FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Independent Music Awards (IMA) – the awards program for the indie revolution - and Myxer (www.myxer.com), the leader in ad-supported mobile content, break new ground with today’s announcement of a new Ringtone category that has just been added to the current IMA program.

Submissions to this category will be accepted until November 21, 2008.

The addition of the Ringtone category to the expansive IMA program, which honors the best of indie music marketing, design and a wide assortment of music genres, is in keeping with the changing realities of today’s music industry.

“The new IMA Ringtone category reflects an industry that must always be on the cutting-edge of new media opportunities,” said Martin Folkman, IMA Program Director. “Mobile is an extremely important platform for music. While major labels and their artists may worry about a reported decline in Ringtone sales overall, indie artists use a different metric for their promotion and sales activities and Ringtones offer them significant marketing and sales opportunities” said Folkman. “We partnered with Myxer, the leader in mobile content, to ensure that indie artists have every opportunity to compete and succeed in the marketplace” continued Folkman.

According to Myxer CEO and Founder, Myk Willis, “We’re excited about Myxer’s involvement with the Independent Music Awards. Both of our organizations are intent on leveling the playing field for independent artists. Myxer provides the technology,and 12 million member community, that enables indie artists to easily distribute their music – for fee or free – across all mobile carriers and the IMAs provides the artists with well-deserved recognition and exposure to millions of fans and industry insiders. It’s a perfect match for artists and music fans,” said Willis.

IMA Winners To Be Promoted To Millions of Music Fans

As in the general IMA program, the winners and finalists in the Ringtone category will be promoted to millions of music fans and industry gatekeepers including Programmers, Talent Buyers, Journalists, Film, TV & Gaming Music Supervisors via yearlong print, online and broadcast promotions as well as distribution and performance opportunities.

Unlike the general program however, which closed submissions last week, the submission deadline for the Ringtone category continues through November 21.

Additionally, in the general IMA program, winners are determined by influential artists and industry professionals including Peter Gabriel, Roger Daltrey, Keith Urban, Clint Black, Pacquito D’Rivera, Butch Walker, Suzanne Vega, Steve Vai and John Patitucci; winners in the Ringtone category will be determined solely by music fans voting (via downloads) at the IMAs and Myxer’s official sites.

Artists that don’t already have a Ringtone can easily create them for free from clips of their songs at www.myxer.com/share.

For more information about the Independent Music Awards, contact: 973.509.9898/ Joelle Caputa - Joelle@IndependentMusicAwards.com;
Martin Folkman – Martin@IndependentMusicAwards.com.

For more information about Myxer contact artist@myxer.com.