News

The 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards (formerly known as the AIR awards) were announced this long weekend in a ceremony including performances by Amity Affliction, Cloud Control and British India, who apparently stormed off stage when an amp blew, exclaiming 'This would never happen at the ARIAs'. 

Interestingly enough though - with more than a couple of the Independent Music Award winners up for ARIAs, how independent are they really? Well, apparently AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) define it as anything that's 100% Australian owned, automatically discounting major labels, but doesn't disqualify bands on indie labels that distribute through major labels. For example Midnight Juggernauts are on Modular, an indie label that's distributed through Universal. The artist still retains creative control though, and this is usually a deal that's done once the record is already made. Phew. Get it, got it? good. (Hungry Kids of Hungary talked about this a bit the other day - watch the video here)

So basically this is a massive party to celebrate the good work of the Independent labels who support musicians creatively outside of the major label machine. 

Here are the winners - 


Best Independent Album: Cloud Control for Bliss Release

Breakthrough Independent Artist: Cloud Control

Best Independent Artist: Dan Sultan

Best Independent Blues and Roots Album: Dan Sultan

Best Independent Single or EP: Little Red for Rock It

Best Independent Hard Rock or Punk Album: Parkway Drive for Deep Blue

Best Independent Hip-Hop/Urban Album: Urthboy for Spitshine

Best Independent Dance/Electronica: Midnight Juggernauts for The Crystal Axis

Most Popular Independent Artist: John Butler Trio

Best Independent Jazz Album: Stu Hunter: The Gathering

Best Independent Country Album: Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill & the Little Hillbillies