Best record

Most impactful or visually compelling short-form music video.

Best independent label with 15 or more worldwide full-time employees. The total number of employees is based on the number of worldwide employees of the parent label.

Best independent label with 6-14 worldwide full-time employees. The total number of employees is based on the number of worldwide employees of the parent label.

Best independent label with 5 or fewer worldwide full-time employees. The total number of employees is based on the number of worldwide employees of the parent label.

Program or work that a person, artist or company has done to better the world at large through or with the independent music community.

Best live/livestream individual performance that took place in the calendar year.

If the individual performance took place after the submission process is closed, but within the eligibility period, you must send a link to the performance by December 31, 2021. If you are submitting for an entire series you must choose one individual performance to represent the series.

Best record that does not fit other, traditional Libera Awards categories. Recordings nominated for this category cannot be nominated for other categories.

Best re-issue record with at least fifty percent (50%) of the recordings first commercially available prior to January 1, 2016. This includes compilations

Open to any synchronization that has appeared, for the first time, within the US during the eligibility period. The release date of the synced composition does not need to be within the eligibility period.

Artist or group that have significantly raised their profile and has achieved breakthrough commercial success, in the United States, for the first time, during the eligibility period. “Supergroups” are not eligible for this category.

Best or most creative packaging, physical or digital including bundled packages, premium offerings or artwork/design packaging.

The non-label entity or individual that best supported and championed Independent labels and artists this year.

The most innovative/creative marketing campaign for a record released during the eligibility period.

This category celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of independent self-releasing artists. The submission must be fully self-released by an individual artist or group. Records co-released with record labels or as a subsidiary of a parent company are not eligible.

Best alternative rock record 🤘

Best Americana record ♨️

Best Blues record 🌀

Best classical record; this category includes all periods and all sizes of ensemble or solo.

Best country record ⛰

Best dance record

Best electronic record 🚦

Best folk/bluegrass record 🌾

Best heavy record e.g. metal, hardcore, and all other sounds you would consider as such.

Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record

Best Jazz Record 🥃

Best Latin Record 💥

Best Pop Record 🔮

Best punk record; this includes all iterations and sub-genres of punk music e.g. post-punk, punk rock

Best R&B Record

Best Rock Record

Best Spiritual Record

Best World Record