THE 12TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED
For Immediate Release
Ben Kweller, Band Of Skulls, Killer Mike, Dethklok, Willie Nile, Passenger, Five Finger Death Punch, Team Me, Gungor, Bernie Worrell Orchestra, The Wiyos and
Little Freddie King Among The 12th IMA Winners
Banned Iranian duo Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat Take Top Honors in World Traditional Album
Fan Online Voting Will Determine The 12th IMA Vox Pop Winners
June 11, 2013 – Ben Kweller, Band Of Skulls, Killer Mike, Dethklok, Little Freddie King, Passenger, Five Finger Death Punch, Team Me, Gungor, Bernie Worrell Orchestra, The Wiyos, and Willie Nile are among the exceptional self-released and independent label talent named today by Music Resource Group (MRG) as the Judge-determined Winners of The 12th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential international awards program for independent bands and fans.
The veteran artists and rising stars named as 12th IMA Winners in more than 80 Album, EP, Song, Music Producer, Music Video and Design categories were winnowed from thousands of submissions from around the globe, and were determined by a panel of influential artists and music industry executives.
For the first time, The IMAs honored producers associated with an album whose production quality was deemed extraordinary. The co-producers Kenny Siegal, Bryce Goggin and Brian Geltner received this inaugural award for the production of the Johnny Society album “Free Society.” The tracks were recorded at Siegal’s Old Soul Studios, located in Catskill, NY.
Stop-motion and animated videos from Kim Bingham for her song “UP!” and Le Peuple de l’Herbe for its song “Parler le fracas,” delighted judges with their ability to complement the songs’ messages and engage viewers over multiple viewings, resulting in a tie in the Music Video Short Form category.
Archival recordings from both Woody Guthrie and Louis Armstrong received honors for the Smithsonian-Folkways label in the Compilation and Album Reissue categories.
Also among the winning artists is the sister team of Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat of Iran, whose music is outlawed in their native country. Their album Twinklings Of Hope won in the World Traditional Album category. The record is made available on the Kirkelig Kulturverksted label based in Oslo, Norway.
Known for championing original, sometimes controversial work by artists who follow their own muse, The IMAs provides Winners with performance, promotion and distribution opportunities that will place them in front of music supervisors, talent buyers, record label executives, and most importantly, fans worldwide.
“Whether it’s from established artists like Killer Mike and Band Of Skulls, or breakout acts such as Air Traffic Controller, The Congregation, Gungor and Mama Rosin, independent artists excel at creating original music that takes risks and wins over new fans,” said Martin Folkman, Executive Director of The Independent Music Awards.
“With winning entries from the United States, Canada, France, U.K., Switzerland, Iran, Spain, Netherlands, Singapore, Venezuela, South Africa and Korea, The Independent Music Awards continues to provide unprecedented exposure for a diverse range of incredible self-released and independent label talent,” Folkman said.
The 12th IMA Judging panel featured exceptional recording artists including: Tom Waits & Kathleen Brennan, Ziggy Marley, Suzanne Vega, Del McCoury, Meshell Ndegeocello, Pete Wentz, Shelby Lynne, G. Love, Brandi Carlile, McCoy Tyner, Judy Collins, John Medeski, Chris Wood, Andrea Marcovicci, Raul Midon, “Weird Al’ Yankovic, Bernie Worrell, Jeremy Taggart, Frederick “Toots” Hibbert, Arturo Sandoval, Joel Madden, Jonatha Brooke and Jim Lauderdale.
The IMA Judging panel was also comprised of record label executives, club and festival talent buyers, music journalists, film & tv music supervisors including: Terry McBride (Nettwerk Music Group), Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour), Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), Alan Light (Live From The Artists Den), Alec Bemis (Brassland Records), Dan Storper (Putumayo World Music), Jason Olaine (Jazz At Lincoln Center), Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone), Evan Schlansky (American Songwriter), Delphine Robertson (Playtone Productions), Bruce Iglauer (Alligator Records), Bob Ludwig (Gateway Mastering), Dalis Allen (Kerrville Folk Festival), Lydia Hutchinson (Performing Songwriter), Kimberly Aldridge (AMI Entertainment), Anne Saunders (Falcon Ridge Folk Festival), Chris Diaz (Knitting Factory Entertainment), Colleen Fischer (Austin City Limits), Heather D (The Bell House), Sara Beesley (Joe’s Pub), John Scoles (High & Lonesome Club), John Sanders (Iron Horse Entertainment), Kath Borer (Music House For Children), Nisha Asnani (Nuyorican Poets Café), Patrick MacIntyre (Ironwood Stage & Grill), Paul Oveisi (ZirZamin), Art Szabo (The Starlite Room), Todd Pinnell (Tattoo Rock Parlour), Steve Silman (The Railway Club), Brice Rosenbloom (Le Poisson Rouge), Eugene Haslam (Zaphod Beeblebrox), Mads Black Just-Olesen (Littlefield), Jon Keats (The Cavern Club), Craig Laskey (Horseshoe Tavern), Edan Wilber (Death By Audio), Erika Nichols (The Bluebird Café), Andy Bodor (Cake Shop), David Jemilo (Green Mill Jazz Club), Hunter Rodgers (Cain’s Ballroom), James White (The Broken Spoke), Jeannette Murrietta (Arts & Venues), Skip The Funktologist (“A Funk Above The Rest”).
