Indie Awards Page

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You missed out!

Indepreneur presents

The 2nd Annual Indie Awards

Friday, July 14th 1:00pm EST

Win an IndiePro Annual Membership For Voting!

Indepreneur is proud to announce our first annual IndieAwards! Submit your votes today to be automatically entered to win an IndiePro Annual membership just for casting your vote!

Indepreneur is giving away more than $7,000 in prizes and services for this incredible community

Prizes include: Ad budgets ranging from $250-$1000, strategic planning sessions with our IndieX Account Strategists, shoutouts on all of our socials, your music featured in an episode of Creative Juice, Indie swag,  access to a staff inspo session, a CD package from our friends at Disc Makers, and of course, an awesome trophy to display--so everyone knows that you're a total marketing baddie.😎

Click below to be taken to our voting form! In this form you'll have a link for each category, opening into a slideshow, that showcases each of the finalists and their achievements in their respective categories. Explore the pages, get to know them, and then cast your vote in the voting form!


The voting closes Thursday, July 13th!
Get your votes in today and be automatically entered to win an IndiePro Annual membership!

Event: Friday, July 14th 1:00pm EST
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Foundations Award | *add points*

The Foundations Award recognizes artists who excel in building the essential groundwork for their music career. This award combines the crucial elements of introducing your music to new audiences and educating fans about your artistry.

Key aspects include:

  • Generating new attention and creating "first touches" with a broad audience
  • Executing effective top of funnel campaigns such as Fan Finder, Follower Finder, $1/Day Ads, etc.
  • Producing consistent, high-quality top-of-funnel content
  • Having music released and readily available
  • Developing a strong brand presence across social media
  • Implementing a great organic social media strategy
  • Creating content that educates fans about your story, motivations, and artistic output

This award celebrates artists who successfully lay the groundwork for a thriving music career by introducing their music to new listeners and fostering a deeper connection with their growing fan base.

Builder Award | *add points*

The Builder Award recognizes artists who excel in constructing a direct and personal connection with their audience. This award celebrates the crucial step of obtaining permission to engage in one-on-one communication with fans, laying the foundation for a strong, lasting relationship.

Key aspects include:

  • Successfully executing paid and/or organic campaigns to grow a fan base
  • Implementing and managing an effective email and/or text system
  • Creating and optimizing well-performing lead magnets
  • Crafting compelling "asks" that encourage fans to opt-in with their contact information
  • Building a robust list of engaged supporters who have given consent for direct communication

This award honors artists who understand the importance of creating a direct line of communication with their fans. By focusing on building a permission-based audience, these artists are setting the stage for deeper engagement and long-term success in their music careers.

Cultivator Award | *add points*

The Cultivator Award celebrates artists who excel in nurturing and maintaining strong, ongoing relationships with their fan base. This award recognizes the crucial role of consistent engagement in fostering a dedicated and enthusiastic audience.

Key aspects include:

  • Creating and maintaining a consistent stream of engaging content
  •  Implementing effective post-purchase nurturing series
  • Maintaining high levels of email/text list engagement
  • Developing strategies to keep fans invested and excited about the artist's journey
  • Cultivating fan relationships across all stages of the Buddy System
  • Transforming cold or disengaged fans into active, excited supporters
  • Demonstrating the ability to keep fans connected and interested over time

This award honors artists who understand that fan cultivation is an ongoing process, not a one-time effort. By consistently nurturing their audience, these artists create a vibrant, engaged fan community that forms the backbone of a successful music career.

Money Maker Award  |  *add points*

The Money Maker Award recognizes artists who have mastered the art of monetizing their music career through effective offers, promotions, and fan engagement strategies. This award celebrates those who have successfully translated their artistic efforts into sustainable revenue streams.

