The Urban Music Awards has announced its return back to the USA with the ‘United we stand’ initiative which sees both the USA and UK UMA team collaborate to bring about history in the making as the Urban Music Awards makes its long awaited return to New York City.

The Urban Music Awards USA is set to take place on the 18th of July 2009 at the Highline Ballroom, Manhattan, New York City to mark the UMA’s 7th anniversary and in light of the recent success which have seen collaborations between UMA nominees, Estelle (UK) featuring Kanye West (USA), Taio Cruz (UK) feat. Busta Rhymes (USA), M.I.A (UK) featuring Jay-Z, TI, Kanye West and more. The UMA is following up this success by celebrating the achievements of both scenes live, in the heart of New York City giving millions of viewers worldwide an opportunity to see the best UK has to offer coupled with the biggest US acts live on one stage.

The confidence in both scenes can be tracked back as far as Eminem’s collaboration with Dido several years ago which gave birth to ‘Stan’ one of his biggest worldwide hits to date. UMA’s very own Lilly Allen’s collaboration with Common on ‘Driving me wild’ saw the US hiphop maestro win over millions of new fans in the European and Asian territories.

Most recently past UMA winners Akon and Sway have gone into the studio to come out with a sure fire hit ‘Silver & Gold’ and who can forget Mark Ronson’s collaboration with Ghostface, Trife & Nate Dogg with the single ‘Ooh Wee’ or Adam F feat Redman with the classic hit ‘Smash Sumthin’.

The Urban Music Awards is always known for setting trends for others to follow, first by being the first truly independent awards ceremony that gave music fans direct control on who they nominated and voted for and secondly by being the only awards ceremony to launch in 6 countries simultaneously including most recently the Caribbean island of Jamaica .

“We strongly believe in overcoming adversity by always emerging in a much stronger position. A lot of organisations disappear when the going gets tough but Invincible Group has had a proven 10 year history coupled with the grassroots credibility to remain the flying flag for inspiration, dedication, motivation and success. We are very excited for 2009 as all artists know that their bread and butter now lies in international bookings and it’s extremely paramount that collaborations are celebrated leading to music fans being exposed to new good quality music worldwide” added Jordan Kensington, CEO of Invincible Group, & The Urban Music Awards (Worldwide).

2009 sees the Urban Music Awards giving music fans across the USA, Europe, Asia, Africa & The Caribbean the chance to both nominate and vote for their best acts of UK origin together with their best acts of US origin via 10 out of the overall 18 categories listed below;

Artist of the Year 2009 (USA & UK)
Best Album 2009 (USA & UK)
Best Gospel Act 2009 (USA only)
Best Collaboration 2009 (USA & UK)
Best Female Act 2009 (UK & USA)
Best HipHop Act 2009 (USA & UK)
Best International Latino Act 2009
Best International Reggae Act 2009
Best Magazine (Print & Online) Worldwide
Best Male Act 2009 (UK & USA)
Best Music Video 2009 (USA & UK)
Best Producer 2009
Best R&B Act 2009 (USA & UK)
Best Radio DJ 2009 (USA & UK)
Best Radio Station 2009 (USA only)
Best Single 2009 (USA & UK)
Best TV Show (US only)
UMA 2009 Living Legend Award (US only)

For the up and coming new talent, the UMA’s in association with Sonicbids are proud to announce America’s Next Urban Superstar giving a chance for millions of aspiring new rappers, singers, vocalists and more to compete for the chance of being crowned America’s Next Urban Superstar, winning a recording contract courtesy of Invincible Records and an opportunity to perform in front of industry heavyweights and music fans alike at the prestigious Urban Music Awards USA in New York City on the 18th of July 2009.

Commenting on the partnership, Jim Schultz of Sonicbids said “It was a pleasure working with the Urban Music Awards in 2007 and we look forward to working together again in 2009 to search for America’s Next Urban Superstar”.

The televised competition will see auditions held in LA, Miami, Atlanta and New York
giving up and coming acts across North America maximum exposure via the UMA’s. As for the pioneers of the urban music scene, the UMA’s have introduced the UMA Living Legend award. Seven sponsored awards due to be handed to pioneers of the scene. “A lot of new musicians and artists coming out today owe their success to legends that made up the urban music industry and we are proud to make sure our pioneers get the true recognition they deserve” said Alyssa Menard, Events Manager, Urban Music Awards USA.

From Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Run DMC, to Chaka Khan, Grandmasterflash, Montel Jordan, Boyz 2 Men and more. You have the power to decide who gets the seven UMA Living Legend awards and all the other 18 categories by registering and nominating at www.urbanmusicawards.net.

As always the UK come out winners again this year as immediately after the New York show we return to homebase for collaboration with our UMA team in France for the first ever UMA (UK/France) award set to take place at a secret location in London, UK on the 1st of November 2009.

Live collaborations between French R&B, HipHop, Soul Artist and our very own homegrown talent. Those that are lucky enough to get VIP tickets are set to witness decent good quality music celebrated on one stage. Due to popular demand, we are also proud to introduce ‘The Best Asian Act’ category for 2009.

To mark what is set to be a very historical 2009 for the UMA’s, the organisation will release the UMA 2009 ‘United we Stand’ Compilation which will be distributed throughout 13 countries featuring the crème de la crème of talent from UK, USA, France & the Caribbean!

So, what are you waiting for? You the public, the fans of urban music hold the cards now and all you have to do is to register and nominate your favourites, which started 11th of March through till the 20th of April 2009. The full list of nominees will be announced on the 1st of May 2009.

