# AIR Awards of 2022

The 2022 AIR Awards is the sixteenth annual Australian Independent Record Labels Association Music Awards ceremony (generally known as the AIR Awards). It took place on 4 August 2022 in Adelaide.
The nominations were revealed on 18 May 2022 with all material being released in 2021.
Owusu won three awards from three nominations. In a video acceptance speech after winning Independent Album of the Year, Owusu said, "I poured everything that I had into the making of this album, simply for my own sanity and mental well-being, so the fact that it's being recognised by so many young people globally and industry-wise is insane to me. And I'm humble and grateful for it."
The late Warren Costello was honoured with the 2022 Outstanding Achievement Award, being recognised for his more than 30 years spent supporting independent artists and labels, including time spent as the managing director for Liberation Music.

## Performances

* Jesswar
* Telenova
* Teenage Joans
* Jaguar Jonze
* Andrew Swift
reference:

## Nominees and winners
### AIR Awards

Winners indicated in boldface, with other nominees in plain.
| Independent Album of the Year | Independent Song of the Year |
| Genesis Owusu - Smiling with No Teeth Amyl and the Sniffers - Comfort to Me Courtney Barnett - Things Take Time, Take Time Liz Stringer – First Time Really Feeling The Jungle Giants - Love Signs | Genesis Owusu - "Smiling with No Teeth" Casey Barnes – "God Took His Time on You" Jaguar Jonze – "Who Died and Made You King?" King Stingray – "Get Me Out" Vance Joy – "Missing Piece" |
| Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year | Best Independent Blues and Roots Album or EP |
| Telenova Maple Glider Martha Marlow Milan Ring Teenage Joans | Liz Stringer – First Time Really Feeling Angus & Julia Stone – Life Is Strange Maple Glider - To Enjoy Is the Only Thing Martha Marlow - Medicine Man The Teskey Brothers with Orchestra Victoria – Live at Hamer Hall |
| Best Independent Children's Album or EP | Best Independent Classical Album or EP |
| The Wiggles - Lullabies with Love Diver City - Dance Silly Spotty Kites - Easter Songs for Kids Tiptoe Giants - Outside Time (My Favourite Time of Day) The Beanies - Let's Go! | Genevieve Lacey and Marshall McGuire - Bower Australian Chamber Orchestra and Richard Tognetti - River Grigoryan Brothers - This Is Us: A Musical Reflection of Australia Mirusia - Live in Concert Nat Bartsch - Hope |
| Best Independent Country Album or EP | Best Independent Dance or Electronica Album or EP |
| Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham - The Song Club Andrew Swift - The Art of Letting Go Georgia State Line - In Colour Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band - Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band The Wolfe Brothers - Kids on Cassette | Flight Facilities - Forever June Jones – Leafcutter Kučka - Wrestling Pretty Girl – Middle Ground Telenova – Tranquilize (Remixes) |
| Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single | Best Independent Heavy Album or EP |
| Shouse – "Love Tonight" (David Guetta remix) Alice Ivy and Sycco – "Weakness" Confidence Man - "Holiday" June Jones - "Home" PNAU featuring Budjerah - "Stranger Love" | Wolf & Cub - Dusk At The Watagan Forest Motel LORD - Undercovers Vol.1 Mirrors - The Ego's Weight Twelve Foot Ninja - Vengeance Void of Vision - Chronicles I: Lust |
| Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP | Best Independent Jazz Album or EP |
| Genesis Owusu - Smiling with No Teeth Chillinit - Family Ties Jesswar - Tropixx Kobie Dee - Gratitude Over Pity St Christoph & Shaade - No Pressure | Hiatus Kaiyote - Mood Valiant Baby et Lulu - Album Trois Hilary Geddes Quartet - Parkside Joseph Tawadros - Hope in an Empty City Sam Anning - Oaatchapai |
| Best Independent Pop Album or EP | Best Independent Punk Album or EP |
| Big Scary - Daisy Imogen Clark - Bastards Ngaiire - 3 The Jungle Giants - Love Signs The Rubens - 0202 | Amyl and the Sniffers - Comfort to Me DZ Deathrays - Positive Rising: Part 2 Loser - All The Rage Mod Con - Modern Condition RedHook - Bad Decisions |
| Best Independent Rock Album or EP | Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or EP |
| Courtney Barnett - Things Take Time, Take Time Hard-Ons - I'm Sorry Sir, That Riff's Been Taken Hayley Mary - The Drip Jimmy Barnes - Flesh and Blood Mike Noga - Open Fire | Emma Donovan & the Putbacks - Under These Streets Liyah Knight - The Travellers Guide Milan Ring - I'm Feeling Hopeful Parvyn - Sa The Soul Movers - Evolution |
| Independent Label of the Year | Outstanding Achievement Award |
| I OH YOU ABC Music Ivy League Records Metropolitan Groove Merchants Milk! Records | Warren Costello |