The Canadian Independent Music Awards known as “The Indies” acknowledge, promote and honour the achievements of Canadian and International 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 determined by a combination of fan and industry voting.
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 categories

C.A.A.M.A. has authorized the presentation of 28 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 September 1, 2007 through December 1, 2008. 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 completed online using Sonicbids - www.sonicbids.com/indies2009 - 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 the most popular song or track according to all format audience impressions based on performance at radio and on-line. Tracks from albums are not eligible unless they have been released as singles during the eligibility period. The 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 LIVE 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 in live performances. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 7 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 8 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 9 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 10 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 11 DANCE 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 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 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 PUNK/HARDCORE 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 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 20 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 21 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 22 INTERNATIONAL GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (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 23 INTERNATIONAL 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 24 INTERNATIONAL 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 25 INTERNATIONAL SINGLE OF THE YEAR
This Award is for the most popular song or track according to all format audience impressions based on performance at radio and on-line. Tracks from albums are not eligible unless they have been released as singles during the eligibility period. The Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 26 INTERNATIONAL BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to an emerging Act (Artist/Group or Duo) who has not previously been nominated in any Indies awards category for any release and shows significant potential for future endeavors. One Award goes to the Act.

AWARD 27 INTERNATIONAL 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 28 INDISCOVER.NET ARTIST/BAND WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
This Award is given to the Act (Artist/Group or Duo) based on the overall design and creativity of the artist’s website. Websites submitted will be reviewed for nomination on December 1, 2008. 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)
2009 NOMINATION PROCEDURES

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

The 9th 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 on Wednesday March 11, 2009 in the legendary Canadian Ballroom at the Fairmont Royal York hotel.

All submitting bands/artists will receive ONE complimentary delegate pass for TuneUp 2009 (est. value $250.00 each). All bands/artists must pre-register for the TuneUp Conference. Registration details will be supplied in January 2009 with notification of your nomination. For more information on the TuneUp schedule, please check the website at www.cmw.net

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: MONDAY DECEMBER 1, 2008

HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION

To submit a nomination for the 9th Annual Indie Awards, individuals (bands, artists or representatives) must fill out an on-line application through Sonicbids - available at www.sonicbids.com/indies2009 - and use a Sonicbids EPK (Electronic Press Kit).

A fee of $50.00 CAD is applied to all new and existing Sonicbids members.

A discounted fee of $35.00 CAD is available to all bands/artists who submit their nominations before November 15, 2008. After this date, the full fee of $50.00 CAD will be applied.

A fee is applied for each category nomination.

THE IMPORTANT FINE PRINT

Submissions must have been released between September 1, 2007 - December 1, 2008.
Only electronic submissions will be accepted.
Applicants can submit to multiple categories.
Recordings must be a commercial release (no CDR's or demos) with a minimum run of 500 units.
A nominee's distributor can be Canadian and/or multi-national.
Nominees will be notified by phone/email by mid-January 2009.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: DECEMBER 1, 2008