Australian Independent Record Labels Association
The Australian Independent Record Labels Association, formerly Association of Independent Record Labels, is a non-profit trade association which supports the growth and development of Australia's independent recording industry independent recording industry. It represents Australian-owned record labels and independent artists based in Australia who function without the backing of major record labels.
AIR was founded in 1996 in Sydney and is now located in Melbourne. In 2000, it founded the Independent Music Charts, also known as AIR Charts, which track the sales of Australia's highest-selling independent artists on a weekly and monthly basis, and since 2006 the annual Independent Music Awards, or AIR Awards, have been run to celebrate the year's highest-charting independently released Australian singles and albums.
Along with the Awards ceremony in Adelaide since 2017, AIR has run a music industry conference, Indie-Con Australia.
History
AIR was started by a group of Sydney and Melbourne music industry professionals and labels, who began meeting regularly to formulate ideas on how to start an industry association that would assist the ongoing development of Australia's independent record industry. The association was incorporated in 1996 thanks to a small donation from Phantom Records, and received its first operation funding grant from the Australia Council for the Arts in 1998.Additional Australia Council funding was received in 2000, and in this same year, members also voted to change AIR's legal status from Incorporated Association to Company Limited by Guarantee.
AIR moved its base from Sydney, New South Wales, to Brisbane, Queensland, in 2004 when Stuart Watters took over as its Chief Executive Officer. In 2007 AIR moved its operations from Brisbane to Melbourne, Victoria, where it is now based in the Rubber Records and Media Arts Lawyers building in North Melbourne.
In 2009 it registered a collective bargaining notification to bargain on behalf of 63 participating members, with each of Telstra, Optus, Foxtel, Austar, MTV, XYZnetworks, Fuel TV and Bigpond, regarding the licensing of sound recording rights in respect of public performance and transmission of music videos. The application, which would last for three years, was approved. The collective bargaining power brought a number of benefits to members.
Members
AIR began as a small association with 25 members to a company with over 200 financial members across all sectors of the Australian music industry. AIR's membership of significant Australian Independent Record Labels includes but is not limited to Head Records, Shock Records, Elefant Traks, Obese Records, Dew Process, Liberation Music, Plus One Records, Remote Control Records Pty Ltd, MGM Distribution, UNFD – We Are Unified, Ivy League Records, Vitamin Records,, Red Cat Records, Illusive Sounds, Future Classic, Casadeldisco Records and Jarrah Records.it has about 350 members.
Purpose and function
AIR is the national industry association representing "indie labels" in Australia, which aims to represent their members' interests both in Australia and elsewhere. With this sector of the recording industry representing about 85% of all Australian recorded music, AIR's primary role is growing the marketplace for this music. Representing their members individually and collectively is done through advocacy, negotiations, and helping with access to new markets internationally. It services businesses of all shapes and sizes, battles copyright violations and helps to develop artists' careers.AIR represents the Australian industry internationally as a member of Worldwide Independent Network, a coalition of independent music bodies from countries throughout the world.
On 4 July 2008 AIR took part in WIN's Independents Day initiative, the first annual coordinated celebration of independent music across the world. As a major part of these celebrations AIR conducted an online poll for Australia's greatest independent records of all time.
2017 market analysis
In 2017, AIR commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to produce AIR Share: Australian Independent Music Market Report, the first market analysis of the industry, which showed that indie labels represented 30% of revenue generated by the Australian recorded music market. It also showed that 57% of independent sector revenue is from Australian artists, which put the Australian sector in the Top 10 global list of mainly English-speaking indie music markets.The report valued the Australian recording industry as worth, sixth largest music market in the world in terms of revenue and ahead of countries with higher populations such as Canada and South Korea. Digital revenue, at 44%, had overtaken that coming from physical sales, at 33%. A spokesperson from the company Unified Music Group said that governments were beginning to recognise the financial and cultural worth of a thriving music industry, but there was still a big challenge for the independents to compete with well-funded tech companies that have an anti-copyright agenda.
