AIF announces Independent Festival Awards shortlist, Sarah Nulty of Tramlines awarded Outstanding Contribution. 08 Oct 2018
- Sarah Nulty of Tramlines to posthumously receive Outstanding Contribution award.
- Meltdown awarded ‘Act of Independence’ for addressing mental health in the music industry.
- Seven awards categories including New Festival on the Block, Unique Festival Arena, Smart -Marketing Campaign and Live Act of the Year
- Other nominees include Black Deer, Arcadia London, Elrow Town, Shame, Lost Village and the Forest Sessions at 2000Trees
Gearing up for its fifth annual Festival Congress, the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has announced the shortlist for the 2018 Independent Festival Awards.
Taking place on Tuesday 6th November at 92 Burton Road in Sheffield, this year’s winners will be announced during an awards ceremony hosted by Glastonbury Festival’s Ben Challis, as part of the AIF’s annual flagship event.
The Outstanding Contribution Award will be posthumously given to Tramlines Festival Director Sarah Nulty, who tragically passed away after a short illness aged 36 earlier this year.
There are seven awards categories in total, designed to recognise the hard work and success of the most innovative events in the industry, including ‘New Festival on the Block’, ‘Unique Festival Arena’, ‘Smart Marketing Campaign’ and ‘Live Act of the Year’.
The Act of Independence award will be awarded to Meltdown festival for replacing Frightened Rabbit’s set at the festival with a panel on mental health awareness and the music industry, following the death of singer Scott Hutchison earlier this year.
The Forest Sessions at 2000 Trees, the Main Stage at Elrow Town, Abandoned Chapel at Lost Village, Paradise Heights at Boomtown and the Data Mine at Shambala are all up for the Unique Festival Arena award this year.
Magical Festival, El Dorado, Black Deer, Houghton and Arcadia London are all in the running for New Festival On The Block, while Dream Wife, Henge, The Blue Planet In Concert With The Halle Orchestra, Shame and Barney Artist are nominated for the Live Act of the Year award.
Nominees across other categories include Lost Village, Kendal Calling and 2000trees. See below for a complete list of nominees.
AIF CEO Paul Reed said: “The Independent Festival Awards are now an annual fixture and a true celebration of the creativity and innovation taking place across the independent festival industry.
“It feels fitting, in our first year in Sheffield, to honour Sarah Nulty with the Outstanding Contribution award, not only for her tireless work ethic and incredible achievements with Tramlines but the wider contribution that she made to the independent festival world and what Sarah meant to our community. See you in Sheffield.”
Tramlines Operations Director Timm Cleasby said: “We are all so proud that Sarah has received this award and never was it more deserved. To be recognised by her peers for all her hard work, drive and determination, is a true honour to her memory, and to the legacy she's left behind in Tramlines.”
Commenting on the Act of Independence award, Bengi Ünsal, Senior Contemporary Music Programmer at Southbank Centre, said: “We are incredibly honoured and humbled to receive this award. After hearing the news of Scott Hutchison’s death, instead of leaving the Queen Elizabeth Hall un-programmed and keeping the issue in the dark, we wanted to use the space and the platform of Meltdown festival to bring people together and shine a light on the worryingly common issues of mental health across the music industry. I am grateful to this year’s curator Robert Smith and to the wider Southbank Centre team for making it happen, and to the bravely candid panellists for sharing their experiences.”
The Awards will be followed by an aftershow silent disco at Yellow Arch Studios.
This year, AIF’s Festival Congress is expected to play host to over 400 delegates and will be centred around an ‘Under the sea’ theme as a follow up to AIF’s Drastic on Plastic campaign earlier in the year. The first day of the conference will take place at The Crucible Theatre, with the second day hosted at Showroom Cinema.
Over 40 speakers are confirmed for the conference this year- including keynotes from Secret Cinema Founder Fabien Riggall, Shangri-la Creative Director Kaye Dunnings, author Rob Chapman and marine biologist Dr. Kerry Howell.
