Pitchfork

Brothers and sisters of indie! Break out the web browsers, as it's time once again for the PLUG Independent Music Awards, honoring the best and brightest in, you guessed it, independent music-- as chosen by you, the fans. Past editions of the Pluggies, as we've lovingly nicknamed them, have seen accolades thrust upon the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Bright Eyes, TV on the Radio, Interpol, and a host of other indie music and media favorites.

While the nominees are ultimately selected by the mysterious PLUG Cartel (actually a not-so-mysterious voting body consisting of various industry types, Dave Eggers, and some other peeps), this year PLUG invites you, the fan, to suggest nominees to the Cartel. How seriously those suggestions will be taken is unclear, but if you have your heart set on seeing Chromeo win it all, say so right now through the end of October by clicking here. And then seek professional help, immediately.

PLUG breaks the categories down into two types: "music" (album, artist, song, festival of the year, etc.) and "independent media" (music zine, blog, journalist, magazine, website of the year-- *cough*Pitchfork*cough*). As they have in previous years, fans will determine the PLUG Award winners from the Cartel-selected pool of nominees by voting on the interweb later this year. Then come on down as indie's finest perform and the winners are announced at the PLUG Awards Ceremony in New York City on February 10, 2007. And if you're worried the awards show might get a little dull, bring a magazine.

To jazz things up a bit this year, PLUG is also reaching out to local scenes across the country with the help of JELLYNYC, the collective responsible for the recent McCarren Park pool gigs in Brooklyn. Together they'll host shows featuring local talent at a number of U.S. cities. PLUG and JELLYNYC have two events lined up already: the first goes down in Miami on October 20, and the second hits that remote pocket of indie goodness that is Brooklyn, New York on November 17. Look for more PLUG events popping up in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, and Portland in the near future.