Next week will not only mark the tenth anniversary of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR)'s Independent Music Awards, but it will also celebrate twenty years since the organisation was founded. CEO Dan Nevin believes the indie awards have set the pace for the forthcoming ARIAs next month.
"The ARIAs last year, I think 14 out of the top 18 awards went to independent artists and this year it probably looks like it’s going to be the same, so I think the music being produced by independent artists is starting to resonate with an Australian audience," Nevin said in an exclusive interview with theMusic.
"It's real, they’re not being sold a concept, they’re just being delivered good music."
While the AIR Awards have often been compared to the ARIAs, Nevin believes there is a clear distinction between the two.
"I think the ARIAs are very much for public consumption. I think ours has always been more about industry consumption and it’s been more focused on really paying tribute to the sector."
On the subject of AIR's two impressive milestones this year, Nevin says though he has only been in his role for one year, he knows how important it is for the organisation to have conquered two decades.
"It’s a pretty marvellous thing when you think about the independent sector," Nevin said.
"The awards are a testament to good music over the last ten years. From, I think, four awards in the first year, a short session and a few beers and one performance all the way through to here, for me personally is a bit humbling to be involved in something that’s taken such great shape."
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AIR has been responsible for kick-starting the careers of some of the country’s biggest talents over the years which Nevin says is a credit to the organisation.
"If you look back at the early days, particularly at the awards, you’ve got Gotye and Hilltop Hoods – they won awards in the very first year," he said.
"We’ve put together a 20-year photographic exhibition that we’ll be showing at the awards, so that was kind of interesting to look back at all the artists that AIR has touched on over the years. Even as far back as Silverchair in the early days, who were independent, it seems like everyone started as an independent at some stage."
As for who punters should be keeping their eye on at this year’s awards, Nevin tips the Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year Award as the big one to watch.
"Over the last few years, it’s given us some artists that have gone on to decent international success like Courtney Barnett, Vance Joy, Sheppard. We knew that Courtney was on the rise but we’re always there at the beginning. With your Chet Faker’s and your Vance Joy’s, it’s really nice to see that they’re being looked at for the ARIAs as well."
As for what the future holds for AIR, Nevin has no doubts the indie scene will only continue to thrive.
"There are more and more opportunities for labels nowadays," he explains.
"Artists and labels have the tools to do a lot of the stuff that once upon a time was just a domain of a big organisation. Anyone can get a website up and you can get your social media presence up and you can go out there and build your following without having to spend loads of money. I think we’ll see a lot more indie artists and labels springing up because they can do it."
"I think that puts us in pretty good stead for at least the next five years, but beyond that, who knows?"
This year’s event will take place at North Melbourne’s Meat Market on Thursday 22 October. For a full look at this year's nominees, click here.
