Libera Awards

Libera Awards
Current: 2024 Libera Awards
Awarded forThe achievements of the Independent music sector
CountryUnited States
Presented byA2IM
First awarded2012
Websiteliberaawards.com

The Libera Awards are an annual awards ceremony organized by the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM). First hosted in 2012, the awards celebrate the independent music community. The capstone of A2IM's Indie Week, an annual music business conference, the ceremony has been able to be viewed by the public since 2020.[1]

The top-billed awards are generally Record of the Year and Best Live Act, in addition to Label of the Year, Best Sync Usage, and Video of the Year, among others. In addition to the awards which are voted on, A2IM annually confers the Lifetime Achievement and Independent Icon Awards to industry leaders and artists, respectively.

List of ceremonies

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Overview of Libera Awards ceremonies
Year Date Venue Broadcast Host
2012[2][3] June 21 Le Poisson Rouge — John Ross Bowie
2013[4] June 20 Highline Ballroom
2014[5] June 20
2015[6] June 25
2016[7] June 16 Manhattan Center Ted Leo
2017[8][9] June 8 PlayStation Theater
2018[10][11] June 21 Kate Wolff
2019[12][13] June 20 Ziegfeld Theatre Chris Gethard
2020[14] June 18 — YouTube
2021[15] June 17
2022[16] June 16 Webster Hall
2023[17] June 15 Town Hall Hannibal Buress

Award categories

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Note: the names of most categories have been tweaked overtime with the most significant name changes indicated below. Updated 2022.[18]

Artist-specific awards

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Former categories

  • Road Warrior of the Year (2012–2016) (2013–2015: Hardest Working Artist; 2016: Into the Pit Award)

Record-specific awards

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  • Record of the Year (2012–)
  • Self-Released Record of the Year (2022–)
  • A2IM Artist Record of the Year Award (2021–) (honors self-released artists)[1]
  • Best Alternative Rock Record (2020–)
  • Best American Roots Record (2018–)
  • Best Blues Record (2018–)
  • Best Classical Record (2018–)
  • Best Country Record (2018–)
  • Best Dance Record (2022–)
  • Best Electronic Record (2022–)
  • Best Folk Record (2020–) (2020–2022: Best Folk/Bluegrass Record)
  • Best Heavy Record (2018, 2020–2021: Best Metal Record)
  • Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record (2017–)
  • Best Jazz Record (2018–)
  • Best Latin Record (2018–)
  • Best Outlier Record (2018–)
  • Best Pop Record (2022–)
  • Best Punk Record (2020–) (2020: Best Punk/Emo Album)
  • Best R&B Record (2018–)
  • Best Re-Issue (2018–)
  • Best Rock Record (2018–) (2020: Best Mainstream Rock Album)
  • Best Singer-Songwriter Record (2023–)
  • Best Soul/Funk Record (2023–)
  • Best Spiritual Record (2021–)
  • Best Global Record (2018–) (2018–2022: Best World Record)

Former categories

  • Groundbreaking Album of the Year (2015–2016)
  • Heritage Album of the Year (2015–2016)
  • Shifting Beats Award (2016)
  • Best Blues/Jazz/R&B Album (2017)
  • Best Classical/World Album (2017)
  • Best Country/Americana/Folk Album (2017)
  • Best Dance/Electronic Record (2017–2021)
  • Best Metal/Hard Rock Album (2017)
  • Best Indie Rock Album (2017)

Industry awards

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Former categories

  • Music Supervisor (2012–2014)
  • A&R Team of the Year (2016)
  • Video of the Year (Fan Vote) (2017)

Special awards

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A2IM Lifetime Achievement Award

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This award was first presented at the inaugural Libera Awards to honor contributions by industry leaders in independent music.

Independent Icon Award

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This award was first presented at the 2016 Libera Awards to honor a "groundbreaking Independent artists who have contributed to the Independent community and have paved the way for future Independents to succeed on their own terms."[27] In 2015, it was presented as the Appleseed Award.[28]

Independent Impact Award

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Formally titled the A2IM Independent Impact Award (as of 2021)[1] this award honors the independent artist with the highest combined sales and streams as measured by Nielsen Music across all of the artist's commercial releases in the U.S. between a yearlong period.[33]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Leiber, Sarah Jae. "The A2IM Libera Awards Celebrates 10 Years, Announces 2021 Date". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  2. ^ "A2IM Announces Libera Awards Show For Independent Artists & Labels". Hypebot. 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  3. ^ "Rocking It, Indie Style". Wall Street Journal. 2012-06-26. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  4. ^ "Bandzoogle Nominated for a Libera Award". bandzoogle.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  5. ^ "Bandzoogle Sponsoring 2014 A2IM Libera Awards in NYC!". bandzoogle.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  6. ^ "Charles Bradley to be Musical Guest at Libera Awards in New York City". Jambands. 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  7. ^ "A2IM Announces 2016 Libera Awards Performance Lineup". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  8. ^ "A2IM Showcases Excellence at 2017 Libera Awards –". 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  9. ^ "Radiohead, Run The Jewels, Bonobo, King Gizzard Lead A2IM's Libera Award Noms: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  10. ^ Aswad, Jem (2018-06-22). "Aimee Mann, Funky Four +1 Perform, Slowdive Wins Big at Indie Libera Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  11. ^ "A2IM Announces Final Lineup of 2018 Libera Award Nominees –". 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  12. ^ "Kamasi Washington, Domino Records Win Top Prizes at Libera Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  13. ^ "A2IM Libera Indie Music Awards 2019 - Full Winners List". Hypebot. 2019-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  14. ^ A2IM. "A2IM Announces This Year's Libera Awards Nominees for First-of-Its Kind Global, Virtual Ceremony". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "A2IM Libera Awards 2021: 10 Year Anniversary Presented by Merlin". Eventbrite. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  16. ^ Aswad, Jem (March 23, 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees". Variety. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  17. ^ Garcia, Thania; Okusanya, Emanuel (June 16, 2023). "Wet Leg, Sudan Archives and More Win Big at 2023 A2IM Libera Awards". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "2021 Nominees". Libera Awards. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  19. ^ "2012 Winners". Libera Awards. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  20. ^ "2013 Winners". Libera Awards. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  21. ^ "2014 Winners". Libera Awards. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  22. ^ "2015 Winners". Libera Awards. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  23. ^ "2016 Winners". Libera Awards. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  24. ^ a b "2017 Winners". Libera Awards. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  25. ^ "2018 Winners". Libera Awards. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  26. ^ a b Release, Press (2019-06-21). "John Prine, Bad Bunny, and Kamasi Washington Take Home Honors at 2019 A2IM Libera Awards". The Country Note. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  27. ^ a b "A2IM Announces Libera Awards Lineup: Mac DeMarco, Naughty By Nature, Nosaj Thing, and Torres To Perform At A2IM's Biggest Awards Show To Date –". 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  28. ^ a b "Alison Wenham Honored As Indie Trailblazer With Special Appleseed Award At Fourth Annual A2IM Libera". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  29. ^ "A2IM 2018 Libera Award Winners –". 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  30. ^ "A2IM Announces Performers for 2020 A2IM Libera Awards". Music Connection Magazine. 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  31. ^ "Americana Legend John Prine Set for Icon Honors at A2IM's Libera Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  32. ^ Aswad, Jem (2021-05-13). "Mavis Staples to Be Honored, Arlo Parks and Black Pumas to Perform at A2IM Libera Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  33. ^ a b "Congrats to our A2IM award winners!". beggars.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  34. ^ "A2IM 2018 Libera Award Winners –". 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
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