Genesis Owusu, Cub Sport and Jem Cassar-Daley were in the winner’s circle at the 2024 AIR Awards, the annual celebration of Australia’s independent music sector.
As he has done so often in recent years, Owusu collected silverware, this time nabbing best independent hip-hop album or EP for STRUGGLER, his sophomore LP which cracked the ARIA top 10 in 2023.
On this occasion, his support network shared in the glory. Ourness, The Annex and AWAL snagged the AIR Award for independent marketing team of the year, and Andrew Klippel’s Ourness won the coveted independent label of the year.
Last year, STRUGGLER scooped a hattrick at the 2023 ARIA Awards, continuing a brilliant run of form for the Canberra-raised artist whose expanding collection includes the J Award for Australian album of the year, the Australian Music Prize, an APRA Award, and first prize in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition.
Also at the 2024 AIR Awards, held Thursday, Aug. 1 at the Queens Theatre Adelaide, Brisbane electronic pop outfit Cub Sport were double winners, scooping best independent dance or electronica album or EP for their ARIA No. 1 album Jesus At The Gay Bar, and independent music video of the year for “Keep Me Safe” (Adam Munnings).
Other key winners on the night included Royel Otis (breakthrough independent artist of the year), RVG (independent album of the year for Brain Worms) and Jem Cassar-Daley (independent song of the year for “King of Disappointment”).
Now in its 18th year, the AIR Awards are a celebration of the best and brightest from Australia’s independent music community, and are organized by the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR).
This year’s edition ushered in two new categories, recognizing best independent music video and best independent producer, and welcomed an international development. AIR used the platform of the ceremony to confirm a further two years’ funding to hold its Awards and Indie-Con Australia conference in Adelaide, and announced that the trade body will exclusively host A2IM’s Australian Edition of Indie-Week conference in conjunction with its events from 2025.
“We are honored and excited to bring A2IM Indie Week’s first-ever international event to Adelaide, Australia’s UNESCO designated City of Music” comments Lisa Hresko, A2IM, general manager. This event “promises to be a global hub for independent music, fostering a dynamic community of industry leaders and sharing future-shaping ideas that will propel music forward.”
The South Australian Music Development Office is major sponsor for the annual AIR awards.
Visit air.org.au/air-awards for the full list of winners.