Blue Microphones was founded in 1995 to improve the front-end of audio recording by utilizing the increased bandwidth benefits enabled by digital technology. Advances in digital processing (e.g. extended frequency response, dynamic range, project recording capability) fundamentally changed the recording process as well as the potential for microphone performance. Basing many of their concepts, designs, and technology on knowledge gleaned from years of repairing and improving classic microphones from a wide variety of manufacturers, but by simultaneously integrating new technologies, materials and a first-hand knowledge of today’s recording process, Blue began to pioneer the perfect analog input devices for the digital age.

Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone –

Finally, a USB mic that’s not only easy to use, but sounds as good on your desktop as it does in a professional recording studio. Meet the Snowball; the world’s first professional USB mic.

Whether you’re recording a guitar at your kitchen table or a complete band in the studio, the Snowball can capture it with detail unheard of before in a USB mic.

The Snowball is a direct plug n play mic that connects to either a Mac or PC — no additional software is needed. With its dual capsule design and unique three-pattern switch (cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad and omni), the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band- and it’s ideal for podcasting. Check it out and you’ll see why it’s the coolest mic in town.

The Tower brand is synonymous with media consciousness and entertainment retail. As the entertainment industry evolves, the Tower.com website continues to be one of the most regarded and visited retail sites on the internet. Every month, over 1,500,000 unique visitors come to the site not only to pre-order and purchase what’s new and upcoming but also to browse and explore the deep catalog, import and hard to find titles. On beat with the pulse of pop culture since 1960, Tower serves as a tastemaker for some of the most passionate and knowledgeable music, video, book and gaming consumers online.

Tower.com is providing an additional grand prize to our 2009 Indie Of The Year
Platinum Consignment Package (complete discography, email blast, profile page, web promotions) from Tower.com ($2000)

PLAYBACK’s recycled t-shirts and sweatshirts are made by collecting cotton scraps and plastic bottles, breaking them down into fiber form, and then re-spinning them into the soft yarns that are the basis of PLAYBACK’s fabric. We exist to make better clothing in a better way. To make you look and feel better. To make the Earth a cleaner place.

Our process is better because we recycle. What do we recycle? Well, anything and everything…as long as that thing can be used to make high-quality clothes. That’s the key. We never treat making better clothes and helping our environment as two separate things.

We say what it is, where it came from and how it works, clear and simple.

Our founder, Adam Siskind, started PLAYBACK after being inspired by Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth (We told you we were honest). After watching the film, Adam realized the recycled yarn he had been using for almost a decade in his clothing business was the most sustainable, environmentally-friendly material around (talk about an “A-HA” moment). As a textile engineer, Adam examined other “eco” brands on the market, and realized that many of their claims about sustainability told an incomplete story. As a result, PLAYBACK was born: An apparel brand that makes its practices transparent and strives to tell the truth about “green” clothing manufacture.

Their products include RiffWorks™ guitar recording software with its unique InstantDrummer™, award-winningeffects; online music collaboration and online community for RiffWorks users called RiffWorld.com. Sonoma Wire Works products have received multiple awards for performance and innovation, including a NAMM 08 Best in Show Trendsetter Award.

Sonoma Wire Works’ most recent achievement is the FourTrack iPhone App developed in conjuction withRetronyms, makers of the top-selling Recorder.

Record Music Anywhere

FourTrack multitrack audio recorder is a songwriting and practice tool for singers, guitar players, piano players, and others who want to capture musical ideas and record songs on the iPhone and iPod touch.

RIFFWORKS: CREATE COLLABORATE CAST
RiffWorks easy, fun and quick guitar recording software with effects,InstantDrummer sessions, online music collaboration & song posting.

• Record ideas at the moment of inspiration.
• Create songs with drums and effects.
• Collaborate online with musicians around the world.
• Cast tunes to an enthusiastic online community.
• All without putting down your guitar!

IK Multimedia is proud to sponsor the Indie of the Year contest, and is a manufacturer of high-end audio products for musicians and producers. IK Multimedia just released: AmplITube Fender and the StealthPedal for guitarists, plus GrooveMaker(R) for everyone else! Groovemaker is the revolutionary iPhone/iPod Touch app to create non-stop, electronic, dance and hip-hop tracks, in real-time, by anyone, everywhere, like a professional DJ or music producer. GrooveMaker gives you a completely new way of making music with loops, you can create professional full-length tracks and grooves for your music compositions, ambient soundtracks, movie scores and more. And its so easy to learn, youll be creating your remixes in minutes. Learn more at www.ikmultimedia.com, or www.groovemaker.com

Since 2002, Diskfaktory has been offering End–to End Artist Services to the Indie-musicians, empowering them to be in control of their music career, business opportunity and destiny with maximum potential income opportunity! We offer a singular integrated and cohesive “Digital, Mobile and Physical ” platform aka “ToolBox” which includes a music packaging, discovery, delivery and distribution & fulfillment all under one roof.

• Artist recruitment & development services
• Pre production services: Music Coaching, Graphic, and Mastering
• Production services : Disc Duplication and Replication Services
• New Music Delivery Platform which includes Multi-format Access (MFATM) and Music Sponsorship Network ( MSN™)technology
• New Mobile Application
• On demand Physical, Digital distribution & fulfillment services direct and through popular digital music stores such as iTunes, Napster and others.
• Online Store
• Retail Distribution Channels
• FREE viral musician community and social networking
• PromoTools
• Streaming radio channel through internet and mobile devices
• Exclusive and non-exclusive record label services
• Soundtrack Placement for movies and televisions
• Games music track placement such as Rock band and Guitar Hero.
• Live performances and events
• We have serviced over 200,000 Musicians

ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.

Sam Ash kindly contributes to the Grand Prize a $100 gift certificate to Sam Ash, and for the top 10 placing bands a $25 Gift Certificate.

Today, over eighty-four years later, all of the work that the Ash family has put into the business has paid off. There are now 45 Sam Ash Musical Instrument Megastores located in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Sam Ash Music has won numerous awards, most recently being named “Dealer of the Year” by members of the music industry. SamAsh.com, a successful mail order division has a fulfillment center in Tampa, FL.

It seems like every year (this our third) we throw together Indie Of The Year, the sponsors get more exciting. This year we have a nice mix of imperative indie band resources, and those that point towards a more responsible artist and human.

Future Perfect Radio will be our first Sponsor Spotlight. Over 30 channels, thousands of artists and even more songs. It’s a lot to take in and maybe it’s tough to find your feet. That’s where Project Playlist comes in. At (ir)regular intervals, we’ll break out one of our channels and post the first 10 tracks that come up in the radio player. This way, you get a more in-depth look at what’s playing on our channels!