The remarkable scope of the independent music world was on display tonight (6/21) at A2IM's inaugural Libera Awards ("The Libbies") at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC, celebrating the range of the thriving indie world: diverse genres, labels big and small and from around the globe. Created by and for the independent label community, the Libera Awards – named for the Latin word for freedom – capped off A2IM's 7th Anniversary Indie Week.
Jagjaguwar and Daptone Records led the field with two Libbie wins apiece, while other winners included Spotify, Arcade Fire (Merge Records), and Glassnote Records. Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar) grabbed a win for Independent Album of the Year while Daptone took home Independent Label of Year (6 or more employees).
"Congratulations to all Libera Award nominees and awards winners," said A2IM Vice President Jim Mahoney. "A2IM couldn't be prouder of the great accomplishments of independent labels and artists in every genre and we're very pleased that the A2IM Libbies allow the indie community to celebrate itself."
Among the 250+ attendees packed into the club was Martin Mills, the Beggars Group Founder/CEO, who was awarded the inaugural A2IM Libera Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. Seymour Stein presented the award to Mills with a heartfelt speech, and the assembled indie music VIPs warmly welcomed Stein back into the independent community with his relaunched Blue Horizon Records label (with partner Richard Gottehrer).
During the event, download-and-discovery service eMusic announced the winners for the A2IM Libera Awards Up & Comer Award. As determined by eMusic's community of members, the winner was the post-punk, soul group JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound (Bloodshot Records), while the winner voted by the A2IM membership was The Dø (Six Degrees Records).
2012 Libera Winners:21st Century Award – celebrating the service or platform most beneficial to independent labels & artists:
SpotifyBest Independent Sync Placement – the most creative or most impactful use of independent music in a film/tv/ad campaign:
Glassnote Records (GIVERS' song "Saw You First" in Kindle Fire product launch)Creative Packaging Award – celebrating the best or most creative packaging – including bundled packages, premium offerings or artwork/design packaging – from an independent label or artist:
Ninja Tune for Amon Tobin (ISAM limited edition "Control Over Nature" CD/Book)Independent Album of the Year presented by Official.fm:
Bon Iver – 'Bon Iver' (Jagjaguwar)Independent Video of the Year:
Arcade Fire's "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" (Merge Records)Independent Label of the Year (5 full time employees or fewer):
Daptone Records Independent Label of the Year (6 or more employees):
Jagjaguwar Lifetime Achievement Award:
Martin Mills, Beggars Group Founder/CEOLight Bulb Award for Most Creative Marketing Campaign/Idea:
Epitaph/Anti- Records (Tom Waits Invite-Only Listening Party)Music Supervisor – celebrating the music supervisor/licensing person who was especially supportive of independent music labels and artists:
PJ Bloom (Neophonic)Road Warrior of the Year – celebrating the independent label band/artist that was the most fan-engaged/worked hardest at their job in the last 12 months:
Charles Bradley (Daptone Records)Up & Comer Award presented by eMusic – celebrating the next independent label superstar artist:
The Dø (Six Degrees Records) [A2IM member vote]
JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound (Bloodshot Records) [eMusic member vote]A2IM thanks Official.fm, Pandora, eMusic, and The Orchard for their sponsorship of the 2012 Libera Awards.
http://a2im.org/http://shorefire.com/clients/A2IM/About A2IM:
A2IM is a not-for-profit trade organization serving the Independent music community as a unified voice representing a sector that comprises over 30% of the music industry's market share in the United States (and almost 40% of SoundScan digital sales). The organization represents the Independents' interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. A2IM is headquartered in New York City.
As of July 4, 2012, the organization's board of directors will be composed of the following: Daptone Records General Manager Cathy Bauer; Sub Pop VP of Business Affairs Eric Brown; Epitaph General Manager Dave Hansen; Yep Roc Records Co-Owner Tor Hansen; Alligator Records Founder/CEO Bruce Iglauer; The Beggars Group Founder/CEO Martin Mills; Glassnote Records General Manager Chris Scully; Naxos of America CEO Jim Selby; Tommy Boy CEO/Founder Tom Silverman; Jagjaguwar/Dead Oceans/Secretly Canadian Founder/Co-Owner Darius Van Arman; Razor & Tie COO Victor Zaraya.
For more information, or to become a member, please visit
www.A2IM.org.
