The Patton Oswalt-hosted event included performances by PLUG Award winners Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (PLUG Impact Award) and St. Vincent (Best Female Artist), along with sets by nominees Dizzee Rascal, Jose Gonzalez, The Forms, White Denim and DiVinci.

Another highlight of the event was the debut of the physical PLUG Award. Crafted by Oklahoma City-based artist Larry Dean Pickering, the intent of the piece is multi-layered. Its base represents strength and stability while the spire represents hope. The contrast between the two signifies the "leap of faith" taken in the pursuit of what is loved. The mirror serves the dual purpose of reflecting an image of the viewer and what's behind...the road traveled.

Winners of the PLUG 2008 Independent Music Awards are:

Album Of The Year
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (Merge)

New Artist Of The Year
Justice

Female Artist Of The Year
Annie Clark (St. Vincent)

Male Artist Of The Year
Andrew Bird

Indie Rock Album Of The Year
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam (Domino)

Americana Album Of The Year
Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog (Sub Pop)

Metal Album Of The Year
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works (Relapse)

Hip-Hop Album Of The Year
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass (Definitive Jux)

Punk Album Of The Year
Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta! (Side One Dummy)

Electronic/Dance Album Of The Year
Justice - † (Ed Banger/Vice)

DJ Album Of The Year
Hot Chip - DJ-Kicks (!K7)

Avant Album Of The Year
Liars - Liars (Mute)

Artist Of The Year
Radiohead

Song Of The Year
The National - "Fake Empire" - Boxer (Beggars Banquet)

Live Act Of The Year
Arcade Fire

Music Video Of The Year
Battles - "Atlas" (Warp)

Album Art/Packaging Of The Year
Menomena - Friend And Foe (Barsuk)

Label Of The Year
Merge

Live Music Venue Of The Year
Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)

Music Festival Of The Year
Coachella Valley Music Festival

Online Radio Station Of The Year
KCRW

Record Store Of The Year
Other Music (New York, NY)

Zine Of The Year
Wax Poetics

Online Record Store Of The Year
iTunes

College/Non-Comm Radio Station Of The Year
KEXP (Seattle, WA)

Specialty Show Of The Year (Commercial Radio)
Sirius: Left Of Center - Blog Radio (New York, NY)