It was a big night for Dualtone Records and the Alabama Shakes at the American Association of Independent Music’s second annual Libera Awards Thursday, with representatives from 400 independent labels across the country gathered to honor their peers. Dualtone took home three awards, including Independent Label of the Year (5employees or less) and Best Sync Usage. The label also shared the Hardest Working Artist of the Year Award with its break out band The Lumineers. Glassnote Records, meanwhile, was honored as the Independent Label of the Year with six employees or more.
Among artists, the Alabama Shakes of ATO Records took home the evening’s top prize, claiming Independent Album of the Year for 2012’s Boys & Girls. Mikal Cronin of Merge and The Virginmarys of Wind-up Records were honored as Up and Comers by A2IM members and fans, respectively.
Tommy Boy Records and New Music Seminar founder Tom Silverman was the evening’s honored guest. He accepted the A2IM Lifetime Achievement Award with a sincere and rousing speech that spanned the past, present and future of the independent music industry.
“The indies suffer from the same self doubt that affects individuals,” Silverman said. “We think we’re inferior. But I’m here to announce today that we are as good or better than the majors and we’re getting even better than that.”
See a full list of winners from the 2013 Libera Awards below.
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
