| Independent Music Awards | |
|---|---|
| Presented by | Music Resource Group |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 2001 |
| Last awarded | 2010 |
| Official website | Official website |
The Independent Music Awards (IMAs) is an international program that honors top-ranked independent (indie) artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories.
IMA honors are awarded to independent artists who broaden the definition of commercial music and represent the diversity of the global indie music scene. The program creates marketing, sales, and promotional opportunities to expand the fan base for artists and releases that are traditionally ignored by mainstream gatekeepers, mass media, and big box retailers.
The IMAs were created in 1999 by Music Resource Group (MRG), publisher of the music industry's popular print and online contact databases, The Musician's Atlas and AtlasOnline. The program receives submissions from previous major-label artists as well as self-released and indie label talent from more than 70 countries on 6 continents.
Submissions are evaluated on the basis of artistic merit – originality, melody and composition. Panels of influential music veterans and music fans determine the winners and nominees.
The Independent Music Awards Vox Populi (‘People’s Voice') poll was added during the 6th IMA program to encourage fans to make a difference in an independent artist's career. Each year, tens of thousands of music fans from around the globe champion their favorite IMA artists. The results of the Vox Pop often differ from the industry determined winners.
IMA honors are awarded for excellence in song, album, music video, packaging, album art, concert photo, publicity photo, band and record label website, merchandising and college record label release.
| Category | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|
| Blues/R&B | Thaddeus Hogarth Band | "The Way I Like It" |
| Country/Bluegrass | Rick Lance | "Break My Heart" |
| Dance/Electronica | The dbc | "Enough" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter | Mary Gauthier | "Drag Queen In Limousines" |
| Jazz | Aardvark Jazz Orchestra | "Scamology" |
| Latin | Milady | "Habitos Pasados" |
| New Age | Suzanne Teng | "China Lily" |
| Pop | Swan Dive | "Circle" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop | The Crest | "The Vibe" |
| Reggae/Ska | 4th Plane Jaiant | "Longer Way To Run" |
| Rock | Cropduster | "Nothin's Gonna Change" |
| World | Cathal McConnell | "Terrien D'eau Douce" |
| Regional Poll - Atlanta | Jennifer Nettles Band | "Bad Girl's Lament" |
| Regional Poll - Austin | Hairy Apes BMX | "Speed Queen" |
| Regional Poll - Boston | The Gravel Pit | "Favorite" |
| Regional Poll - Chicago | J. Davis Trio | "Bossa Nova" |
| Regional Poll - Los Angeles | Eleni Mandell | "Pauline" |
| Regional Poll - Minneapolis | Dazy Head Mazy | "Red Sky" |
| Regional Poll - Nashville | Lifeboy | "My Latest State Of Mind" |
| Regional Poll - New Orleans | Fredy Omar Con Su Banda | "Muchacha Bonita" |
| Regional Poll - New York City | The Mooney Suzuki | "My Dear Persephone" |
| Regional Poll - Philadelphia | Mazarin | "I Should Be Sleeping" |
| Regional Poll - San Francisco | Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers | "I Want A Big Fine Daddy" |
| Regional Poll - Seattle | Radio Nationals | "On & On" |
The 1st Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[1]
| Category | Artist | Song/album |
|---|---|---|
| Album of the Year | Johnny Society | "Hard To Tell" |
| Blues/R&B - Song | Hazel Miller | "I'C'U'N Everything" |
| Contemporary Christian - Song | Rescue | "2000 Years Ago" |
| Country/Bluegrass - Song | Candlewyk | "Fireman" |
| Dance/Electronica - Song | Friction | "Time Is Running Out" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | Phil Roy | "Melt" |
| Gospel - Song | New Creation | "Send Me A Sign" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Song | Pinwheel | "Whatever Turns You On" |
| Jazz - Song | Joy Eden Harrison | "Reluctant Angel" |
| Latin - Song | Rubin Romero | "Passion Y Amor" |
| New Age - Song | Lynn Patrick | "Passing Through" |
| Pop/Rock - Song | Robby Baier | "Whiskey, Whiskey" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Song | The Assembly | "Step Lively" |
