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.

Sorry we haven't blogged for a while. It's because we've been attending a million different versions of the ARIA Awards.

Apparently the ARIA's at Sydney Opera House wasn't the best television. But that's alright, they took huge risks this year, changed location, changed format, changed television network. It's a high risk/high reward game.  ARIA are trying to get their show right for a national audience and at AIR we think it's important that they do. The ARIAs mean something....

That said, we've got a bit of gripe about the format. "Niche" awards for CRAZY genres like 'Dance', 'Blues and Roots', 'Hip Hop' and 'Metal' were awarded in the week leading up to the main event, a small ceremonies in the Botanical gardens. Yep, ummm niche...

Dance (Won by Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP, how many millions of sales worldwide?)

Blues and Roots (Won by Dan Sultan, one of Australian music's brightest stars)

Metal (Won by Parkway Drive, arguably one of the biggest bands in the country, certainly in terms of concert attendances, album and merch sales they are).

Hip Hop (Won by M-Phazes, one of Australia's best producers, our greatest exporting hip hop artist, currently working on tracks for everyone in world Hip Hop)

And what about Classical or Jazz? Are these genre's not worthy of a national audience, were their achievements any less impressive?

We need to celebrate the exciting parts of the Australian music industry, not hide it away. The talent, taste-makers and boundary pushers in Australian music reside in the fringes... it really worries us that ARIA are presenting an industry devoid of the tasty bits. Australia's Metal, Dance, Hip Hop and Dance need to be celebrated.

Finally, Independent Music is the lifeblood of our industry. Please never ever ever get an independent politician as a gimic to present that award again. It's an insult, Bob Katter doesn't care about contemporary music.

Finally,  Independent Labels won 17 ARIA's combined. How many did Sony or Warner win?

Yep, zero

Congratulations to the following Independent ARIA Award winning Artists!!!!

Best Male Artist
Dan Sultan - Get Out While You Can (MGM)

Best Group
The Temper Trap - Love Lost (Liberation Music)

Best Independent Release
Sia - We Are Born (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)

Most Popular Australian Single
The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition (Liberation Music)

Best Pop Release
Sia - We Are Born (Monkey Puzzle/Inertia)

Best Rock Album
Birds of Tokyo - Birds of Tokyo (Independent/EMI)

Best Comedy Release
Andrew Hansen, Chris Taylor & Craig Schuftan - The Blow Parade (ABC Music)

Best Classical Album
Paul Dyer and Australian Brandenburg Orchestra - Tapas - Tastes Of The Baroque (ABC Classics)

Best Jazz Album
James Morrison & The Idea Of North - Feels Like Spring (ABC Jazz)

Best Dance Release
Yolanda Be Cool and Dcup - We No Speak Americano (Sweat it
Out/Central Station Records)

Best Urban Album
M-Phazes - Good Gracious (Obese Records)

Best Blues & Roots Album
Dan Sultan - Get Out While You Can (MGM)

Best Children's Album
The Wiggles - Let's Eat! (ABC Music)

Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show
Various - Before Too Long: Triple J's Tribute to Paul Kelly (ABC Music)

Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
Parkway Drive - Deep Blue (Resist Records/Shock)

Best Music DVD
Various - Sound Relief (Liberation Music)

Best World Music Album
Mamadou Diabate, Bobby Singh & Jeff Lang - Djan Djan (ABC Music)

Let's get to know the Sydney-based independent label Other Tongues, whose act Richard In Your Mind - via Sydney label Rice Is Nice -  is nominated for the 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Award for Breakthrough Independent Artist. The music video for Richard In Your Mind's 'Candelabra' is embedded above.

Below is an interview with  the most excellent Nick Pontikos [pictured right].

How and why did Other Tongues start, Nick? 

Other Tongues started in April 2010. I met someone interested in backing me to form a new Australian music company. I had previously worked as an A&R guy for Mushroom Records in my younger days, and helped start up Inertia with a couple of friends in 2000 where I worked for 7 years building that company. I’d been running my label Longtime Listener in the years since, but was really looking for something that would give me a better opportunity to work with local artists. 

Who was involved at the beginning? 

Well, it was pretty much myself and a young label guy. We set the company up from scratch, I went about looking for music I wanted to release, and found some old friends – artists like Lisa Miller and Tim Rogers, labels like Sydney’s Rice Is Nice, international labels such as Morr Music and Chemikal Underground – who were interested in linking up. I liked the idea of the company being based on strong relationships with people who enjoy working together. We now have a staff of six, plus a couple of interns of course. 

What changes have you seen since the label began? 

