The official home of Australian Independent Music, a place for music industry professionals alike, featuring the cream of the crop of Australia’s diverse and thriving independent music sector.

Hey guys and gals. I'm Ned Hepburn, your official awards blogger. Let's get started, shall we?

There's been some interesting online debates, comments and opinions published in the wake of the 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards - The Vine, Mess+Noise and Collapse Board, to name a few.

AIR's general manager, Nick O'Byrne, took to Mess+Noise to respond publicly.

M+N Exclusive: AIR Responds

News posted Tuesday, October 5 2010 at 04:00 PM.

General manager of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association NICK O’BYRNE responds to some of the online criticism of last Friday’s Jagermeister Independent Music Awards, including Nova’s sponsorship and acknowledging acts with major label ties.

For AIR, an independent label is a company that is 100 percent Australian, owns the master rights for recorded music and “exploits” it for commercial gain. It’s a broad definition that includes some of the countries biggest music companies such as Shock, Inertia, Liberation and MGM through to micro-businesses and labels like Tall Poppy, Rice Is Nice, Aarght!, Newmarket and Room 40.

AIR was set up 15 years ago by a bunch of independent record labels who weren’t altogether happy with the representation they were getting through ARIA. ARIA’s constitution is designed so that major label board members have the power to veto any decision made by the independent representatives on ARIA’s board. It means when major and independent interests don’t align, Independent labels miss out.

Click here to read Nick's full response on Mess+Noise. (Dan Sultan photo credit: Carbie Warbie)

On the brighter side, we'd like to thank a handful of dedicated music bloggers for their support in the lead-up to this year's Awards. Specifically, the following:

Erin of the Melbourne Jazz Co-operative for her support in promoting this year;s awards; Jim of the All Aussie Hip Hop blog and Jacob from Pigeons and Planes; Damien of auspOp for his coverage of the nominations; Sarah and the team at No Heroes Mag for their props to The Amity Affliction; Bobby Six for his blog on Cloud Control's nominations; Ben Vernel at CTRL-X; Lauren for her Electric Skeleton blog entry, and great commentary about the AIR Awards, and finally, thanks to Peter at Jazz & Beyond for their event listing.

For more info on the Awards, Charts and Independent music, check out http://www.ausindies.com.au/

The 2010 JAGERMEISTER INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS have rolled up the red carpet for another year, wrapping up a fun filled evening which delivered 11 Awards to some of Australia's hottest young talent, with first-time winners CLOUD CONTROL and DAN SULTAN taking out the major honours with two awards apiece.

Now in their fifth year, The JAGERMEISTER INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS continue to grow and are now recognised as a barometer for future 'big' acts, with this years list of winners no exception. 

Blue Mountains four piece CLOUD CONTROL well and truly made their mark on the evening with the first-timers picking up 2 awards, taking out Best Independent Album for their critically acclaimed Ivy League debut "Bliss Release" and the award for Breakthrough Independent Artist. With stunning sun-drenched pop songs like 'There's Nothing in The Water We Can't Fight' and Gold Canary The band have seen their fan base sky-rocket both locally and internationally over the past 2 years, so its little wonder they've been earmarked as a band to watch.

Awards for the Best Independent Artist and Best Independent Blues and Roots Album (for his debut album Get Out While You Can) were taken out by DAN SULTAN.  His second full-length release, the album was an electrifying romp through rockabilly, blues, soul, country and swing, and saw Dan's star continue to shine when it reached Number 1 on the Independent Music Charts back in 2009 on release.

Best Independent Single or EP went to Melbourne 5-piece LITTLE RED for their single 'Rock It'. With a sound steeped in classic R&B, garage and rock'n'roll, yet possessing a thoroughly modern spark, LITTLE RED won with this tasty morsel from their recently released album Midnight Remember.

Best Independent Hard Rock or Punk Album went to arguably the most formidable force on the Australian hardcore scene, Byron Bay's PARKWAY DRIVE.  Winning for their third studio album Deep Blue which incorporated everything from anthemic punk to bloodcurdling death metal, the album also achieved Number 1 status on the Independent Charts on release.

Best Independent Country Album went to an Australian Country family dynasty - KASEY CHAMBERS, POPPA BILL AND THE LITTLE HILLBILLIES - for their Lost Music Blues album.  A unique collaboration of 3 generations - the 16 original songs were crafted together by KASEY, Father BILL, Brother NASH and their collective brood of Little Hillbillies.

With 2 prior nominations, 2010 proved to be the lucky year for URTHBOY, who took out his first Independent Music award for Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album for Spitshine. His third solo album, the critically acclaimed, and now award winning album "Spitshine" has proved to be his most successful to date.

The Gathering - the latest suite from pianist/composer and producer STU HUNTER - was awarded Best Independent Jazz album. His second release, the album received extraordinary accolades, and has been described as representing a milestone in contemporary Australian jazz, proving to be a more than worthy winner.

MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS' second album The Crystal Axis won Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album in a hotly contested category. Hailed as de facto pioneers of a new frontier of "indie-dance", the band pushed the boundaries even further on album number 2, and were rewarded for their efforts as they also brought home their second award in this category, after winning back in 2007.

And finally, the inaugural award for Most Popular Independent Artist (as voted by Nova listeners) went to JOHN BUTLER TRIO.  Undeniably one of the most successful independent artists in Australia and no strangers to picking up Awards, this is the second Independent Music Award the band have collected, after Best Independent Artist in 2007, in a career spanning more than a decade.

The 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards winners:

Most Popular Independent Artist (as voted by Nova Listeners)

John Butler Trio

Best Independent Artist

Dan Sultan (Independent/MGM)

Breakthrough Independent Artist

Cloud Control (Ivy League)

Best Independent Album

Cloud Control – Bliss Release (Ivy League)

Best Independent Single/EP

Little Red – ‘Rock It’ (Liberation)

Best Independent Blues And Roots Album

Dan Sultan – Get Out While You Can (Independent/MGM)

Best Independent Hard Rock Or Punk Album

Parkway Drive – Deep Blue (Resist/Shock)

Best Independent Country Album

Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill And The Little Hillbillies – Lost Music Blues (Liberation)

Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album

Urthboy – Spitshine (Elefant Traks/Inertia)

Best Independent Dance/Electronica Album

Midnight Juggernauts - The Crystal Axis (Siberia/Inertia)

Best Independent Jazz Album

Stu Hunter - The Gathering (Vitamin)

For more info on the Awards, Charts and Independent music, check out http://www.ausindies.com.au/

Australian jazz pianist Joe Chindamo [pictured right] is nominated for Best Jazz Album at this year's Jagermeister Independent Music Awards for his LP Another Place, Some Other Time. The music video for the track 'Raising Arizona' is embedded above.

Ahead of this year's awards night - more details on that at the bottom of this post - we briefly caught up with Joe to talk independent music.

What's your favourite musical moment of 2010 so far, Joe? 

Launching my latest CD at the Stonnington Jazz Festival in May this year. This album was a collection of adventurous excursions into bluegrass territory, film, folk etc.. It's strictly not jazz, ( most of my music isn't, actually), and it was exciting to add Lucky Oceans on pedal steel guitar. I love that instrument, and of course, what he does with it.

What does being independent mean to you?

Being independent means that I've broken away from what record companies think the masses like. I create music I'm passionate about, and hope there is an audience for it. Luckily, there is.

I guess it's like producing a fine wine. It's not for everyone, but it could be, if  the exposure was there. I have faith in people's abilities to enjoy high quality music. It's like everything - you get used to whatever is on offer. Instant coffee becomes acceptable if that's all you have for a long time. Music is the same, and most people listen to what they're told to listen to by DJs, and watch crap TV for similar reasons. Others make the effort to seek out the good stuff. Being independent doesn't give one exclusivity so much as a right to exist in what otherwise would be a sea of mediocrity.

What's the biggest challenge you face as an independent musician?

Staying alive.

Conversely, what's the best thing about being independent?

No-one tells me what to do.

As a musician, what would you ultimately like to be known and remembered for?

I'd like to be acknowledged as one of the people who raised the standard of Australian music, I'd also like to be remembered as someone who  created something new. Finally, I'd like to be remembered as someone who's work moved people and made them glad to be alive. My favourite artists, such as Glenn Gould, Joni Mitchell, Bill Evans, really enrich my life, and I hope that in some small way, I could do the same for others.

What's the best thing about being associated with AIR and the Jagermeister Independent Music Awards?

I get to play at the awards night! And my album Another Place, Some Other Time, has been nominated for an award.

Which Australian independent act deserves to be the 'next big thing'?

Apart from me?

Finally, who do you think is going to win your category this year? Who deserves runner-up?

That's an unfair question.

Thanks for your time, Joe! For more info on Joe Chindamo, visit his website.

The 5th Annual Jagermeister Independent Music Awards are held at The Forum Theatre, Melbourne on Friday October 1st, 2010, featuring live performances from British India, Cloud Control, The Amity Affliction, M-Phazes, Sally Seltmann and Joe Chindamo. Doors open at 8:00pm; tickets are $29+BF and available now via Ticketmaster.

For more info on AIR and Australian independent music, visit http://www.ausindies.com.au/

Ahead of the 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards, held October 1 at The Forum Theatre in Melbourne, we're pleased to announce the nominees for Best Independent Jazz Album. As follows:

BEST INDEPENDENT JAZZ ALBUM

• Allan Browne Quintet - Une Saison En Enfer (Jazzhead)
• Joe Chindamo - Another Place, Some Other Time (Jazzhead) [music video for 'Raising Arizona' embedded above]
• Jonathan Zwartz - The Sea (Vitamin)
• Mike Nock Trio - An Accumulation Of Subtleties (FWM Records)
• Stu Hunter - The Gathering (Vitamin)

For the full list of the 2010 Independent Music Award nominees, click here. 

