As the 60th
Grammy Awards approaches, this year's list of nominees features a wide
range of well-known and up-and-coming artists. Many of these artists
have broken free from the mainstream music machine to present their work
via independent labels.
Independent artists make up 55% of nominations in all non-producer and non-spoken word categories, with 43 of the 81 categories being a majority of independent nominees. In the Jazz field, independents comprise a whopping 92% of artists nominated, and take home 80% of the nominations in both the American Roots and Composing/Arranging categories. Special congrats to A2IM members Concord Music Group (12 nominations), Mack Avenue (8 nominations), Naxos (7 nominations), Beggars Group (5 nominations), Ninja Tune/Counter Records (4 nominations), and to Big Machine, Compass Records, Eleven Seven Music, Numero Group, and Sub Pop, who are all bringing home 3 nominations this year. You can find the full list of independent nominations here, including even more from A2IM members.
A2IM, the
advocacy group for independent labels and their artists, is excited to
see such a large number of independent artists being recognized by the
Recording Academy.
"Independent
music is doing better than ever with a record global market share of
37.32% according to Billboard. Last year more than two-thirds of Grammy
nominations were independent releases. Independent music's authenticity,
vitality, and genre diversity ensure its keystone role in the recording
industry and American culture. A2IM thanks the Recording Academy and
its members for its inclusiveness." says A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess.
For years,
A2IM's mission has been to take independent music "beyond the
gatekeepers," allowing independent artists the same opportunities, media
attention, and airplay as the biggest players in the music industry.
Through its advocacy efforts, the organization has fought to ensure that
independent artists are paid the money they deserve. A2IM has also
taken independent music international, promoting artists in places such
as Latin America and Asia. In addition to this, A2IM's annual Indie Week
gives artists and labels a forum to gain insight into best practices
while providing a space to network with those who have experience in
traversing the music scene.
A2IM currently
boasts 511 label members - the highest since its inception - and with
its rapidly growing numbers, the organization continues to impact the
music scene at the Grammy Awards and beyond.
If you're a member of the Recording Academy, A2IM encourages you to vote independent. You can check out the A2IM Independent Voter Guide for final round voting here. Final-Round Voting begins on December 7 at 9:00 AM Pacific Time, and closes on December 21 at 6:00 PM Pacific Time.
