A2IM: American Association of Independent Music

Posted in News by A2IM

Alabama Shakes, M83, The Lumineers Top Artist Nominees for 2nd Annual A2IM LIBBY Awards
ATO Records & Dualtone Music Group Earn Most Label Nominations

A2IM today announces the nominees for the 2nd Annual Libera Awards (The “LIBBYs”), to be held Thursday, June 20 at NYC’s Highline Ballroom, closing out A2IM’s 8th annual Indie Week. The LIBBYs, co-presented by Caroline, celebrate the continually expanding successes of Independent labels and artists – and the services that support them – and are voted on solely by members of the Independent community.

Eligible releases (March 1, 2012 – February 28, 2013) were narrowed down to six nominees per category (or more in the case of a tie) by expert panels including the most knowledgeable tastemakers, programmers, and professional supporters of Independent music. As in the inaugural LIBBYs, which counted Arcade Fire, Glassnote Records, and Daptone among its winners, this year’s nominees exemplify both the diversity of the Independent label community in terms of label sizes, geographic locations, and genres of music they release, as well as the critical and commercial success of Independent labels investing in the creation of music by the artists they love.

2013 Libera Award Nominees:

Independent Album of the Year (sponsored by Spotify)
• ‘Boys & Girls’ – Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)
• ‘Allah-Las’ – Allah-Las (Innovative Leisure)
• ‘Bloom’ – Beach House (Sub Pop)
• ‘Shields’ – Grizzly Bear (Warp Records)
• ‘Celebration Rock’ – Japandroids (Polyvinyl Records)
• ‘The Heist’ – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (Macklemore)
• ‘Babel’ – Mumford & Sons (Glassnote Records)
• ‘RED (Deluxe Edition)’ – Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records)
• ‘The Lumineers’ – The Lumineers (Dualtone Music Group)
• ‘Coexist’ – The xx (XL Recordings/Young Turks)

Listen to the Spotify Album of the Year Playlist

Independent Label of the Year Award – 5 employees or less worldwide (sponsored by The Orchard)
• Bar/None Records
• Daptone Records
• Dualtone Music Group
• Frenchkiss Records
• Ghostly International
• Kill Rock Stars
• Third Man Records

Independent Label of the Year Award – 6 employees or more worldwide (sponsored by ADA)
• Anti Records
• ATO Records
• Big Machine Records
• Concord Music Group
• Glassnote Records
• Hopeless Records
• Sub Pop
• XL Recordings

Up and Comer Award (sponsored by eMusic) – 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 Feb. 17, 2013
• Air Dubai (Hopeless Records)
• BOY (Nettwerk)
• LEOGUN (Yamaha Entertainment Group)
• Mikal Cronin (Merge Records)
• MNDR (Ultra Music)
• The Virginmarys (Wind-up Records)

Video of the Year
• “Hold On” – Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)
• “For Baltimore” – All Time Low (Hopeless Records)
• “Dirty Money” – Antibalas (Daptone Records)
• “Kill Your Heroes” – AWOLNATION (Red Bull Records)
• “My Love Is Real” – Divine Fits (Merge Records)
• “Wait” – M83 (Mute)
• “Thrift Shop” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (Macklemore)

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
• “Ebb Away” – …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead (Century Media/Superball) in Fox Surf by Tim Scanlin
• “Always Alright” – Alabama Shakes (ATO Records) in Silver Linings Playbook by Susan Jacobs
• “Sail” – AWOLNATION (Red Bull Records) in BMW – Feeling Remains campaign (Olympics premiere) by Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners
• “Can’t Win ‘Em All” – Hanni El Khatib (Innovative Leisure) in Audi (Super Bowl Commercial) by Agoraphone
• “Outro” – M83 (Mute/Caroline) in Red Bull “Gives You Wings” commercial by Tonya Puerto/EMI & Red Bull
• “Speaking Japanese” – Shiny Toy Guns (Five Seven Music) in Virgin America ‘Game Changer’ ad campaign
• “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers (Dualtone Music Group) in Bing by Susan Schwartz

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)
• Frankie Pine (Whirly Girl Music)
• Nora Felder (Picture Tunes)
• Randall Poster (Search Party Music/Posterboy Inc.)
• Susan Schwartz (Platinum Rye)
• Thomas Golubic (SuperMusicVision)

