The AIM Independent Music Awards, hosted by the Association of Independent Music (commonly abbreviated to AIM), 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.
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 (commonly abbreviated to FAC)[1] and President of the International Artists Organisation (commonly abbreviated to IAO), a professor at the Berklee College of Music (the overseas campus in Valencia, Spain) and also owns his own Independent music company.[2] 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."[3] 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. [4]
The Association of Independent Festivals (commonly abbreviated to AIF) 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 (who is also founder of the annual Bestival music festival), and Bestival director Ben Turner. The body currently represents approximately fifty member events.
| The Association of Independent Festivals member events |
|---|
| A Boundless Summer - Borde Hill Garden |
| Adobe in the Park |
| ArcTanGent Festival |
| Barn On The Farm Festival |
| Belladrum Festival |
| Bestival |
| Blissfields Festival |
| Brecon Jazz Festival |
| Brownstock Music Festival |
| Camp Bestival |
| Common People |
| Eden Sessions |
| End of The Road |
| Fire in the Mountain |
| Isle of Wight Festival |
| Secret Garden Party |
| Tramlines Festival |
| 2000trees |
| Y Not Festival |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015[5] | |||
| Erased Tapes Records | Best Small Label | Won | |
| Young Fathers - White Men Are Black Men Too | Best Difficult Second Album | Won | |
| Cities of Darkscorch Boardgame | Special Catalogue Release of the Year | Won | |
| Swans | Hardest Working Band of Artist | Won | |
| Brainchild Festival | Golden Welly Award for Best Independent Festival | Won | |
| Wolf Alice | Independent Breakthrough of the Year | Won | |
| Marc Riley, BBC 6 Music | Indie Champion | Won | |
| Flying Lotus- 'Never Catch Me' | Independent Video of the Year | Won | |
| All Time Low | 'Best Live Act | Won | |
| FKA twigs - 'Two Weeks' | Independent Track of the Year | Won | |
| Jungle | PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Act | Won | |
| Enter Shikari - The Mindsweep | Independent Album of the Year | Won | |
| Transgressive Records | Independent Label of the Year | Won | |
| Digby Pearson | Pioneer Award | Won | |
| Peter Quicke, Matt Black and Jonathan More of Ninja Tune | Innovator Award | Won | |
| Skepta | Outstanding Contribution to Music | Won |
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016[6] | |||
| Numbers | Best Small Label | Won | |
| Daughter, Not to Disappear | Best Difficult Second Album | Won | |
| Slade, When Slade Rocked the World | Special Catalogue Release of the Year | Won | |
| Darren Hayman | Hardest Working Band/Artist | Won | |
| Brainchild Festival | Golden Welly Award for Best Independent Festival | Won | |
| Christine and the Queens | Independent Breakthrough of the Year | Won | |
| Jon Tolley | Indie Champion Award | Won | |
| Oscar - 'Sometimes' | Independent Video of the Year | Won | |
| Babymetal | Best Live Act | Won | |
| Adele - 'Hello' | Independent Track of the Year | Won | |
| Sigala | PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Act | Won | |
| Scott Gorham | Riff Lord Award | Won | |
| Stormzy | Innovator Award | Won | |
| Little Simz - A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons | Independent Album of the Year | Won | |
| Epitaph/ANTI | Independent Label of the Year | Won | |
| Róisín Murphy | Outstanding Contribution to Music | Won | |
| Richard Russell, XL Recordings | Pioneer Award | Won |
2017 awards winners
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2018 awards winners
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2019 awards winners
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2020 awards winners
|
2021 awards winners
|
| UK Independent Breakthrough | International Breakthrough |
|---|---|
|
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| Best Independent Track | Best Independent EP/Mixtape |
|
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| Best Independent Album | Best [Difficult] Second Album |
|
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| One to Watch | Best Independent Remix |
|
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| Best Creative Campaign | Best Independent Video |
|
|
| Music Entrepreneur of the Year | Most Played New Independent Artist |
|
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| Best Independent Label | Best Boutique Label |
| |
| Best Live Performer | |
| |
| Outstanding Contribution to Music | Independent Champion |
| Lethal Bizzle | Kenny Gates and Michel Lambot |
| Diversity Champion | Innovator |
| Stormzy | Rina Sawayama |
The 2023 AIM Independent Music Awards were presented on 26 September 2023 at the RoundhouseinLondon.[7] The first set of nominees were announced on 19 July 2023.[8][9][10] The rest of the nominees as well as the Best Live Performance and Diversity Champion recipients were announced on 23 August 2023.[11]
| 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 |
|
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| Best Independent Track | Best Independent Album |
|
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| Best Independent EP/ Mixtape | Best Independent Video |
|
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| Best Independent Remix | Best Creative Campaign |
|
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| Best Live Performance | Diversity Champion |
| |
| Independent Champion | Innovator Award |
|
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| Outstanding Contribution to Music | |
| |