About the UMA:
The NO. 1 premiere R&B, HipHop, Soul and Dance Music awards ceremony in the world. The Urban Music awards ceremony is held annually in the USA, UK, France, Caribbean, and Japan with plans to expand to Asia, Dubai and Africa. The Urban Music Awards was born out of the need to build a worldwide and independent awards ceremony to recognise the achievement of urban based artists, producers, club nights, dj’s , radio stations, record labels and artist that are or were previously unrecognised within their country of origin and are a product of the current Dance/R&B, HipHop, Neo Soul, Jazz, Grime, Garage and D&B music scene. Past winners at the Urban Music Awards have included; Grandmasterflash, Nas, Omarion, Danity Kane, Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Adele, Vybez Cartel, Goldie, Dizzee Rascal, Terri Walker, Sean Paul, Beverley Knight , Raghav, Erup, Lemar, Sway, Boyz2Men, Beenie Man, T.O.K, Craig David, Lethal Bizzle, Shakira, Papoose and many more . The Urban Music Awards has set it self as a credible awards ceremony. From its inception all nominations and voting have been left for YOU, the public to decide! In 7 years, the prestigious awards ceremony has been covered by : The BBC World Service, CNN, MTV, BET, VH1, BBC Radio 1, BBC Entertainment Online, Invincible TV, Evening Standard, The Metro Newspaper , The Independent, The Guardian , Channel 4, CD:UK , London Tonight , Choice fm , New Nation, The Voice, and many more.

About Invincible Group:
Invincible Group is the international parent group of companies behind Invincible Magazine, Invincible newspaper, Invincible Radio, Invincible TV, and Invincible films, Invincible Jeans, Invincible Events and Invincible Mobile. Invincible was launched by on the 1st July 1999 in London, as a style, ideas and impact conscious brand with the aim of serving our vibrant, multi-cultural society. Since its creation, with offices in the United Kingdom, USA, Germany, France and the Caribbean, Invincible has launched the careers of musicians, artists, photographers, designers, writers, models and actors around the world, while staking out an unchallenged position for itself at the cutting-edge of international urban cool and inspiration. Fuelled by a dedication to success, Invincible promotes a message of unity to empower ethnic diversity and creativity. Invincible events is also responsible for the Urban Music Awards (held annually both in the UK, France, Caribbean, & U.S.A), British Music Week and the National Entrepreneurs Conference (NYC).
Check our brand websites @ www.invinciblemag.com | www.invinciblemobile.com | www.urbanmusicawards.net | www.britishmusicweek.com | www.internationalfootballawards.com | www.invincibleradio.com | www.invinciblemediagroup.com (c) est. Since 1999

Register & submit your nominees for the: Urban Music Awards USA

Register & submit your nominees for the: Urban Music Awards UK/France edition

Urban Music Awards Official Website

Having just been selected as Filter Magazine’s, “Undiscovered Artist Of The Month” for March 2008, Backlight Records recording artists Holler, Wild Rose! will be bringing their shoegaze-influenced, ambient post-rock back to World Cafe Live! for a concert with Aquaport on April 25th, 2008 at 8:00pm.

Holler, Wild Rose!’s debut album ‘Our Little Hymnal’ was created over two years and released in September of 2007. Featured as a Napster (US) and iTunes Australia Staff Pick on the day of release, the album has gone on to receive significant airplay on over 150 US and Canadian stations including regular spins on stations such as KCRW, WXPN, WBOS, XM Satellite Radio and Bagel Radio. Additionally, ‘Our Little Hymnal’ is also currently being heard on radio stations in Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia and The United Kingdom.

In the few months after the release, Holler, Wild Rose! has been featured on NPR’s Second Stage, in Performing Songwriter Magazine, as a Sonicbids Spotlight Artist, a CMJ Festival 2007 Artist of the week and Mathieu Schreyer of KCRW selected ‘Our Little Hymnal’ as one of his top 10 albums of 2007.

Holler Wild Rose!’s song “Marylawn Hair” was featured as part of the Filter Magazine “Subway Series” Compilation released for CMJ 2007 (alongside artists such as PJ Harvey, Joy Division, Counting Crows and Oslo) and their song “Sun Vines” is included in the 2008 TEVA Anthology Vol. 6 (with Iron & Wine, Nada Surf, Sia and Dave Matthews).

Performing Songwriter Magazine had this to say about Our Little Hymnal:

“I don’t recommend doing anything else – such as reading, writing or dusting – when listening to Our Little Hymnal…with a voice somewhere between Jim James, Thom Yorke and Jeff Buckley, lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist John Mosloskie leads this exceptional band through dramatic, melodic twists and turns that will keep you staring – yes, staring – at the speaker to catch what will happen next. Imagine if Explosions In the Sky had a lead vocalist, and you’re getting close.”

Jack Rabid of The Big Takeover said:

“Few bands match their wall of guitar, wide-screen wash…one bets it’s awesome live, too.”

Holler, Wild Rose!’s recent performance at Brooklyn’s Luna Lounge received a glowing review from influential Brooklyn Music Blog MusicSlut, who stated:

“HWR overwhelmingly impressed me with their brief-yet-strapping set last night at Brooklyn’s Luna Lounge. Following the adage of ‘less talk, more rock’, Holler Wild Rose stormed through about half of Hymnal with zeal, precision and arrant finesse. With countless young acts heavily influenced by early ’90s shoegaze, it’s inspiring to hear a band that can meticulously highlight the genre’s brightest moments all the while adding a layer of richness that is entirely their own into the grand melting pot.”

Show info:

World Cafe Live!
Featuring: Aquaport and Holler, Wild Rose!
Upstairs Live
3025 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Friday, April 25th, 2008
8:00pm
Admission $10.00
21+

For more information, go to:

Backlight Records

Holler, Wild Rose on Myspace
Holler, Wild Rose Official Website