Independent Music Charts
In 2000, AIR inaugurated the Independent Music Charts, which track the sales of Australia's highest selling independent artists. The top 20 independent singles and albums were published on a weekly basis, but genre charts for jazz, hip hop, blues and roots, hard rock/punk and country music were published once a month.When Jägermeister took over as major sponsor of the AIR Awards in 2008, they announced that AIR Charts would undergo some changes, including a new website, aimed at developing new audiences for Australian music, both in Australia and worldwide. In 2010 a further three-year deal for sponsorship by Jägermeister was announced, with the awards renamed the Jägermeister Independent Music Awards and the charts Jägermeister Independent Music Charts. When Carlton Dry took over the sponsorship in 2013, the charts were renamed the Carlton Dry Independent Music Charts.
, the AIR Charts include four categories and include the top 20 in each: 100% independent singles; 100% independent albums; independent label singles; and independent label albums. The lists are created by AIR from data supplied by the Australian Recording Industry Association.
The AIR Charts differ from the ARIA Charts in that they focus on Australian artists represented only by Australian independent labels. the monthly genre categories are no longer published The weekly charts, published on each Monday, feature the top 20 in each of the following categories: 100% Independent Singles; 100% Independent Albums; Independent Label Singles; and Independent Label Albums. The distinction between the "100%" and "Label" categories were described in 2009 as follows:
- 100% Indie: Independent releases distributed through an independent distributor
- Indie Label: Independent releases distributed through any distributor, including a major distributor.
Independent Music Awards
The annual Independent Music Awards celebrate the success of Australian musicians who have released music during the previous year. The awards ceremonies were held in October or November in Melbourne from 2006 to 2015, and in July in Adelaide from 2017. Eligibility is restricted to Australian artists, and releases must be self-released or released on an independent label.The inaugural 2006 awards were sponsored by V energy drinks. In December 2008 it was announced that Jägermeister, previously a "headline sponsor", would become the major sponsors until 2010. When a further three-year deal for sponsorship by Jägermeister was announced in 2010, the awards were renamed the Jägermeister Independent Music Awards. In 2013, Carlton Dry became the major sponsor, with the awards renamed Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards and a new category introduced, the Best Independent Classical Album.
There were no awards in 2016.
From 2017–2019, the South Australian Government's newly established Live Music Events Fund promised funding to the Awards and concurrent music conference, to take place at the Queen's Theatre in Adelaide. The events take place in July, along with Music SA's Umbrella: Winter City Sounds, a program of live music across Adelaide, and a couple of food and wine festivals in the city.
, the long-list of releases is created from nominations by members of AIR and releases which have charted in the AIR Music Charts within the eligibility period. The long-list is presented to a panel of about 400 judges, among them broadcasters, artists, online music media, newspapers, AIR Members and other representatives of the independent music industry. Judges choose their three favourite releases across the various categories, and there are specialist juries for Dance/Electronica Awards, Best Jazz Album and Best Classical Album.
The winners are listed on the AIR website.