Artist bios, as well as music and images for all winning and nominated Albums, EPs, Songs, Design and Music Videos available at www.TheIndependentMusicAwards.com/imanominee/12th<br/ >
Fan Online Voting Will Determine The 12th IMA Vox Pop Winners
In addition to the judge-determined winners announced today, music fans from around the world have until midnight Friday, July 19th to champion their favorite Nominees and determine The 12th IMA Vox Pop Winners by voting online at www.TheIndependentMusicAwards.com/imanominee/12th
The fan-selected Winners will benefit from additional marketing support from The Independent Music Awards. To date more than 23,000 music fans have cast their votes in support of their favorite 12th IMA artists.<br/ >
Artistry Has Its Awards
For more than a decade artists and labels from around the world have found new fans and prominence through The Independent Music Awards.
Produced by Music Resource Group, publisher of the popular industry contact database The Musician’s Atlas, The IMAs uses its unrivaled access to performance, promotion and distribution to connect Winners and Nominees to new audiences and revenue opportunities.
The program receives submissions from artists previously on major labels as well as self-released and indie label talent from more than 70 countries on six continents.
Submissions for The 13th Annual Independent Music Awards are currently being accepted at www.TheIndependentMusicAwards.com/submit.
Program details available at www.TheIndependentMusicAwards.com
The 12th Independent Music Awards Winners:
| Album Categories | Winner | Winning Album |
| Adult Contemporary | Emma-Lee | Backseat Heroine |
| Alt. Country | Mama Rosin | Bye Bye Bayou |
| Americana | The Steel Wheels* | Lay Down, Lay Low |
| Bluegrass | The Dust Busters with John Cohen | Old Man Below |
| Blues | Little Freddie King | Chasing tha Blues |
| Cabaret | Bett Butler | American Sampler |
| Children’s Music | Boxtop Jenkins | You’re Happier When You’re Happy! |
| Compilation | Woody Guthrie | Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection |
| Concept | The Wiyos | Twist |
| Contemporary Christian / Gospel | SUPERHERO | Things We Need for the Journey |
| Contemporary Classical | David Chesky | String Theory |
| Country | JP Harris and The Tough Choices | I’ll Keep Calling |
| Dance/Electronica | Morgan Page | In the Air |
| Eclectic | Skeleton Key | Gravity Is The Enemy |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter | Suzanna Choffel | Steady Eye Shaky Bow |
| Funk/Fusion/Jam | The Brown Edition | Soulpocalypse |
| Indie/Alt. Rock | Team Me | To The Treetops! |
| Instrumental | Kotebel | Concerto for Piano and Electric Ensemble |
| Jazz | Winther-Storm | Spinnaker |
| Latin | Bang Data | La Sopa |
| Live Performance | Gungor | A Creation Liturgy (Live) |
| Metal/Hardcore | Dethklok | Dethalbum III |
| New Age | Various Artists: Birds II: Where the Sounds of Nature Dwell | Birds II: Where the Sounds of Nature Dwell |
| Pop | Marie-Pierre Arthur | Aux alentours |
| R&B/Soul | The Congregation | Right Now Everything |
| Rap/Hip-Hop | Killer Mike | R.A.P. Music |
| Reissue | Louis Armstrong, Tyree Glenn, Tommy Gwaltney | Satchmo at the National Press Club: Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours |
| Rock / Hard Rock | Ben Kweller | Go Fly A Kite |
| Soundtrack / Cast Recording | Chad Farran | On Surfari Sessions Volume 2 |
| Spoken Word | One Hello World | The Listener |
| Tribute | Lou Pallo of Les Paul’s Trio with Special Guests* | Thank You Les: A Tribute To Les Paul |
| World Beat | Sofia Rei | De Tierra Y Oro |
