Shawna Russell nominated for Independent Music Award

Posted by brandy

on November 16, 2008M at 10:56 pm

Oklahoma country music singer Shawna Russell has been named a finalist in the country album category for the eighth annual Independent Music Awards, according to a news release.

Russell, of Okemah, released this year ”Goddess,” her debut album on Way Out West Records.

The Independent Music Awards help indie artists and their releases overcome mainstream obstacles by placing winners and finalist in front of more than 15 million new fans via yearlong promotion, marketing and distribution programs through print, broadcast and online initiatives. The IMAs support a wide spectrum of music genres from country to punk to new age. Winners will be announced in December.

Russell is one of the fastest rising independent artists on the music scene today. Her current single, “Should’ve Been Born With Wheels” is making a major impact at Texas and country radio. It currently sits at No. 33 on the Texas Music Chart, No. 27 on the Texas Regional Radio Report, No. 59 on the Music Row Chart and No. 27 on the New Music Weekly Chart.

Russell was written up in a recent Country Weekly “Hot Shots” feature; she is the focus of a “Debut Spotlight” in the Oct./Nov. edition of the CMA Close Up magazine. She also has a two-page spread in the November issue of The Current, a popular Oklahoma music publication.

“Should’ve Been Born With Wheels” and the album’s title track were co-written and co-produced by Tim Russell (Shawna Russell’s uncle), who also co-wrote and co-produced the Ty England songs “Texan’s Hold ‘Em” (No. 1 on the Texas Music Chart for 11 weeks in 2006), and the Top 10 Texas chart hits “Perfect Girl” and “Redneck Anthem.”

Russell’s “Goddess” will be judged alongside other 2008 IMA finalists in her category by a distinguished group of artist and industry professionals who will determine the winners. Artist panelists already confirmed for this year’s program include, Peter Gabriel, Roger Daltrey (The Who), Suzanne Vega, George Jones, Buddy Guy, Paquito D’Rivera, Lee Ritenour, Keith Urban, Steve Vai, Clint Black, Brian Littrell (Backstreet Boys) and others.

IMA industry panelists include influential music and new media press as well as radio, TV & festival programmers such as Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone, Contributing Editor), Bob Ludwig (Gateway Mastering, Engineer), Aimee Allen (Indie 103.1, DJ), Jason Olaine (The Festival Network, VP of Programming), Mike Errico (Blender.com, Editor), Joe Cuello (MTV Networks), Barbara Dacey (mvyradio.com, Director of Worldwide Programming), Lee Mergner (JazzTimes, Editor In Chief), and Paul Anthony (Rumblefish, CEO), K. Tighe (Venus Zine, Music Reviews Editor).

-BAM

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