Final speakers for the programme are now confirmed, including Snowbombing Event Manager Joanna Leljevahl and Liverpool Sound City MD Rebecca Ayres. See the complete schedule and list of speakers at festivalcongress.com
Attendees of the Congress include notable festival organisers from the likes of Glastonbury, Boomtown Fair, Kendal Calling, Shambala, End of the Road and many more.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the two-day conference and awards are now on sale, priced at £100 for AIF members, £135 to Friends Of AIF and £185 general sale exclusively through headline event sponsor Eventbrite.
For further information and tickets visit festivalcongress.com
The Independent Festival Awards shortlist 2018:
Outstanding Contribution: Sarah Nulty (Tramlines)
Act of Independence: Meltdown Festival - Mental health panel in replacement of Frightened Rabbit performance.
New Festival on the Block (In association with Marcato)
Magical Festival
El Dorado
Black Deer
Houghton
Arcadia London
Unique Festival Arena
Forest Sessions at 2000 Trees
Main Stage at Elrow Town
Abandoned Chapel at Lost Village
The Data Mine at Shambala.
Paradise Heights at Boomtown Fair
Live Act of the Year
Dream Wife
Henge
The Blue Planet in Concert with the Halle Orchestra
Shame
Barney Artist
Festival Caterer of the Year (In association with NCASS)
Smokin’ Hot Tamales.
The Peckish Peacock
The Lambassadors
Le Bao
Barbeque Dreamz
Smart Marketing Campaign
The Red Stars - Kendal Calling
‘Making Waves’ video game - Deer Shed
20th Birthday ‘Nozstalgia’ theme - Nozstock
Promotional videos- Lost Village.
Renaming the event the ‘Gareth Southgate’ festival - Truck.
NEWS & PRESS
Ostereo expands team and music catalogue with new hires and signings
New hires include Campaign Manager for Asia and A&R/Digital Manager Original records to be released in 2024 for numerous domestic and overseas artists Ostereo reports international streaming success Ostereo, the UK-based music label and publishing company, has announced an expansion with new hires and signings...more
Nadia Khan appointed as Chair of EarthPercent
EarthPercent, the charity which harnesses the power of the music industry to support the most impactful climate organisations around the world, has announced the appointment of Nadia Khan as its Chair. Nadia Khan is the first externally appointed Chair to the...more
Showcasing diversity in the European independent music scene -Â Impala's 100 Artists to Watch for 2024 in collaboration with YouTube
For the third year in a row, IMPALA returns with its highly anticipated 100 Artists to Watch 2024 edition in collaboration with YouTube. This year, we're excited to showcase a vibrant selection of emerging talent from across the European independent...more
Taylor Swift, SEVENTEEN and Morgan Wallen top IFPI Global Album Charts
IFPI releases three more Global Charts for 2023, celebrating the biggest albums of the year across different formats SEVENTEEN, who reached #1 on IFPI’s Global Album and Global Album Sales Charts, pose with their awards. (Photo courtesy of PLEDIS Entertainment) IFPI, the...more
Wise Music Group sign Portico Quartet
Wise Music Group announces the signing of Portico Quartet to the global independent publishing group, as they join the roster through Campbell Connelly & Co in an exclusive songwriter agreement. The deal includes their back catalogue and future work. Led by...more
Universal Music Group and Spotify Expand Strategic Relationship
Companies to collaborate on new promotional and social tools to help artists and songwriters drive interaction and excitement around new releases UMG artists will soon be able to share short pre-release teasers and expanded pre-save opportunities on Spotify Universal Music Group (UMG),...more
IMS Ibiza 2024 - Full Summit Program Announced
IMS Ibiza, the thought-leadership platform at the intersection of culture, education, industry, and wellness in electronic music, announces today the full program for the fifteenth edition of the summit. Across 60+ discussions and sessions, 125+ speakers will come together with...more
Jordan Rakei announced as the inaugural ‘Artist In Residence’ at Abbey Road Studios
Today (27th March), Jordan Rakei has been announced as the first ever ‘Artist In Residence’ at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios. The role is the first in a series of new ‘in residence’ appointments, designed to enhance Abbey Road’s position...more
