Final Nominees for Independent Music Awards revealed, nods for RAYE, Barry Can’t Swim and KNEECAP
‘Diversity Champion’ goes to renowned afrobeats artist Silvastone
Barry Can’t Swim now leads the pack, collecting a third nomination for ‘Most Played New Independent Artist’ alongside Coach Party, Far From Saints, Popeth, and Tom A. Smith
RAYE, KNEECAP, Frank Turner, Pendulum and Laura Misch receive nods for ‘Best Live Performer’
The Independent Music Awards have unveiled the final batch of nominees for 2024, as anticipation grows for the UK’s biggest night in independent music, taking place at London’s Roundhouse on 17 October.
Afrobeats artist, producer, songwriter and MOBO Award nominee Silvastone has been named ‘Diversity Champion’ in recognition of his commitment to his local community in Croydon. As well as collaborating with the likes of Popcaan, Sneakbo, Bugzy Malone, Lady Leshurr, and others, Silvastone is a Youth Ambassador for the borough, delivering workshops to local schools to enable young people to discover and harness their creative talents.
The top 5 for the public-voted ‘Best Live Performer’ Award sees two previous Independent Music Award winners, RAYE (Human Re Sources) who recently performed at the Royal Albert Hall, plus folk singer-songwriter and outspoken champion for the live sector, Frank Turner (Xtra Mile Recordings). Also in the running are Belfast rap trio KNEECAP (Heavenly Recordings) fresh from their Glastonbury debut, singer and songwriter Laura Misch (One Little Independent), and electronic artist Pendulum (Mushroom Music). Public voting has now closed.
The shortlist for the PPL Award for ‘Most Played New Independent Artist’ features a third nod for Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune) — who is also up for ‘Best Independent Album’ and ‘UK Independent Breakthrough’. He is nominated alongside Coach Party (Chess Club Records), Far From Saints (Ignition Records), Popeth (Recordiau Côsh Records) and Tom A. Smith (TYM Records).
Nominated for ‘Best Independent Label’ in association with BBC Radio 6 Music are Heavenly Recordings (whose roster includes ‘One To Watch’ nominees OneDa and Lynks, and ‘Best Independent Track’ nominees KNEECAP), Ninja Tune (home to double-nominee Barry Can’t Swim, plus Actress and George Riley up for Best Independent Album and Best Independent EP/Mixtape respectively), Partisan Records (with Ezra Collective in the running for ‘Best Independent Track’ and HONESTY for ‘Best Independent EP/Mixtape’), Seattle’s Sub Pop Records, and Transgressive Records (home to ‘One To Watch’ Miso Extra).
AIM has unveiled a new category for 2024 — ‘Best Independent Record Store’ — which aims to celebrate the crucial role independent retailers play, both as key commercial partners for the sector and as hubs for local music communities. The category’s first ever nominees are Drift in Totnes, Honest Jon's in London’s Ladbroke Grove, Manchester-based Piccadilly Records, Rough Trade Bristol, and Hackney’s Stranger Than Paradise Records. The award acknowledges the growth of independent record retailers to a 10 year high, as well as the ongoing resurgence of vinyl.
AIM has also revealed the shortlist for 'Best Creative Campaign', a category that shines a light on the innovation and creativity inherent in independent release campaigns. Chrysalis Records is nominated for supporting BODEGA’s 'Our Brand Could Be Yr Life', alongside Dead Oceans for Slowdive’s 'everything is alive'. Also recognised are Identity Music for Lofi Girl’s 'Snowman', Warp Records for Aphex Twin’s EP ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760’, and Young for Sampha’s 'LAHAI' album campaign.
The ‘Music Entrepreneur of the Year’ award highlights individuals who have shown considerable innovation within or for the independent community. This year’s nominees are Andrew Batey (co-founder and co-CEO of Beatdapp), Atlanta Cobb (Founder & Director of Music Industry Mentor), Colin Batsa (President and chairman of EGA Distro), Meg Carnie (Studio Manager, co-founder and Artist Manager at South Lanes Studios) and Tom Allen (President, Downtown Royalties and Financial Services at Downtown Music).
This year’s ‘Best Boutique Label’ (in association with Qobuz) nominee list sees innovators AD 93, home of Damsel Elysium and Joanne Robertson, and Houndstooth, whose roster covers world-class artists ranging from Call Super and SCALER. The shortlist also includes LAB Records (Antony Szmierek, BEKA, The K’s) , New Soil (Theon Cross, Tumi Mogorosi, Ill Considered), and Sonic Cathedral (Dot Allison, deary, Whitelands).
