Sheva

20th January 2007
ISRAELI BAND SHEVA AMONG WINNERS OF THE 6TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
INDIE ARTISTS FROM FIVE CONTINENTS TO BE PROMOTED TO MORE THAN 10 MILLION PEOPLE & APPEAR IN 2007 EDITION OF THE MUSICIAN’S ATLAS
Israel based artist/band Sheva is among a diverse group of independent musicians named as winners of the 6th Annual Independent Music Awards. Sheva - Live in Australia Album Won the Live Performance Album Category. A World music ensemble, born in 1996 in a unique community situated in the Galilee Mountains, in northern Israel, creating and performing original music. SHEVA incorporates instruments from around the world and motives from the roots of Hebrew and Arabic cultures as well as tribal cultures, creating a musical journey through meditation, prayer and celebration.
Sheva’s band members are coming from Muslim and Jewish backgrounds and the main theme in their songs is the call for peace in the Middle East and around the world.
Sheva are known for their moving performances which combines an ecstatic Middle Eastern rhythms and contemporary sound.
Sheva are known for their moving performances which combines an ecstatic Middle Eastern rhythms and contemporary sound.

All IMA winners were selected by a panel of celebrity and industry judges and will receive year-long marketing support to enhance the campaigns for their current projects and careers. The winners encompass both established and emerging talent including Speech, the GRAMMY® Award-winning artist of Arrested Development fame; God Forbid, the heavy metal band fresh from Ozzfest; and The Vacancies, the new addition to Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records.
IMA winners will appear in the updated 2007 edition of The Musician’s Atlas – the independent musicians’ and entrepreneurs’ definitive guide to the music business, available on December 15, 2006. Developed and coordinated by Music Resource Group, publisher of The Musician’s Atlas, the Independent Music Award program delivers a variety of premiums to Winners including:

· Year-long marketing campaigns, partnerships and distribution alliances, that will place the Winners in front of millions of music fans and industry decision makers around the world.

· Music promotion to college & public radio stations by The Planetary Group, a leading radio promotions company with access to 700 stations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

·An arrangement with BordersStores.com that makes their CDs available for purchase. Additionally Borders Books & Music will spotlight IMA Winners in 12 consecutive “Short List” weekly newsletters that direct more than 9 Million of their opt-in subscribers to the IMA Winners Jukebox at the Independent Music Awards site.

·Winners in the album and song categories will have a song included on the 2007 IMA Winners CD compilation which will be distributed to 10,000 music fans and industry movers and shakers at music conferences and festivals such as SXSW, Ozzfest, The Warped Tour and other events throughout the year.
·The IMA Winners compilation will also be available for an exclusive free download on eMusic and the Winners and IMA program will be featured in 11 eMusic newsletters throughout 2007.

Other notable winners include: Sheva, the world music ensemble made up of Israeli and Palestinian musicians, winner of the Best Live Performance for ‘Sheva - Live In Australia;’ the electronic pop duo Bitter:Sweet, winner of the Best Pop/Rock Album for ‘The Mating Game’ – the band’s songs have appeared in the official soundtrack for the film “The Devil Wears Prada” (“Bittersweet Faith”) as well as two national TV commercials for Korbel Champagne, and the Bebe clothing chain; jazz guitarist Duane Andrews, winner of the Best Jazz Album for ‘Crocus,’ who recently performed at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Sunfest and the Atlantic Jazz Festival; activist Dan Bern, winner in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category for his album “Breathe;” and Melissa McClelland, winner of Best Americana Song for “Passenger 24,” who is currently touring with Sarah McLachlan.
The IMA Winners were determined by a celebrity and industry judging panel that included: Peter Gabriel, Wynonna, Suzanne Vega, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Frisell, Afrika Bambaataa, Paul Oakenfold, Buddy Guy, Bebel Gilberto and McCoy Tyner, among others.
Music industry pros that were not part of this year’s judging panel and music fans can cast their vote at the IMA site. Winners of this “Vox Populi” poll will be announced January 17, 2007.
See IMA winners in the album and song categories below:

For a complete list of winners and categories go to:
http://www.IndependentMusicAwards.com/pages/jukebox2007.asp

ALBUM CATEGORIES

AMERICANA - Kristy Kruger, ‘Songs From A Dead Man’s Couch;’ BLUES - Watermelon Slim & The Workers, ‘Watermelon Slim & The Workers;’ CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN - Chris Kipp, ‘Chris Kipp;’ COUNTRY - Miko Marks, ‘Freeway Bound;’ DANCE & ELECTRONICA - Paul & Price, ‘Sounds Like Sex - Independent Music Awards