The 5th Annual Jagermeister Independent Music Awards are held at The Forum Theatre, Melbourne on Friday October 1st, 2010, featuring live performances from British India, Cloud Control, The Amity Affliction, M-Phazes, Sally Seltmann and Joe Chindamo. Doors open at 8:00pm; tickets are $29+BF and available now via Ticketmaster.

For more info on AIR and Australian independent music, visit http://www.ausindies.com/

We're rather excited (read: pretty f*ckin pumped!) to be announcing  nominees for the Jagermeister Independent Music Awards!

Big winners were Dan Sultan and Cloud Control, each with 3 nominations. The Jezabels and Eddy Current Suppression Ring also each picked up 2 nominations.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

BEST INDEPENDENT ARTIST

British India (Independent/Shock)
Cloud Control (Ivy League)
Dan Kelly (Independent/Shock)
Dan Sultan (Independent/MGM)
Eddy Current Suppression Ring (Aaarght!)
Sia (Independent/Inertia)

BREAKTHROUGH INDEPENDENT ARTIST

Bridezilla (Inertia Recordings)
Cloud Control  (Ivy League)
Otouto (Two Bright Lakes/Inertia)
Philadelphia Grand Jury (Boomtown Records/Shock)
Richard In Your Mind (Rice Is Nice/Other Tongues)
The Jezabels (Independent/MGM)

BEST INDEPENDENT ALBUM

Cloud Control – Bliss Release (Ivy League)
Dan Kelly – Dan Kelly’s Dream (Independent/Shock)
Dan Sultan – Get Out While You Can (Independent/MGM)
Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Rush To Relax (Aaarght! /Shock)
Rowland S Howard – Pop Crimes (Liberation)
Sia – We Are Born (Independent/Inertia)

BEST INDEPENDENT SINGLE OR EP

Bliss N Eso – Down By The River  (Illusive)
Little Red - Rock It (Liberation)
Philadelphia Grand Jury – The Good News (Boomtown/Shock)
Sia – Clap Your Hands (Independent/Inertia)
The Jezabels – She’s So Hard (Independent/MGM)
The Temper Trap – Love Lost (Liberation)

BEST INDEPENDENT BLUES AND ROOTS ALBUM

Ash Grunwald – Hot Mama Vibes (Delta Groove/Shock)
Dan Sultan – Get Out While You Can  (Independent/MGM)
Jeff Lang  - Chimeradour (ABC Records)
Mama Kin -Beat and Holler (Independent/MGM)
The Beautiful Girls – Spooks (Independent/MGM)
The Red Eyes – Red Army (Independent/MGM)

BEST INDEPENDENT JAZZ ALBUM

Allan Browne Quintet - Une Saison En Enfer (Jazzhead)
Joe Chindamo - Another Place, Some Other Time (Jazzhead)
Jonathan Zwartz - The Sea (Vitamin)
Mike Nock Trio - An Accumulation Of Subtleties(FWM Records)
Stu Hunter - The Gathering (Vitamin)

BEST INDEPENDENT HARD ROCK OR PUNK ALBUM

50 Lions – Where Life Expires (Resist/Shock)
Calling All Cars – Hold, Hold, Fire (Independent/Shock)
House Vs. Hurricane – Perspectives (Independent/Shock)
Parkway Drive  - Deep Blue (Resist/Shock)
The Amity Affliction – Youngbloods (Boomtown/Shock)

BEST INDEPENDENT COUNTRY ALBUM

Amber Lawrence – When It All Comes Down
Deborah Conway and Willy Zyger – Half Man, Half Woman (Independent/MGM)
Kasey Chambers, Poppa Bill and The Little Hillbillies – Lost Music Blues (Liberation)
The Dingoes – Tracks (Liberation)
The Sunny Cowgirls – Summer (Compass Brothers/Shock)

BEST INDEPENDENT HIP HOP/URBAN ALBUM

Horrorshow – Inside Story (Elefant Traks/Inertia)
Lowrider – Round The World (Illusive)
M-Phazes – Good Gracious (Obese Records)
Ozi Batla – Wild Colonial (Elefant Traks/Inertia)
Urthboy – Spitshine (Elefant Traks/Inertia)

BEST INDEPENDENT DANCE / ELECTRONICA ALBUM

Faux Pas - Noiseworks (Sensory Projects/Inertia)
Jamie Lloyd - Beware Of The Light (Future Classic)
Midnight Juggernauts - The Crystal Axis (Siberia/Inertia)
Nick Thayer - Just Let It Go (Independent)
Opiuo - Slurp And Giggle (Addictech)
Space Invades - Soul:Fi (Invada Records)