Denver's Own Eric Roberts Among Finalists of the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards

Indie Artists From 6 Continents to Be Promoted to More Than 20 Million & Appear in 2009 Edition of the Musician's Atlas

DENVER, CO--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 5, 2009 -- Denver-based artist ERIC ROBERTS is among a diverse group of independent musicians named as a finalist in the "new age" category of the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards for the track "Flowing" from his debut CD "IN A SILENT PLACE," which has received rave reviews and features world renowned cellist, David Darling. "In A Silent Place" is an album of sublime instrumental guitar sounds." - 20th Century Guitar Magazine. "Eric Roberts plays guitar with a sincerity and emotive technique that rivals the finest players we've heard" - earbuzz.com.

IMA Finalists will now advance to the final round of judging by a distinguished group of influential artists and industry insiders. The Judges who will determine this year's IMA Winners include Peter Gabriel, Suzanne Vega, Roger Daltrey, George Jones, Buddy Guy, James "Blood" Ulmer, Paquito D'Rivera, Keith Urban, Lee Ritenour, DJ Skribble, Clint Black, Kurtis Blow, Zakk Wylde, Rolling Stone contributing editor Anthony DeCurtis, MTV Music Supervisor Carrie Hughes, JVC Jazz Festival talent buyer Jason Olaine, mastering engineer Bob Ludwig, and many others.

IMA Winners and Finalists winners will appear in the 11th edition of The Musician's Atlas 2009, on sale January 2009. Regarded as the industry's most comprehensive contact directory, The Atlas is used by independent musicians and entrepreneurs to market and sell music more successfully.

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.
--  The IMA Winners CD compilation will be distributed to 10,000 music
    fans and industry at events such as SXSW, Ozzfest, The Warped Tour
    throughout the year and promoted to more 650 US & Canadian college & public
    radio stations.
--  eMusic will promote IMA Winners to millions of their subscribers
    throughout 2009.
--  Exposure to nearly 10 million viewers of ManiaTV.com and Havoc TV.

Music fans will be casting their votes for their favorite IMA Finalists at www.IndependentMusicAwards.com at the IMA Vox Populi Jukebox.

For more information on the Musician's Atlas and the Independent Music Awards contact Joelle Caputa (joelle@independentmusicawards.com) at 973-509-9898.

For more information about ERIC ROBERTS, please call MusicMagic Productions at 303-246-2970 or visit www.ericroberts.org or www.myspace.com/inasilentplace.

     Eric Roberts
     MusicMagic Productions
     303-246-2970
     http://www.ericroberts.org
     http://www.myspace.com/inasilentplace
      
     Joelle Caputa
     Independent Music Awards
     Email Contact
     973-509-9898