Indie label nominees revealed for 2020 AIR Awards

The 2020 AIR Awards will take place as a hybrid virtual event at Adelaide’s Lion Arts Factory, and broadcast live on YouTube.

The ceremony is set to go ahead in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic, with the Australian Independent Record Labels Association thanking the continued support of the South Australian Government.

AIR has also announced the nominees for 2020 Independent Label Of The Year.

The winner will receive a digital marketing package valued at $10,000 to help showcase their talent to the music public thanks to supporting awards partner moshtix.

The nominees are:

• ABC Music
• Spinning Top Records
• Elefant Traks
• I Oh You
• Sweat It Out

The award was won by Chapter Music in 2019.

“We were very chuffed to win Best Independent Label at the AIR Awards last year, especially knowing that it was voted for by our peers in independent music,” Chapter Music co-founder Guy Blackman said.

“Running a label can be a fairly behind the scenes, anonymous task, so having people take notice and express their appreciation meant a hell of a lot. Best of luck to all this year’s nominees!”

The Australian Independent Record Labels Association has also announced 100 mentees that will be placed in the first round of a 4-year women in music mentor program.

The program is funded by the Australian government, and mentees come from all sectors of the industry nationally, and are musicians, producers, managers, publicists, booking agents, events managers and more.

After being matched with an industry mentor, the recipients will commence a professional development program that will cover a 5 month period.

“We are delighted with the response we have received for the very first round of this program,” AIR GM Maria Amato said.

A total of 342 applications from around the country were received and our assessment committee had the difficult task of reviewing and assessing them to determine the candidates for this round – our huge thanks to them all.

“Over the coming weeks, we will place each mentee with a qualified mentor and then begin induction training, mentoring and professional development sessions in late October.

“It is an honour to be delivering a program that aims to empower, educate and aid the progression of career development.”

The full list of mentees is available here, with the second round to be announced early in 2021.

AIR has also announced it will hold its 2020 Indie-Con Australia conference virtually in 2020, between October 1 and 2.

Ticketing details and the full program are yet to be announced.