# Hollywood Independent Music Awards

The Hollywood Independent Music Awards (HIMA) is an awards organization that honors independent artists, composers, songwriters, record labels, and studio recording professionals for their creative contributions to independent music. The independent music categories were once a part of the HMMAs, but they evolved and expanded into a mainstream awards event, with major film music categories, nominees, and winners including Billie Eilish, Rihanna, Olivia Rodrigo, Ludwig Göransson, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, and Austin Butler. Hosting a separate awards show for independent artists was decided by founder Brent Harvey after an increased engagement from independent artists internationally. The first inaugural HIMA ceremony was held on August 17, 2023 at the Avalon Hollywood in Hollywood, California.
The HIMAs also held its "Everything Blue" portion of the awards ceremony at the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in Owensboro, Kentucky, honoring independent artists in blues and bluegrass music, on August 12, 2023. The event was hosted by the Voice's Season 18 winner, Todd Tilghman.

## 2024 Winners and nominees

Source:

### Categories

| Adult Contemporary | Adult Contemporary Hip Hop |
| Aaron Lazar and Josh Groben - "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" Ban Brothers - "Move On" Jessica Carter Altman - "Flashback" Lachi, James Ian, and Gaelynn Lea - "Lift Me Up" ODELLA - "Somewhere After Time" Sun King Rising - "One More Story to Tell" Velvet Halo - "Nothing Left" | Slum Village - "Factor" (featuring Eric Roberson) Abstract Mindstate - "True Story" (featuring Simthandile Mtolo) Benny the Butcher - "Big Dog" (featuring Lil Wayne) Little Simz - "Gorilla" Masta Ace & Marco Polo - "P.P,E." Rapsody - "Asteroids" |
| Afrobeats/Afropop | Album |
| Zinoleesky - "A1 (Feeling Disorder)" Banwo - "JEJE" Matt B - "Need Some Wine" Mo Dinka - "Armor" Septimius The Great - "Anything You Want" Stormzy & Rema - "Hide and Seek" (Rema remix) | Billy Morrison - "The Morrison Project" Brianna Shelko, Michael Maas, Jack Green, Kevin Gordon, Luke Truan - "Anything Is Possible" D Boone Pittman - "Resurrection Noise" DJ Preach & Jerry Cartier - "Housewarming" Jennifer Thomas - "Oceans" Petty Human Emotions -- "Outside" Slum Village - "F.U.N." Valeree - "Interrupted" |
| Alternative | Americana/Roots |
| Ships Have Sailed - "Silence" Ban Brothers - "Nothin' Gets Lost" Brendalynn Mckinney, Tytanic & David Majzlin - "Nevermind" (featuring Tytanic) Emilia Vaughn - "Skeleton" HVNTED - "FIEND" Katy Tunbridge - "Lying Through Your Teeth" Radio Drive - "Cast Out Your Light" | Cindy Morgan - "Jubilee" (featuring Tommy Sims) Chris App - "Brighter Skies" (featuring Benjamin Blythe) D Boone Pittman - "Love and Floods (and Other Natural Disasters)" E J Ouellette & Odessa Settles - "Let Peace Flow" Jeremy Parsons - "Life Worth Dyin' For" Jim Vitale - "America's Road" Shiny Shiny Black - "Stranger in My Own Town" The Midnight Cowgirls - "Giddy Up" |
| Bluegrass | Blues |
| The Goodwin Brothers - "Don't Need Cuttin'" Adalyn Ramey - "Lonesome Wind" Cindy Morgan - "Free Peaches in Heaven" (featuring Marcus Hummon) Debra Lyn / Soulgrass - "You're Gonna Leave" Edgar Loudermilk Band - "The Banks of the River" Kentucky Shine - "Night Watch" | Andrew Moore and Hooch - "Come Home" Antoine Dunn - "October 7th" Arek Religa - "Devil's Road" Justine Blazer & Lauren Anderson - "Ain't No Cure Like The Blues" Corry Hanna - "Ain't Long For This World" |
| Christian/Gospel | Contemporary Classical |
