Wednesday 27th February 2008
INDY MUSIC AWARDS STRIKE RIGHT CHORD WITH SPONSORS AS INDUSTRY AND TOP BRANDS ANNOUNCE INVOLVEMENT
Organisers of the INDY Music Awards have today (Wednesday 27th February) confirmed that this year’s glittering awards show will take place at The Forum in London’s Kentish Town on Friday 25th April. Bringing together a wealth of emerging, independent and established music industry talent for the second year in a row, The INDY’s will once again recognise the unsung heroes that are the lifeblood of the independent music scene.
Following on from the success of the event’s inaugural year in 2007, Gibson Guitar, Virtual Festivals, Music Uncharted and Frontline Clothing have already confirmed their involvement as sponsors with further support coming from respected industry bodies including PRS, The Musicians’ Union and AIM.
Delighted to be on board with the INDY’s, Henry Juszkiewicz Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO said, “Gibson Guitar is proud to be associated with this year’s INDY Music Awards and to support new and established artists”.
Keith Gilbert, Managing Director of PRS Public Performance Sales said: “We are thrilled to be supporting the 2008 INDY Music Awards for the second year and are particularly delighted to now be sponsoring all the 3 categories for Venue of the Year.
“The Venue of the Year Awards are an important step towards recognising venues that provide essential platforms for music, in the form of stages or music nights, for new and established acts to perform their work. Music venues across the UK are crucial to supporting and promoting the future of the music industry”.
Remi Harris, General Manager of AIM, said "The INDY Music Awards are an exciting new way of the live music scene highlighting and rewarding the undiscovered performers that are packing out venues with punters. AIM is proud to be supporting the awards' in their second year, and wish them many more to come."
Diane Baxter, National Organiser – Live Performance & Teaching at The Musicians' Union added, “The Musicians' Union is very pleased to be supporting the INDY Music Awards for the second year running. The MU is there for musicians of all genres and at every stage of their career - from initial breakthrough to established acts right through to the end of a performing career. The MU supports all live music and especially welcomes opportunities for musicians to have their work recognised by the music industry. We wish the INDY Music Awards success and the recognition they deserve”.
Momentum is building quickly for the awards, with 500 venues, festivals and promoters across the UK already registered on the site and 500 artists from a wide range of genres nominated to date. However, there is still time for venues, festivals (who will be recognised for their support for emerging artists with a new Best Festival Award) and promoters to register and make their nominations at www.indyawards.co.uk before 31st March.
Said Steve Jenner, Director of Virtual Festivals, sponsor of the Best Festival Award, “Today’s emerging artists are tomorrow’s festival headliners so it’s vitally important that festivals recognise and invest in this; the future of the scene. The INDY Music Awards present the perfect platform to commend the ones that do and we’re delighted and privileged to be supporting the Best Festival Award”.
As well as highlighting the best independent talent throughout the UK, the INDY Music Awards will also be doing their bit for the environment as one of a growing number of music events to offset their carbon footprint by purchasing acres of Amazon Rainforest through the INDY Music Awards official charity STARO.
Jeremy Glover, CEO of the INDY Music Awards said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to have such well respected brands and industry organisations on board for the INDY Music Awards 2008. It’s great to see such support for these very talented artists, independent venues and promoters at a grassroots level. We’d like to thank all of our partners and sponsors for helping to highlight the very best in emerging live music”.
A limited number of opportunities for sponsorship are still available for this year’s awards. For more information and to discuss further, contact Jam2Day
Jane Duggan | jane@jam2day.net | M: 07976 703123
Kirsten Mavric | kirsten@jam2day.net | M: 07866 596333
For more information on the INDY Music Awards 2008, log onto www.indyawards.co.uk
For media information or images, contact Burt Greener Communications Ltd
Aarti Joshi | T: 0141 2486007 | E: aarti@burtgreener.co.uk | M: 07974 978830
Kirsty Atkinson | T: 0141 2486007 | E: kirsty@burtgreener.co.uk | M: 07736 281684
For more information:
Gibson - http://www.gibson.com/
Frontline - http://www.frontlineimage.co.uk/
The Forum - http://www.kentishtownforum.com/
Virtual Festivals - http://www.virtualfestivals.com/
Music Uncharted - http://www.musicuncharted.com/
Musicians Union - http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/
AIM - http://www.musicindie.org/
PRS - http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/
STARO - http://www.staro.org/