Louis Posen, founder of California-based label Hopeless Records, is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 A2IM Libera Awards. The awards, the world’s largest celebration of independent music, is set to take place on Monday, June 10 at Gotham Hall in New York. The gala dinner and concert event, featuring performances from a diverse range of artists, is open to the public.
As a board member for the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) and Merlin and a two-time board member for A2IM, Posen has stood at the forefront of advocacy efforts within the United States and internationally.
“Louis’s dedication to nurturing artists and leveraging music for social change underscores his commitment to our industry and epitomizes the power of combining passion with purpose,” Dr. Richard James Burgess, MBE, president/CEO of A2IM, said in a statement. “Louis is a vital advocate for independent music, vigorously championing the causes he believes in. We salute Louis for his continued commitment to the independent sector and to community empowerment.”
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“What an unbelievable honor to be in the same company as some of my mentors and favorite labels,” Posen said in a statement. “… Thank you to the entire independent music community. Especially A2IM, whose amazing work promoting and protecting the value of independent music has created an industry environment where independent artists and companies like Hopeless can thrive.”
Previous A2IM Lifetime Achievement winners include Martin Mills (Beggars Group), Tom Silverman (Tommy Boy Records), Bruce Iglauer (Alligator Records), Patricia Chin (VP Records), Mike Curb (Curb Records), Ani DiFranco (Righteous Babe Records), Brett Gurewitz (Epitaph/ANTI-), Jonathan Poneman (Sub Pop), Seymour Stein (Sire Records) and Al Bell, Estelle Axton, Jim Stewart, and Deanie Parker (Stax Records).
This year, Hopeless Records celebrates its 30 year anniversary. Over the last three decades, it has grown from a bedroom label into one of the most successful companies in independent music, with more than 400 releases and millions of records sold.
Founded by Posen as an excuse to release a seven-inch by the band Guttermouth, the label spent much of the ’90s catering to pop-punk and ska fans with a short roster that included 88 Fingers Louie, Dillinger Four and Mustard Plug. As mainstream tastes shifted, so did the label, signing such acts as Avenged Sevenfold, All Time Low, Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Neck Deep, The Wonder Years and illuminati hotties.
This year’s Libera Awards will recognize achievements across 38 categories, including three new ones: publisher of the year, distributor of the year and best record from games and interactive media.
Tickets start at $299 for a single balcony ticket. They can be purchased here.