| Leah Mojo Deluge Worship - "Treasure" Adalyn Ramey - "Come See What God Can Do" Marty DeRoche - "He's Here" Mighty Men of Faith - "Celebrate" Mo Dinka - "Can I Get A Witness" Savannah Brister - "By My Side" WE FOR THEE "Faith Like Jesus" | Jennifer Thomas - "Underwater Carnival Ride" Adriano Aponte - "Queen's Speech" Daniel Fisher - "Symphonina No. 1, Movement 1" David Bertok - "Fontana dell'Anima" Helena Maria Falk and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra - "Huldra's Dream" Joseph Lu - "POUR MARIE (Romance d'un Amour)" Kike Ega - "Enigma of Time" Mirana Faiz - "Whispers of The Journey" |
| Country (Classic) | Country (Crossover) |
| Pamela Hopkins - "Walk of Honor" 7 South (Written and Sung by Mike Blocker) - "Wonderin'" Amy Taylor Music - "Tow Truck Jesus (20 Miles From Barstow)" Bo Bice - "Born Of Heroes' Blood" Cliff & Susan - "Neon Dreams" Three Highways - "Must've Done Something Right" | Reyna Roberts - "Raised Right" Alexandra Kay - "Everleave" Alyssa Ruffin - "The Sacrifice" Jennie Larsen - "Where Wildflowers Grow" Presley Aronson - "Love For The Win" (feat. Jimmie Allen) Raquel Aurilia - "Mr. Right Now" Shining Rae - "I Can't Help Who I Love" |
| Dance | EDM |
| Class Vee - "House Party" Ian Honeyman "Nights With You" (featuring James Carrington) Kim Cameron & Sax Diva - "Running Past the Line" Rehya Stevens - "Let's Have Some Fun" Rêve - "CTRL + ALT + DEL" Valerie Giglio - "Yellowbird Swing" | LOSTBOYJAY "Say Goodbye" (featuring Billy Raffoul) Adriano Aponte - "Stuff You Gotta Watch" Chris App - "City Lights" - EDM Remix (featuring Alena & Hugo Lee) Denity x Zaryah - "The One" Irene Michaels - "My Last Love" Rogelami - "Turn Off the lights" |
| Folk/Acoustic | Holiday |
| Lilith Max - "Peasant's Throne" Anna Josephine - "Oh, Joan" J EDNA MAE - "Elephant" memyself&vi x Chapters - "Snake Pit" Michelle Lockey "Who Hears the Broken" Teni Rane - "Goldenrod" | Lana Janjanin - "Be the Light" "Superlight" (Spenser Day, Robin Sandoval) - "This Christmas, I'll Be Coming Home" Brianna - "Christmas Is You" Debe' Gunn & Afrika Mamas - "Christmas All Around the World" Evergreen Song Factory & Melody Farm Music - "Christmasing With You" Nam Jonez - "I want you for Christmas" |
| Instrumental | Jazz (Jazz fusion/Bebop) |
| Katie Hardyman - "Darling, Will You Dance With Me" feat. The European Recording Orchestra Anthony Rodriguez - "Once of Love" Ashton Brett Dunn - "Cherokee Shuffle" Derek Frank - "Demon On Wheels" E J Ouellette - "Roll Over O'Carolan" Carolan's Concerto Joanne Lazzaro - "Ashes To Ireland" Sarantos - "Old Town in Europe" Taisuke Kimura - Taisuke Kimura | Tony Addison - "Cool Breeze" Gili Lopes - "Antalya" Kobi Arad, Victor Wooten, Cindy Blackman Santana, Ricky Kej & Lonnie Park - "Fields" Lisa Marie Simmons & Marco Cremaschini - "Transcend" Sonny Greenwich Jr - "I Get By" Vahagn Stepanyan - "Gravity" (featuring Greg Howe & Philip Lassiter) ŽŽ Wei-Chi - "Far Away" |
| Jazz (Smooth/Cool) | Latin Pop/Rock |
| ThreeStyle - "No Matter What" (featuring Magdalena Chovancova & Robert Fertl) Evan Carydakis - "Cherry Pops" Lyia Meta - "Always You" Peter Calandra and Straight Up - "Mixed Emotions" Suzanne Grzanna - "Kiss XO" Todd Mosby - "Moonrise Samba" | Bella Rabbit - "Frio" Alan Jones - "Shadow in the Night"(featuring Dina Rizvic) Alexander James Rodriguez - "Verano Para Siempre" Eddie - "Nuestro Juego" (featuring Isabel Remartinez) Maria Moss - "It's You" Rubi Mar - "Ojitos De Cafe" |
| Latin Tropical | Latin Urban/Hip Hop Rap |
| Eduardo Padua - "Me Rompe El Coco" Debé Gunn - "World of Soul" JildyT - "Comprendo" Leonardo Garcia & Max Rosado - "Overjoyed" Natalis - "Tonto" | Pacho Buscadoro "Caliente Caliente" (featuring Bertiel and Will Driena) Auggie Velarde - "Me Rompe El Coco" MVR!3L TNW - "La Picky" Snow Tha Product and Santa Fe Klan - "3X4" |
| Lyrics/Lyricist | Message Song/Social Impact |
