In The Press

Great year for indies, but anger also | The Age

Australia's independent labels want a fairer slice of the action, writes Patrick Donovan.

THE Australian independent music scene had much to celebrate this week. About 500 indie cognoscenti converged at Richmond's Corner Hotel last night to celebrate the best releases of the year at the AIR Awards.

AIR, the Australian Independent Record Labels Association, is the peak body for Australian-owned labels.

Some of the most exciting songs of the year were performed by the Drones, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, the Herd, Channel V favourites the Getaway Plan, Lior and international guest Martha Wainwright. Yunupingu was the big winner again, taking out Best Independent Album, Best New Independent Artist and Best Australian Independent Blues/Roots Album. Socially conscious rap act the Herd cemented its relevance in the post-Howard era by taking out Best Independent Artist.

But while there was clearly much to celebrate, there was an undercurrent of fear and frustration at the inferior treatment the independent sector, which makes up about 85 per cent of the Australian music industry, feels it has been receiving of late.

The Herd Dominate At The AIR Awards | Acces All Areas

http://www.accessallareas.net.au/music_news/EkkZVAkuyZZZpfLzMA.php

The Herd

Posted on November 26 2008

Acclaimed Sydney hip-hop collective The Herd have picked up two prestigious honours at 2008’s annual AIR Awards (Australian Independent Records Labels Association), being named: ‘Best Independent Artist’ and ‘Best Independent Hip Hop Artist’ for 2008.

The victory saw The Herd beat out an impressive field of competitors, including The Waifs, Ricki-Lee, The Getaway Plan, Lior and Birds Of Tokyo in the ‘Independent Artist’ category, and Muph & Plutonic, Katalyst, Resin Dogs and A-Love in the hip hop category.

This enormous achievement follows another recent milestone for The Herd, whose Elefant Traks label recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a monumental performance. Last Saturday, The Herd – as well as labelmates including Hermitude, Urthboy, The Tongue, Horrorshow, and Astronomy Class – took to the stage of Sydney’s The Forum for a landmark one-off show, celebrating a decade of success for the iconic Australian hip-hop imprint.

"After celebrating ten years of our label Elefant Traks over the weekend it was a real buzz to win these awards,” says Elefant Traks founder and Herd emcee, Tim Levinson (aka. Urthboy). “Strange things do happen."

Yunupingu sweeps 2008 AIR Awards | ABC NEWS

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/24/2428557.htm

Yunupingu was named best new independent artist.

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu winning streak continued tonight when the Indigenous singer picked up three AIR Awards at a ceremony in Melbourne.

Yunupingu, who has been blind since birth, was named best new independent artist. His critically-acclaimed debut effort Gurrumul won best Australian independent blues and roots album, as well as best independent album - beating the likes of Lior and Sneaky Sound System.

In the best independent artist category, The Herd was recognised, while best independent single went to The Getaway Plan's Where the City Meets The Sea.

The AIR Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of local artists who release their work through an Australian-owned independent record label and distribute their work through an Australian-owned distribution company. (AAP: Skinnyfish Music, Helen Page - file photo)

Air Wards | Faster Louder

Faster Louder.com.au JackT
It’s that time of the year again – the Australian Independent Records Labels Association (AIR) has announced the nominees for the 2007 Jagermeister AIR Awards.

The Awards, which debuted last year, recognise achievements made in Australian independent music. This year’s nominees range from established names such as Hilltop Hoods and The John Butler Trio to next-big-things like The Cops and Wolf & Cub. Every artist up for an honour both releases on a local independent record label and is distributed through an Australian owned distribution company, making this a unique and worthy awards bash.