Horst Weidenmüller to Posthumously Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2025 Libera Awards
Written by djfrosty on April 22, 2025
Horst Weidenmüller, founder of the pioneering Berlin-based label !K7 Music, will posthumously be presented with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Libera Awards on June 9 at Gotham Hall in New York City.
Weidenmüller died in February at age 60 following what was only described as “a long illness.” The award recognizes his visionary leadership, decades-long contributions to independent music, and his role in shaping the global electronic and experimental music landscape.
The Foundation for Independent Music (FIM) and The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) also announced the host and performers for the 2025 Libera Awards, which are presented by Merlin. The show will be hosted by Delisa Shannon, Billboard’s shortform content director, while performers include Latin pop artist Reyna Tropical, American music trailblazer Swamp Dogg, art-rock punk trio Ekko Astral and genre-bending singer-songwriter serpentwithfeet.
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But the posthumous presentation to Weidenmüller will likely be the emotional highlight of the event.
“Horst was a true trailblazer whose influence transcended borders and genres,” Dr. Richard James Burgess, president/CEO of A2IM, said in a statement. “Through !K7, he not only championed innovative and genre-defying music but also helped build the very infrastructure that so many independents rely on today. We’re honored to recognize his extraordinary legacy with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Through his work, both as an entrepreneur and as a long-standing board member of Merlin and IMPALA, Weidenmüller shaped and strengthened the global indie community. One of his proudest achievements was seeing !K7 become a certified B Corp last year.
“This Lifetime Achievement Award is not only a recognition of his extraordinary work — it’s a tribute to his spirit,” added Tom Nieuweboer, managing director at !K7. “It’s now our task to carry his legacy forward, with the same courage, clarity, and love for music that defined him.”
The accolade coincides with the upcoming 40th anniversary of !K7 Music, which Weidenmüller established in 1985. It’s his second major award in recent months. In December, prior to his death, Weidenmüller was recognized with the IMPALA Outstanding Contribution Award for his work in the European independent music sector.
The 14th annual Libera Awards ceremony features 28 categories celebrating the best in independent music, including leading artist nominees such as MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee and Jessica Pratt. Here’s the full nominations list.
Tickets are on sale now and open to the public.
The 2025 Libera Awards Presented by Merlin kicks off the annual Indie Week conference, which runs from June 10 to June 12 at the InterContinental New York Times Square.