The Libera Awards Celebrate the Independent Music Community

The independent music community celebrated its accomplishments when the American Association of Independent Music, Inc. (A2IM) hosted three days of conferences and an awards ceremony in New York City.

A2IM’s Indie Week 2023 conferences were spread across three days, from June 13 to June 15. Participants attended conferences, panel discussions, workshops and networking events at the InterContinental Times Square Hotel. At more than 60 gatherings, industry leaders shared updates on artificial intelligence in music, metadata, publishing, marketing, physical retail, touring, sustainability, and modern approaches to independent label publicity.

Hannibal Burress acted as master of ceremonies at the 12th annual Libera Awards

Burress also performed with his band, Este Tune

Margo Price performed

The Aces presented an award

Indie Week concluded with the 12th annual Libera Awards at the Town Hall on June 15. The ceremony celebrated the work of often overlooked independent artists who overcome obstacles that many major-label artists are able to avoid. The Libera Awards recognized outstanding achievements and accomplishments across many genres and celebrated the dedication of artists, individuals, and labels in 37 categories.

Wet Leg was the big winner at the 2023 awards. Sudan Archives, Run the Jewels, Big Thief, Low, the Linda Lindas, Captured Tracks, Partisan Records, Innovative Leisure, and Bandcamp also were among this year’s winners. The ceremony featured live performances by Margo Price, Shemekia Copeland, Gaby Moreno, Dawn Richard + Spencer Zahn, Sudan Archives, Seratones, Tamtam, Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra, and Martha Reeves.

Marshall Allen and members of the Sun Ra Archestra performed

Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra received an Independent Icon award

Martha Reeves performed "Heat Wave," her 1963 hit with Martha & the Vandellas

Reeves received her Independent Icon Award from Hannibal Burress

A2IM presented Martha Reeves and Marshall Allen and the Sun Ra Arkestra with Independent Icon Awards. The remaining 2023 Libera Awards, presented by Merlin, were awarded as follows.

Record of the Year

Wet Leg - Wet Leg (Domino Recording Co.)

A2IM Humanitarian Award

Killer Mike

Independent Champion

Bandcamp

Video of the Year

Wet Leg - "Ur Mum" (Domino Recording Co.)

Breakthrough Artist/Release

Sudan Archives (Stones Throw Records)

Sudan Archives won Breakthrough Artist/Release and Best R&B Record

Best Alternative Rock Record

Wet Leg - Wet Leg (Domino Recording Co.)

Best American Roots Record

Angel Olsen - Big Time (Jagjaguwar)

Best Blues Record

Shemekia Copeland - Done Come Too Far (Alligator Records)

Shemekia Copeland performed with guitarist Arthur Rubinstein

Shemekia Copeland won Best Blues Record

Dawn Richard + Spencer Zahn won Best Classical Record

Dawn Richard + Spencer Zahn

Best Classical Record

Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn - Pigments (Merge Records)

Best Country Record

Plains - I Walked With You A Ways (ANTI-)

Best Dance Record

Bicep - Water (Ninja Tune)

Best Electronic Record

ODESZA - The Last Goodbye (Ninja Tune/Foreign Family Collective)

Best Folk Record

Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (4AD)

Best Global Record

Rodrigo y Gabriela - Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (ATO Records)

Best Heavy Record

black midi - Hellfire (Rough Trade Records)

Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record (two-way tie)

Kenny Beats - LOUIE (XL Recordings)

Run The Jewels - RTJ CU4TRO (BMG)

Best Jazz Record

Kamasi Washington - The Garden Path (Young)

Best Latin Record

Helado Negro - Ya No Astoy Aquí (4AD)

Best Live/Livestream Act

Low - Live (Sub Pop Records)

Best Outlier Record

NNAMDÏ - Please Have A Seat (Secretly Canadian/Sooper Records)

Best Pop Record

MUNA - MUNA (Saddest Factory Records)

Best Punk Record

The Linda Lindas - Growing Up (Epitaph)

Best R&B Record

Sudan Archives - Natural Brown Prom Queen (Stones Throw Records)

Sudan Archives performed

Best Re-Issue

Fela Kuti - Fela with Ginger Baker Live! (Partisan Records)

Best Remix

Wet Leg - "Too Late Now (Soulwax Remix)" (Domino Recording Co.)

Best Rock Record

Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia (Partisan Records)

Best Short-Form Video

Toro y Moi - MAHAL TikTok series (Dead Oceans)

Best Singer-Songwriter Record

Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow (Sub Pop Records)

Best Soul/Funk Record

Lee Fields - Sentimental Fool (Daptone Records)

Lee Fields won Best Soul/Funk Record

Best Spiritual Record

Montell Fish - JAMIE (Lord’s Child)

Self-Released Record of the Year

Sarah Davachi - Two Sisters (Late Music)

Best Sync Usage

Stereolab - "A Flower Called Nowhere" in Atlanta (Warp Records)

Creative Packaging

Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There, Deluxe (Ninja Tune)

Marketing Genius

Wet Leg - Wet Leg (Domino Recording Co.)

Label of the Year (5 or fewer employees)

Innovative Leisure

Label of the Year (6-14 employees)

Captured Tracks

Label of the Year (15 or more employees)

Partisan Records

Gabby Moreno presented an award

Gabby Moreno performed

Lisa Hresko, General Manager of A2IM said, "We want to wish the winners, nominees, and the independent community our most heartfelt congratulations. The evening was one for the books and a new apex for the Libera Awards and the independent community."

A2IM is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade organization headquartered in New York City that exists to support and strengthen the independent recorded music sector. Membership currently includes a broad coalition of nearly 700 independently-owned American music labels. A2IM represents these independently-owned small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. In doing so, it supports a segment of America's creative class that represents America's diverse musical cultural heritage.

Seratones performed

Tam Tam performed

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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music circuit. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise.

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