| World - Song | Paris Combo | "Terrien D'eau Douce" |
| Regional Poll - Atlanta - Song | The Tender Idols | "Man Out Of Season" |
| Regional Poll - Austin - Song | Soulhat | "Flat Plane" |
| Regional Poll - Boston - Song | Lovewhip | "Oh Dear Jehu" |
| Regional Poll - Chicago - Song | Knee Deep Shag | "Faded And Live" |
| Regional Poll - Los Angeles - Song | Sugarcult | "Stuck In America" |
| Regional Poll - Minneapolis - Song | Alva Star | "Adore" |
| Regional Poll - Nashville - Song | Glossary | "West Library" |
| Regional Poll - New Orleans - Song | Supagroup | "She's Hot (I'm On A Roll)" |
| Regional Poll - New York City - Song | Trespassers | "What Happened To You?" |
| Regional Poll - Seattle - Song | SubDwellers | "The Hits" |
The 2nd Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[2]
| Category | Artist | Song/album |
|---|---|---|
| Album of the Year | Richard Julian | "Good Life" |
| Blues/R&B - Song | Ronnie Earl | "Hey Jose" |
| Contemporary Christian - Song | Rescue | "So Excited" |
| Country/Bluegrass - Song | IIIrd Tyme Out | "My Lord's Gonna Be There" |
| Dance/Electronica - Song | Yellow Note | "Naked Drunk And Horny" |
| Film/TV - Song | Karmacoda | "Swan" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | Chris Whitley | "Breaking Your Fall" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | Girlyman | "Viola" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Song | Human Abstrakt | "Disillusionment" |
| Jazz - Song | Matt Shulman | "Coexistence" |
| Latin - Song | Vinnie & Ray | "Rumba En El Barrio" |
| New Age - Song | Tom Yoder | "The Moment The Apple Falls" |
| Pop/Rock - Song | Melodrome | "Love Replaces Love" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Song | FunkBunker Fleet | "Scared Sick" |
| World - Song | Atlas Soul | "YaWillie" |
The 3rd Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[3]
| Category | Artist | Song/album |
|---|---|---|
| Album of the Year | Darrell Scott | "Theatre Of The Unheard" |
| Blues/R&B - Song | Chris Whitley | "Her Furious Angels" |
| Contemporary Christian - Song | Circleslide | "Home" |
| Country/Bluegrass - Song | John E. Vistic Experience | "River Boat Blues" |
| Dance/Electronica - Song | Staaarchild | "Love Ta Love" |
| Film/TV - Song | Michael Brandmeier | "I'm Alright (Help Me)" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | Rachael Sage | "Sacrifice" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Song | Lacuna Coil | "Heaven's A Lie" |
| Jam - Song | Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius | "What's That Thing" |
| Jazz - Song | Modern Groove Syndicate | "Too Good That's It's Gone" |
| Latin - Song | Angel Melendez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra | "Ven Pa' Que Goze" |
| New Age - Song | Suzanne Teng & Mystic Journey | "Miles Beyond" |
| Pop/Rock - Song | Shamra | "Loan Sharks" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Song | 3 Kings | "Daily Grind" |
| World - Song | Tierra Tango feat. Katie Viqueria | "Milonga Sentimental" |
The 4th Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[5]
| Category | Artist | Song/album |
|---|---|---|
| Americana - Album | Maura Fogarty | "Every Now & Then" |
| Americana - Song | Chris and Thomas | "Take These Thoughts" |
| Blues - Album | Jimmy Norman | "Little Pieces" |
| Blues - Song | Mike Andersen Band | "Stuck With Me" |
| Contemporary Christian - Album | Sonia V. | "A Thing Or 2" |
| Contemporary Christian - Song | Rachanee | "Here With Me" |
| Country - Album | Jonah's Road | "Hold On" |
| Country - Song | Natalie Howard | "I Don't Want To Live Like That" |
| Dance/Electronica - Album | Muza | "Cambio de Estacion" |
| Dance/Electronica - Song | Freezepop | "Stakeout" |
| Film/TV - Song | Yener Korkut | "Fallen Soldier" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Album | Chris Volpe | "Refugee Blues" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | Kristen Cifelli | "Show Them" |
| Gospel - Song | Rachael Price | "My God, My Adored One" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Album | The Greatest Fear | "The Coronation Of The Locust Queen" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Song | Element57 | "Woke Up Late" |
| Jam - Album | Aja West & Cheeba | "Flash & Snowball" |
| Jam - Song | The Menagerie | "Drifting Away" |