2006–2009
2006- Best Performing Independent Album: Hilltop Hoods – The Hard Road
- Best Performing Independent Single/EP: Blue King Brown – Blue King Brown
- Best Independent Artist: Hilltop Hoods
- Best New Independent Artist: Gotye
- Best Independent Album: John Butler Trio – Grand National
- Best Independent Single/EP: Sneaky Sound System – "UFO"
- Best Independent Artist: Sneaky Sound System
- Best New Independent Artist: British India
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Midnight Juggernauts – Dystopia
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: C. W. Stoneking – King Hokum
- Best Independent Jazz Album: The Ben Winkleman Trio – The Spanish Tinge
- Best Independent Country Album: Gina Jeffreys – Walks of Life
- Best Independent Album: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – Gurrumul
- Best Independent Single/EP: The Getaway Plan – Where the City Meets the Sea
- Best Independent Artist: The Herd
- Best New Independent Artist: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
- Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album: The Herd – Summerland
- Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Album: Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Primary Colours
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Peret Mako – The Devil is in the Detail
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu – Gurrumul
- Best Independent Jazz Album: Tina Harrod – Work Songs
- Best Independent Country Album: Bec Willis – Bec Willis
- Best Independent Album: The Drones – Havilah
- Best Independent Single/EP: Philadelphia Grand Jury – Going to the Casino
- Best Independent Artist: The Drones
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: Bertie Blackman
- Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album: Pez – A Mind of My Own
- Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Album: The Nation Blue – Rising Waters
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Art vs. Science – Art vs. Science
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: C. W. Stoneking – Jungle Blues
- Best Independent Jazz Album: The World According To James – Lingua Franca
- Best Independent Country Album: Adam Brand – Hell of a Ride
2010–2012: Jagermeister Independent Music Awards
- Most Popular Independent Artist: John Butler Trio
- Best Independent Artist: Dan Sultan
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: Cloud Control
- Best Independent Album: Cloud Control – Bliss Release
- Best Independent Single/EP: Little Red – Rock It
- Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album: Urthboy – Spitshine
- Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Album: Parkway Drive – Deep Blue
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Midnight Juggernauts – The Crystal Axis
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: Dan Sultan – Get Out While You Can
- Best Independent Jazz Album: Stu Hunter – The Gathering
- Best Independent Country Album: Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and the Hillbillies – Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and the Little Hillbillies
- Best Independent Artist: The Jezabels
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: Emma-Louise
- Best Independent Album: Adalita – Adalita
- Best Independent Single/EP: The Jezabels – Dark Storm
- Most Popular Independent Artist: 360
- Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Album: My Disco – Little Joy
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: Gurrumul – Rrakala
- Best Independent Country Album: Wagons – Rumble Shake and Tumble
- Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album: Drapht – The Life of Riley
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Pnau – Soft Universe
- Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single: Joint winners: Tommy Trash & Tom Piper – All My Friends and Seekae – Blood Bank
- Best Independent Jazz Album: Sandy Evans – When The Sky Cries Rainbows
- Best Independent Artist: The Jezabels
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: Chet Faker
- Best Independent Album: Royal Headache – Royal Headache
- Best Independent Single/EP: Chet Faker – Thinking in Textures
- Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Album: DZ Deathrays – Bloodstreams
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: Lanie Lane – To The Horses
- Best Independent Country Album: Jess Riberio & The Bone Collectors – My Little River
- Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album: 360 – Falling & Flying
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Hermitude – Hyperparadise
- Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single: Tom Piper & Daniel Farley – LGFU
- Best Independent Jazz Album: Mike Nock Trio Plus – Hear and Know
- Best Independent Label: Elefant Traks
2013–2015: Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards
- Carlton Dry Global Music Grant: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
- Best Independent Artist: Flume
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: Vance Joy
- Best Independent Album: Flume – Flume
- Best Independent Single/EP: Vance Joy – God Love You When You're Dancing EP
- Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Album: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – 12 Bar Bruise
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: Paul Kelly – Spring and Fall
