Nadia Khan, Founder of Women in CTRL, Appointed New AIM Chair

The Association of Independent Music (AIM), the non-profit trade body exclusively representing the UK’s independent music sector, has announced Nadia Khan, Founder of Womxn In CTRL, as its new Chair. 

Nadia Khan takes up the position with immediate effect and replaces Peter Quicke, Co-CEO of Ninja Tune. 

Nadia Khan has been working in the music industry for nearly 20 years. As a female entrepreneur, she is a pioneer in a traditionally male-dominated part of the business. She has led multiple record labels to Top 20 success independently, and her own label imprint CTRL Records is focused on spotlighting female talent, releasing the likes of Lady Lykez, Laughta and Lisa Mercedez. Nadia is a passionate champion for diversity, equity and inclusion, and her work in promoting gender parity and representation has been widely recognised, not least through her induction into Music Week’s Women in Music Awards Roll of Honour list in 2018, of which AIM is a founding partner and proud supporter. 

Joining AIM with both Dench Records and CTRL Records, Nadia has been on the trade body’s board since 2017. 2020 saw Nadia launch ‘Womxn in CTRL’ – a platform to empower and connect women and minority genders across the industry with over 2000 members and growing. 

“In my ‘Seat at The Table’ report in 2020 for Womxn in CTRL I was shocked to see that there was only one Chair who was a womxn across the industry organisations we analysed, so I felt it was important to put myself forward for the role [as AIM’s Chair]” she said. 

“I hope in 2021 to see more womxn in the industry in senior positions and roles, and will continue my work to champion womxn in music.”

Of her new position, Nadia Khan continued: “I’m honoured to be the new Chair of AIM and to be working more closely with CEO Paul and the AIM team. I’ve been an active Board Member over the last few years, andtook part in creating the new job role of Entrepreneurship & Outreach Manager, welcoming Ben Wynter into this position to help AIM reach and support communities which have been historically under-represented within the membership. I have more ideas to bring to the table, and look forward to continuing to make positive change.”

Outgoing Chair, Peter Quicke, played an active part in driving change during his time in the role, highlighting the need for the music industry to respond to the global Climate Emergency, among many other issues. He commented: “It has been an honour being AIM Chair, and a great experience working with Paul, Gee and the whole AIM team. I’m very pleased to be handing over to Nadia, she is the perfect candidate for the next part of AIM’s journey - I’ve no doubt AIM will be stronger with her input.”

Paul Pacifico, CEO of AIM added: “Nadia brings a tremendous breadth and depth of contemporarymusic industry knowledge to the role of AIM Chair, as well as her clear commitment to social justice.It has already been a real privilege to work closely with Nadiato foster diversity and inclusion in the independent sector, and I’m excited by the opportunity to build further onthese foundations with her as AIM’s new Chair. 

“At AIM’s AGM last October, weannounced a new, free Associate Membership tier to level the playing field across the industry andexceeded the commitments we had made to further diversify our Board. Theseincludedmeeting both ofour updated Keychangepledges immediately,when our membership electeda diverse and majority female board. With Nadia as Chair, I look forward to AIM continuing to lead and exceed on our mission to foster a better, more meritocratic and inclusive music industry.”

About AIM? 

AIM is the not-for-profit trade body exclusively representing the UK’s independent music sector, which makes up a quarter of the recorded music market. Now in its?23rd?year, AIM’s members range from the largest, most respected record labels and associated music businesses in the world to self-releasing artists and the next generation of entrepreneurs in music. AIM promotes and supports this exciting and diverse sector globally and provides a range of services, commercial opportunities and practical help to members;?enabling them to innovate, grow and break into new markets.