The Hollywood Independent Music Awards (HIMA) is an awards organization and annual ceremony recognizing independent artists, composers, songwriters, record labels, and studio recording audio engineers for their creative contributions to independent music. The independent music categories originated as part of the HMMAs, an awards event honoring original music in visual media including film, television, video games, documentaries, short films, and music videos.
The HMMA organization has recognized numerous composers, songwriters, and performers, including Billie Eilish, Rihanna, Olivia Rodrigo, Diane Warren, Ludwig Göransson, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, and Austin Butler.
Since its inception, the HIMA's has attracted international participation from independent artists and industry professionals, providing a platform for emerging and established talent within the global independent music community. 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.
The HIMA's 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 Season 18 winner, Todd Tilghman.
2026 Winners and nominees Source:
Categories Adult Contemporary Adult Contemporary Hip Hop Jasmine Crowe, Keith Weidner, Blake Buentelo Astrella Brandon Jarrett CXC Katherine Larsen ODELLA Shelita PM DM-Punch MvkeyyJ, Spencer Kane REXXX-L TWAIN Album Alternative MODULA - The Unmentionables: Book I ALTER - "Una Noche Más" David Lanz - "Carousel" James Viggo Poulsen - "Heartland Poem" Lachi - "Magnificent" O&D - "Caimito" Sarahlyn - "Love Letters" Tanya George - "Contrast" The Earth & All Within - "The Earth & All Within" Flyght Club hachajah Luke Truan, Katerina Souponetsky, Mona Zaki Modern Nights Piper Connolly Simon Rivón Syante The Velvet Hands VETZ Americana/Roots Blues Tina Petteras Dave Kirkman Four Piece Suit Kris Angelis Lucie Tiger Midnight Sky Walter Hansen Stevie Hawkins Abbie Thomas Bluesnado Jorge Granda Kris Angelis Children's music Christian/Gospel Mallory J. Stevens and Brandon Jarrett (performed by Brandon Jarrett and Joe Abraham) Dana David Majzlin and Juliane Jones (feat. Lily Bell Morgan) Jesse Jukebox Mr Daddy Cool Tess Cacciatore & Davy Nathan (sung by April Henry) Vanessa Béjine Randall Cohen Reina Özbay The Darkness Lies Tim Cord Contemporary Classical Country Classic David Arkenstone & Budapest Scoring Orchestra Christopher Siu & Budapest Scoring Orchestra Cameron Stone, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Kristin Amarie, David Lanz David Das & Budapest Scoring Orchestra (feat. Bob Sheppard on tenor saxophone) Fabian Kratzer Forrest Gray Jennifer Thomas & Glen Gabriel Matt Cook Sharon Farber Yi-Chen Chiang Dave Kirkman Jacki Daniels (feat. Louie Lee) Lucie Tiger Shevyn Roberts Steve Bridgmon Tommy O’Keeffe Country Crossover Dance Black Sands Austin Martin Bigg Souf Cornelius Versa D.J. Rittenhouse Haleigh Martin Kris Anders Shevyn Roberts Trey Bryant Walter Hansen Sangina Jordan Massey Pierce Brian Brown Ralphy Grey featuring Craymo Steven Binko UTCA EDM Folk/Acoustic Heretixx, Ricki Ayela, Johnny Daphne Tetreault Feat. Farrah Maunste Heretixx, Ricki Ayela, Johnny Kendra Erika Lachi ODELLA Ralphy Grey featuring Craymo Rogelami Hunter Hawkins Alsindi Black Sands Daniel de Boer Lily Erin Morgan Coblentz Sarah Rose The King’s Way Todd Mosby Holiday Instrumental Thomas James and Bill Walter Abbie Thomas AMARU ARYIEL Corry Hanna Jamie Alimorad Mela Bee Rollin Jewett The Diversions Featuring Lia Booth Adam Werner (feat. Will Ackerman & Michael Manring) André Barros Chris Thomas David Laborier E J Ouellette Inbal Cohen-Rasner Jim Kimo West and David Vito Gregoli Taisuke Kimura moja McNeish Jazz (Jazz fusion/Bebop) Jazz (Smooth/Cool) Paul Wayne Rucker David Laborier Gregory Golub Kobi Arad (feat. Kiki Valera & Charlie Sabach) Vahagn Stepanyan Tommy Davidson Jeff Greenleaf Suzanne Grzanna Threestyle (feat. Magdalena Chovancova, Gabriela Konrad, Robert Fertl) Todd Mosby Tommy Davidson Yulia (feat. Jackiem Joyner) Latin Lyrics/Lyricist Alexander James Rodriguez BenAnthony LaVoz Danny Pryp Eme featuring Yeziel, EC Bandido Geann Alberto Jordan Massey Max Rosado Nia Padilla Santiago Vasquez Tatiana Liary & Hada Veronica Moana Avvenenti CEEHUDD, KOS Frances Tan Moana Avvenenti Rehya Stevens Wendy Babcock Message Song/Social Impact New Age Ambient Sumi X Arden Alexa Class Vee Marcus Kley STEFANO Sumi X Wendy Loomis Bei Bei Apstara Aritra C Chet Nichols Chris Thomas D Brax David Sálezmar Harmony Kang Michel Huygen Mingo Sylion Original Recording Original Song All I Need (produced by Tariq Pijning, performed by Jermaine Fleur "I’m Lovin’ Me" (produced by Turra Medina, performed by Sarahlyn) "My Favorite Things Are Red" (produced by Simon Jay and Luke Shrestha, performed by Arden Alexa) "Replay" (produced by Aidana Maxutova & Yerlan Bekchurin, performed by Sangina) "What Can’t Be Changed (2026 Version)" (produced by Si Min Tan, Axel Hejlsberg, Mike Cervantes, performed by Frances Tan) "Uncontrollable" (produced by Nick Stone, performed by ĒISA) Really Do (written and performed by Ella Loretta) "Tears Fall On Hollywood" (written by Shauvik Sharan, performed by Flyght Club) "Beautiful Mystery" (written by Jasmine Crowe and Keith Weidner, performed by Jasmine Crowe, Keith Weidner, Blake Buentelo) "AMAR" (written by Kristin Amarie and David Lanz, performed by Kristin Amarie, David Lanz, Jay Dref) "Here’s Your Proof" (written by Leonie Persch, Carlee Chapell, Jacob Munk, performed by Leonie Persch) "Circles" (written by Talib Matin and Michael Washington, performed by MvkeyyJ) "Poker Face" (written and performed by Sophie Pecora) Pop R&B/Soul Kayla Krilove Jermaine Fleur Lourde Childs Mily Osuna Natalie Kalei Sophie Pecora Rayl Dre Boogie Flyght Club KIA MODULA (feat. Day Underscore and Jayna Elise) Tracy Cruz Trent Monroe and Bryard Huggins TWAIN Rap/Hip Hop Rock Jaydoce Dorian Robinson, Seth Sutch & Reed Starks Jaydoce KKOKO MvkeyyJ TWAIN Yacovelli * Phil X and The Drills Ashton Martin x 1DRU Francesca Tarantino Go Scarlet Randy Caserta Silent Susan Simon Oakley The Sun Harmonic The Velvet Hands Rock/Heavy Metal Rock/Pop Magnetico Angels on the Battlefield Low Speed Chase Morningstar One World (R)evolution Scarred Soul Empire Lauren Ash AITA Astrella Dina Dove Jon Mullane Jules & the Howl Katie Costello Larry May Lauren Ash Signal For Pilot Socialghosts Singer-Songwriter Vocal (female) NAVY Alexis Strum Ann King Astrella Jasmine Crowe, Keith Weidner Kate Loraine Katie Cole Neena Rose Rafi Sāde Frame Katherine Larsen Ann King FH.Dhanagom, SANGINA Haleigh Martin Kristin Amarie CherylAn Sokol-Byrne, Brianna Shelko Monika Spruch NAVY Vocal (male) World Lourde Childs Brandon Jarrett Cornelius Versa Jermaine Fleur Mokita Nam Jonez Annie Zhou AcoTakenaka Annie Zhou Dr. Krupesh Thacker, Vacha Thacker, Parv Thacker, Parv Fusion Band, The Krup Ganna Sorbat and David Majzlin Guy Renardeau Feat Sara Parsaei Layla Minoui Marcus Kley SIBONGIE 嬉班子樂團 Sweet Toko ft. KIA Wouter Kellerman & David Arkenstone featuring Mbuso Khoza
Studio recording professionals Producer/Production Mixing/Engineering hachajah David Je’ Dawn Elder H.B. Thal and Colby Lapolla Scott R. Hansen Uncia Vahagn Stepanyan ZieM TOKAL & Jennifer Ortiz Akihisa Yorozu David Laborier Jeff Silverman Robert Fertl
Music industry professionals Record Label/Distributor Publisher Symphonic Bigfork Bay Music LLC Dreamland Entertainment Group Legacy Music MTS Records Thirty Tigers PEN Music Group, Inc. Angry Mob Music Byrne Elliott Music Formosa Pipe Organ Society Wixen Music
