AIM Independent Music Awards
The AIM Independent Music Awards, hosted by the Association of Independent Music, began in 2011. It is established through a collection of independent record labels and providing service and support to independent and smaller artists and record labels globally, achieving recognition for their efforts and works. The AIM Independent Music Awards are also providing recipients with greater opportunities to further expand their careers and name in the music industry.
About
The Association of Independent Music
The Association of Independent Music is a non-profit organization initiated in March 1999 and the current AIM's CEO is Paul Pacifico which previously held titles as CEO of the Featured Artists' Coalition and President of the International Artists Organisation, a professor at the Berklee College of Music and also owns his own Independent music company. The trade body was initiated in order to represent smaller indie artists, bands and labels. The organization provides support, education, publicity and assistance to their members through music awards and festivals. The Association of Independent Music advocate"providing a collective voice for UK's independent music industry" and "supporting UK's independent music." The organisation has expanded and representing approximately eight hundred varying record labels, artists and companies of diverse sorts within the music industry. The organisation are also branching into other trade bodies, such as the Association of Independent Festivals.The Association of Independent Festivals
The Association of Independent Festivals are being a division of the AIM which are works with the direct aim of aiding independent festivals and labels. The aims of the Association of Independent Festivals is "represent, empower and provide a vital support network to independent festivals organizers." The trade body was initially founded in 2008 by DJ Robert John Gorham, more commonly known as Rob da Bank, and Bestival director Ben Turner. The body currently represents approximately fifty member events.Past winners and nominees
Winners and nominees in the 2010s
2011
- Best live act: Frank Turner
- Independent breakthrough of the year: SBTRKT
- Hardest working band or artist: Frank Turner
- Best difficult second album: Adele – 21
- Best small label: Stolen Recordings
- Independent entrepreneur of the year: Rob da Bank
- Most played independent act: Adele
- Innovative marketing campaign of the year: Ninja Tune
- Special catalogue release of the year: Matador Records – Matador at 21
- Indie champion award: John Robb – Louder than War
- Best independent festival: Bearded Theory
- Outstanding contribution to music: Bjork
- Pioneer award: Laurence Bell – Domino records
2012
- Best live act: The Prodigy
- Independent breakthrough of the year: Alt-J
- Hardest working band or artist: 65daysofstatic
- Best difficult second album: First Aid Kit – The Lion's Roar
- Independent album of the year: Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood of Colour
- Best small label: Black Butter Records
- Genre spotlight award: Wiley – Evolve or Be Extinct
- Independent entrepreneur of the year: Simon Raymonde – Bella Union
- Most played independent act: Adele
- Special catalogue release of the year: The 13th Floor Elevators – Music of the Spheres
- Independent label of the year: 4AD
- Indie champion award: Ian Evans – IME Music
- Best independent festival: LeeFest
- Outstanding contribution to music: Edwyn Collins
- Pioneer award: Daniel Miller – Mute Records
2015
2016
2017
- Pioneer Award: Steve Beckett
- Outstanding Contribution to Music: The Dillinger Escape Plan
- Innovator Award: Boy Better Know
- Independent Label of the Year: Because Music
- Independent Album of the Year: Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer
- Most Played New Independent Act: Stormzy
- Independent Video of the Year: DJ Shadow – "Nobody Speak"
- Independent Track of the Year: The xx – "On Hold"
- Indie Champion Award: Katie Riding and Joe Daniel
- Best Independent Festival: Lost Evenings
- Best Difficult Second Album: Jlin – Black Origami
- Special Catalogue Release of the Year: Lovely Creatures: The Best of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
- Hardest Working Group or Artist: Shao Dow
- Independent Breakthrough of the Year: Sampha
