Independent labels have a reason to celebrate. The Lumineers' "Cleopatra" tops the Billboard 200 chart this week. It sold 125,000 equivalent album units, including 108,000 traditional albums, on an indie label.
The album also earned a No. 1 on seven additional charts and features the single 'Ophelia', which set a record for the single week spin count at the AAA radio format (source Mediabase).
Released by Dualtone Records, now owned by indie distributor eOne, the phenomenal opening week of 'Cleopatra' represents the commercial strength of Independents. Over the past decade, Independent market share has grown to 34.4%, up by more than 10% percent.
"This fully independent team showcases the power and reach of all independents," said A2IM CEO Richard James Burgess. "Our community of music creators, and the teams that support them are known for, consistently, earning critical praise and sweeping prestigious awards for their work, and it's always gratifying to see them topping Billboard's most respected chart."
A2IM will recognize excellence across the Independent community with their 5th annual, and largest, Libera Awards to date, on Thursday, June 16, 2016 at New York City's Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom.