Dar Williams

The 6th Annual Libera Awards, presented by the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), were held on Thursday, June 8th, at New York’s Playstation Theater. Hosted by Ted Leo (of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists), the awards honored the last year’s best in independent music and the hard-working labels behind it.

Feminist and indie icon Ani DiFranco was especially honored, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for founding Righteous Babe Records in 1990, releasing over 20 independent studio albums and remaining an activist for a range of social causes. The award was presented to DiFranco by lauded contemporary Dar Williams, who also joined DiFranco on her performance of “32 Flavors.”

Singer-songwriter and producer Nick Lowe also received special recognition with the Independent Icon Award. Lowe’s work with Stiff Records, The Damned, Elvis Costello and the Pretenders, as well as his releases on Yep Roc Records, earned him the distinction. He performed perhaps his most well-known and oft-covered song, “Cruel to be Kind.”

Twin Peaks and Nick Hakim also performed, while Talib Kweli closed out the show with a performance of “Nine Point Five,” touting his “fake indie” cred. He explained, “That’s when a major label gives money to make you seem indie.”

Photos of attendees and a list of the evening’s winners are below.

List of Winners

Best Live Act: Radiohead // XL Recordings

Marketing Genius Award: The xx / Marketing Lead: Pablo Douzoglou, Blake Thomas // Young Turks

Best Sync Usage: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings / Usage: Lincoln MKZ Spot / Music Supervisor: Creative License // Daptone Records

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Whitney // Secretly Canadian

Creative Packaging: Thundercat / Drunk/ Adam Stover // Brainfeeder

Best Classical / World Album: Tinariwen / Elwan // ANTI-

Best Blues / Jazz / R&B Album: Charles Bradley / Changes // Daptone Records

Independent Champion of the Year: Bandcamp

Best Metal / Hard Rock Album: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard / Nonagon Infinity // ATO Records

Best Country / Americana / Folk Album: Margo Price / Midwest Farmers Daughter // Third Man Records

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ani DiFranco

Best Dance / Electronica Album: Bonobo / Migration // Ninja Tune

Video of the Year: DJ Shadow feat. Run the Jewels / “Nobody Speak” // Mass Appeal Records

Video of the Year (fan vote): Radiohead / “Daydreaming” // XL Recordings

Independent Icon Award: Nick Lowe

Label of the Year (5 employees or fewer): Triple Crown Records

Label of the Year (6 employees or more): Jagjaguwar

Best Rap / Hip-Hop Album: Run the Jewels / Run the Jewels 3 // Run the Jewels, Inc.

A2IM Independent Impact Award: Florida Georgia Line / Dig Your Roots// Big Machine Label Group

Album of the Year: Angel Olsen / My Woman // Jagjaguwar

Saycon Sengbloh

Far Rock Millz

Satellite Moon and her producer

Lafonda

Devvon Terrell

Christine de Michele

Tommy $uperior of Africa Americana

Alex and Her Wrath of Africa Americana and guest

Charles Duke and guest

Photo Credit: Alyssa Fried