Monday, March 12, 2012

Shawna Nominated for Top 'Country Album' by 11th Annual Independent Music Awards

NASHVILLE, TN (March 12, 2012)- Way Out West Records' artist Shawna Russell has been nominated by the 11th Annual Independent Music Awards in the 'Country Album' category for her self-titled sophomore album.

This is the second IMA nomination for Russell. Her debut album, Goddess, was nominated in the same category in 2008.

More than 300 exceptional self-released and independent label artists, as well as former major label acts were named by Music Resource Group (MRG) recently as Nominees in The 11th Annual Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential awards program for independent bands and fans. IMA winners will be promoted to more than 50 million music fans worldwide.

The 11th IMA Nominees are an eclectic mix of established artists and artists on the rise. In addition to Russell, other nominees include Bruce Cockburn (Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album), Ellis Marsalis (Concept Album and Cover Song), Larry Carlton (Tribute Album), April Verch (Americana Album and Acoustic Song), RuPaul (Social Action Song), and retro-rock recording artist JD McPherson (Rock/Hard Rock Album), among others.

Representing the broad spectrum of today's global independent music scene, the Nominees in over 70 Song, Album, Music Video and Design categories were culled from thousands of submissions from North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.
Winners will be determined by a panel of 77 influential artist and industry judges including Keith Richards, Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan, Suzanne Vega, Joshua Redman, Tori Amos, Michael Franti, Bettye LaVette, Del McCoury,  Ozzy Osbourne, Shelby Lynne, Alan Light (Live From The Artists Den), Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour), Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), Sara Beesley (Joe's Pub), Chris Diaz (Knitting Factory Entertainment), and Evan Schlansky (American Songwriter) and will be announced in April, 2012. In addition to industry-determined winners, music fans from around the world have until Friday, July 20, 2012 to cast their votes for Russell and other nominees at  The IMA Vox Pop Jukebox to determine the fan-selected IMA Winners.


Russell's latest single, "Waitin' On Sunrise" is currently #37 on the MusicRow chart.  She is currently filming a reality television series tentatively titled "Small Bus, Big Country," which documents her life as a working female artist who travels the country in a tour bus once owned by musical icon, Willie Nelson. The series is being developed by CRM Studios of Dallas, Texas.