| Sophie Pecora - "In A Perfect World" Jesica Yap - "My Life Is Fine Without You" Krissy - "Eat This Cake" Tim Tye/Midnight Sky - "Every Now and Then" Savannah Brister Sitch | Bo Bice - "Born Of Heroes' Blood" E J Ouellette & Odessa Settles - "Let Peace Flow" K-Syran & Ksanti - "Whenever Wherever" Kathryn the Grape - "Love, Kindness, and Peace" Luke Truan & Brianna Shelko - "Unstoppable (featuring Brianna)" Sam Daniels - "Someday" |
| New Age/Ambient | Original Recording |
| Roger Subirana - "The Train of Life" Chet Nichols - "Caravan To Orion" David Sálezmar - "Retrospect" Myroslav Levytsky - "Mother Waiting" Samir Bodhi - "Affinity" | Tanja - "Don't Look Back" (produced by Max Landry) Delmoore - "Lose Myself In You" ( written & co-produced by Mary Haller) ManyLights - "Rampa" produced by Anthony Cameron Nadia Lanfranconi - "I'd Rather Be Alone" produced by Clay Davies Oscar Navarro - "Abrazos Para El Cielo" (featuring Adriana Tonda, produced by Oscar Navarro) produced by Oscar Navarro) THE FUND X ROBIN - "It's a Good Life" (produced by THE FUND) |
| Original Song | Pop |
| Baker Grace - "Butterflies" (by Bobbi Allen, Robert Kitzman and Baker Grace) Courtney Paige Nelson - "To Me" Eunkyo and Michael Choi - "Across the Ocean" Presley Aronson - "Best Road" Ruben K & Lara Ausensi - "Water Marauders" Saad Lamjarred & Yosra Mahnoush - "Andi Fekra" (by Dr. Talal) | Meg Smith - "Jesus Christ In a Mini Skirt" Courtney Paige Nelson - "Cyanide Jawbreaker" December Rose - "Macaroni" Delon Om - "Everything" No Lonely Hearts - "Better Than Me" Sophia Angelica - "Parte de Mí" superlight - "Asking Too Much" Tanja - "The Monsters You Know" |
| R&B/Soul | Rap/Hip Hop |
| KOS - "Thank God" Kenny J Wilkins - "You're A Woman" KIA - "I Won't Complain" Orayvia - "Better Days" Tiffany Sayers - "Turn On" TWAIN - "Nu & U" (featuring Jay Jeminii) Weava - "What Time Your Love Is Comin'" | DJ Preach & Jerry Cartier - "Solid" Dorian Robinson - "CHAKRAS" DV Alias Khryst - "No Discounts" Nige B - "Outer Space" (featuring Awon & Artifice, The Visionary) Russ - "Workin on Me" (featuring 6LACK) |
| Rock | Rock/Pop |
| Billy Morrison - "Crack Cocaine" (featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Stevens) HVNTED - "Katelyn Dilaine" Ships Have Sailed - "Get Loud" (Feat. Abby Posner) Signal For Pilot - "Feelin' Again" Vilivant - "Is This The End" | Jessy Fury - "The Other Boys" Cindë - "Medusa's Son" Cris Gunther, Carl Stoodt, Luã Linhares - "Beatific" Fields, Waldo & Mathisen - "This Is How It Ends" Ghostfallen - "Home" Signal For Pilot - "Champions" |
| Singer-Songwriter | Vocal (Female) |
| Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors - "Find Your People" Alex Krawczyk - "Space Between Us" Charles V. Rox Vaccaro - "Torn to Pieces" Heerraa - "Note to Self" J Edna Mae - "Elephant" Nadia Lanfranconi - "I'd Rather Be Alone" Sarah Rose - "Love I Never Wanted" Utako Toyama - "I See You" | memyself&vi x Chapters - "Caution" Adriana Tonda - "Abrazos Para El Cielo" Bella Rabbit - "Frio" Ella Roberts - "Wild Mountain Thyme" Keri Edwards - "I See You" Tiffany Sayers - "In the Deep" |
| Vocal (Male) | World |
| Nam Jonez - "Everything I Wanted" Aaron Lazar & Josh Groban - "Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot" Bo Bice - "Born Of Heroes' Blood" James Kocian - "One Fifth at a Time" Jeff Hyman - "Goodbye" Will Goodwin - "Bottom of the Holler" | Fahad Al Kubaisi - "Maslahtak" Eddie - "A Luz Dentro de Mim" Moumita Khondaker - "NGL" Neval - "Yara" Saad Lamjarred & Yosra Mahnoush - "Andi Fekra " Samir Bodhi, Justine Blazer, Madhumita Chatterjee, (featuring Rakesh Chaurasia) - "Un-me Too" Susan Odella and Keith Secola - "Restless Spirits" (Feat. Vanja Grastic) Winifred Phillips - "Spring Festival" |

### Studio recording professionals

| Producer/Production | Mixing/Engineering |
| Dawn Elder Donatella Canepa Kitt Wakeley & Jonathan Estabrooks Pearl Snap Studios SEAY & Jeff Silverman The Siren S. J. Jananiy | Dean Landon Babilonia Jacquie Joy Jennifer Thomas Kayja Rose The Goodwin Brothers |
| Independent Record Label |
| Blue Élan Records Big Vox Records DNT Entertainment Dreamland Entertainment Group DNT Entertainment Fine Entertainment LMS Records MTS Records |

### Special recognition

| Reggae | Children's Music |
| ManyLights | Ruth and Emilia |
| Concept Song |
| Tenacious D |

## 2023 Winners and nominees

Source:

### Categories

| Adult Contemporary | Adult Contemporary Hip Hop |
| Savannah Brister December Rose Hooked Like Helen I Want Poetry J Edna Mae Rislane and The Lovers (ft. Tom Hauser & Dreamshelter) | Roc Marciano & The Alchemist Che Noir Ivy Sole JID (featuring Kenny Mason) Planet Asia |
| Afrobeats/Afropop | Americana/Roots |
| Baba Kuboye Efua Mt Boi Stone Age UG | Kolby Knickerbocker Terry Blade Tia McGraff Derek Woods Band Ian Abel Band Galit |
| Contemporary Classical | Instrumental |
| Ayşedeniz Gökçin Kitt Wakeley Danaë Xanthe Vlasse Fabian Kratzer Charles-Henri Avelange Robin Spielberg Daniel Fisher André Barros (featuring Tamila Kharambura | Ed Bazel Guy Renardeau Cecil Abhishek Joseph Lu Seay and Jeff Silverman Vig Zartman Ruben K (ft. Alexa Ray) Russ Hewitt (ft. Bucharest All-Star Orchestra) |
| Jazz (Jazz fusion/Bebop) | Jazz (Smooth/Cool) |
| Vahagn Stepanyan Kobi Arad Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra Peter Xifaras Paul W. Rucker OVISION | Alan Jones ft. Dina Rizvic Edison Herbert Lindsey Webster Noshir Mody Peter Calandra and Straight Up Suzanne Grzanna Steven B. ThreeStyle (ft. Magdalena Chovancova, Robert Fertl, Elvis Stanic) |
| Pop | Rock/Pop |
| Burdlee Arkane Skye Chesney Claire DMGD GEM Rpm Jordan Massey Tiffany Sayers | Animal Sun Britney DiTocco Circle the Earth Dallas Live in Color Nina Rose Talking Planes |
| R&B/Soul | Dance |
| Raquel Rodriguez Antoine Dunn Jordyn Simone Kristina Murrell Enoka Ria Barkr GIGI Saint Jaimz | Kylin Milan Dimitris Nezis & Stacey Jackson Hannyta Holly Berry (ft. Courtney Gray Everlee Sheng Belmonte |
| Vocal (Female) | Vocal (Male) |
| Shylah Ray Sunshine Ella Roberts Jackie Ward Maryalex González Rislane and The Lovers Shaun Murphy | Gregory Zamir Chase Bush Lost Years, Talking Planes Matt B Nam Jonez Steve Cooke |
| Christian/Gospel | New Age/Ambient |
| Kathryn Shipley Christian Messenger Girlie Vasallo (ft. Che Casibang, Lalaine Enriquez, Ria Villena-Osorio & Mike Villegas) Melissa Pettignano Sarah Wyatt Steve Bridgmon' | David Deutsch Juliet Lyons Cali Wang Craig Padilla and Marvin Allen Darlene Koldenhoven Dream Tonic x DTO Ros Gilman |
| Country (Classic) | Country (Crossover) |
| Colt Graves Cam Thompson Cindy Smith Clayton Q Feed the Kitty Richard Lynch | Presley Aronson Brooke + Teddy Damien Horne Hadley Swapna Abraham (ft. Devan Ekambaram) Taylor Sanders |
| Folk/Acoustic | Singer-Songwriter |