- Best Live Act: Counterfeit
- Best Small Label: Planet Mu
2018
- Independent Album of the Year: Nadine Shah – Holiday Destination
- Independent Track of the Year: Peggy Gou – "It Makes You Forget "
- Best Sophomore Release: Let's Eat Grandma – I'm All Ears
- UK Breakthrough of the Year: Jorja Smith
- International Breakthrough of the Year: Phoebe Bridgers
- Best Live Act: Erasure
- Hardest Working Group or Artist: Idles
- Outstanding Contribution to Music: Tracey Thorn
- Pioneer Award: Goldie
- Innovator Award: Sophie
- Best Creative Packaging: Black Sabbath – The Ten Year War
- Independent Label of the Year: Ninja Tune
- Best Small Label: Black Acre Records
- Indie Champion Award: Femi Adeyemi
- Most Played New Independent Act: Dave
- Independent Video of the Year: Novo Amor – "Birthplace"
2019 awards winners
- Best Live Act: Gerry Cinnamon
- Best Small Label: Scruff of the Neck
- Best Creative Packaging: Various Artists, handpicked and curated in collaboration with The Rolling Stones – Confessin' the Blues
- UK Independent Breakthrough: Idles
- Outstanding Contribution to Music: Debbie Harry
- Best Independent Album: Dave – Psychodrama
- Best Difficult Second Album: Idles – Joy as an Act of Resistance
- Most Played New Independent Artist: Freya Ridings
- International Breakthrough: Jade Bird
- Innovator Award: Allen Kovac
- Best Independent Video: Hot Chip – "Hungry Child"
- Best Independent Track: Dave – "Funky Friday"
- One to Watch: Georgia
- Best Independent Label: Partisan Records
- Pioneer Award: Johnny Marr
- Indie Champion: Charles Caldas
2020s winners and nominees
2020
- UK Independent Breakthrough: Moses Boyd
- Best Creative Packaging: Digga D – Double Tap Diaries
- Best Small Label: Speedy Wunderground
- Best Independent Remix: Lafawndah – Tourist X Nídia Rework
- One to Watch: Arlo Parks
- Best Independent Video: The Howl & the Hum – "The Only Boy Racer Left on the Island"
- Best Difficult Second Album: FKA twigs – Magdalene
- International Breakthrough: Yaeji
- Best Independent Album: Sarathy Korwar – More Arriving
- Best Live Act: Five Finger Death Punch
- Best Independent Track: Flying Lotus – "More"
- Best Independent Label: Jazz re:freshed
- Outstanding Contribution to Music: Tony Allen
- Most Played New Independent Artist: Freya Ridings
- Pioneer Award: Little Simz
- Innovator Award: AJ Tracey
- Special Recognition Award: Vince Clarke
- Indie Champion: Helen Smith
2021
- UK Independent Breakthrough: Arlo Parks
- International Breakthrough: Jayda G
- Best Independent Track: Enny – "Peng Black Girls"
- Best Independent Album: Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
- Best Second Album: Fontaines D.C. – A Hero's Death
- Best Independent Remix: Ela Minus – "megapunk"
- One to Watch: Enny
- Best Creative Packaging: Working Men's Club – Working Men's Club
- Best Independent Video: Wesley Joseph – "Thrilla"
- Best Independent Label: Forever Living Originals
- Best Small Label: Strut Records
- Most Played New Independent Artist: Lauv
- Best Live Act: Ben Böhmer
- Pioneer Award: Tricky
- Innovator Award: Adrian Sherwood
- Outstanding Contribution to Music: Joan Armatrading
- Indie Champion: Love Record Stores Day and Bandcamp
- Diversity Champion: Paulette Long
2022
2023
The 2023 AIM Independent Music Awards were presented on 26 September 2023 at the Roundhouse in London. The first set of nominees was announced on 19 July 2023. The rest of the nominees as well as the Best Live Performance and Diversity Champion recipients were announced on 23 August 2023.2024
The 2024 AIM Independent Music Awards were presented on 17 October 2024 at the Roundhouse in London. The first set of nominees was announced on 29 August 2024. The nominees for the remaining categories as well as the Diversity Champion recipient were announced on 1 October 2024.| UK Independent Breakthrough | One to Watch |
| |
| PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist | Music Entrepreneur of the Year |
| Best Boutique Label | Best Independent Label |
| Best Independent Track | Best Independent Album |
| Best Independent EP/Mixtape | Best Independent Video |
| Best Independent Remix | Best Creative Campaign |
| Best Live Performer | Best Independent Record Store |
| Diversity Champion | Innovator Award |
| Independent Champion | Outstanding Contribution to Music |