Light Bulb Award – celebrating the most innovative/creative marketing campaign by an Independent label or artist
• Alabama Shakes – album release campaign (ATO Records)
• Bear in Heaven – slowed-down album stream (Dead Oceans/Hometapes)
• Mumford & Sons – ‘Stopover’ tour (Glassnote Records)
• M83 – sustained album campaign (Mute)
• Brian Eno – ‘LUX’ listening events (Warp Records)
• Yep Roc – Yep Roc 15 Festival (Yep Roc Records)

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
• Allen Stone (ATO Records)
• Bob Mould (Merge Records)
• Brother Ali (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
• Grimes (4AD)
• Jukebox the Ghost (Yep Roc Records)
• Taylor Swift (Big Machine Records)
• The Lumineers (Dualtone Music Group)

Best Live Act of the Year – celebrating the Independent label band/artist that had the best live act
• Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)
• AWOLNATION (Red Bull Records)
• Bloc Party (Frenchkiss Records)
• Delta Spirit (Rounder)
• Hatebreed (Razor & Tie)
• M83 (Mute)
• Matt and Kim (FADER Label)
• Ra Ra Riot (Barsuk)

Creative Packaging Award (sponsored by A to Z Media) – celebrating the best or most creative packaging – including bundled packages, premium offerings, or artwork/design packaging – from an Independent label or artist in the last 12 months
• “Charmer” – Aimee Mann (SuperEgo Records) by Gail Marowitz & Aimee Mann
• “II” – Bad Books (Triple Crown Records) by Brian Manley & Chris Freeman
• “Until the Quiet Comes” – Flying Lotus (Warp Records) by Stephen Serrato with B+
• “12 Bit Blues” – Kid Koala (Ninja Tune) by Eric San
• “The Disintegration Loops” – William Basinski (Temporary Residence Ltd.) by Jeremy deVine
• “Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection” – Woody Guthrie (Smithsonian Folkways) by Fritz Klaetke

21st Century Award – celebrating the service provider or platform that was most beneficial to Independent labels and artists
• Bandzoogle
• Pandora
• PledgeMusic
• Rdio
• Spotify
• YouTube

Jon Salter, GM at ATO Records summed up the expression of pride that the LIBBY Awards are about when he accepted the nominations for his label and artists saying, “To see Indie records topping the charts and competing on a level playing field is incredibly fulfilling and rewarding for ATO and our artists. It’s been incredibly vibrant this year at ATO, and we feel lucky to have achieved such phenomenal results in a really tough climate. Being recognized by A2IM for the LIBBY nominations is an honor, especially during this extraordinary time for the Independent music sector.”

Dualtone’s Paul Roper, upon learning of the LIBBY nominations for The Lumineers and Dualtone Music Group said, “It’s a great honor to be recognized by our Independent community with these nominations. As evidenced by the recent GRAMMY Awards and reports on market share, Indies are thriving now more than ever. We are extremely proud to have been able to contribute to that story.”

“It is an honor and a privilege to be nominated for the A2IM Light Bulb Award on behalf of all the great Yep Roc Artists who made having the festival possible in the first place,” said Billy Maupin, General Manager of Yep Roc Records. “And knowing that the nominations come from our peers in the Independent music community makes it that much more special and meaningful.”

Hopeless Records said of their three nominations, “What great news! We here at Hopeless Records are big supporters of A2IM and it is an honor to be nominated for Best Label, Video of the Year (All Time Low) and Up & Comer (Air Dubai). Vote for us!”

Hardest Working Artist nominee Jukebox The Ghost (Yep Roc Records) expressed their appreciation (from the road, of course), “Thanks to everyone who nominated us for this. We have met countless hardworking and talented artists, bands, promoters, and labels through years of doing this, so it feels quite special to be recognized among such a passionate community.”

“We at Pandora are particularly proud to receive this nomination,” echoed Tim Westergren, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Pandora. “Since its inception, Pandora has been singularly focused on helping artists connect with their audiences. Personalized radio is a phenomenal resource for Independent musicians, drawing on a huge breadth of catalogue without regard to popularity. In a given month, Pandora plays the music of well over 100,000 artists, the vast majority of whom have never before been played on radio.”

