Late British rapper and producer MF DOOM, along with Fontaines D.C., singer-songwriters Jessica Pratt, and MJ Lenderman, led the wins at the 2025 Libera Awards Presented By Merlin. The 14th annual ceremony, which honors achievements within the independent music industry, was held at the Gotham Hall in New York City on Monday, Jun 9.
Produced by the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), which kicked off Indie Week, June 9-12, and FIM (The Foundation for Independent Music), this year, the Libera Awards featured 28 categories celebrating the best in independent music.
Among the night’s performances were Libera nominees serpentwithfeet, art rock trio Ekko Astral, Latin pop artist Reyna Tropical, and Swamp Dogg.
“I write music to help us remember this is the first spirit that has ever existed on this earth,” said Reyna Tropical vocalist Fabi Reyna, who was visibly emotional after winning the Latin Record award for her 2024 debut Malegría. “It’s the spirit that connects us to water, to land, to our own connection to self. It’s what’s helped me survive through so much pain and grief, and continues to.”
Videos by American Songwriter
Los Angeles singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt picked up three awards for her 2024 album Here in the Pitch, released by another Libera winner from the night, for Label of the Year, Mexican Summer. Along with Record of the Year, Pratt also won the awards for Singer-Songwriter Record and Folk Record for the album.
MJ Lenderman picked up two awards, one for American Roots Record for his fourth album, Manning Fireworks (ANTI-), and for Breakthrough Artist, while Irish rockers Fontaines D.C. also picked up an award for Music Video of the Year for ”Starburster,” and Rock Record of the Year for their fourth album Romance from 2024.
MF DOOM, who died in 2020, received three posthumous awards, including Reissue and Creative Packaging for the 2025 20th Anniversary reissue of MM..FOOD, along with the Remix award for ”One Beer (Madlib Remix).”
Horst Weidenmüller, the late founder of the Berlin label !K7, who died in February 2025 after a serious illness, was also posthumously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the independent music scene, helping shape the electronic and experimental music scene.
Founded in 1984, !K7, named after its original address in Berlin, Kaiserdamm 7, became a pioneer in the independent and electronic music scene.
Tom Nieuweboer, !K7 CEO, accepted the award on behalf of Weidenmülle and recalled being in New York City in 2024 during the Libera Awards with Weidenmüller, who was “full of ideas” for the future. “I couldn’t imagine one year later that I would stand here without him,” said Nieuweboer, recalling the late producer’s creed: “Act now, not someday, not when it’s convenient—now.”
“Whether he was creating a company … or pushing for climate action, he never waited for the perfect moment,” added Nieuweboer. “He just made the moment. Tonight, I feel that urgency more than ever, because none of us know where we will be in a year’s time, or who will have by our side.”
Toward the end of the evening, three independent labels were also honored for Label of the Year, including Partisan (15+ Employees), Mexican Summer (6-14 Employees), and True Panther (5 or Fewer Employees).
During the ceremony, Dr. Richard James Bergess, MBE, was honored with a special award celebrating his 10 years as President and CEO of A2IM.
“The 2025 Libera Awards were a powerful reminder of what makes our community extraordinary,” said Burgess. “We honored not only remarkable music and artistry, but the spirit and purpose that define the independent sector. These nominees and winners embody the innovation, determination, and authenticity that push our industry forward. Congratulations to all who continue to shape the future of music on their own terms.
2025 Libera Awards Presented By Merlin Winners:
Record of the Year
Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch (Mexican Summer)
Label of the Year (15+ employees)
Partisan Records
Label of the Year (6-14 employees)
Mexican Summer
Label of the Year (5 or fewer employees)
True Panther
Alternative Rock Record
Kim Gordon – The Collective (Matador Records)
American Roots Record
MJ Lenderman – Manning Fireworks (ANTI-)
Blue Record
Ruthie Foster – Mileage (Sun Records)
Classical Record
Kelly Moran – Moves in the Field (Warp Records)
Country Record
Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood (ANTI-)
Dance Record
Fcukers – Baggy$$ (Technicolour / Ninja Tune)
Electronic Record
Caribou – Honey (Merge Records)
Folk Record
Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch (Mexican Summer)
Global Record
Mdou Moctar – Funeral for Justice (Matador Records)
Heavy Record
METZ – Up On Gravity Hill (Sub Pop Records)
Hip-Hop/Rap Record
Shygirl – ”Immaculate” feat. Saweetie (Because Music)
Jazz Record
Kamasi Washington – Fearless Movement (Young)
Nala Sinephro – Endlessness (Warp Records)
Latin Record
Reyna Tropical – Malegría (Psychic Hotline)
Outlier Record
Khruangbin – A LA SALA (Dead Oceans)
SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE – YOU’LL HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING (Saddle Creek)
Pop Record
Magdalena Bay – Imaginal Disk (Mom+Pop)
Punk Record
Pissed Jeans – Half Divorced (Sub Pop Records)
R&B Record
Mavis Staples – ”Worthy” (ANTI-)
Reissue
MF DOOM – MM..FOOD (20th Anniversary Edition) (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
Remix
MF DOOM – ”One Beer (Madlib Remix)” (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
Rock Record
Fontaines D.C. – Romance (XL Recordings)
Singer-Songwriter Record
Jessica Pratt – Here in the Pitch (Mexican Summer)
Soul/Funk Record
Thee Sacred Souls – Got a Story to Tell (Daptone Records)
Spiritual Record
The Harlem Gospel Travelers – Rhapsody (Colemine Records)
Sync Record
De La Soul – ”Say No Go” (Civil War) (A.O.I./Chrysalis/Reservoir)
Breakthrough Artist
MJ Lenderman (ANTI-)
Creative Packaging
MF DOOM – MM..FOOD (20 Year Anniversary Edition) (Rhymesayers Entertainment)
Distributor of the Year
Redeye
Independent Champion
Bandcamp
Marketing Genius
IDLES – TANGK (Partisan Records)
Music Video of the Year
Fontaines D.C. – ”Starburster” (XL Recordings)
Publisher of the Year
Warp Publishing
Self-Released Record of the Year
RAYE – “Genesis” (Human Re-Sources)
Main Image: Latin Record of the Year winner Reyna Tropical (Photo: Nick Karp)
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.