Fourth Annual Independent Music Awards®

Announce best in a variety of music categories

Montclair, NJ (January 31, 2005) – At a time when record numbers of artists and consumers are discovering new music and opportunities through independent channels, Music Resource Group (MRG) today announced the winners of its 4^th annual Independent Music Awards (IMAs).

The IMAs unveiled the winners of the year’s best performers, performances and creative designs in a total of 18 categories.

Winners of the 4^th annual IMA program ranged from artists with established credits including Darrell Scott (Album Of The Year) and Chris Whitley (Blues/R&B), to bands with growing fan bases like 2004 OzzFest opener Lacuna Coil (Hard Rock/Metal) and Grammy® nominated Angel Melendez & the 911 Mambo Orchestra (Latin), to indie scene regulars Rachael Sage (Folk/Singer-Songwriter) and Shamra (Pop/Rock).

The IMA Winners Jukebox at www.disclogic.com/imawinners.jsp includes the

complete list of winners in all music categories.  A separate IMA Finalists Jukebox

at www.disclogic.com/imafinalists.jsp features the complete list of nominees. 

Visitors to both online jukeboxes now have the ability to stream single tracks of all winners and finalists.  Their music will soon be available for purchase as digital downloads.

In addition to music honors, the Independent Music Awards also recognized achievements in several design categories including Album Art (John Cage & Lejaren Hiller’s “HPSCHD”); Album Photography (The Cringe “Scratch The Surface”); and Merchandising (Yonder Mountain String Band Tour Poster).

“This year’s IMA winners and finalists are on the forefront of an industry that is verging on a true democracy,” said Martin Folkman, IMA program director.  “Since many of the winning artists used home-based technologies to produce, record, promote and distribute their work, these talented artists are leaders of a new music revolution.  The Independent Music Awards were established to develop new markets for indie artists, labels and releases.

Fourth Annual Independent Music Awards®…page 2

This year’s celebrity judging panel included Delbert McClinton, Erykah Badu, Loudon Wainwright III, William Ackerman, Victor L. Wooton and Alan Light.  The Design categories panel included Jeri Heiden, Merri Cyr, Spencer Drate & Judith Salavetz.

Borders Books & Music Promotes Winners

Created and coordinated by Music Resource Group, publisher of the best-selling

music industry resource, The Musician’s Atlas, the Independent Music Awards has implemented a variety of programs and events to market and promote IMA winners throughout the year.  In addition to establishing the two online jukeboxes, MRG will produce an “IMA WINNERS CD” which will be distributed to music journalists, commercial & public radio stations and industry insiders.  Boston-based promotion company The Planetary Group will service the IMA Winners CD to college radio stations throughout North America.

The IMA Winners CD will also receive increased distribution from three-time IMA

co-sponsor Borders Books & Music.  This spring, the retailer will enhance its IMA efforts by promoting the IMA compilation and sponsoring a variety of in-store events in the chain’s top-ranked music sales markets.  IMA winning artist albums will also be available in stores and on the BordersStores.com site.

As in the past, Borders will promote IMA winners to its 5 million customer database via the chain’s monthly newsletter and make the winners’ full-length CDs available for sale on the BordersStores.com website.

About The Independent Music Awards

Established in 1999, the Independent Music Awards honor excellence within the indie artist community.  The program goal is to provide real opportunities for independent releases to be heard by music fans and industry decision makers.

MRG And The Musician’s Atlas

Music Resource Group, formed in 1997, develops products and programs used by artists and music business professionals to successfully create, perform, promote and distribute music. With or without label support.  The Musician’s Atlas premiered in 1998 and quickly became the best-selling music industry resource.  An online version of the annual print directory is now available to subscribers.

The postmark deadline for submissions to the 5^th annual Independent Music Awards program is Friday, August 12, 2005.

More information on the Independent Music Awards and The Musician’s Atlas is available online at: www.MusiciansAtlas.com.

Independent Music Awards

4^th Program Winners

ALBUM OF THE YEAR                     Darrell Scott                 “Theatre Of The Unheard”)

POP/ROCK                                        Shamra

FOLK/SINGER-SONGWRITER        Rachael Sage   

JAZZ                                                   Modern Groove Syndicate

BLUES/R&B                                       Chris Whitley

COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS                  The John E. Vistic Experience

DANCE/ELECTRONICA                   Staaarchild

FILM/TV                                             Michael Brandmeier

CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN      Circleslide

HARD ROCK/METAL                       Lacuna Coil

RAP/HIP-HOP                                    3 Kings

LATIN                                                 Angel Melendez & The 911 Mambo Orchestra

WORLD                                              Katie Viqueira

JAM                                                    Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius

NEW AGE                                          Suzanne Teng & Mystic Journey

ALBUM ART                                      Michael Wrycraft          “HPSCHD”

ALBUM PHOTOGRAPHY                Chris Gorman               “Scratch The Surface”

MERCHANDISING                           Dave Gink                    Yonder Mountain String Band

                                                                                                (Tour Poster)

Music, images and more information is available online at:  www.MusiciansAtlas.com