A2IM Libera Awards 2014 Submissions and Nominations Process is Open

A2IM, the American Association of Independent Music, is now accepting nominations for the 2014 A2IM Libera Awards (The "Libbys"), celebrating the successes of independent artists and labels in the only awards show voted on solely by the independent community. The 2013 LIBBY Awards garnered tremendous press and online coverage as the independent music community recognized outstanding achievements by Glassnote Records, Dualtone Music Group, Alabama Shakes, The Lumineers and Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tom Silverman, to name a few.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Sunday, February 16th.

The list of categories is below as well as links providing easy to follow instructions about how to submit for each category. Submissions must be completed on these provided forms and returned via email to Libbys@a2im.org.

Category: Album of the Year

Category: Label of the Year Award (5 Full-Time Employees or fewer)

Category: Label of the Year Award (6 Full-Time Employees or more worldwide)

Category: Video of the Year

Award: Up and Comer Artist Award, predicting and celebrating the next independent label superstar artist (to qualify artist must have total career sales not exceeding 5000 full length albums or 25,000 tracks - combined - as of the submission deadline date)

Category: Breakthrough Artist of the Year, celebrating the independent label superstar artist who has for the first time commercially released a music project that has exceeded 5000 full length album or 25,000 track sales

Category: Best Sync Usage celebrating the most creative or most impactful use of independent music in a film/tv/ad campaign

Category: Light Bulb Award celebrating the most innovative/creative marketing campaign for a project released by an independent label or artist

Category: Hardest Working Artist of the Year celebrating the independent label artist that worked hardest at their job or was the most instrumental in promoting their music

Category: Best Live Act of the Year celebrating the independent label band/artist that had the best live act

Category: Creative Packaging Award  (Physical or Digital) celebrating the best or most creative packaging - including bundled packages, premium offerings or artwork/design packaging

Category: Independent Ally of the Year celebrating the music service provider or partner (including but not limited to physical and digital retailers, media outlets, digital platforms, music supervisors, licensors or marketers) who was most supportive or beneficial to independent labels and artists. Submissions will be pared down to final nominations by panels of independent music experts from media, retail, distribution, marketers, and other strategic music partners. Winners will be selected by voting members of A2IM. Winners will be presented at the A2IM Libera Awards ceremony at Highline Ballroom in NYC on Thursday, June 19th.

The A2IM Libera Awards are intended to allow independents to celebrate one another's achievements. The event was founded by a committee of independent music labels and the committee is chaired by Kill Rock Stars President Portia Sabin. About the Awards Sabin says, "Independent labels are the risk takers of the music industry, and we commit our resources, experience, and passion to creating opportunities for the artists we believe in.  To win a Libby is to be recognized by a community of peers who understand the challenges we face as an industry, and thus the hard work and innovation that we put into our jobs every day."

See a recap of the Inaugural Libbys Show 2013 HERE.

About A2IM:

A2IM is a not-for-profit trade organization serving the Independent music community as a unified voice representing a sector that, according to Billboard Magazine, comprises 34.5% of the music industry's market share in the United States (and almost 40% of SoundScan digital album sales). The organization represents the Independents' interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community.

The organization's board of directors is composed of the following: Concord Records President Glenn Barros; Daptone Records General Manager Cathy Bauer; Smithsonian Folkways Recordings Director of Marketing & Sales Richard James Burgess; Yep Roc Records Co-Owner Tor Hansen; Alligator Records Founder/CEO Bruce Iglauer; The Beggars Group Founder/CEO Martin Mills; Kill Rock Stars President Portia Sabin; Glassnote Records General Manager Chris Scully; Naxos of America CEO Jim Selby; Dead Oceans/Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian Founder/Co-Owner Darius Van Arman; Razor & Tie COO Victor Zaraya.