Special recognition Afrobeats Bluegrass music TruRaw feat. Sandriana - "Tunapaa (We Rise)" Adalyn Ramey - "Angel at the Crossroads"
2025 Winners and nominees Source: Categories Adult Contemporary Adult Contemporary Hip Hop Brandon Jarrett – "I'm Not Sorry" Ban Brothers (featuring Christine Corless) – "Nothin' Like This" Black Sands – "Serotonin" GALIT – "Dear Lover" Mark Michael Garcia – "Your Love Is All I Know" Michael Gilas – "Working with the Rain" Monti The Artist – "Break The Ground" Odella – "Hang On" Stefano – "Celebration" Abstract Mindstate – "Bar Louie" (featuring David Banner) Bo Paypershow – "Bad One" Ervin Mitchell – "Nobody But Myself" ETCETERA (featuring JMarv) – "Secret" L.S. (ChildOfHipHop) (featuring Sunih Reed) – "Mama Knows" TWAIN – "Brotherly Love" Album Alternative Matt Cook & Dan Merceruio – "Braveship" Cheryl B. Engelhardt & GEM – "According to the Moon" Ignacio Salvatierra & Various Artists – "Onda Aldemaro De Ignacio Salvatierra P" KIA – "Retrospect" Lockwood Barr – "One Day I Will" Nige B – "Reshape // Refashion" Savannah Brister – "Soft" Emilia Vaughn – "Draw on My Jeans" Celeste Marie Wilson – "If I sin for you?" Flyght Club – "Nobody Else Knows" Jazzie Young – "Waiting on You!" Lady Sloth – "Disaster" Mary Ann – "Welcome" Nicki Kris – "Unleashed" Shannon K, Samir Bodhi, Nathalie Bonin – "Anxiety's Shadows" Ships Have Sailed – "Breakdown" Vetz – "Almas Gemelas" Americana/Roots Blues Haleigh Martin – "State of Mine" Last House – "Rock & Roll Me" Reece in the Country – "Missing Pieces" Silent Susan – "Cursing The Ohio" Grant Maloy Smith (featuring Janis Ian) – "Memphis" Cornbread Wallace – "Blue Collar Proud" American Mile – "American Dream" Adrian Sutherland – "My Rebel Spirit" Last House – "Side Of The Road" Abbie Thomas – "Bitch Make the Coffee" Flyght Club – "Slow Burn" Grant Maloy Smith – "All I Gotta Do" Stevie Hawkins – "You Left Me With A Heartquake" The Gravel Project – "Love the Life" Children's music Christian/Gospel Yumi's Universe – "Chasin' The Sun" Dana – "How (Can I Make Someone's Day)" Guy Renardeau – "Play With Me" Jesse Friedberg – "Afraid But Brave" Linda Kartoz-Doochin – "Hot Latke" Mohammed K Paika – "Just Human" Byrne Elliott Music – "Ready to Begin" Freedom Heart – "Dreaming With You" Kyle Dillingham – "Eden Song" Mo Dinka – "Heaven Won My Heart" Muscle Shoals Allstars (featuring Gary Nichols) – "Gentle Waters" Odella – "Hallelujah Moment" Steven Bridgmon – "Called You Back Home" We For Thee – "Awesome Mighty King" Contemporary Classical Country (Classic) Daniel Fisher – "Fisher: Symphona No. 2" Alexander Unseth – "Unseth: Symphonina No. 2 (Childhood Symphonina)" Dallas String Quartet (featuring London Symphony Orchestra) – "Key of Heaven" Helena Maria Falk – "Outside World" Jasper Ku – "The Circle of Life" Joseph Lu – "Pour Marie (Romance d'un Amour)" Matias Bacoñsky – "Everything Ends" Nan Avant – "Nani (beautiful) Lahaina~Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra" Ruiqi Zhao – "I Am Back" Russ Hewitt & Irving Symphony Orchestra – "Amor Perdido (live)" Lockwood Barr – "Tornado Tree" Adalyn Ramey – "Small Town" American Mile – "Straight From The Heartland" Byrne Elliott Music (featuring Easton Hamlin) – "The House" D Boone Pittman and Clark Kissick – "That's Low" Dolylamby's posse – "Ain't That Kinda Country" Ethan Johnson (featuring Rudy S) – "Rescue Me" Lily Grace – "Old Enough To Know Better" Myles Erlick – "Growing Old With You" Nathan King – "Like Dirt" Country (Crossover) Dance Lily Grace – "Me, Myself and Wine" Austin Martin – "Wrangler" Bronte Fall – "Worth The Money" Cole Capshaw – "Tequila Sunset Kiss" Haleigh Martin – "This One's on Me" Haley Bundy – "In Love With Love Again" Katie Perkins – "Keep On Dreaming" Myles Erlick – "This Town"