Curb Records Founder Mike Curb to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at A2IM Libera Awards Presented by SoundExchange

A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) proudly announces that its fifth annual Libera Awards Lifetime Achievement Award will honor Mike Curb, founder of Curb Records, for his long and distinguished career as a label executive, songwriter, and producer. The award, which honors executives who have shaped the course of Independent music, will be presented during A2IM's fifth annual Libera Awards, the only award show for Independents by Independents at Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom on Thursday, June 16,

Presented by SoundExchange and hosted by Ted Leo, this year's ceremony marks the largest Libera Awards celebration to date and will feature live performances, a seated dinner, and awards honoring the best of Independent music. This year's nominees include Courtney Barnett, Kamasi Washington, ATO Records, and 4AD. Tickets for the Libera Awards can be purchased here.

A2IM Members are encouraged to invite artists, family and friends.

“Mike Curb is unique, one of a kind, and in a class of his own. He is not only revered for his diverse career as a label-owner, top-charting songwriter, producer, and for being Lieutenant Governor of California. He has preserved ten of Nashville’s most historic music industry landmarks while championing music business education and being inducted into several Halls of Fame,” said A2IM CEO Richard Burgess. “It is difficult to conceive how anyone can achieve so much in one lifetime. In short, Mike is a complete game-changer to whom we will all be forever grateful for his immeasurable contribution and it is our honor to present him with this award.”

“For the last decade A2IM has represented the independently owned music enterprises and has elevated the independent companies significantly. A2IM has allowed all of us to speak with one voice at a time when the music industry has been extremely challenging. Dr. Richard Burgess is leading us into the next decade which will present even more challenges and more importantly, incredible opportunities,” said award-recipient Mike Curb. “I am proud to be the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award on the tenth anniversary of A2IM.”

"Mike Curb has fundamentally changed our industry and the Nashville music scene for the better," said Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange. "His tremendous philanthropic endeavors aid underprivileged communities and provide music education to so many deserving young artists. As music fans we are all indebted to him for discovering and developing so many artists that we love. SoundExchange is proud to have an opportunity to work with such an incredible leader in the industry. Mike is a legend and this remarkable honor is well-deserved."

Mike Curb is the founder and chairman of Curb Records, one of the world's most successful Independent labels. Since its launch in 1962, Curb has had more than 300 No. 1 records with some of Country, Christian and Pop/Rock's biggest acts, including Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr. and the Four Seasons. Curb has had a hands-on presence throughout the label's history and continues to be involved in the company he started. CurbRecords is considered the nation's oldest record company still being operated by its founder.

Curb is also a prolific songwriter and award-winning producer. He has written more than 400 songs for musicians including Roy Orbison, Sammy Davis Jr., The Osmond Brothers, The Ventures, and Solomon Burke. In 1972, Curb was the winner of Billboard's prestigious Overall Producer of the Year Award. Curb is also the chairman of the Mike Curb Family Foundation and chairman and owner of gospel music powerhouse Word Entertainment, which was named Billboard's Overall Top Imprint for gospel in 2006.

Outside of music, Curb served as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of California from 1979 to 1983 and was acting Governor from 1979 to 1980. Curbhas stars on the Hollywood and Nashville's Music City Walk of Fame and has been inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, Georgia Hall of Fame, National Business Hall of Fame, and the Musicians Hall of Fame.

VP Records co-founder Pat Chin, recipient of the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award, will present this year's award.

Previous recipients of the A2IM Libera Awards Lifetime Achievement Award:

2015 — Pat Chin, VP Records

2014 — Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records

2013 — Tom Silverman, TommY BoY

2012 — Martin Mills, Beggars Group

A2IM thanks the A2IM Libera Award sponsors: ADA, AtoZ Media, Caroline, Fox Rothschild LLP, FUGA, INgrooves, Kickstarter, Lagunitas, MC Events, Mendeleev Vodka, MOSCOT, The Orchard, Pandora, Publicide.com, Silva Screen Music / SO Recordings / SBMC Inc., Spotify and YouTube/ Google Play Music.

About A2IM:

Celebrating its 11th anniversary, A2IM is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade organization headquartered in New York City representing a broad coalition of 391 Independently-owned American music labels. The organization represents these independently owned small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. In doing so it supports a key segment of America's creative class that represents America's diverse musical cultural heritage. Billboard Magazine, using Nielsen SoundScan data, identified the Independent music label sector as 34.4 percent of the music industry's U.S. recorded music sales market in 2015 based on copyright ownership, making Independent labels collectively the largest music industry segment.

The organization's board of directors are composed of the following: Razor & Tie President Craig Balsam, Concord Music Group President Glen Barros, INgrooves General Manager Amy Dietz, Epitaph/Anti- General Manager Dave Hansen, Beggars Group Chairman Martin Mills, Hopeless Records Owner Louis Posen, Dualtone Music Group CEO/Co-Founder Scott Robinson, Kill Rock Stars Owner/President Portia Sabin, Adshare President Jim Selby, Tommy Boy Owner/CEO Thomas Silverman, and Secretly Group Co-Founder/Co-Owner Darius Van Arman. A2IM's president's advisory committee is Curb Records Vice President Taylor Childress, Red House Records Vice President Chris Frymire, and Innovative Leisure Co-Owner Nate Nelson.