Posted in News, Press Releases by A2IM
A2IM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2012
A2IM Honors Martin Mills, The Beggars Group Founder/CEO, with
Libera Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
The Big Bang Theory, Curb Your Enthusiasm’s John Ross Bowie to
Host June 21 Libby Awards Event
The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) is proud to announce that the inaugural Libera Awards Lifetime Achievement Award will honor Martin Mills, Founder and CEO of The Beggars Group. Indies are exploding in today’s music world, becoming more of a dominant player than ever before, and Mills’ Beggars Group is an exemplar of the increasingly commanding indie presence. Mills will be presented with the award by Sire Records Co-Founder Seymour Stein at the event on June 21 at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge.
Martin Mills founded the flagship label of The Beggars Group in 1976 and since then the group has become home to the world’s most respected and recognizable independent labels. XL Recordings, 4AD, Matador and Rough Trade are all part of the Beggars Group. From the first release on Beggars Banquet, a single by punk band The Lurkers, to Gary Numan’s hits, to the addition of 4AD and their distinctive identity and the joining of XL Recordings and Rough Trade, The Beggars Group has always been on the forefront of great music and original artists. Martin Mills has been an outspoken advocate for independent music, and with his direction, the labels have released albums by some of the world’s most interesting and innovative artists including Adele, The National, Thom Yorke, Vampire Weekend, Fucked Up, The xx, Scott Walker, Cat Power, Yo La Tengo, Jarvis Cocker, Interpol, Grimes and many more.
Seymour Stein is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Sire Records, home to some of modern music’s most
iconic names, from Talking Heads and The Smiths to Wilco and My Bloody Valentine. Stein, together with Sire Records Co-Founder Richard Gottehrer, also recently reformed Blue Horizon Records, a label at The Orchard, an A2IM member.
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The host of the Libera Awards (”The Libbies”) will be actor/comedian John Ross Bowie, who has appeared on such television shows at The Big Bang Theory, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Reno 911! He is a New York native, now living in Los Angeles and has been involved with The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater since 1998. ”I am thrilled to be hosting the Libbies, not just because I’m a huge independent music buff, but because there has never been a more exciting time to be an independent music buff,” said Bowie of his hosting duties. “The entire industry is shifting and independent labels and artists are empowered and are creating a new, corporate-free paradigm. Also, I’m told there will be snacks.”
The LIBBY Award statues, made from wood and wire, are designed and individually hand-sculpted by artist Zak Gere. The statue is not only a piece of art but a collector’s item. A2IM extends its thanks and appreciation to Gere.
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See the full list of independent labels, artists, and supporters that received final nominations for the A2IM Libby Awards HERE.
A2IM’s 2012 Libera Awards are sponsored by Official.FM, Pandora, eMusic and The Orchard.
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 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. A2IM is headquartered in New York City. The organization’s board of directors is composed of the following: Concord Music Group President Glen Barros; Sub Pop Records VP Business Affairs Eric Brown; tinyOGRE Entertainment COO Jim Cooperman; 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; Kill Rock Stars President Portia Sabin; Jim Selby, Naxos of America CEO, Tommy Boy CEO/Founder Tom Silverman; Razor & Tie COO Victor Zaraya. The A2IM President’s Advisory Committee is composed of the following: Big Machine Label Group General Manager Andrew Kautz, Mack Avenue President Denny Stilwell, and Jagjaguwar Founder/Co-Owner Darius Van Arman.
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Tags: Beggars Group, Blue Horizon Records, Curb Your Enthusiasm, emusic, Indie Week, John Ross Bowie, Le Poisson Rouge, Libbies, Libera Awards, Martin Mills, Official.fm, Pandora, Reno 911!, Richard Gottehrer, Seymour Stein, Sire Records, The Big Bang Theory, The Orchard, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, Zak Gere