| World Traditional | Mahsa Vahdat & Marjan Vahdat | Twinklings of Hope |
| Song Categories | Winner | Winning Song |
| A Cappella | The Steel Wheels* | “Rain in the Valley” |
| Acoustic | Phoebe Elliot | “Ghosts Roam This Town” |
| Adult Contemporary | Aaron & The Spell | “A Beating Heart” |
| Alt. Country | Lucky Tubb & The Modern Day Troubadours | “Heard Your Name” |
| Americana | The Western Swing Authority | “I’ve Got a Feelin'” |
| Bluegrass | Mark Linford, Denny Johnston & The Buckeye Bluegrass Band | “It’s Okay To Pick It” |
| Blues | Son Roberts | “Brakeman” |
| Cabaret | Beth Duncan | “Comes the Fall” |
| Children’s Music | Martin Zarzar* | “Piggy Piggy Piggy” |
| Contemporary Christian / Gospel | Sarah Cheng-De Winne | “Love-Shape Void” |
| Country | Shari Rowe | “Silly Boy” |
| Cover | Gypsy Soul | “Angel From Montgomery” |
| Dance/Electronica | Looshuss | “Not Myself” |
| Eclectic | Orchid Ensemble | “Dancing Moon” |
| Folk/Singer-Songwriter | Passenger | “Let Her Go” |
| Funk/Fusion/Jam | Bernie Worrell Orchestra | “Get Your Hands Off” |
| Holiday | Amanda Duncan | “Light Those Candles Bright” |
| Indie/Alt. Rock | Air Traffic Controller | “You Know Me” |
| Instrumental | Jorge Grundman | “On Blondes and Detectives” (performed by Brodsky Quartet) |
| Jazz | Jeff Fairbanks’ Project Hansori | “Bi Bim Bop” |
| Latin | La Sardina de Naiguatá | “Volveré (I Will Return)” |
| Love | Soundtrack for Silent Films | “World Goes By” |
| Metal/Hardcore | Five Finger Death Punch | “Coming Down” |
| New Age | Kori Linae Carothers | “Carpe Diem” (Alternate Mix)” |
| Pop | Kyle Patrick | “Follow Your Heartbeat” |
| R&B/Soul | Dezmond Meeks | “Try Me” |
| Rap/Hip-Hop | Wiz Gamb | “I Get It” (feat. Meek Mills & Gillie Da Kid) |
| Rock / Hard Rock | Band of Skulls | “Sweet Sour” |
| Social Action | Willie Nile | “One Guitar” |
| Spoken Word | Paris and the Hiltons | “Quentin Will End Up Killing Himself” |
| Story | Martin Zarzar* | “Two Dollars To Ride the Train” |
| World Beat | Sofia Rei* | “La Gallera” |
| World Traditional | Runa | “Amhrán Mhuighinse” |
| EP Categories | Winner | Winning EP |
| Dance / Electronica | T.H. White | How Bad Do You Want Remixes!? |
| Eclectic | Madiba2013 | Madiba2013 |
| Instrumental | Catherine Marie Charlton | red leaf, grey sky: piano improvisations |
| Jazz | Thelonius | Reminisce |
| Pop | Paper Lions | At Long Creek – EP |
| Rock | Goldrush | Making Moves |
| Roots/Country | Don DiLego | Western & Atlantic |
| Urban | Gyles | Love & Denial |
| World | Khaira Arby | Tchini Tchini |
| Music Producer Category | Winner | Winning Work |
| Music Producer | Kenny Siegal, Bryce Goggin, Brian Geltner | “Johnny Society – Free Society” |
| Design Categories | Winner | Winning Work |
| Album Art | Wong Ping | “No One Remains Virgin – Life Fucks Everyone (LP)” |
| Album Packaging | Visual Dialogue* | “Woody Guthrie – Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection” |
| Artist Concert Photo | David Simchok | “Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (Troy Andrews)” |
| Artist Publicity Photo | Doug Seymour | “City Rain” |
| Music Website | Crudely Chiseled Features | www.savagelucy.co.za |
| Poster | Rachael Sage & Oliver Cartwright | “Haunted By You” Limited Edition Poster |
| Swag | Visual Dialogue* | “Woody at 100 Limited-Edition T-Shirt” |
| Video Categories | Winner | Winning Video |
| Long Form | Lou Pallo of Les Paul’s Trio with Special Guests | Thank You Les: A Tribute To Les Paul |
| Short Form – (tie) | Kim Bingham | “UP!” |
| Short Form – (tie) | Le Peuple de l’Herbe | “Parler le fracas” |