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Nettwerk Founders Terry McBride and Mark Jowett to Be Honored at the 2026 Libera Awards
Nettwerk co-founders Terry McBride and Mark Jowett will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Libera Awards in New York.
Terry McBride and Mark Jowett will be recognized for a four-decade run that helped define the independent music business. The Nettwerk Music Group co-founders are set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Libera Awards on Monday, June 8, when the ceremony returns to Gotham Hall in New York City.
Now in its 15th year, the Libera Awards, officially presented by Merlin, are put on by the Foundation for Independent Music with support from the American Association of Independent Music. This year’s honor for McBride and Jowett lands as Nettwerk marks its 40th anniversary, a milestone that underscores just how long the company has been part of the independent sector’s infrastructure rather than its margins.
Ian Harrison, CEO of A2IM, framed the pair’s legacy in a statement that pointed to both their longevity and the breadth of their influence. “Terry and Mark have been true mavericks and innovators in the independent music sector the past 40 years,” he said. “Their tireless work supporting a diverse array of artists through their label, management, publishing and various non-profits has been an inspiration to generations of independent musicians and industry members. We are honored to recognize their extraordinary work with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”
McBride, as CEO, has long been associated with artist empowerment and early digital thinking, two ideas that have shaped the way modern indie companies present themselves. His résumé also reaches beyond Nettwerk. He co-founded Lilith Fair, the touring festival that raised more than $10 million for women’s charities, and has continued into wellness and industry advocacy work.
Jowett, meanwhile, has been central to Nettwerk’s expansion from a label into a global company with recorded music, artist management and publishing under the same roof. His influence runs through the careers of Sarah McLachlan, Coldplay, Avril Lavigne, Dido and Sum 41, while his broader industry footprint includes leadership roles with FACTOR, SOCAN and the Canadian Music Publishers Association.
The Libera Awards also announced four performers for the night, three of whom are nominated this year. Mdou Moctar, the Nigerian Tuareg guitar innovator, is up for best global record for Tears of Injustice on Matador Records. Valerie June will perform while nominated for best American roots record for Owls, Omens, and Oracles on Concord Records. Dawn Richard, a previous Libera Award winner, is also on the bill with her best R&B record nomination for “A Flex” on Merge Records. Eclectic synth-pop artist PORCHES rounds out the lineup.
This year’s ceremony will span 38 categories, including the first-ever independent record store of the year award. The top artist nominees are Oklou, Geese, Clipse, Hayley Williams and Wednesday.
Delisa Shannon, Billboard’s short form content director, will host again. Tickets start at $369.70 and are available at the A2IM site.
The awards will again serve as the launch point for Indie Week, which begins the following morning, Tuesday, June 9, and runs through Thursday, June 11, at the InterContinental New York Times Square.