| Jazz - Album | Pascal Le Boeuf feat. Remy Le Boeuf | "Migration" |
| Jazz - Song | Pascal Le Boeuf feat. Remy Le Boeuf | "Hip Replacement" |
| Latin - Album | Manzanares | "Nuevo Latino" |
| Latin - Song | Niño Torrente | "Gozalo" |
| Live Performance - Album | KJ Denhert | "Another Year Gone By (Live)" |
| New Age - Album | Suzanne Ciani | "Silver Ship" |
| New Age - Song | Jeff Oster | "At Last" |
| Pop/Rock - Album | The Blank Tapes | "Landfair" |
| Pop/Rock - Song | The Alternate Routes | "Ordinary" |
| R&B - Album | Thaddeus Hogarth | "Live At Bose" |
| R&B - Song | MAX | "Rain" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Album | Jerze' | "You In KY Now" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Song | Lil' Peedy | "Poppin & Lockin" |
| World Fusion - Album | Madrigaia | "Pleiades" |
| World Fusion - Song | Andromeda | "Norwegian Slip" |
| World Traditional - Album | Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble | "Passage To Armenia" |
The 5th Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[7]
| Category | Artist | Song/album |
|---|---|---|
| Americana - Album | Kristy Kruger | "Songs From A Dead Man's Church" |
| Americana - Song | Melissa McClelland | "Passenger 24" |
| Blues - Album | Watermelon Slim & The Workers | "Watermelon Slim & The Workers" |
| Blues - Song | Alvin Jett & the Phat noiZ Blues Band | "Angels Sing The Blues" |
| Contemporary Christian - Album | Chris Kipp | "Chris Kipp" |
| Contemporary Christian - Song | David Harper | "Everything" |
| Country - Album | Miko Marks | "Freeway Bound" |
| Country - Song | Sean Patrick McGraw | "Fiona" |
| Dance/Electronica - Album | Paul & Price | "Sounds Like Sex 2" |
| Dance/Electronica - Song | Paul & Price | "Little White Roses" |
| Film/TV - Song | Dave's True Story | "Everlasting No" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Album | Dan Bern | "Breathe" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | Jonah Smith | "My Morning Scene" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | The Guggenheim Grotto | "A Lifetime In Heat" |
| Gospel - Album | Earnest Pugh | "A Worshipper's Perspective" |
| Gospel - Song | The Borderers | "Sinner & The Saint" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Album | The Vacancies | "A Beat Missing Or a Silence Added" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Song | God Forbid | "To the Fallen Hero" |
| Jam - Album | Garaj Mahal | "Blueberry Cave" |
| Jam - Song | The Mars Hall | "Nu Song" |
| Jazz - Album | Duane Andrews | "Crocus" |
| Jazz - Song | Michael White Quintet | "Mechanical Man" |
| Latin - Album | Ana Laan | "Oregano" |
| Latin - Song | Henry Iglesias | "Pasto Ajeno" |
| Live Performance - Album | Sheva | "Sheva - Live In Australia" |
| New Age - Album | Jonathan Still | "Under The Bodhi Tree" |
| New Age - Song | Lynn Patrick | "Mysteriously Drawn" |
| Pop/Rock - Album | Bitter:Sweet | "The Mating Game" |
| Pop/Rock - Song | Whitfield | "Wait" |
| Punk - Album | AutoVaughn | "Space" |
| R&B - Album | Martha Redbone | "Skintalk" |
| R&B - Song | Vanessa Randall | "Praise" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Album | Speech | "The Vagabond" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Song | Proph | "Back Of The Bus" |
| Social Action - Song | Piet Shaw & The Revolutionary Theatre | "No War! (System Of Murder)" |
| World Fusion - Album | Novalima | "Afro" |
| World Fusion - Song | Seed and Root | "Paraíso" |
| World Traditional - Album | The McDades | "Bloom" |
| World Traditional - Song | Inca Son | "Viaje a la Montana (Trip To The Andes Mountains)" |
The 6th Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[9]
| Category | Artist | Song/album |
|---|---|---|
| Alt. Country - Album | Johnny Dowd | "Cruel Words" |
| Alt. Country - Song | Yarn | "No Future Together" |
| Americana - Album | Hannah Blaylock & Edens Edge | "Lights Of Home" |
| Americana - Song | Boulder Acoustic Society | "Does It Really Matter" |
| Blues - Album | Koko Taylor | "Old School" |
| Blues - Song | Little Miss Higgins | "In The Middle Of Nowhere" |
| Children's Music - Album | Kira Willey | Dance for the Sun |
| Children's Music - Song | Kira Willey | "Caterpillar Caterpillar" |
| College Record Label - Album | Hoots & Hellmouth | "Hoots & Hellmouth" |
