The organizers of the PLUG Independent Music Awards have announced details for 2008’s events as it rolls into its fifth year overall and fourth with an awards ceremony. The PLUG Awards have become a significant accolade for independent music, signified by the ever-changing shift in the music industry as it veers itself away from major label business. The nomination process has now officially begun for over 30 award categories, celebrating the best in independent music, from the artists themselves to the venues where they perform and the media that praises them.
During the month of October, the PLUG Advisory Board (a/k/a PLUG Cartel) that consists of key tastemakers recognized by the music community as those who fight most to raise the voice independent artists and releases in every medium of the business, meet to choose the nominees. On November 13, the official 2008 Nominees will be announced and fans worldwide will vote to determine the winners. Winners will be announced at the 2008 PLUG Independent Music Award ceremony and concert scheduled for March 6 in New York City.
The process has begun for selection of PLUG Award nominees who will be announced on November 13. From now through November 4, the nominees for the year’s best independent music, video, label, festival, website, print and online media, radio, record store and DVD are being selected by the PLUG Advisory Board (AKA PLUG Cartel – more below). The nominees are announced in the form of an online ballot, which goes live at www.plugawards.com where fans from all over the world can begin casting their votes to determine the winners.
States PLUG Awards founder Gerry Hart, “We’re excited to bring PLUG back for another season after overwhelming support from fans and the independent community last year. PLUG seems to have struck chord that hits close to home for a lot of us devoted music fans who have always looked to the independent music community first for vital, ground-breaking, even revolutionary music. We’re particularly excited about this season and to see who will end up on the ballot in November after witnessing a growing mainstream shift in focus toward what independent labels and artists are up to. Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails and others seem to be stretching their necks around the corner too to get a peek at how this community works and why embracing it makes more sense now than ever.”
"We couldn't be happier with how much PLUG has grown over the past few years and where it’s headed,” adds partner Amaechi Uzoigwe. “That growth is coinciding with the rise of independent music in general, which is really exciting. Most of all, to play a role in exposing and celebrating the amazing music coming out of our world each year, not to mention all the purveyors of it, is incredibly rewarding."
In addition, PLUG, along with partners GenArt and OurStage.com, is planning the PLUG City Highlights tour, which will make stops in Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago and Brooklyn prior to the awards ceremony and concert in March. The events planned in these cities focus on shining PLUG’s spotlight on their vibrant independent music communities. PLUG partners with top promoters and tastemakers in each of these cities to curate all-local shows highlighting the best up-and-coming bands, artists, film makers, fashion designers, blogs, zines and more. Further information on the PLUG City Highlights tour will be provided at a later date.
This year, PLUG will be partnering with OurStage.com to raise money and awareness for the Grameen Foundation. For each PLUG voter who registers for the Ourstage.com community, $2 will go to the Grameen Foundation’s unique fight to end poverty. Grameen Foundation’s mission is to empower the poorest of the poor to lift themselves out of poverty through its support of microfinance, commonly known as "banking for the poor.” With tiny loans, savings and technology, the foundation helps the poorest of the poor, mostly women, start self-sustaining businesses, to escape poverty. As a borrower’s business grows, so does her self-esteem and her family’s well-being. Grameen Foundation was founded in 1997 by individuals inspired by Professor Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank, Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. Professor Yunus is a founding and current board member of Grameen Foundation. Today, Grameen Foundation provides financing, technology and training to microfinance institutions that serve families across Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East (over 3.6 million families in 25 countries). For more information log on to: http://www.grameenfoundation.org
For complete information regarding the PLUG Independent Music Awards log on to:
www.plugawards.com
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