Merlin Members Win Big at the 2023 Libera Awards, Representing 92% of Winners
Congratulations to all of the Merlin members taking home Libera Awards this year. In a record year, Merlin members represented 92% of award winners and 76% of total nominations, which is a testament to their talent, artistry, dedication, and leadership within the independent music community. The following is a list of Merlin member winners.
Record of the Year
Wet Leg – Wet Leg – Domino Recording Co.
Label of the Year (1-5 Employees)
Innovative Leisure (Redeye Worldwide)
Label of the Year (6-14 Employees)
Captured Tracks (Secretly Distribution)
Label of the Year (15 or more Employees)
Partisan Records ([PIAS])
A2IM Humanitarian Award
Killer Mike – Background Music 2.0 (EMPIRE Distribution)
Video of the Year
Wet Leg – Wet Leg – Domino Recording Co.
Breakthrough Artist/Release
Sudan Archives – Stones Throw Records
Best Alternative Rock Record
Wet Leg – Wet Leg – Domino Recording Co.
Best American Roots Record
Angel Olsen – Big Time – Jagjaguwar (Secretly)
Best Blues Record
Shemekia Copeland – Done Come Too Far – Alligator Records (Exceleration Music)
Best Classical Record
Dawn Richard & Spencer Zahn – Pigments – Merge Records
Best Country Record
Plains – I Walked With You A Ways – ANTI- (Epitaph)
Best Dance Record
Bicep – Water – Ninja Tune
Best Electronic Record
ODESZA – The Last Goodbye – Foreign Family Collective (Ninja Tune)
Best Folk Record
Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You – 4AD (Beggars)
Best Global Record
Rodrigo y Gabriela – Weird Fishes/Arpeggi – ATO Records
Best Heavy Record
black midi – Hellfire – Rough Trade Records (Beggars)
Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record
Kenny Beats – LOUIE – XL Recordings (Beggars)
Best Jazz Record
Kamasi Washington – The Garden Path – YOUNG (Beggars)
Best Latin Record
Helado Negro – Ya No Astoy Aquí – 4AD (Beggars)
Best Live/Livestream Act
Low – Live – Sub Pop Records
Best Outlier Record
NNAMDï – Please Have A Seat – Secretly Canadian
Best Pop Record
MUNA – MUNA – Saddest Factory Records (Secretly)
Best Punk Record
The Linda Lindas – Growing Up – Epitaph
Best R&B Record
Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen – Stones Throw Records
Best Re-Issue
Fela Kuti – Fela with Ginger Baker Live! – Partisan Records ([PIAS])
Best Remix
Wet Leg – Too Late Now (Soulwax Remix) – Domino Recording Co.
Best Rock Record
Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia – Partisan Records ([PIAS])
Best Short-Form Video
Toro y Moi – MAHAL TikTok Series – Dead Oceans (Secretly)
Best Singer Songwriter Record
Weyes Blood – And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow – Sub Pop Records
Best Soul/Funk Record
Lee Fields – Sentimental Fool – Daptone Records (Redeye Worldwide)
Best Sync Usage
Stereolab – A Flower Called Nowhere, Atlanta – Warp Records
Creative Packaging
Black Country, New Road – And From Up There, Deluxe – Ninja Tune
Marketing Genius
Wet Leg – Wet Leg – Domino Recording Co.
