National Indigenous Music Awards Nominations Open

Nominations are today open for the National Indigenous Music Awards [NIMA] with the NT Awards adding a new video-focused category for 2013.

The awards have been running since 2009 and grew from its Northern Territory foundations to have a national focus in 2011. Last year's winners included Gurrumul Yunupingu (who has won a total of 11), The Medics and East Journey.

Recognising both contemporary and traditional musicians the NIMAs' sister awards the NT Awards have added the NT Community Music Project Award this year, which will celebrate the role music plays in communities and in its inaugural year the focus will be 'community music clip'. Although an NT Award, the director or producer does not need to come from the territory.

Existing categories for the NIMAs awards are Artist, Album, Song, New Talent, Cover Art and Film Clip Of The Year. NIMA will once again partner with triple j to Unearth a young indigenous artists after they chose Thelma Plum last year.

Today Chugg Entertainment's Michael Chugg said the awards have “come a long way in a short time and is exceptional fertile ground for finding and breaking new indigenous artists. NIMA is gathering much respect both nationally and overseas for the professionalism it is bringing to the indigenous music scene.”

Both the music industry and general public can nominate artists from nima.musicnt.com.au with entries closing Friday 15 June. As well as the NIMA categories there are four categories for the NT Awards, including School Band, Traditional Music, the G.R Burarrawanga Memorial Award and the NT Community Music Project Award.

The final awards ceremony will take place Saturday 10 August at Darwin Amphitheatre.

Last year's winning film clip for East Journey's Ngarrpiya: