As an alternative to the ARIAs, the Australian Independent Record Label Association announce their inaugural AIR Charts Awards.
The AIR charts were re-launched in 2000 to account for the huge upswing in popularity of acts on Australian independent labels. Now AIR have announced their first AIR Charts Awards, celebrating the success of independent labels and acts.There are four categories, based around sales and merit. The nominees for Best Performing Independent Album are: Ben Lee - 'Awake Is The New Sleep', Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road, John Butler Trio - Live At St. Gallen, Lior - Autumn Flow, Pendulum - Hold Your Colour, and The Herd - The Sun Never Sets. Nominees for Best Performing Independent Single/EP are: Behind Crimson Eyes - The Art Of War/Cherry Blossom, Blue King Brown - s/t, Hilltop Hoods - Clown Prince, Karnivool - Persona, and The Grates - The Ouch, The Touch.
The more subjective categories are Independent Artist Of The Year; Ben Lee, Hilltop Hoods, John Butler Trio, Lior, Pendulum and The Herd, and Most Outstanding New Independent Artist; Behind Crimson Eyes, Blue King Brown, Gotye, Jen Cloher, Karnivool and The Drones.
Winners will be announced in a ceremony in Sydney on November 29.
