Glassnote, Dualtone, Alabama Shakes & The Lumineers Rule The Night at A2IM LIBBY Awards
The independent music community converged on NYC's Highline Ballroom (6/20) for A2IM's second annual Libera Awards ("The LIBBYs") co-presented by Caroline. With over 400 people representing the independent music industry from around the world and across every imaginable genre, the room was packed with labels big and small, music service providers and coveted LIBBY statuettes, hand-sculpted from wire and wood.
Dualtone Music Group led the night's celebrations taking home three LIBBY awards, including one of the Label of the Year titles, followed by Glassnote Records and ATO which each scored two wins for their work with Mumford & Sons and Alabama Shakes, respectively.
"Congratulations to all LIBBY winners and nominees for being recognized by their peers in the independent music community," said A2IM Vice President Jim Mahoney. "Tonight's awards truly captured the diversity, strength and spirit that we feel defines the Independent music community and A2IM couldn't be happier to celebrate all of the remarkable Independent accomplishments from the past year."
To recognize a celebrated career and leadership within the independent music sector, Tom Silverman, TommY BoY Records' Founder/CEO and the founder of New Music Seminar, was awarded the A2IM Libera Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. Martin Mills, the inaugural winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, presented Silverman with his LIBBY.
Paul Roper, Dualtone: "It's an honor to be recognized tonight considering all the incredible Independent albums out now. We're grateful to all our partners and feel that it's never been a better time to be an Independent. Not only are we leading the market share but the sheer quality of Independent albums is changing the entire music industry. We believe in great music and we believe in the albums we release at Dualtone, so it's especially rewarding when it connects with commercial success."
Daniel Glass, Glassnote Records: "It's been an incredible year to be independent and we're proud to be part of a2im. The organization is always there for us, whether it be retail, radio, digital, press or anything else that comes up. I am proud of each and every member of our team at Glassnote, we dedicate our time and lives to our bands and each other. We love our music and love having fun everyday."
Jon Salter, ATO Records: "We're thankful for everything ATO has achieved this past year. It's been a rewarding year and it's an honor to be working with Alabama Shakes. Independents are contributing great, quality albums and it's gratifying to see us in the same playing field as the majors."
During the event, download-and-discovery service eMusic announced the winners for two community voted Up & Comer Awards. eMusic's community of members named British rock trio The Virginmarys (Wind-up Records) their favorite, while Mikal Cronin (Merge Records) won the vote submitted by A2IM members.
Created by and for the independent label community, the Libera Awards - named for the Latin word for freedom - concluded A2IM's 8th Anniversary Indie Week.
2013 Libera Winners:
Light Bulb Award - celebrating the most innovative/creative marketing campaign by an Independent label or artist
Glassnote Records, Gentlemen Of The Road, and Mumford & Sons for the 'Stopover' tour for Babel
Road Warrior-Hardest Working Artist of the Year (sponsored by Believe Digital) - celebrating the Independent label band/artist that worked hardest at their job or was the most instrumental in promoting their music
The Lumineers (Dualtone Music Group)
Best Sync Usage (sponsored by Getty Images Music) - for the most creative or most impactful use of Independent music in a film/TV/ad campaign
Dualtone Music Group for The Lumineers' "Ho Hey" song placement with Bing
Music Supervisor of the Year (sponsored by Silva Screen Music Group) - for the music supervisor/licensing person who was especially supportive of Independent music labels
Alexandra Patsavas (Chop Shop Music)
Best Live Act of the Year - celebrating the Independent label band/artist that had the best live act
Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)
21st Century Award (sponsored by Caroline) - celebrating the service provider or platform that was most beneficial to independent labels and artists
Spotify
Creative Packaging Award (sponsored by A to Z Media) - celebrating the best or most creative packaging
Fritz Klaetke for "Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection" - Woody Guthrie (Smithsonian Folkways)
Video of the Year
"Thrift Shop" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (Macklemore, LLC)
Up and Comer Award - A2IM Member Vote (sponsored by eMusic) - celebrating the next Independent label superstar artist
Mikal Cronin (Merge Records)
Up and Comer Award - eMusic Fan Vote (sponsored by eMusic) - celebrating the next Independent label superstar artist
The Virginmarys (Wind-up Records)
A2IM Lifetime Achievement Award - celebrating a lifetime of exceptional independent music success and leadership
Tom Silverman (Tommy Boy)
Independent Album of the Year (sponsored by Spotify)
'Boys & Girls' by Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)
Independent Label of the Year Award - 5 employees or less worldwide (sponsored by The Orchard)
Dualtone Music Group
Independent Label of the Year Award - 6 employees or more worldwide (sponsored by ADA)
Glassnote Records
A2IM thanks Caroline, ADA, A to Z Media, Bandzoogle, Believe Digital, eMusic, Getty Images Music, Silva Screen Music Group, Spotify, and The Orchard for their sponsorship of the 2013 Libera Awards.