- Best Independent Country Album: Catherine Britt – Always Never Enough
- Best Independent Hip Hop Album: Seth Sentry – This Was Tomorrow
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Flume – Flume
- Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single: Flume – Holdin' On
- Best Independent Jazz Album: Jonathan Zwartz – The Remembering and the Forgetting of the Air
- Best Independent Label: Future Classic
- Best Independent Classical Album: Amy Dickson – Catch Me If You Can
- Carlton Dry Global Music Grant: Remi
- Best Independent Artist: Courtney Barnett
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: Sheppard
- Best Independent Album: Violent Soho – Hungry Ghost
- Best Independent Single/EP: Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
- Best Independent Hard Rock/Punk Album: Violent Soho – Hungry Ghost
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: Dan Sultan – Blackbird
- Best Independent Country Album: Halfway – Any Old Love
- Best Independent Hip Hop Album: Remi – Raw x Infinity
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: RÜFÜS – Atlas
- Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single: Peking Duk feat. Nicole Millar- High
- Best Independent Jazz Album: Paul Grabowsky Sextet – The Bitter Suite
- Best Independent Label: I OH YOU
- Best Independent Artist: Courtney Barnett
- Best Independent Album: Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
- Best Independent Single/EP: Courtney Barnett – Depreston
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: No. 1 Dads
- Best Independent Hip Hop Album: Seth Sentry – Strange New Past
- Best Independent Country Album: Frank Yamma – Uncle
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: C.W. Stoneking – Gon' Boogaloo
- Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – I'm in Your Mind Fuzz
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Flight Facilities – Down to Earth
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica/Club single: Hayden James – "Something About You"
- Best Independent Jazz Album: Barney McAll – Mooroolbark
- Best Independent Classical Album: Australian Brandenburg Orchestra – Brandenburg Celebrates
- Best Independent Label: Milk! Records
2017–2019: AIR Independent Music Awards
2017 at Queen's Theatre, Adelaide- Best Independent Artist: A.B. Original
- Best Independent Album: A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia
- Best Independent Single/EP: A.B. Original – "January 26 "
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: A.B. Original
- Best Independent Hip Hop Album: A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia
- Best Independent Country Album: Henry Wagons – After What I Did Last Night
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: Julia Jacklin – Don’t Let The Kids Win
- Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album: Violent Soho – WACO
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Friendships – Nullabor 1988–1989
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica/Club single: Nick Murphy – "Stop Me "
- Best Independent Jazz Album: James Morrison & Don Burrows – In Good Company
- Best Independent Classical Album: Slava Grigoryan – Bach Cello Suites Volume 1
- Best Independent Label: Pieater
- Best Independent Artist: Jen Cloher
- Best Independent Album/EP: Methyl Ethel – Everything Is Forgotten and The Jungle Giants – Quiet Ferocity
- Best Independent Single: Alex Lahey – "Every Day’s the Weekend"
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: Baker Boy
- Best Independent Hip Hop Album: Birdz – Train of Thought
- Best Independent Country Album: Fanny Lumsden – Real Class Act
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: All Our Exes Live in Texas – When We Fall
- Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Murder of the Universe
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: PNAU – Changa
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica/Club single: PNAU – "Go Bang"
- Best Independent Jazz Album: James Morrison & BBC Concert Orchestra – The Great American Songbook
- Best Independent Classical Album: Australian Chamber Orchestra & Richard Tognetti – Jonny Greenwood
- Best Independent Label: Milk! Records
- Best Independent Artist: Courtney Barnett
- Best Independent Album/EP: Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel and Gurrumul – Djarimirri
- Best Independent Single: Mojo Juju – "Native Tongue"
- Breakthrough Independent Artist: G Flip
- Best Independent Hip Hop Album: B Wise – Area Famous
- Best Independent Country Album: Beccy Cole – Lioness
- Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: Emily Wurramara – Milyakburra
- Best Independent Hard Rock, Heavy or Punk Album: DZ Deathrays – Bloody Lovely
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album: Confidence Man – Confident Music For Confident People
- Best Independent Dance/Electronica/Club single: What So Not – "Beautiful"
- Best Independent Jazz Album: Jonathan Zwartz – Animarum
- Best Independent Classical Album: Grigoryan Brothers/Adelaide Symphony Orchestra/Benjamin Northey – Bach Concertos
- Best Independent Label: Chapter Music
- Outstanding Achievement Award: Gerarda McKenna
Indie-Con Australia
The conference was held at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute in 2017, at The Hindley in 2018 and at Lot Fourteen in 2019.