Well, it’s still very early days as we’re not yet 6 months old! The industry itself is in a constant state of change, but then a lot of shifting sand has also settled, and some clear paths are emerging or have emerged. I always felt very positive about starting a new music company in 2010 despite the doom and gloom that is generally tossed about these days, and felt we’d be pretty well equipped to deal with the flux. 

What does being independent mean to you? 

Being independent means having freedom and control. I have worked only at indies, I like the spirit that comes with independent companies, and almost always like the music better! Some of the music that has influenced me most in my life has been dutifully represented by indie labels, and I feel I have dues to pay to all of those who gave a shit before us. And I like the dumb/romantic idea of fighting the good fight, indies do that. 

What are some of the label's proudest moments and success stories? 

Unquestionably signing You Am I has been the biggest thrill so far, their new album is amazing and I’m a monster fan. Having Lisa Miller on the roster is also a special thing, when she came on board at the start I knew we’d have a company of great substance. Special mention should go to Sydney’s Rice Is Nice label, who we represent, who have had a big year so far with albums by Seja and Richard In Your Mind.

Oh, and not to forget, touring Gift Of Gab (Blackalicious’ MC, whose solo album we released) was also a hugely enjoyable experience as I have been a big fan since way back. 

Conversely, any artists or investments that didn't take off as you'd hoped? 

Nothing yet. Most of our inhouse projects are still in their early days of development. So long as expectations (and budgets!) are realistic, effort is applied, and love is involved, it’s not too often there are any big calamities. 

What's your definition of a successful indie label?  

Success is a nebulous concept. I see it in terms of being able to work with the people you want to in the way you want to. In a broader sense, I guess a successful indie label is one that manages to make an impact with its own culture. The labels that have influenced me most – Stiff Records, Impulse, Flying Nun, 4AD, SST, Matador, WARP – all had/have a strong way of doing things. I don’t get too wrapped up in things like chart success, obscene sales, tastemaker status, etc. We just want to work with artists we like. 

What are some of the values that your label adheres to? 

We’re undoubtedly a very artist/label friendly company. Our deals are very friendly, we’ve taken out some of the insidious smaller details that have become music industry standards. Generally, we’re open, we’re honest, we’re friendly, we’re hands-on, we’re available for our artists, and we’re here to go the extra yard for them when it’s required. We want our artists to feel like they’re part of a family, and it’s the family ethos that we’re trying to instill over anything else. 

What measurable effect has music piracy had on your business? 

There can be no doubt that illegal downloading has had a massive impact on everyone in music. But because we set up our business in 2010, we did not begin with the idea that we were going to make a profitable company based on record sales alone. Consequently, our model includes national distribution, record label, in-house publicity and marketing, touring, a local booking agency, and at some stage next year, management. 

Looking to the future, do you see the role of your label changing at all? 

I don’t know about the role changing, if we have a role it’s to represent quality music and do a good job working with it, and that is the one thing that will always remain a constant. Our make-up will change I’m sure, as we progress through the business, and as the business continues to evolve. We might end up with a heavier bias towards touring or management or other things, but it’ll still be a focus on our roster of artists. 

Finally, give us a hot tip or two - which local bands are you watching closely? 

At the moment, we’re solidly focused on the roster we have signed as the projects coming up are very important to us. Did I get out of that one OK?!

Thanks for your time, Nick! For the latest on Other Tongues, head to their 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/

Let's get to know the Sydney-based independent record company Inertia Music, whose artists Sia and Bridezilla are nominated for 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards. Inertia also provides distribution for several other nominated artists, including Midnight Juggernauts, Otouto and Horrorshow. [Music video for the Sia track 'Clap Your Hands' embedded above].

Below is an interview with Inertia's founder and CEO, Ashley Sellers.

How and why did Inertia start, Ashley?

Started in March 2000 in my living room in Redfern. Started as I wanted to be involved with / put out the first Sigur Ros album and new albums from Godspeed! You Black Emperor and Chicks on Speed.

Who was involved at the beginning?

Initially myself and our Head of A&R, Justin Cosby.

What changes have you seen since the label began?

GST(!), the impact of the internet on music -  both positively and negatively; the growth of the digital market, the decline of physical sales. DIY culture, ie the shift in decision making to artists and mangers. Artists working more and more with brands. The continued growth in the live sector.

What does being independent mean to you?

Making our own choices. Having a strong culture. Remaining relevant. Offering a broad level of services to our clients.

What are some of the label's proudest moments and success stories?

2010 is our 10th anniversary; highlights include releasing albums by Bon Iver, Sia, Sigur Ros, Ben Lee, Interpol, Unkle, Radiohead and the like.Our extremely passionate staff continues to be one of our success stories. Working hard on music we love and seeing the results in sales and artist profile growth. 

Conversely, any artists or investments that didn't take off as you'd hoped?

There are always artists and deals you look back on with a degree of disappointment or asking ‘how could we have done better’. Thats part of the business.

What's your definition of a successful indie label? 

Great A&R and global contacts. Having a label brand that people buy into. Remaining relevant in the 21st century.

What are some of the values that your label adheres to?

We have a very strong culture where we like to work with creative and cutting edge music. We like to be honest and open minded in our business and exceed our clients expectations wherever possible. 

Finally, what measurable effect has music piracy had on your business?

Obviously in physical music sales. There are so many opportunities out there to get music for free which ultimately devalues music, and importantly the art, which is the real long-term issue.

Thanks for your time, Ashley! For the latest on Inertia, head to their 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/

Let's get to know the Melbourne-based independent label Rice Is Nice, whose act Richard In Your Mind is nominated for the 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Award for Breakthrough Independent Artist [music video for Richard In Your Mind's 'Candelabra' embedded above]

Below is an interview with Rice Is Nice's founder, Julia Wilson [pictured right].

How and why did Rice Is Nice start, Julia? 

I had always wanted to start my own label so when I met SPOD, that was my chance. I saw the options available out there for bands and thought its time for me to start. 

Who was involved at the beginning?

Ben [Shackleton] and I started Rice Is Nice. Ben does all our design, websites, posters album art and I run it. I’m lucky to have someone to work with who can do all of those things, as it is so important for a label. 

What does being independent mean to you?

It means a lot to me.It means freedom, fairness, more money for bands, stress,  but loyalty is a really big part of it. 

What are some of the label's proudest moments and success stories?

Every band we have signed is our proudest moment and biggest success!There have been many successes, but I do think that finding them in the first place was the biggest. 

Conversely, any artists or investments that didn't take off as you'd hoped?

I think we are realistic here, not too many smoke and mirrors and we don’t get completely carried away. We have a strong commitment to all of our bands and a realistic approach to their definite success. So no real dissapointments here. 

What's your definition of a successful indie label? 

The public listening and caring about its bands. I guess that is obvious? But this results into a happy band, which is success. 

What are some of the values that your label adheres to (or tries to adhere to)?

Be realistic.Be good, honest, trusting & fair with your bands and others in the industry. It’s too small to be a snakey...Keeeeep goooooing.  

What measurable effect has illegal mp3 downloading/'piracy' had on your business?

I suppose a lot, it would effect anyone trying to sell music.But we think of different ways to counter act that. Everybody must be. It’s been like this for a long time now, you just have to think of other ways to make things work. 

How have you been involved with the Independent Music/AIR Awards over the years? What are some of your wins and losses?

RIYM RIYM RIYM THIS YEAR! WIN WIN WIN! Fingers crossed. 

Looking to the future, do you see the role of your label changing at all?

We have different facets to the label, so they will and are developing which is very exciting -  but as a whole i see it changing into a bigger, stronger, more love filled / fuelled label.  

Finally, give us a hot tip - which local band are you watching closely?

Straight Arrows.

Thanks for your time, Julia! For the latest on Rice Is Nice, head to their 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/

Let's get to know the Mullumbimby, NSW-based independent label Vitamin Records, whose artists Stu Hunter and Jonathan Zwartz are both nominated for the 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Award for Best Jazz Album [studio footage compilation by Stu Hunter embedded above].

Below is an interview with Vitamin Records' owner and manager, Glenn Wright.

How and why did Vitamin start, Glenn? 

In late 1999 - I owned a venue in Sydney, the Harbourside Brasserie and wanted to help some bands release their music. There was a lack of smaller grass roots labels for the music I was interested in.

Which bands were involved at the beginning? 

The groups mainly played at the club at the time, so the late and great Jackie Orszaczky, David Lane, The Millers Tale, CODA, Tony Buck and Chris Abrahams - both from The Necks, Fourplay String Quartet & others.

What changes have you seen since the label began?

When we started Shock was the biggest indie distributor and MGM quickly grew to be of a similar size, Inertia became a great option and Vitamin has slowly grown in a more boutique manner. I felt it was important to own the distribution as well as the label and I now feel that has paid off. We have managed to survive in an ever changing market and we are now finding things are getting easier. We have always tried to focus on what we do and not what the rest of the industry is doing. When I moved the company to Northern NSW about 6 years ago we started to look at A&R from a more national level and this has helped. We now have great independent original artists in most states.

