AIR Charts
Encyclopedia
The AIR Charts are the official sales charts for Australian independent music released by Australian owned, independent record labels. Presented by AIR, the Australian Independent Record Labels Association
, the charts are calculated according to official sales figures provided by the ARIA Charts
, which includes legal MP3 download sales.
The AIR charts are found online at http://ausindies.com.au. They are officially distributed alongside the ARIA Charts
through The Music Network, a weekly subscription based Australian music industry trade magazine.
Currently sponsored by Jägermeister
, The AIR Charts have been set up with the intention of helping Australian indie artists compete with commercial artists represented by Australia's four major multinational record labels, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group
, Universal Music Group
and EMI
.
The distinction between the 100% Indie and Indie Label categories is:
An example of 100% Indie would be John Butler Trio
who are released and distributed through independent record label Jarrah Records
.
An example of Indie Label would be Silverchair
and Missy Higgins
who are released through independent record label Eleven: A Music Company
but distributed via the distribution arm of major labels Universal Music and Warner Music Group
.
, Triple J
, ABC Radio
and the Nova Network. The ON AIR Charts utilise acoustic fingerprint
technology provided by the business to business service D-Star Spins. They only represent Australian indie songs that have been uploaded for fingerprinting with the D-Star Spins service.
The selection of the 10 finalists for each category is based upon a total score calculated across all 20 AIR independent chart positions over that year. The winner is voted for by a judging panel consisting of approximately 350 members of the retail and media sectors of the Australian independent music industry.
The Awards include categories for Independent Artist Of The Year and Best New Independent Artist . The finalists are selected from the AIR Charts based upon their sales ranking performance across the charts over the year as well as other factors such as their performance success and participation in the wider Australian music industry.
Well-known Australian independent artists who have previously won an AIR Award include Gotye
(2006), John Butler Trio
(2007), Sneaky Sound System
(2007) and most recently Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
(2008).
Australian Independent Record Labels Association
The Australian Independent Record Labels Association is a non profit, non government association dedicated to supporting the growth and development of Australia’s independent recording sector...
, the charts are calculated according to official sales figures provided by the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, which includes legal MP3 download sales.
The AIR charts are found online at http://ausindies.com.au. They are officially distributed alongside the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
through The Music Network, a weekly subscription based Australian music industry trade magazine.
Currently sponsored by Jägermeister
Jägermeister
Jägermeister is a German 70-proof digestif made with 56 different herbs and spices. It is the flagship product of Mast-Jägermeister SE, headquartered in Wolfenbüttel, south of Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany.- History :...
, The AIR Charts have been set up with the intention of helping Australian indie artists compete with commercial artists represented by Australia's four major multinational record labels, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
, Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
and EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
For some of our independent artists, making a dent on the ARIA charts, against the might of a major label’s marketing and publicity departments as well as their bottomless recording budgets is an impossible task... although the pool of artists eligible for the AIR charts is smaller than the ARIA charts it’s certainly no mean feat to be amongst the highest selling independent artists in Australia.
AIR Charts Categories
The AIR Charts survey includes:| Weekly Sales Charts | Monthly Sales Charts |
|---|---|
| Top 20 100% Indie Singles | Top 10 Indie Label Dance / Electronica Albums |
| Top 20 100% Indie Albums | Top 10 Indie Label Hip Hop / Urban Albums |
| Top 20 Indie Label Singles | Top 10 Indie Label Hard Rock / Punk Albums |
| Top 20 Indie Label Albums | Top 10 Indie Label Blues / Roots Albums |
| Top 10 Indie Label Country Albums | |
| Top 10 Indie Label Classical Albums |
The distinction between the 100% Indie and Indie Label categories is:
- 100% Indie: Independent releases distributed through an independent distributor
- Indie Label: Independent releases distributed through any distributor, including a major distributor.