| Contemporary Christian - Album | Sebastian Demrey | "Searching" |
| Contemporary Christian - Song | Vincent Joseph Manzo | "Only By Grace" |
| Country - Album | Chris Gray | "It's All About Me" |
| Country - Song | Miko Marks | "Freeway Bound" |
| Dance/Electronica - Album | Miguel Migs | Those Things |
| Dance/Electronica - Song | Mudville | "Wicked" |
| Film/TV - Song | Jennifer Kreisberg | "Have Hope" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Album | Drew Pilgram | "Magnetic Sideways Pull" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | Tannis Slimmon | "Ernest, Charlie & Allan" |
| Gospel - Album | The Minister John Butler | "The Tribute - Phase II" |
| Gospel - Song | Robbin Thompson | "Move On Down The Line" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Album | Ashes Are Nutritious | "Frustration +" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Song | Pløk | "I Do Not Live In A Condo" |
| Jam - Album | Jason Seed Elixir Ensemble | "Where The Corners Meet" |
| Jam - Song | The Frequency | "Jim Gordon Part II" |
| Jazz - Album | Ernie Watts | "Analog Man" |
| Jazz - Song | Stanley Maxwell | "Mousetrap" |
| Latin - Album | Jose Conde & Ola Fresca | "Revolucion" |
| Latin - Song | Zoraida Santiago | "Conciones Por Todas Partes" |
| Live Performance - Album | Marco Benevento | Live at Tonic |
| New Age - Album | Priscilla Hernández | "Ancient Shadows" |
| New Age - Song | Jeff Oster | "Saturn Calling" |
| Pop/Rock - Album | Joan As Police Woman | Real Life |
| Pop/Rock - Song | The Apples In Stereo | "Same Old Drag" |
| Punk - Album | No More Kings | No More Kings |
| Punk - Song | Girl In A Coma | "Clumsy Sky" |
| R&B - Album | Aja West & Friends | "Total Recall 2012" |
| R&B - Song | Ari Gold | "Love Wasn't Built In A Day" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Album | Zeph & Azeem | "Rise Up" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Song | Animate Objects | "El Dorado" |
| Social Action - Song | Kenny White | "How Long" |
| World Fusion - Album | Cholo Soy - Jaime Cuadra | "Peruvian Waltz Chillout" |
| World Fusion - Song | Luca Mundaca | "Ha Dias" |
| World Traditional - Album | Alasdair White | "An Clar Geal" |
| World Traditional - Song | Lionel Loueke | "Kponnon Kpété" |
The 7th Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[11]
| Category | Artist | Song/album |
|---|---|---|
| Alt. Country - Album | The Wilders | "Someone's Got To Pay" |
| Alt. Country - Song | Unknown Hinson | "Torture Town" |
| Americana - Album | Tony Trischka | "Territory" |
| Americana - Song | Kelleigh McKenzie | "Gin" |
| Blues - Album | Jeff Healey | "Mess Of Blues" |
| Blues - Song | Meagan Tubb | "Let Me Believe" |
| Children's Music - Album | Dan Zanes | "Nueva York" |
| Children's Music - Song | Kaleidoscope | "Kangaroo!" |
| College Record Label - Album | The Redwalls | The Redwalls |
| Contemporary Christian - Album | The Ride | "The Story Of People" |
| Contemporary Christian - Song | Jade Ambroze | "More" |
| Contemporary Classical - Album | Niklas Sivelov | "Improvisational 1" |
| Country - Album | Rob Russell | "Turnin' Heads" |
| Country - Song | Ridley Bent | "Nine Inch Nails" |
| Cover - Song | Muza (Sol Aravena) | "Besame Mucho" |
| Dance/Electronica - Album | Torpedo Boyz | "Cum On Feel The Boyz" |
| Dance/Electronica - Song | Velvet Code | "Say You Love Me" |
| Film/TV - Song | Zeitlet X-emble | "Theme From Pasprefut" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Album | Rebecca Martin | "The Growing Season" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | Lucy Wainwright Roche | "Snare Drum" |
| Gospel - Album | The Paschall Brothers | "On The Right Road Now" |
| Gospel - Song | Eddie Cunningham | "Jesus Is More Than A Name" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Album | Faces of March | "Confessions" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Song | The Trews | "Hold Me In Your Arms" |
| Holy Hip-Hop - Song | Joe L Da Vessel and Melodic | "I See" |
| Jazz - Album | Lafayette Gilchrist | "Soul Progressin'" |
| Jazz - Song | John Ricci | "Mode Time" |
| Latin - Album | Pulpo | "Hot Bread" |
| Latin - Song | Latin Giants of Jazz | "Cuero Na'Ma" |
| Live Performance - Album | Martin Sexton | "Solo" |
| New Age - Album | Paul Baker | "The Quiet Path" |
