About NIMA

NIMA was developed in the summer of 2004 by Nashville native Corey “CORMAT” Matthews. Its primary purpose was to recognize the Middle Tennessee music industry along with supporting, and nurturing the music community. In the early days prior to having an actual ceremony CORMAT would host NIMA open mic nights for artist to showcase their talent, and to build brand awareness for NIMA. He would hold meetings and round table discussions with different groups of Nashville music industry professionals in preparation for The NIMAs. This group of music industry professionals is now known as the NIMA Association. In 2007 NIMA would have its first awards gala under its original name. The inaugural Nashville Independent Music Awards were held on August 11, 2007 in Nashville, TN. For the first three years NIMA only recognized and awarded the Rap genre of music. In 2009 R&B was added to the NIMA ballot. Over the years to follow Rock, Jazz, Country, Blues, and Gospel genres would all be added to the ballot. In 2015 our Chairman/Founder CORMAT decided it was time to recognize more than just the people who wrote, recorded, and performed music. It was time to recognize the entire music industry as a whole. The name of NIMA was then changed to Nashville Industry Music Awards. For the next six years NIMA would continue to thrive and grow going from a live music venue event to a dressy red carpet event held in hotel ballrooms. In 2020 the worldwide pandemic COVID-19 forced NIMA to not have a live show for the first time in our history. The 14th Annual NIMA Awards was a prerecord made for television show that aired on YouTube. Due to COVID-19 safety guidelines there was no audience. The entire show was filmed via green screen and had prerecorded performances. With the world of live shows in limbo, and not knowing when the world would open back up or shut back down tough decisions had to be made. CORMAT decided to halt production of NIMA in 2021.  In 2024 NIMA made its return on a much larger scale. It was time to expand NIMA outside of Middle Tennessee.  NIMA now has opened its doors to the entire United States. Today NIMA stands for National Industry Of Music Awards.