What does being independent mean to you?

Independent artists are actually better placed in the new market as they already have the skills to market and promote. Nowadays revenue comes from a mix of areas, eg online, at gigs, in stores, publishing. It's far more open to artists and labels that are proactive. Recording artists that have previously been with major labels tend to lack some of the skills in order to get a gig, set up a fan base etc. It's a hard process for these artists to pick up these skills.

What are some of the label's proudest moments and success stories? 

The music we release is the great achievement really. I think for over 10 years Vitamin Records has released album after album with brilliant 3, 4 and even 5 star reviews in credible publications. I think releasing Jackie Orszaczky's last album Ready To Listen was a hugely important and satisfying thing. He was a truly unique original voice in this country.

Also Jesse Younan's great album A Good Day For A Migraine. I think Lucie Thorne being short listed for the Australian Music Prize this year was a good achievement. Tina Harrod's Worksongs winning multiple respected jazz awards in 2008 and 2009.

As our priority is not pop music, and the music industry is majorly focused on this, our achievements are not as widely heralded as they could be. We tend to release artists that sell their music consistently over years, as opposed to pop artists that tend to sell larger volumes for shorter periods.

In recent years I have noticed many of the recording artists we work with grow their fan bases substantially. Jordie Lane from Melbourne is a great example of this. He now sells out gigs in many parts of the country whereas when we started with Jordie he was just establishing a fan base. Same goes for artists like Tinpan Orange, Sal Kimber, Lucie Thorne, Kat Frankie, King Tide, and many others. They now fill 500 seater venues regularly. 

Conversely, any artists or investments that didn't take off as you'd hoped? 

You always want things to do better but the great thing about this industry is there is always a new release just around the corner. You scrape yourself up off the ground and get excited again.

What's your definition of a successful indie label? 

Good indie labels have a purpose and help the artist develop a fan base. A good label has some kind of continuity so when the release is put out the retail shop, the reviewer, the radio programmer, and the fans - they all say we will give this a go as that label has some cool music that I like. A good label has an element of integrity. A good label puts the music in the right hands where the musicwill be supported and promoted.

What are some of the values that your label adheres to (or tries to adhere to)? 

We look for artists that will be around for a while, that at least one of us at the office really likes. Ultimately the music should be good and their needs to be the potential for the artists to develop a fan base if they don't have one already.

What measurable effect has illegal mp3 downloading/'piracy' had on your business? 

It's costing us money and the artists money, but possibly not as much as it does the more mainstream pop artists. The artists we deal with tend to be developing a fan base. They also tend to create albums and not singles. Most fans are happy to buy an album or pay for a download. They actually want to support the artist.

How have you been involved with the Independent Music/AIR Awards over the years? What are some of your wins and losses?

Tina Harrod won in 2008, best jazz artist and Jackie Marshall should definitely win something this year as her album Ladies' Luck is far and away the best album of 2010 in this country.

Looking to the future, do you see the role of your label changing at all? 

Yes, but not substantially, we have survived possibly the biggest upheaval the music industry has experienced and we are still very viable with plans for growth. Being small we have been better placed than most to handle the downsizing and restructuring. I'm very positive looking forward.

Finally, give us a hot tip or two - which local bands are you watching closely?

Jordie Lane, Tinpan Orange, Flap!, Lucie Thorne, Jackie Marshall, Heath Cullen, Kooii, Leah Flanagan, M Jack Bee.

Thanks for your time, Glenn! For the latest on Vitamin Records, head to their 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/

Let's get to know the Sydney-based independent label Resist Records, whose artists Parkway Drive and 50 Lions are both nominated for the 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Award for Best Hard Rock or Punk Album ['Sleepwalker'' by Parkway Drive embedded above].

Below is an interview with Resist Records' founder, Graham Nixon [pictured right; photo credit 1ovakynd].

How and why did Resist start, Graham?

The initial idea behind the label was to provide an opportunity for local hardcore and punk bands to release their music. At the time there were very few smaller labels and unless you were a band doing really well, there seemed to be very little opportunity to release anything. We wanted the label to be of high quality with the releases not only being sonically great but also as aesthetically and artistically. At the time we were doing all ages in-stores at the original Resist address and from this we did our first release which was a 7" by Newcastle band FMD.

Who was involved at the beginning?

Scott MacFadyen originally started the Resist store in 1996 and I started helping him out around 1997. The label had its first release in 1998.

What changes have you seen since the label began?