Key aspects include:

  • Creating compelling first offers that successfully convert listeners into customers
  • Developing and executing high-performing sales promotions
  • Implementing revenue-driving email campaigns
  • Demonstrating year-over-year income growth
  • Crafting effective album/product launch experiences
  • Designing and promoting high-tier offerings such as paid memberships, VIP experiences, or exclusive product clubs
  • Maintaining a strategic promotional calendar
  • Showing ability to ascend customer value through targeted offers to existing fans
  • Balancing creativity and business acumen in offer creation and promotion

This award honors artists who have successfully navigated the transition from building a fan base to creating a thriving, profitable music business. It celebrates those who have mastered the delicate art of making offers that are both valuable to fans and beneficial to their career growth.

Merch Maniac Award  |  *add points*

The Merch Maniac Award celebrates artists who have elevated their merchandise game to an art form in itself. This award recognizes those who go above and beyond in creating unique, creative, and meaningful physical representations of their music and brand.

Key aspects include:

  • Designing unique and creative merchandise that extends the artist's musical world
  • Creating clever merch pairings and bundles that enhance fan value
  • Implementing excellent fulfillment practices to ensure customer satisfaction
  • Using merchandise as an additional canvas for artistic expression
  • Offering fans tangible ways to connect with and celebrate the artist's music
  • Demonstrating innovation in bringing music into the physical realm
  • Showing a strong understanding of fan desires and preferences in merch creation

This award honors artists who recognize that merchandise is more than just a revenue stream—it's an opportunity to deepen the fan experience and extend their artistic vision beyond audio. The Merch Maniac Award celebrates those who turn their merchandise into coveted artifacts of their musical journey.

Tour Titan Award |  *add points*

The Tour Titan Award celebrates artists who have conquered the challenging world of live performances and touring. This award recognizes those who have successfully taken their music on the road, connecting with fans face-to-face and expanding their reach beyond digital platforms.

Key aspects include:

  • Completing at least one tour (minimum of three shows)
  • Taking full responsibility for selling their own tickets
  • Demonstrating growth in fans, customers, and permission list through touring
  • Effectively promoting and marketing live shows
  • Managing the logistical challenges of touring
  • Creating memorable live experiences for fans
  • Using tours as a platform for deeper fan engagement and brand building
  • Showing ability to balance touring with other aspects of their music career

This award honors artists who have embraced the road as a vital part of their music career. It celebrates those who understand the unique power of live performances in building a loyal fan base and are able to translate their recorded music into captivating live shows.

Breakout Indie Award  |  *add points*

The Breakout Indie Award celebrates artists who have experienced a significant and rapid acceleration in their music career. This award recognizes those who, after persistent effort, have found their stride and are making remarkable progress in a short amount of time.

Key aspects include:

  • Demonstrating high motivation and excitement to learn and apply new skills
  • Quickly adopting and implementing Indepreneur strategies
  • Showing substantial growth over a relatively short period
  • Overcoming previous career plateaus or obstacles
  • Effectively applying marketing strategies to gain momentum
  • Exhibiting a notable increase in fan engagement, sales, or other key metrics
  • Displaying a positive attitude and enthusiasm that inspires others in the community

This award honors artists who serve as inspirational examples of what's possible when persistence meets the right strategies. It celebrates those who have found their catalyst for growth and are sprinting towards their goals, motivating others in the community with their rapid progress and success.

Indie Of The Year  |  *add points*

The Indie of the Year Award is the highest honor in our community, recognizing an artist who exemplifies the spirit of independent music-making in all aspects of their career. This award celebrates an individual who has consistently demonstrated growth, resilience, and leadership over an extended period.

Key aspects include:

  • Showing steady, sustainable growth across all areas of their music career
  • Being an active, supportive, and helpful presence in the Indepreneur community
  • Implementing a comprehensive and highly functional Buddy System in their career
  • Demonstrating long-term dedication and perseverance in building their music business
  • Balancing artistic integrity with effective business practices
  • Serving as an inspiration and role model for other independent artists
  • Innovating in their approach to fan engagement, marketing, or music distribution
  • Embodying the values and principles of successful independent artistry

This prestigious award honors an artist who has not only achieved personal success but has also contributed significantly to the growth and development of the independent music community. The Indie of the Year represents the pinnacle of what it means to be a thriving, self-directed musician in today's industry.