Miraval’s Mystery Vinyl [Music For Your Tastebuds] Pop Up Record Shop From Record Store Day & Studio By Miraval
Record Store Day and Studio by Miraval team up to launch pop-up record shop on Wednesday 17th April Vinyl enthusiasts have the chance to take home a brand-new mystery record and enjoy a glass of Studio by Miraval Rosé- for just £5! Proceeds...more
Jarvis Cocker and Darcus Beese OBE among keynote speakers revealed for the Great Escape Conference
TOM GRAY AND YOLANDA BROWN ALSO REVEALED FOR KEYNOTES PLUS AIM JOIN AS A CONFERENCE COLLABORATOR DOZENS MORE SPEAKERS The Great Escape has announced a raft of music legends and industry leaders as keynote speakers for its newly revamped conference, including Pulp frontman Jarvis...more
PPL pays out £18.8 million of international revenue in Q1 distribution
In today’s Q1 distribution of international revenue, PPL is paying £18.8 million to over 22,000 performers and recording rights holders. The payment is up 7% on the Q1 payment made in March 2023. The first of four payments made by...more
TCE Presents & Broadwick group announce partnership
TCE PRESENTS & BROADWICK ISSUE A JOINT STATEMENT: Pioneering spaces and culture group 'Broadwick', and New York's leading event design company 'TCE presents', announce new US venture Respectively revered for their work within the global live events industry, today - two of...more
Manana Music Management launch new full service venture for Scotland's electronic music scene
Mañana Music Management, the Glasgow-based management company behind Joesef, t e s t p r e s s, Theo Bleak and Citizen Papes are delighted to announce a new electronic-based music venture: Mañana Electronic. Operating as a full service company, Mañana Electronic will offer expertise in management,...more
Soundmouse by Orfium appointed official music reporting partner for South Korean broadcast industry
Soundmouse by Orfium will enable music creators and rights holders in the world’s seventh largest music market to receive accurate and transparent royalty payments for the use of their music on radio and television Soundmouse by Orfium (“the Company”) has been selected by...more
Loop.Fans launches Web3 Music Awards - Helping Emerging Artists Grow through AI and Blockchain Technology
Website | Awards Loop.Fans is here to empower both Artists and SuperFans by leveraging the power of the latest Web3, AI and blockchain technology. The platform enables emerging talent in the electronic music industry to gain new followers, engage with and...more
GENIE (Gender Equality Networks in Europe) Project Launch
Launch Date: 2 April 2024 www.geniedatabase.comInstagram: @geniedatabase Gender equality activist and researcher Grace Goodwin launches GENIE (Gender Equality Networks in Europe), an online database of over 300 projects across 25 countries supporting gender equality in music. The database features projects ranging...more
Teddy Swims signs to Warner Chappell Music
Powerhouse Vocalist Hit No. 1 On The Billboard Hot 100 This Week With His Global Smash “Lose Control” Warner Chappell Music (WCM) has signed a global publishing deal with masterful singer and songwriter, Teddy Swims. With his RIAA platinum-certified smash hit...more
So.Co Image of Music Awards 2024Â winners announced
VIEW IMAGES HERE Winners of seven categories unveiled at lively event in London Fearghal McGlinchey crowned Music Photographer of the Year McGlinchey also wins Image of Music with shot of Greta Van Fleet Young Music Photographer of the Year awarded to Grace Prachthauser Jill Furmanovsky...more
Concord Music Publishing signs legendary soul singer and songwriter William Bell
Today, Concord Music Publishing announced the signing of iconic soul singer-songwriter, legend of Stax Records and Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductee William Bell. The administration deal, effective immediately, includes a selection of Bell’s catalog and all future works. William Bell states: "I am very...more
Grassroots music inquiry - FAC comment
Today, the Culture Media & Sport Committee held three evidence sessions to explore the ongoing crisis in the grassroots music sector, after 125 venues reportedly abandoned live music in 2023. In the third of these sessions, David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition, appeared alongside...more
Bruce Springsteen to become a Fellow of the Ivors Academy
