JESSIE SPARKS PICKS UP A WHOPPING FIVE

INDEPENDENT MUSIC NETWORK AWARDS NOMINATIONS

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The Multi-talented Artist Earns a Spot on Music Connection’s Annual

‘Hot 100 Unsigned Artist List of 2011,’ Now Available on Newsstands

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, rising singer/songwriter Jessie Sparks has been busy racking up honors and chart numbers this fall, while performing and attending industry and VIP events during her current visit to Los Angeles.

Adding to her collection of accolades, the soulful songstress garnered a whopping five Independent Music Network Awards nominations for: Favorite Mainstream Group/Duo, Best New Artist and Mainstream Group, Favorite International Mainstream Artist/Group, Favorite Mainstream Single, and Best Female Mainstream Artist. Sparks received a special mention in a recent story by Music News Nashville’s editor, Dan Harr.

An event for the nominees will be held on December 17 at Studio City Sound and award winners will be announced on January 13, 2012. The live show can be viewed at www.ustream.tv/recorded/18869840.

Sparks is also included in Music Connection Magazine’s Hot 100 Unsigned Artists list for 2011, which a list unveiled this month in the esteemed industry publication’s 35th Anniversary issue.

The Aussie native was also nominated for a 2011 Hollywood Music In Media Award in the Best Blues category, which follows her 2008 nomination for “Best Female Vocalist,” her win that year for “Best Adult Contemporary Artist” and her second nomination in 2010 for “Best Adult Contemporary Artist.”

Sparks also received major chart action this fall with her breakout single “Calendar Years” – the debut single from her EP featuring Willie & Joe Chambers from the legendary ’60s-’70s gospel/R&B group The Chambers Brothers. The track earned its highest chart position at #1 on New Music Weekly’s (NMW) Independent Music Network‘s (IMN) Mainstream Top 30 Countdown in October and November 2011. She also peaked at #3 on NMW’s AC40 Indie Chart and #9 AC40 Main Chart. The hit song also reached #5 on NMW’s Top40 Indie Chart, #14 on the Top40 Main Chart and #9 on the Hot 100 in October, November and December.

The single’s success continued on the FMQB Charts peaking at #28 on the Top 200 Chart and #28 on the AC40 Chart.

“Calendar Years” also hit the Mediabase/Billboard Top Adds chart in November along with Kelly Clarkson, Lady Antebellum and Lady GaGa.

During her L.A. visit, Sparks had the great honor of playing live with Jimi Hendrix’s cousin Riki Hendrix and Rosa Lee Brooks, the ex-girlfriend and co-songwriter of Hendrix. The memorial jam session that took place on his birthday was also to recognize Hendrix, as Rolling Stone recently named him the Greatest Guitarist of All-Time.

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