An example of 100% Indie would be John Butler Trio
John Butler Trio
The John Butler Trio are an eclectic roots and jam band from Australia led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler. They formed in Fremantle in 1998 with Jason McGann on drums and Gavin Shoesmith on bass guitar...
who are released and distributed through independent record label Jarrah Records
Jarrah Records
Jarrah Records is an independent Australian record label that releases albums by The Waifs and The John Butler Trio. Jarrah is co-owned by The Waifs and John Butler. Jarrah was founded in July 2002 as John Butler's and The Waifs' record label for the territory of the USA....
.
An example of Indie Label would be Silverchair
Silverchair
Silverchair were an Australian rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Merewether, Newcastle with the line-up of Ben Gillies on drums, Chris Joannou on bass guitar and Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars. The group got their big break in mid-1994 when they won a national demo...
and Missy Higgins
Missy Higgins
Melissa "Missy" Morrison Higgins is an Australian pop singer-songwriter, musician and actor. Her No. 1 albums in Australia are The Sound of White and On a Clear Night , and her Top Ten singles are "Scar", "The Special Two", "Steer" and "Where I Stood". From a musical family in...
who are released through independent record label Eleven: A Music Company
Eleven: A Music Company
Eleven: A Music Company is an Australian record label known for its small but successful roster, including Silverchair and Missy Higgins. The company was founded on 11 November 2000 by leading artist manager John Watson.-History:...
but distributed via the distribution arm of major labels Universal Music and Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
.
ON AIR Radio Airplay Charts
The AIR Charts include the ON AIR radio airplay charts for Australian independent artists whose songs are played on Australian national, community and commercial radio stations including Triple MTriple M
The Triple M Network is an active rock radio network in Australia owned by media company Austereo, who also own the Today Network.- History :...
, Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
, ABC Radio
ABC Radio and Regional Content
ABC Radio and Regional Content is the division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for radio output and regional content.-Origins:...
and the Nova Network. The ON AIR Charts utilise acoustic fingerprint
Acoustic fingerprint
An acoustic fingerprint is a condensed digital summary, deterministically generated from an audio signal, that can be used to identify an audio sample or quickly locate similar items in an audio database....
technology provided by the business to business service D-Star Spins. They only represent Australian indie songs that have been uploaded for fingerprinting with the D-Star Spins service.
On AIR Radio Airplay Charts Categories
The ON AIR Radio Airplay Charts survey covers:| Weekly Radio Airplay Charts |
|---|
| Top 20 100% Indie Singles |
| Top 20 Indie Singles |
AIR Awards
The annual AIR Awards are run in conjunction with the AIR Charts and celebrate the year's highest charting independently released Australian singles and albums.The selection of the 10 finalists for each category is based upon a total score calculated across all 20 AIR independent chart positions over that year. The winner is voted for by a judging panel consisting of approximately 350 members of the retail and media sectors of the Australian independent music industry.
The Awards include categories for Independent Artist Of The Year and Best New Independent Artist . The finalists are selected from the AIR Charts based upon their sales ranking performance across the charts over the year as well as other factors such as their performance success and participation in the wider Australian music industry.
Well-known Australian independent artists who have previously won an AIR Award include Gotye
Gotye
Wouter "Wally" De Backer , also known professionally by his stage name Gotye , is a Belgian-Australian multi-instrumental musician and singer-songwriter. He has released three studio albums independently and one remix album featuring remixes of tracks from his first two albums...
(2006), John Butler Trio
John Butler Trio
The John Butler Trio are an eclectic roots and jam band from Australia led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler. They formed in Fremantle in 1998 with Jason McGann on drums and Gavin Shoesmith on bass guitar...
(2007), Sneaky Sound System
Sneaky Sound System
Sneaky Sound System are a Sydney-based Australian dance music group consisting of guitarist and producer Black Angus and vocalist Connie Mitchell.-Early Years:...
(2007) and most recently Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is an Indigenous Australian musician, who sings in the Yolngu language.He was born in Galiwin'ku , off the coast of Arnhem Land, Northern Australia about 350 miles from Darwin. He is from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu and his mother from the Galpu nation...
(2008).