Legendary Music Execs Seek Deals for Indie Artists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEGENDARY MUSIC EXECS SEEK DEVELOPMENT DEALS TAILORED FOR INDIE ARTISTS

Phil Quartararo & Bob Cutarella To Lead The Independent Music Awards New A&R Board

New York, NY – November 5th, 2017 – – The Independent Music Awards (IMAs), the influential platform for self-released and indie label talent, announced today the formation of an A&R Development Board tasked with creating career changing opportunities for select IMA member artists. The Board will be led by two of the recording industry’s most successful executives: Phil Quartararo & Robert Cutarella, who collectively have helped shape the careers of nearly every iconic recording artist of the last 30 years.

The powerhouse duo will seek to match standout artists entered in The 16th annual IMAs with deals tailored to suit various career stages including artist development, publishing, sync placement, brand sponsorship and live performance festival bookings. The announcement of the A&R Board comes 3 weeks before The 16th annual IMA call for entries deadline on November 30th, 2017.

“We’re thrilled to have the illustrious ‘Phil Q.’ and Bob Cutarella on board to help us provide meaningful opportunities for incredible indie musicians – at every stage of their careers,” said IMA Executive Director, Martin Folkman. “Aside from their well-earned reputation as Artist advocates, these are the visionaries who helped make U2, Norah Jones, Green Day, Beck, Chaka Khan, Tom Petty and John Lee Hooker household names, and that’s just a small handful,” Folkman said.

Album, EP, Song, Music Video and Design projects can be submitted for review in The 16th IMAs at The Independent Music Awards site until Thursday, November 30th at midnight EST.  Nominees will be announced in February 2018; Winners, in March at The 16th annual Independent Music Awards at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.

As top executive at Virgin Records, Warner Brothers and EMI, Phil Q had a significant hand in the enduring careers of such diverse acts as The Police, REM, Dolly Parton, Janet Jackson, Grace Jones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Rolling Stones, Steve Miller, Stephen Curtis ChapmanBen Harper, Van Halen, Trace Adkins, Joe Bonomassa and Ziggy Marley, to name just a few.

As publisher and producer, former Director of Artist Acquisition at Warner/Chappell, VP of John Hammond’s label at CBS/Sony, MCA’s East Coast Director and CEO of his own publishing and management company, Robert Cutarella has over 160 platinum albums and 3,000 recorded songs to his credit in addition to his recent multiple Grammy wins. A partial list of his successes includes Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Madonna, Jeff Beck, Sting, Michael Jackson, Billy Gibbons, and Keith Richards. Most recently, he’s had success with several indie artists charting on Billboard’s top 20, including DeGrazio and Kristi.

ARTISTRY HAS ITS AWARDS

Now in its 16th year, The Independent Music Awards celebrate the year’s most exceptional and innovative independent music projects from around the globe. The program’s unique platform engages established and emerging talent, music fans, iconic artists & industry gatekeepers in year-round, immersive engagements, culminating in a day-long celebration at the renowned Lincoln Center for The Performing Arts.

Many of today’s most unique artists and bands including Valerie June, Masta Ace, Flying Lotus, Amy Lee, fun., Killer Mike, Macy Gray, Meghan Trainor, I See Stars, Passenger and Jackson Browne have received IMA honors at various stages of their careers. Submission details and a complete list of Artists and Judges are available at www.IndependentMusicAwards.com.

Contact: Martin Folkman
[email protected]com
PH: 973.767.1812

Phil Quartararo
Bob Cutarella