| Carly King Dina Rizvic Heerraa memyself&vi x Chapters Moselle Wild Faith | Emily Drennan Grace Schweizer Matthew Thomas Nate Highfield Sierra Miles Spenser Hyun, Robin Sandoval |
| Blues | Bluegrass |
| Jeroen van Tuijl Band (ft. Tommy Stillwell) "Big John" Zhang Ling Lady J Huston Stevie Hawkins Tommy Stillwell Zach Waters Band | Kentucky Shine Soulgrass/Debra Lyn Nu-Blu Randy Lanham & Emily Jane Clark Larry Maglinger |
| Original Song | Lyrics/Lyricist |
| Reece in the Wild April Henry Baby Gold Barefoot Chandy Daryl Salad Helena Holleran Band Kayla Renee (ft. Jovan Armand) Sierra Bowman | Caitlin Kilgore Fish Teeth Jake Huffman Nadeem Majdalany Savannah Brister Sitch |
| World | EDM |
| Carlos Garo Masa Takumi Khaled & Riffat Sultana Mohammadreza Ajdari Natalie Jean and Guy R. Jean Shumile Exotic Dimensions]] | Ghostfallen James F. Masters Nikkole and Liam Keegan Philippe Funk (ft. Liz Kretschmer) Rogelami shurpi |
| Rock | Rock/Heavy Metal |
| Vilivant Happy To Be Here JJ McGuigan Manny Cabo Soul of Ears Xtine and The Reckless Hearts | Blood of Angels Dan Acosta & Axis Unknown Kick The Wicked Major Moment Plastic Rhino TemperMental |
| Rap/Hip Hop | Live or Streamed Performance |
| JR Jones Ashton Martin x 1DRU It's A Cool Day Justy TWAIN Ushuaia & The Wanderlust Orchestra | The Goodwin Brothers Abbie Thomas Lyia Meta Vargen |
| Alternative | Album |
| Mary Ann Bam Bam's Boogie Ganyos JVMIE & Lionel Cohen Signal for Pilot Under The Rug | Rislane and The Lovers Roman Miroshnichenko Major Moment Ignacio Salvatierra P. December Rose Abbie Thomas |
| Latin Pop/Rock | Latin Traditional |
| BenAnthony LaVoz Alexa Lace Laura Kalop Nia Padilla Omar Sicilia Pia Vasquez | Xocoyotzin Herrera Francisco Javier Gonzalez & Jose Zuniga Herman Rodriguez María Eugenia León Pacho Buscadoro |
| Latin Tropical | Latin Urban/Hip Hop/Rap |
| Eduardo Padua & Dominique Patrick Noel Dominique Patrick Noel (ft. D' William) Gato Blanco Jesús Alejandro Pérez Leonardo Garcia Tatiana Liary | Pacho Buscadoro Jaycool Charisma JStar Lulo El Poderoso |
| Children's music | Holiday |
| Paper Rainbows David Schweizer Taylor Wise, Nadeem Majdalany, Jeremy Johnson Purple Fox and the Heebie Jeebies Dana Kendra K | Dream Tonic x Lucien Francis Alexa Lace Chet Nichols Girlie Vasallo (ft. Faith Ignacio) Grant Maloy Smith Ralph Johnson ft. Siedah Garrett |
| Message Song/Social Impact | Original Recording |
| Brianna Ezre Graham Czach Holly Riva Katie Hardyman & Mick Evans Nathan Morris Sona Kmet | Neena Rose Ava Dell Pietra Barli Holysaint Marrisa Porter softpower Zachary Aldana |

### Studio recording professionals

| Producer/Production | Mixing/Engineering |
| Ralph Johnson and Myron McKinley Kristin Allen-Farmer Asta Dawn Elder Jay Abe KiddDieselAP S. J. Jananiy | Kevin Billingslea Jeff Silverman Robert Fertlates, Cherice Hunt, Janice James, and Princess A. Hairston Roman Miroshnichenko Jacquie Joy Zen Chien |
| Independent Record Label | |
| Spotted Peccary Music BHP Music Guitar Trax Records Cliff End Records Creative Apostle DNT Entertainment Kitten Robot Records MTS Records Music for Love Winding Way Records | |

### Special recognition

| Reggae | Downbeat/Downtempo |
| Mc Norman | Guthorn |