Libera Awards Presented by Merlin Announces 2026 Winners

NETTWERK MUSIC GROUP FOUNDERS TERRY MCBRIDE & MARK JOWETT RECEIVE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

New York, NY (June 8, 2026) - The Foundation for Independent Music (FIM), with support from the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), announces the winners for the 2026 Libera Awards Presented By Merlin. The ceremony took place earlier this evening at Gotham Hall in New York City. Hosted by Delisa Shannon, the night featured performances from Mdou Moctar, Valerie June, Dawn Richard and Porches. 38 awards were distributed throughout the evening, including multiple awards for the night’s big winners, Geese and Oklou. For the first time ever an award was given out for Best Independent Record Store, which went to Rough Trade NYC. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, which was bestowed upon Terry McBride and Mark Jowett, co-founders of Nettwerk Music Group.

A2IM and The Foundation for Independent Music have been working closely with Tito's Handmade Vodka to support up-and-coming voices in independent music as part of the Sounds Better with Tito's artist program. Selected artists receive a financial grant to support whatever the next step of their career may be. In addition to presenting this year's Breakthrough Artist award which went to XXX, Tito’s announced the latest member of the program, Gelli Haha.

“The 2026 Libera Awards was an extraordinary night and a powerful reminder of what makes the independent music community so special,” said Ian Harrison, CEO of A2IM. “The Liberas are unique in celebrating not just the best in music across multiple genres, but also the people and companies who put their passion and creativity in supporting these tremendous artists. These nominees and winners embody the innovation, creativity, and authenticity that are the lifeblood of our industry. Congratulations to all who continue to shape the future of music on their own terms.”

2026 LIBERA AWARDS WINNERS:

RECORD OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY MERLIN

Geese - Getting Killed (Partisan Records / Play It Again Sam)

LABEL OF THE YEAR (15+)

Partisan Records

LABEL OF THE YEAR (6-14)

Mexican Summer

LABEL OF THE YEAR (5 or fewer)

True Panther Records

BEST INDEPENDENT RECORD STORE

Rough Trade NYC

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST PRESENTED BY SOUNDS BETTER WITH TITO’S

Geese (Partisan Records / Play It Again Sam)

BEST ALTERNATIVE ROCK RECORD

Geese - Getting Killed (Partisan Records / Play It Again Sam)

BEST AMERICAN ROOTS RECORD

Hayden Pedigo - I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away (Mexican Summer)

BEST BLUES RECORD

Antone's 50th Allstars - The Last Real Texas Blues Album (New West Records)

BEST CLASSICAL RECORD

Tiffany Poon - Nature (Pentatone)

BEST COUNTRY RECORD

Margo Price - Hard Headed Woman (Loma Vista Recordings)

BEST DANCE RECORD

Fcukers - "I Like It Like That" (Ninja Tune)

BEST ELECTRONIC RECORD PRESENTED BY REDEYE WORLDWIDE

Oklou - choke enough (True Panther Records)

BEST FOLK RECORD

Folk Bitch Trio - Now Would Be A Good Time (Jagjaguwar)

BEST GLOBAL RECORD

Mdou Moctar - Tears of Injustice (Matador Records)

BEST HEAVY RECORD

Model/Actriz - Pirouette (True Panther Records)

BEST HIP-HOP/RAP RECORD PRESENTED BY AUDIOSALAD

Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out (Clipse, under exclusive license to Roc Nation Distribution)

BEST JAZZ RECORD

Mei Semones - Animaru (Bayonet Records)

BEST LATIN RECORD

Lido Pimienta - La Belleza (ANTI-)

BEST OUTLIER RECORD

Panda Bear - Sinister Grift (Domino)

BEST POP RECORD

Oklou - choke enough (True Panther Records)

BEST PUNK RECORD

Lambrini Girls - Who Let The Dogs Out (City Slang)

BEST R&B RECORD

Thundercat - "Children of the Baked Potato (feat. Remi Wolf)" (Brainfeeder)

RECORD FROM GAMES AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA

C418 - Minecraft: Alpha + Beta (Box Set) (Ghostly International)

BEST REISSUE

MF DOOM - Special Herbs (Rhymesayers Entertainment / Metalface Records)

BEST REMIX

Oklou - "blade bird (Nick León Broward Mix)" (True Panther Records)

BEST ROCK RECORD

Wednesday - Bleeds (Dead Oceans)

SELF RELEASED RECORD OF THE YEAR

Hayley Williams - Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party (Post Atlantic)

BEST SINGER SONGWRITER RECORD

Ichiko Aoba - Luminescent Creatures (Psychic Hotline)

Annahstasia - Tether (drink sum wtr)

BEST SOUL/FUNK RECORD

Mavis Staples - Sad And Beautiful World (ANTI-)

BEST SPIRITUAL RECORD

Lecrae - Reconstruction (Reach Records)

BEST SYNC USAGE

Wet Leg - "mangetout" (Heated Rivalry) (Domino)

BEST CREATIVE PACKAGING

MF DOOM - Special Herbs (Rhymesayers Entertainment / Metalface Records)

DISTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR

Secretly Distribution

INDEPENDENT CHAMPION PRESENTED BY BANDCAMP

Qobuz

MARKETING GENIUS

Geese - Getting Killed (Partisan Records / Play It Again Sam)

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY YOUTUBE

Oklou - "viscus" (True Panther Records)

PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR

Secretly Publishing

Libera Awards is supported by 

About Host, Delisa Shannon:

Delisa Shannon is a video journalist based in Brooklyn, NY focused on the intersection of music and culture. You can find her backstage and on the red carpet with some of your favorite artists. Delisa currently works at Billboard as Short Form Content Director, reimagining our relationship to short form content and its power to connect us. She has previously held bylines at Rolling Stone, where she highlighted legacy acts and rising voices in music.

About the Foundation for Independent Music (FIM):

The Foundation for Independent Music (FIM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the growth, sustainability, and innovation of the independent music community. Through impactful educational programs, strategic initiatives, and a commitment to elevating diverse voices. FIM produces Indie Week, the world’s largest international gathering of independent music professionals, offering comprehensive education, industry insights, and networking for independent music stakeholders. FIM also presents the annual Libera Awards, the premier independent awards ceremony recognizing artistic and commercial excellence in independent music, celebrating achievements across categories that reflect the full breadth and vitality of the independent sector.

About A2IM:

A2IM is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade organization headquartered in New York City that exists to support and strengthen the independent recorded music sector. Membership currently includes a broad coalition of over 600 Independently-owned American music labels. A2IM represents these independently owned small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) interests in the marketplace, in the media, on Capitol Hill, and as part of the global music community. In doing so, it supports a key segment of America's creative class that represents America's diverse musical and cultural heritage. Billboard identified the independent music label sector as accounting for 44.15% of the U.S. recorded-music industry in the first quarter of 2026, based on copyright ownership, making Independent labels collectively the largest recorded music industry sector. In 2025 and 2026, A2IM was named a ‘Best Place To Work’ by the non-profit Women In Music.