The label itself has grown and has released some great titles. The way we approach every release is very much the same as it always was, it’s just nowadays there is a lot more planning and time put into the releases. Regardless if a title was going to sell 500 or 5000, I try to make sure it has the potential to do the best it can.

What does being independent mean to you?

Being independent we have the opportunity to control what it is we do. I’m not too phased by sales figures and what bands are selling, it’s great when things sell well, however if I’m into the band, I will do the release regardless of what it sells.

What are some of the label's proudest moments and success stories?

Doing the FMD 7" was pretty cool as it was the labels very first release and at that stage we had no idea how many releases the label would end up doing. Also releasing albums by Mindsnare and Toe To Toe has been great as both bands have a great history in Australian Hardcore.

Success stories? Parkway Drive's The DVD went platinum a few months after its release and hopefully their latest album will go gold in the coming months, so those things are always nice. Seeing the band go from playing small rooms to selling out huge rooms has been a crazy ride, but great to see.

Conversely, any artists or investments that didn't take off as you'd hoped?

There has been a few along the way that didn’t go as planed, however it's not as though they were major failures, possibly the expectation was just too high. I always say aim low so you always succeed, so I should stick to that a little more!

What's your definition of a successful indie label? 

Being able to put out releases that you want to, regardless of the sales outcome.

What are some of the values that your label adheres to (or tries to adhere to)?

From the 100+ releases the label has put out, only one or two have been by bands I didn’t actually have a friendship of sorts with prior to releasing the release. I try to work with people I know or bands I like, if I like a band and they are happy for me to do their release, its all systems go. Often you will get a band that you can see is popular and doing well and would sell a lot of records, but if I don’t share the same enthusiasm as most, I'd prefer not to work with the band just for the sake of good sales. I like what I like and work with what I like, if others like it as well, it’s a bonus.

What measurable effect has illegal mp3 downloading/'piracy' had on your business?

It’s definitely getting to a point now where you see an effect of this, and unfortunately there seems to be little you can do about it. I think it has to come back to the person downloading things - in one sense so many bands and labels are putting out garbage releases, I don’t blame people for downloading them just to see if they like the release, however with all the convenience of MP3 players and the like these days, its hard to get someone to get out and buy anything. If bands put out good releases, it sells, so maybe bands should look at what they are doing a little more?

Looking to the future, do you see the role of your label changing at all?

Not at all, we just do what we do and hope people appreciate what it is we do.

Finally, give us a hot tip - which local band are you watching closely?

Canberra's I Exist is a young band I’m really into. They have an album out now, and expect a new album out some time in 2011. 

Thanks for your time, Graham! For the latest on Resist Records, head to their website.

September 2, 2010: Liberation Music are producing and releasing a deluxe packaged vinyl 7” single for the late Rowland S. Howard's ‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’. Howard's final album, Pop Crimes, was yesterday nominated for the Best Independent Album award ahead of the 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards at The Forum in Melbourne on October 1. The single's b-side is a previously unreleased instrumental entitled ‘Lost In Space’. 

Howard's bandmates,  Mick Harvey, J.P. Shilo & Lindsay Gravina, had this to say about the track: "‘Lost In Space’ was a piece composed by Rowland for the Pop Crimes album which remained unfinished.  It was mixed after his passing and is presented here respectfully as an interpretation of his original intent."

There will only be 500 individually numbered copies of ‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’ available worldwide. The 7" will be released through Liberation Music in Australia and in stores from Friday October 29th. Interested buyers should make sure they pre-order from their music retailer. 

The Richard Lowenstein-directed video for ‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’ is embedded below, and can be viewed on Liberation's YouTube channel.

‘The Golden Age Of Bloodshed’ is also available on Rowland’s Pop Crimes album, which is nominated for the 2010 Jagermeister Independent Music Awards as Best Independent Album. Lauded as one of 2009 Australian releases of the year, the album is earning due respect with a local release in the UK and Europeon English indie label, Infectious.   

“Wringing his guitar neck for all that it's worth, this could easily be the sound of some kind of infernal film noir as the echoes and bends cast long shadows among the trails of curling cigarette smoke caught in the dim afterhours lighting.” The Quietus.com, UK 

“8.5 / 10 Thankfully we’ll always have Pop Crimes, a brooding piece that sees the post-punk firebrand playing the existential cowboy as beautifully as ever.” NME, UK 

“4.5 / 5 Howard’s vocals speak of a life lived close to the edge and his garrulous, almost weary delivery is haunting.  But it is his evocative, inventive and constantly surprising guitar playing that leaves the greatest impact.” The Irish Independent