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THE CANADIAN INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS GENERAL INFORMATION

The Canadian Independent Music Awards known as "The Indies" acknowledge, promote and honour achievements of Canadian independent artists in the independent music sector. The Indies are an initiative of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Music & The Arts (C.A.A.M.A.).

Nominees will be posted on the CMW website ‚ www.cmw.net ‚ with a photo, bio and audio stream to be voted on by the general public. The winners of The Indies are not determined by a panel of judges but by the fans. Exceptions: Industry Builder & Indies Hall of Fame

An Artist must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant. At least 50% of the Group or Duo must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. 50% of the nominee's songwriting and recording must be 100% Canadian. Exception: International Indie Artist/Group or Duo

C.A.A.M.A. has authorized the presentation of 20 Awards (not including the Industry Builder and Indies Hall of Fame) at an event to be held during Canadian Music Week. Only one award will be presented in each category.

There must be at least five (5) nominees in each category in order for that category to remain on the ballot for the current year. If there are less than five (5) nominees, the category may be put on hiatus for the current year only.

The eligibility period for all awards categories will run from May 1, 2003 through October 29, 2004. Nominees must have been active during the eligibility period and are based on the performance of the group or artist either on record or in live performances.

Voting rules are subject to change without notice.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

NOMINATIONS
Representatives of an Independent Artist/Group or Duo can submit nominations on their behalf. Applications to nominate independent artists or groups must be submitted to the C.A.A.M.A. office no later than the posted deadline date in order to be eligible for consideration.

VOTING ROUND 1
National Selection juries comprised of no less than 10 professionals from the retail, recording and live sectors nominate five contenders in each category. The top five (5) contenders receiving the most votes in each category will appear on the electronic voting ballot.

VOTING ROUND 2
Once the nominees are determined, all nominees will be posted on the CMW website at www.cmw.net. Participation in voting is open to the general public during the posted voting period on the CMW website. The nominee receiving the most votes in each category will be announced as the winner at the annual Indie Awards presentation during Canadian Music Week.

ADJUDICATION
Votes are submitted electronically to an independent accounting firm for final tabulation. The results of the voting process are protected until the annual Indie Awards presentation.

"THE INDIES" AWARDS

These Awards are presented to honour artists that have excelled in their musical genre during the eligibility period.

AWARD 1 • ALBUM OF THE YEAR
This Award is for an album as a whole containing no less than six tracks. The Album must have been released during the eligibility period. Final nominees from the previous year are not eligible in the current year. Greatest hits compilations are not eligible. The Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 2 • GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Group or Duo based on the overall performance of the Group or Duo either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Group or Duo.

AWARD 3 • SINGLE OF THE YEAR
This Award is for single records only based on performance at radio. Tracks from albums are not eligible unless they have been released as singles during the eligibility period. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 4 • SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Artist based on the overall performance of the Artist either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 5 • VIDEO OF THE YEAR
This award is given for an original video recording of one song by an Act (Artist/Group or Duo). The video must have been released during the eligibility period. The Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 6 • BLUES ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 7 • CHILDREN'S ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 8 • CLASSICAL ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 9 • COUNTRY ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 10 • ELECTRONICA ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 11 • FOLK/ROOTS ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 12 • FRANCOPHONE ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 13 • JAZZ ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 14 • LATIN ALTERNATIVE ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 15 • METAL ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 16 • POP ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 17 • ROCK ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 18 • URBAN ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 19 • WORLD ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 20 • INTERNATIONAL INDIE ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall performance of the Act either on record or in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

The following categories are non-voting categories.

INDUSTRY BUILDER
This Award recognizes the individual who has contributed their time and talents to promote and advance Canadian independent artists both domestically and internationally. Nominations can be submitted to C.A.A.M.A. The decision will then be made to present an award by the Board of Directors. The recipient must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant. One Award will be presented.

INDIES HALL OF FAME
This Award recognizes the long-term contributions of an individual(s) to the development of Canadian artists and growth of the Canadian music industry. Nominations can be submitted to C.A.A.M.A. The decision will then be made to present an award by the Board of Directors. The recipient must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant. One Award will be presented.

CANADIAN INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS (THE INDIES) NOMINATION PROCEDURES

Nomination applications for the Indies Awards are available on the Canadian Music Week website at www.cmw.net.

The 5th Annual Canadian Independent Music Awards are an initiative of the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Music & The Arts (C.A.A.M.A.).

The Indie Awards will take place in Toronto Wednesday March 2, 2005 as the kick-off event for CMW2005. Once the location and times have been confirmed, it will be posted on the Canadian Music Week website at www.cmw.net.

All applicant band members will receive a complimentary delegate pass for TuneUp 2005 (est. value $225.00 each). For more information on the TuneUp schedule, please check the website at www.cmw.net.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: (POSTMARKED) FRIDAY OCTOBER 29, 2004

HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION

There are three ways to submit your nominations for the 5th Annual Indie Awards:

1. ON-LINE
Save time by submitting your application on-line on the CMW website using a sonicbids EPK (Electronic Press Kit).

For just $55.00 CDN you can become a sonicbids member for six (6) months and submit for The Indies at no additional charge. You can use your EPK again and again to connect with club owners, festival directors, radio station programmers and conference organizers at the click of a mouse.

Itís faster, better, easier and cheaper than standard bulky press kits.

Already a sonicbids member? Submission is only $50.00 CDN. Log into your account and submit your EPK using your Promoter Drop Box. It beats express mail every time.

2. EMAIL
Complete The Indies nomination application form and email it to indies@cmw.net along with the following materials:

• $50.00 CDN plus 7% GST ($53.50) non-refundable processing fee (please complete credit card information on the form)
• Three (3) MP3's of key tracks from your CD
• One (1) high resolution photo
• One (1) bio
• One (1) press kit if available

3. MAIL
Complete The Indies nomination application form and mail it along with the following materials:

• $50.00 CDN plus 7% GST ($53.50) non-refundable processing fee (please complete credit card information on the form)
• Two (2) copies of your CD (NO DAT's or Vinyl)
• Two (2) high resolution photos (no photo copies)
• Two (2) copies of bio
• One (1) press kit if available

NOTE: If you are submitting your application by mail, if possible, please submit your bio, photo and 3 key tracks as MP3's, all on a CD-R.

Mail to:
The Indies 2005
c/o C.A.A.M.A.
P.O. Box 42232
128 Queen St. S
Mississauga, ON L5M 4Z0

THE IMPORTANT FINE PRINT

• Submissions must have been released between May 1, 2003 ‚ Nov 1, 2004.
• No couriers will be accepted.
• Electronic submissions are preferred.
• Applicants must specify what category they are submitting for.
• Recordings must be a commercial release (no CDRís or demos) with a minimum run of 500 units.
• A nominee's distributor can be Canadian and/or multi-national.
• All of the above elements must be included with your submission in order to be considered.
• Nominees will be notified by phone/email by mid-January 2005.
• We will listen to a maximum of 3 tracks, so please list titles accordingly.
• All submitted material becomes the property of C.A.A.M.A. and will not be returned.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: (POSTMARKED) FRIDAY OCTOBER 29, 2004

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