showcase series scheduled to launch in Spring, 2007 in New York City. Artists credit the program with raising their profile among talent buyers, programmers, label A&R and fans.

This years Artist judging panel includes:
Peter Gabriel, Wynonna, Ozzy Osbourne, Suzanne Vega, Cyndi Lauper, Fatboy Slim, Buddy Guy, McCoy Tyner, Paul Oakenfold, Marc Ribot, Patty Loveless, Beenie Man, Howard Tate, David Grisman, Rob Wasserman, Bebel Gilberto, Afrika Bambaataa, Bill Frisell and Tim Pagnotta (Sugarcult).

Industry judges include:
Michael McDonald, President of ATO Records; Don Rose, President of American Association of Independent Music; Melinda Newman, Billboard West Coast Bureau Chief; Barry Bergman, President of Music Management Forum (US); Louis Meyers, Executive Director of Folk Alliance; Claire Armbruster, Artistic Director of MerleFest; Abby White, Music Editor of Performing Songwriter; Brett Kimberlin, Justice Through Music Director; Paul Anthony, CEO of Rumblefish (videogame licensing); Paul Rogers, Entertainment Rights Management of Fintage House; Josh Rabinowitz, Senior V.P. Of Music for Grey Worldwide Advertising; and Tim Riley, Worldwide Executive of Music for Activision.

Submission Postmark Deadline is: Midnight, August 25, 2006.

To learn more about the upcoming 2007 Independent Music Awards program and listen to the 2006 Independent Music Awards Winners Jukebox go to: www.IndependentMusicAwards.com

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