And Daniel Glass, CEO of Glassnote Records, who has spent the better part of the last year seeing his vision and the passion and efforts of his artists and team being acknowledged from music fans, GRAMMY voters, and across the industry affirmed his Independent pride in accepting his three nominations exclaiming, “Huge! Thank you. We are so proud.”

In addition to the above twelve categories, a Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced shortly; voting on all awards will be open to A2IM voting members from April 25 to May 19.

Additionally, the A2IM Libera Award for “Up & Comer Artist presented by eMusic” will be determined by an eMusic member vote, giving music fans the opportunity to choose the next breakthrough Independent artist.

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.

The 2nd Annual Libera Awards conclude A2IM’s 8th Anniversary Indie Week (June 18-20 in NYC), which will bring together more than 500 executives from around the globe for three days of interactive panels, think tanks, and one-on-one discussions on maximizing the global impact of Independent music.

Posted in News by A2IM

A2IM Libera Awards 2013 submissions and nominations process is OPEN.
NO COST TO PARTICIPATE.

A2IM, the American Association of Independent Music, is now accepting nominations for the 2013 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.

Special thanks to the A2IM Libera Awards Co-Hosting Presenter, Caroline!

Last year’s inaugural Libbys, which garnered coverage from the Wall Street Journal, Billboard, etc and recognized Daptone Records, Spotify, Glassnote Records, Bon Iver, and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Martin Mills, among other winners.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Sunday, February 17th.

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: Independent Album of the Year sponsored by Spotify

Category: Independent Label of the Year Award (5 Employees or less worldwide) sponsored by The Orchard

Category: Independent Label of the Year Award (6 Employees or more worldwide) sponsored by ADA

Category: Up and Comer Award sponsored by eMusic, 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 (as of this year’s LIBBY submissions deadline)

Category: Video of the Year

Category: 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

Category: Music Supervisor of the Year sponsored by Silva Screen Music for the music supervisor/licensing person who was especially supportive of independent music labels

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

Category: Hardest Working Artist of the Year celebrating the independent label band/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) sponsored by A to Z Media celebrating the best or most creative packaging – including bundled packages, premium offerings or artwork/design packaging – from an independent label or artist in the last 12 months

Category: 21st Century Award celebrating the service provider or platform that was most beneficial to independent labels and artists

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, “The Libera Awards give us the chance to celebrate independent music labels and the artists they work with.  Indies are the risk-takers of the music business, and they exist solely to find and support artists whose music they believe in wholeheartedly.  Winning a LIBBY is in a real sense being acknowledged by your community — people who understand the job you do every day.”

eMusic will be returning as a partner of the Libera Awards as the co-presenter of the Up & Comer Artist Award celebrating the next independent music superstar.  Adam Klein, CEO of eMusic, said, “We take pride in our longstanding commitment to independent artists and labels, and to helping music collectors serendipitously uncover their next favorite album. We are thrilled to once again sponsor the Libera ‘Up and Comer Award’ as we continue to support both emerging artists and A2IM’s mission.”

On board as the co-presenting sponsor for the Album of the Year Award is Spotify.  “We are truly pleased to acknowledge the incredible music being released by independent artists,” said Steve Savoca, Head of Content, Spotify. “With the Libera Awards, A2IM has provided a much-needed forum for honoring the great work being done by the independent music community.  We are proud to be sponsoring the Independent Album of the Year award and wish all of the nominees the best of luck.”

David Dufresne, CEO of Bandzoogle, the official online partner for this year’s Awards, added, “Our team is very excited to be sponsoring the Libera Awards this year and to provide the online submissions platform enabling voters to check out and select the best independent music projects of the past year. For the past ten years Bandzoogle has worked with tens of thousands of independent artists and labels to help them establish and grow their web presence.  This community now plays a bigger role than ever in the music industry. It is amazing to see the talent, creativity and hard work get recognized and celebrated through A2IM. We are proud to be part of it.”

All nominee submissions must be for music, projects or artists that occurred or had new music available for commercial release in the United States via an independently owned/controlled label or artist during the period March 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.

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 20^th.

See a recap of the Inaugural Libbys Show 2012 HERE.

A2Im Thanks Our LIBBYs Sponsors

Posted in News, Press Releases by A2IM

On Dec 6th, the final nominations for the 55^th Annual GRAMMY Awards were announced and once again independents were clearly celebrated by the voting members of The Recording Academy scoring 210 of the 393 non-producer category nominations.

