* The first Independent Artists' Digital Awards

MUMBAI: ArtistAloud.com, started out a year back to �explore the unheard', to build a platform for artists old and new to explore undiscovered sounds and connect them with their fans, is now ready to celebrate the heard and explored music that more than 120 artists and the fans have endorsed, with the ArtistAloud.com Awards.

These awards will celebrate the success of independent music, with popular genres of Pop, Rock, Fusion, Alternative Rock and Global (Spiritual, Global, Light Music, Hindi Rap, Sufi, Country, Alternative Raga, and Club).

In the first phase of the awards, which kicks off on 17 January, there will be nominees for Best Song, Best Female, Best Male and Best Group from each of these genres. Each week one genre will be highlighted, and voters can vote for their favorite artist (male or female), group and song from it.

Based on voters' choice in the first phase, the Top 5 from each of Best Song, Best Female, Best Male, Best Group and Best Genre amongst the 5 genres will be further voted down by the users, which will begin in the second phase of the awards starting from 17 to 24 Feb 2011.

The final winners of �ArtistAloud.com Awards' will be announced on 25th February on the website, with some lucky winners getting a chance to present the awards personally to their favorite artist. There will be LIVE telecast of the awards handover ceremony on 1 March, with the grand prize winner of the Bangkok trip being announced on 2 March.

Siddhartha Roy, Chief Operating Officer, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., says, ArtistAloud.com is dedicated to promote independent music from various genres and is a celebration of independent music at its best. Our artists are our most invaluable assets and have contributed significantly towards the success of independent music on the site. To give them the recognition that they truly deserve on our first anniversary, we decided to celebrate by announcing the ArtistAloud.com awards....

With the ArtistAloud.com Awards, the platform allows the fans to truly voice their opinions and shower their favorite artist with the thunderous applause of their votes and ensure that they receive the recognition and the adulation that they deserve. And the unique part of this Awards is that the user can vote via the Internet, Voice Platform or send an sms, thus making this the first ever Independent Artists' only Digital Awards.

So log on to www.ArtistAloud.com/awards2010 or dial 092462- 44646 starting 10th January to vote for your favorite artist and get a chance to travel on an all expenses paid trip for two to Bangkok or meet and present the awards personally to the Final Winners.