Caroline Joins A2IM To Sponsor "The LIBBYs"

 
The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) is pleased to announce Caroline as a hosting sponsor of the group's second-annual Libera Awards — an award show for independent artists and labels, nominated and voted on by independent artists and labels. This year's ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 20 at New York City's Highline Ballroom.

"In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Caroline and our re-launch as a full-service partner to the independent label and artist community, we are honored to sponsor the 2013 A2IM Libera Awards," said Dominic Pandiscia, President of Caroline. "It's a great opportunity to help acknowledge the most impactful and important labels, artists and initiatives in the independent community over the previous year." Born from the DNA of the successful EMI Label Services division, which defined itself as a successful service company for labels and artists such as Hopeless Records, Welk Music Group, Slash, Tyrese, Raekwon, Five Finger Death Punch, Candlelight and others, Caroline now provides full services including Branding, Synch, Promotion, Marketing, Publicity and more. 

A2IM President Rich Bengloff noted, "We are thrilled to have Caroline be one of the two overall co-sponsors of the second-annual Libera awards. We are equally thrilled that the Capitol Music Group has restored the historic Caroline name to the expanded and revitalized Caroline operation, one of the true historic brand names in the history of Independent distribution and a founding member organization of A2IM. We look forward to working with our good friend Dominic Pandiscia and my long-time friend [Executive Vice President/General Manager] Mike Harris to make both the Libera event and Caroline huge successes."

The second-annual Libera Awards build on the success of last year's "decidedly buoyant" inaugural ceremony (Billboard), where, as the Wall Street Journal put it, "fans and music executives gathered to pay homage to indie greats and hand out cool, handmade statuettes to the lucky nominees." Last year's winners included Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar) who won for Independent Album of the Year; Epitaph / Anti- Records, whose invite-only Tom Waits listening party garnered the Light Bulb Award for Most Creative Marketing Campaign/Idea; and Charles Bradley (Daptone Records) who took home the Road Warrior of the Year, celebrating the hardest-working, most fan-engaged artist. 

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 percent of the music industry's market share in the United States (and almost 40 percent 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. Headquartered in New York City, the organization's board of directors is 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; Dead Oceans/Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian Founder/Co-Owner Darius Van Arman; Razor & Tie COO Victor Zaraya.

About Caroline Group:
Caroline has re-launched as a full-service partner to the independent label and artist community. Born of the DNA of the successful EMI Label Services division and building on the 30-year tradition of the historic Caroline Distribution (one of the U.S's largest independent distribution companies), Caroline has recently defined itself as a successful service company for artists and labels such as Hopeless Records, Welk Music Group, Mute, Slash, Tyrese, Raekwon, Five Finger Death Punch, Candlelight and others. Now Caroline will be expanding to provide full services including Branding, Synch, Promotion, Marketing, Publicity and more. Helmed by President Dominic Pandiscia, and EVP/GM Mike Harris, Caroline defines the essence of the independent culture and spirit while bringing all of the leverage of a major to the marketplace. Driven by commitment, passion and hustle, Caroline delivers a transparent, flexible and tailor-made vehicle to super-serve, support and nurture the independent community, artist and label. Just as Caroline Distribution was the launching pad for the careers of artists such as Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, White Zombie, Ben Folds and The Chemical Brothers, Caroline will continue to dedicate its efforts in the development of independent artists in order for them to achieve their maximized potential.