| New Age - Song | Paul Baker | "Heart's Gate" |
| Pop/Rock - Album | Jamie Lidell | Jim |
| Pop/Rock - Song | April Smith | "Colors" |
| Punk - Album | The Cute Lepers | "Modern Music" |
| Punk - Song | A Kid Hereafter | "Defenders of Faith" |
| R&B - Album | Brentley | "Hand Written" |
| R&B - Song | Intervision | "Live Out Loud" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Album | Common Market | "Tobacco Road" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Song | Sweatshop Union | "Oh My" |
| Social Action - Song | Mana Poly All-Stars | "Gunshots" |
| World Fusion - Album | Dengue Fever | "Venus On Earth" |
| World Fusion - Song | Selasee | "Agba Yei" |
| World Traditional - Album | Ala-Tan-Ch-Chi-Ge & Zha-Ge-DaSu-Rong | "The Mongolian Folk Long-Song" |
| World Traditional - Song | Mamadou and Vanessa | "Ay Masilan" |
The 8th Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[13]
| Category | Artist | Song/album |
|---|---|---|
| Acoustic - Song | Joanna Chapman-Smith | "Melodies" |
| Alt. Country - Album | Beat Circus | Boy from Black Mountain |
| Alt. Country - Song | My Cousin, The Emperor | "A Long Way From Home" |
| Americana - Album | Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs | Dirt Don't Hurt |
| Americana - Song | Tim Easton | "Burgundy Red" |
| Blues - Album | Joe & Vicki Price | Hornet's Nest |
| Blues - Song | Used Blues Band | "Palm Reader Blues" |
| Children's Music - Album | Charlie Hope | I'm Me! A Collection of Songs for Children |
| Children's Music - Song | Charlie Hope | "I'm Me!" |
| College Record Label - Album | Various Artists | AEMMP Records Chompilation |
| Concept - Album | Phil Roy | In The Weird Small Hours |
| Contemporary Christian - Album | John Mandeville | We Belong To Heaven |
| Contemporary Christian - Song | Christopher Williams | "Anything But Fail" |
| Contemporary Classical - Album | Heritage Orchestra feat. DJ Yoda | G. Prokofiev Concerto for Turntables |
| Country - Album | Dale Watson | The Truckin' Sessions, Vol. 2 |
| Country - Song | Codie Prevost | "Spin" |
| Cover - Song | Daisy Chapman | "Umbrella" |
| Dance/Electronica - Album | Alaska in Winter | Holiday |
| Dance/Electronica - Song | Codebreaker | "Follow Me" |
| Eclectic - Album | Gemma Ray | Lights Out Zoltar! |
| Film/TV - Song | The Submarines | "You, Me and the Bourgeoisie" |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Album | Michael Zapruder | Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter - Song | Wolf in the Fold | "Death" |
| Gospel - Album | Russell Leonce | Culture of Love |
| Gospel - Song | Noreen Crayton | "Walking in the Faith" |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Album | All That Remains | Overcome |
| Hard Rock/Metal - Song | Moving Atlas | "Becoming Blue" |
| Indie Label Promo Compilation - Album | Various Artists | Cedille on the Move |
| Jazz - Album | Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets | Echoes of Ethnicity |
| Jazz - Song | Austin McMahon | "Platone" |
| Latin - Album | Maestros del Joropo Oriental | ¡Y Que Viva Venezuela! |
| Latin - Song | Jimmy Fontanez | "Mi Salsa Vocal" |
| Live Performance - Album | Danielia Cotton | Live Child |
| Love - Song | Emma-Lee | "Until We Meet Again" |
| New Age - Album | Rocky Fretz | The Path Ahead ... And Steps Then Taken |
| New Age - Song | Tom Yoder | "Locked In" |
| Pop/Rock - Album | Spinnerette | Spinnerette |
| Pop/Rock - Song | fun. | "All The Pretty Girls" |
| Punk - Album | The So So Glos | Tourism / Terrorism |
| Punk - Song | The So So Glos | "My Block" |
| R&B - Album | Michael Olatuja | Speak |
| R&B - Song | Shoshana Bean | "Superhero" |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Album | Illa J | Yancey Boys |
| Rap/Hip-Hop - Song | Miles Jones | "Coast to Coast" |
| Social Action - Song | State Radio | "Calling All Crows" |
| Story - Song | Lisa Carver | "Bullets" |
| World Beat - Album | Oran Etkin | Kelenia |
| World Beat - Song | The Very Best feat. Ezra Koenig | "Warm Heart of Africa" |
| World Traditional - Album | Various Artists | Blodeugerdd Song of the Flowers |
| World Traditional - Song | Roman Miroshnichenko | "Unforgiven" |
The 9th Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[14]
The 10th Annual Independent Music Awards Judges:[15]