Independents have nominations in 68 of the 79 counted categories including Record of the Year (Taylor Swift, Big Machine Records), Album of the Year (Mumford & Sons “Babel”, Glassnote) and 2 of the Best New Artist nominees (Alabama Shakes, ATO Records and The Lumineers, Dualtone Music Group).  Demonstrating the contribution that independents make to all music genres, categories such as Best Pop Instrumental Album, Best Jazz Vocal Album, Best Latin Jazz Album, Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album, Best Americana Album, Best Bluegrass Album, Best Folk Album, Best Blues Album and nearly all of the Classical Album categories were dominated by independent nominations.

For a full list of A2IM member nominees, click HERE. If you are an A2IM member, who had an artist who was nominated that is not listed here, please let us know.

This morning A2IM’s PR firm Shore Fire Media issued the below press release celebrating our community’s success.  Congratulations and good luck to all of our members and their artists and we look forward to celebrating a great night in February.

Read the Press Here From FMQB

A2IM
For Immediate Release
December 6, 2012

Independents Log Half of All GRAMMY Noms For 3rd Consecutive Year

A2IM, the American Association of Independent Music, congratulates this year’s Grammy Award nominees, in particular recognizing the independent music labels and artists that earned 210 nominations out of 393 non‐producer category nominations ‐ half of all nominees for the third consecutive year. Independents were led by huge nights for Mumford & Sons, Alabama Shakes, The Lumineers, Ultra Music, Smithsonian Folkways, Naxos of America, and Concord Music Group, the independent label leader in total GRAMMY nominations with 26 total nods.

Jim Mahoney, A2IM Vice President, says, “What an exciting night for so many independent labels and artists… from independent leaders Concord Music Group, Glassnote, Ultra Records and ATO to the outstanding people at Sunnyside Records,Mack Avenue, Nacional, and Compass Records…outstanding!”

Of the multiple nominations for Mumford & Sons’ ‘Babel,’ Glassnote CEO Daniel Glass said “‘Babel’ continues to prove itself and touch people. We are elated, inspired, and proud of Mumford & Sons and their very talented producer Markus Dravs.”

Echoed ATO Records GM Jon Salter, “We’re so proud to be working with the Alabama Shakes. The band’s talent and passion brings an energy to the music that’s touching listeners across the country. Congratulations to the Shakes and all the devoted fans.” Nicole Blonder, Sr. Director of Marketing and Sales for Mute Records continued, “We’re so proud of M83 and the entire team! Everyone’s worked incredibly hard to have this masterpiece of an album be recognized by the industry. It’s been an amazing year!”  Dualtone Music’s Marketing Director Paul Roper expressed similar sentiments, “We are honored to have The Lumineers included in the list of Grammy nominees for Best New Artist and  Best Americana Album. It’s incredibly gratifying and humbling for the label and the band that their music is being received so well on this scale. It’s an incredible time to be an indie and it’s wonderful to see the community so well represented in both these categories.”

“On behalf of everyone who pours their hearts and souls into the great artists on independent labels,” continued Mahoney, “A2IM couldn’t be prouder or more pleased for the recognition that the voting members of The Recording Academy showered upon this community tonight. Congrats to all of the nominees and we look forward to a big independent celebration in February.”

Posted in News by A2IM

MTV Music Video Award Nominees have been announced and the A2IM community would like to congratulate our members Glassnote Records and Ultra Music for their nominations.  Childish Gambino “Heartbeat” (Glassnote) was nominated in the Best Hip-Hop Video category and Calvin Harris “Feel So Close” (Ultra) received a nod for Best Electronic Dance Music Video.  VOTE HERE for your fellow A2IM members.

Posted in News by A2IM

If you weren’t able to attend the A2IM Libera Awards in June or even if you did attend, we hope you’ll enjoy seeing the whole show.  Here is the video shot from the sound booth at Le Poisson Rouge on June 21, 2012.

Posted in News by A2IM

Here is a great pic of “The Dø” with their 2012 Libby Award, which they received for the “Up & Comer Award” presented by eMusic. Congratulations to the Band and their Label, A2IM Member, Six Degrees Records.