SPRINGSTEEN MAKES HISTORY AS THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITER TO RECEIVE THE HONOUR FELLOWSHIP RECOGNISES HIS INFLUENCE AND IMPACT ON THE CRAFT OF SONGWRITING Bruce Springsteen will receive the award at the world’s biggest and most prestigious celebration of songwriters, The Ivors with...more
The Radio Academy announces nominees for ARIAS 2024
Hosted by Alice Levine & Romesh Ranganathan, plus backstage interviews with Sam Thompson The Radio Academy today reveals the 211 nominees that will be recognised at the 2024 ARIAS on Tuesday 7th May at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London.The Radio Academy ARIAS (Audio and Radio Industry Awards) are the UK's leading audio and radio awards that...more
Hybe and Universal Music Group announce new global alliance
The new global agreement will give UMG exclusive distribution rights across HYBE's roster of artists and labels HYBE today announced an expanded long-term agreement with Universal Music Group (UMG), providing them exclusive distribution rights across HYBE music for the next 10...more
Rewind and Fast Forward: Keychange announces Impact Evaluation Report
Rewind and Fast Forward: Keychange announces Impact Evaluation Report (2018 - 2023) and unveils Keychange Manifesto 2.0 Celebrating 5 years of transformative impact and charting the path forward for gender equity in music at Tallinn Music Week in Estonia on April...more
Calling All Music Creators! UK Music Needs Your Help
UK Music is launching its 2024 economic survey for music creators. As the collective voice for the UK music industry, UK Music needs data on creator’s earnings in 2023 to help it to calculate the economic contribution the industry made to the...more
AIF statement on Shindig Festival closure
Comment from AIF CEO John Rostron on Shindig Festival's announcement that its 2024 edition will be its last. This is now the 28th UK festival to announce its postponement, cancellation or closure in 2024. A full list of lost festivals can be found here. AIF...more
Royal Albert Hall’s songwriter showcase goes national
The Royal Albert Hall’s ‘Future Makers’ programme, for musicians aged 14 to 19 who write their own music, is going national for the first time. The project, which has been running across London since 2022, provides talented young musicians with a...more
FKP Scorpio UK & Communion Presents announce formation of Communion One
THE TWO COMPANIES JOIN FORCES AS LIVE PROMOTERS FOR LIKES OF ED SHEERAN, SAM FENDER, NOAH KAHAN, PHOEBE BRIDGERS, LEWIS CAPALDI, AND MITSKI COMMUNION ONE TO PRODUCE 15,000 CAPACITY THREE NIGHT LIVE EVENT SERIES AT BRISTOL’S QUEEN SQUARE FROM 2025...more
Turn on, tune in, rock out: introducing the UK's newest music television destination - Staccs TV
Staccs TV will offer high-quality music videos, concert clips, exclusive recordings and original programming - on Samsung TV Plus Staccs TV is the latest free, ad-supported television (FAST) channel available to UK viewers Expansion marks a milestone for the Swedish start up,...more
Yolanda Brown breaks a Guinness World Records title
THE MOST MONEY RAISED BY A RESTAURANT ON KICKSTARTER WORLDWIDE YOLANDA BROWN OBE DL PUSHES BOUNDARIES AND RAISES QUARTER OF A MILLION POUND FOR MUSIC VENUE AND RESTAURANT ‘SOUL MAMA’ YOLANDA BROWN - CHANGING THE FACE OF VENUE OWNERSHIP Today, musician, broadcaster, composer and philanthropist, YolanDa Brown...more
THE HEADLINES
Is the US too reliant on paid subscriptions? (see Analysis)
Misogyny, sexual discrimination and harassment are still everyday problems for female musicians (see Reports)
Believe's board asks Warner Music Group to make acquisition offer (see Business)
Why are IFPI & MIDiA’s 2023 revenue figures so far apart? (see Analysis)
IFPI: Global recorded music revenues grew 10.2% in 2023 (see Reports)
How have one-hit wonders changed over time? (see Analysis)
TikTok: MPs raise concerns about UK ownership (see News); AI ambitions (see Digital); UK Artist Playbook (see Reports)
The composer with 650 different names identified as Sweden’s most-listened-to artist on Spotify (see Digital)
Recorded Music Market report shows 9.8% growth in 2023 (see Reports)
Spotify updates its Loud & Clear website with 2023 data (see Reports)
Murmur launches with pledges to drive change in environmental solutions (see News)
Global music revenue continued to rise in 2023. So why are some music organisations sounding the alarm? (see Comment)
Can Sweden keep its edge in the music industry? (see Features)
Industry welcomes Labour Party's pledges to the music sector (see News)