The 18th annual A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) Indie Week concluded yesterday at the InterContinental Times Square in New York City, drawing approximately 1,200 attendees over four days. Artificial intelligence, data integrity, direct-to-fan strategies, and catalog business dominated the agenda.
AI and Data Take Center Stage
AI was the pervasive theme, with sessions examining licensing frameworks, training data rights, catalog protection, creative workflow integration, publishing futures, and operational efficiency. A recurring message was that data forms the critical foundation: inaccurate data skews royalties, valuations, chart positions, and other key metrics. The consensus urged fixing the floor before building anything on top of it.
Direct-to-Fan and Catalog Strategies
Direct-to-fan approaches highlighted how independent labels are reaching their target audiences by owning first-party data, live activations, merchandise and physical drops, influencer campaigns, and post-show retargeting. Labels pulling ahead have rebuilt around the fan relationship directly.
Catalog business remained a prevailing topic. Acquisition activity prompted discussions on managing acquired catalog as active infrastructure while keeping frontline operations alive. Sessions dug into valuation, deal structures, capital access, equity models, and the realities of due diligence when a buyer comes knocking.
Keynote Highlights
Charlie Lexton of Merlin opened Tuesday, arguing that the organization exists to protect independent music companies by turning collective scale into leverage, better economics, and stronger infrastructure. He framed AI, consolidation, and platform change as proof that Merlin must keep evolving so independents can stay independent without sacrificing opportunity.
Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights, in conversation with A2IM COO Lisa Hresko, addressed where the Copyright Office stands on AI training data, what registration reform might look like in practice, and how policy is keeping pace with the speed of AI deals entering the market.
Following the announcement of a strategic venture between Concord and Victor Victor Worldwide, Tom Becci (Concord) sat down with Steven Victor, who has helped build the legacies of artists such as Pop Smoke and Ski Mask the Slump God. Victor emphasized having confidence in partners and focusing on talent and authenticity first, then shaping commercial elements afterward.
Ian Harrison (A2IM) and Rob Jonas (Luminate) dug into the numbers: indie streaming share is rising across tiers, vinyl buyers are more diverse and more affluent than ever, and independents now account for roughly 44% of US recorded music.
Libera Awards Recap
The 15th Libera Awards on Monday kicked off the week. Geese and Oklou each took home four awards on the artist side.
- Secretly claimed both Distributor of the Year and Publisher of the Year.
- True Panther landed six trophies overall, including Label of the Year (5 or fewer employees).
Performances included sets by Valerie June, Dawn Richard, Mdou Moctar, and Aaron Main of Porches.
