CRITERIA – 22nd Annual Jim Beam® Indie Awards

General Information

The Canadian Independent Music Awards known as “The Indies” acknowledge, promote and honour the achievements of Canadian artists that embody the spirit of the independent music sector.

Nominees will be posted on the Indies website – www.indies.ca – with a photo, bio, audio and video link. The winners of The Indies are determined by a National Selection Jury comprised of professionals from the retail, recording, media, and live sectors.

Eligibility

The Jim Beam® Indies will present 17 Voting Awards (not including the Industry Builder and Indies Hall of Fame).

Only one award will be presented in each category. A maximum of five (5) nominees will be put forward in each award category. If there are less than three (3) nominees, the category will be put on hiatus for the current year only.

To be considered for nomination for the 2023 Indie Awards, national music release dates must fall between the eligibility period of January 1, 2022, and April 1, 2023

Eligible music must be available for all Canadians and for national sale in-store or online via a recognized national music streaming provider.

In the voting categories, artists must be Canadian citizens. This is defined by CMW as 50% or more of group members holding Canadian birth certificates, passports or are Canadian Permanent Resident(s) with residency in Canada during the last six months of the eligibility period.

The submission must have been released through a Canadian independent label or self-released by the Independent Artist.

The release can be distributed through either an independent or major label distributor label physically or online.  The release or submission content must follow the same guidelines as the CRTC CANCON MAPL legislation.

The musical release must qualify for at least 2 of the 4 following criteria.

• M (music): the music is composed entirely by a Canadian
• A (artist): the music is, or the lyrics are, performed principally by a Canadian
• P (performance): the musical selection consists of a performance that is
  • recorded wholly in Canada, or
  • performed wholly in Canada and broadcast live in Canada
• L (lyrics): the lyrics are written entirely by a Canadian

Exceptions: International Artist, Industry Builder, and Indies Hall of Fame will be voted on by a panel of selected industry experts with no conflict of interest between themselves and the nominees.

NOMINATION PROCEDURE

Artist/Group, Duos, or their representatives can submit nominations on their behalf. Applications to nominate artists or groups must be completed online using the Indies website – www.indies.ca – no later than the posted deadline date in order to be eligible for consideration. Labels, managers, publicists, booking agents, and publishers representing multiple artists also have the option to submit online through the Indies website – www.indies.ca – no later than the posted deadline date in order to be eligible for consideration.

SELECTION PROCEDURES

VOTING ROUND 1 The Nomination Committee will be comprised of industry professionals. The top five (5) nominees per category will be selected based on factors including, but not limited to, airplay, social following, streaming, chart position, reviews, etc.

VOTING ROUND 2 Once the nominees are determined, a winner will be selected by a National Selection Jury comprised of professionals from the retail, recording, media, and live sectors.

AWARD CATEGORIES

These Awards are presented to honour artists/teams 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. Greatest hits compilations are not eligible. One Award goes to the Artist.

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. One Award goes to the Group or Duo.

AWARD 3 ARTIST OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist based on the overall performance of the Artist. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 4 SONG OF THE YEAR: This award is given to the Songwriter(s) credited on a commercially released single – that has charted on Canadian radio, achieved success digitally, or on a commercial release. The song must have been released during the eligibility period. If the song was released prior to the eligibility period but achieved its highest charted position during the eligibility period. One Award goes to the songwriter(s). At least 50% of songwriting credits and publishing must be owned by Canadian citizens or landed immigrants. Canadian Songwriters who write for international artists/releases are eligible.

AWARD 5 INDIGENOUS ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist/Group or Duo based on their overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist/Group or Duo.

AWARD 6 ELECTRONIC/DANCE ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist/Group or Duo based on their overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 7 FRANCOPHONE ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist/Group or Duo based on their overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 8: INDEPENDENT LABEL OF THE YEAR: This award is given to the Canadian Independent Label that has had successfully signed and promoted artists in the Independent music sector.

AWARD 9 POP ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist/Group or Duo based on the overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 10 PRODUCER OF THE YEAR: This award will be presented to the Canadian music Producer(s) who were integrally involved in the recording and/or mixing process for independent music released within the current eligibility period.

AWARD 11 PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR: This award is presented to an Independent Canadian publishing company who have published original works by Canadian composers, within the music eligibility period.

AWARD 12 HIP HOP/RAP/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist/Group or Duo based on their overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 13 ROCK / METAL / PUNK / ALTERNATIVE ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist/Group or Duo based on their overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 14 R&B GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist/Group or Duo based on their overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 15 ROOTS/FOLK ARTIST OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist/Group or Duo based on their overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 16 COUNTRY ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist, Group or Duo based on their overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 17 VIDEO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Artist, Group or Duo or Director based on the overall quality and originality of the Video. One Award goes to the Artist.

The following categories are non-voting categories: (Voted on by a committee of industry peers)

AWARD 18 INTERNATIONAL ARTIST/GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR: This Award is given to the Group or Duo based on their overall performance. One Award goes to the Artist.

AWARD 19 “INDIES HALL OF FAME” AWARD: This Award recognizes artists that have made a long-term contribution to the development and growth of the Canadian music industry. Nominations can be submitted to Canadian Music Week. The decision will then be made to present an award by the Awards Committee. The recipient must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant. One Award will be presented.

“THE JIM BEAM® INDIES” AWARDS

2023 Submissions for Nomination

Nomination applications for the Indie Awards are available through the Indie Awards website at www.indies.ca. The Indie Awards will take place during Canadian Music Week. All nominated bands/artists will receive ONE complimentary virtual delegate pass for the 2023 Music Summit. All bands/artists must pre-register for the Music Summit. Registration details will be supplied notification of your nomination. For more information on the Music Summit schedule, please check the Canadian Music Week website at www.cmw.net

HOW TO SUBMIT A NOMINATION

To submit a nomination for the 22nd Annual Jim Beam® Indie Awards, individuals (bands, artists or representatives) must fill out an on-line application through the Indie Awards website – www.indies.ca/register

Fees:

Early Bird: A fee of $40.00 CAD each for the first two (2) nominations. For 3 or more nominations a fee of $100.00 CAD is applied as a one-time cost for all submissions.

After March 19^th nominations will be $50.00 CAD each for the first two (2) nominations. For 3 or more nominations a fee of $120.00 CAD

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: APRIL 8th, 2023