Finally, as anticipation reaches a peak, AIM also announces two of the artists lined up for exclusive and intimate live performances taking place throughout the ceremony. Singer-songwriter Sampha (Young), who is in the running for ‘Best Independent Video’ and ‘Best Independent Track’ will be adding his unique atmospheric sound to the evening. Manchester MC and ‘One to Watch’ nominee OneDa (Heavenly Recordings) will also be taking to the stage to showcase her signature blend of hip-hop and drum and bass.
BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, presenter of the flagship New Music Show, will host the ceremony.
AIM interim CEO, Gee Davy, said: “We are excited to share a further round of nominees, announce Silvastone as this year's Diversity Champion in recognition of his incredible generosity of spirit in his work with young people in Croydon, and reveal Sampha and OneDa as performers for 2024's Independent Music Awards. We're looking forward to a glorious night celebrating the growing success and creativity of the independent music community.”
Newly announced AIM Independent Music Awards 2024 winners:
Diversity Champion
Silvastone
Newly announced AIM Independent Music Awards 2024 nominees:
Best Independent Label (in association with BBC Radio 6 Music)
Heavenly Recordings
Ninja Tune
Partisan Records
Sub Pop Records
Transgressive Records
Best Creative Campaign
Chrysalis Records (BODEGA, 'Our Brand Could Be Yr Life' )
Dead Oceans (Slowdive, 'everything is alive' )
Lofi Girl – Identity Music ('Snowman')
Warp Records (Aphex Twin, ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760’)
Young (Sampha, 'LAHAI' )
Best Live Performer
Frank Turner (Xtra Mile Recordings)
KNEECAP (Heavenly Recordings)
Laura Misch (One Little Independent)
Pendulum (Mushroom Music)
RAYE (Human Re Sources)
Best Boutique Label (in association with Qobuz)
AD 93
Houndstooth
LAB Records
New Soil
Sonic Cathedral
PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist
Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune)
Coach Party (Chess Club Records)
Far From Saints (Ignition Records)
Popeth (Recordiau Côsh Records)
Tom A. Smith (TYM Records)
Best Independent Record Store
Drift
Honest Jon's
Piccadilly
Rough Trade Bristol
Stranger Than Paradise Records
Music Entrepreneur of the Year
Andrew Batey (Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Beatdapp)
Atlanta Cobb (Founder & Director, Music Industry Mentor)
Colin Batsa (President and Chairman, EGA Distro)
Meg Carnie (Studio Manager / Co-Founder / Artist Manager - South Lanes Studios)
Tom Allen (President, Downtown Royalties and Financial Services, Downtown Music)
Previously announced AIM Independent Music Awards 2024 nominees:
Best Independent Album (in association with Spotify)
Actress - LXXXVIII (Ninja Tune)
ANOHNI and the Johnsons - My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross (Rough Trade Records)
Barry Can’t Swim - When Will We Land? (Ninja Tune)
D-Block Europe - Rolling Stone (EGA Distro)
Jorja Smith - falling or flying (FAMM)
Kim Gordon - The Collective (Matador Records)
Mount Kimbie - The Sunset Violent (Warp Records)
Nabihah Iqbal - Dreamer (Ninja Tune)
Nubiyan Twist - Find Your Flame (Strut Records)
Skrapz - Reflection (EGA Distro)
Best Independent Remix
The Egyptian Lover Remix - Sudan Archives - Freakalizer (Stones Throw Records)
Joy Anonymous Remix - Ezra Collective, Sampa The Great - JOY (Life Goes On) (Partisan Records)
L BEATS Mashup - Jorja Smith - Little Things x Gypsy Woman (FAMM)
Olof Dreijer Remix - Björk - Oral (feat. Rosalia) (One Little Independent)
P-rallel Remix - Aluna, Jayda G - Mine O’ Mine (Mad Decent Under Exclusive Licence to Because Music)
One To Watch (in association with BBC Music Introducing)
Antony Szmierek (LAB Records)
Kitty Amor (Defected Records)
Lynks (Heavenly Recordings)
Miso Extra (Transgressive Records)
OneDa (Heavenly Recordings)
Best Independent Track (in association with Meta)
Amy Gadiaga - ‘All Black Everything’ (Jazz re:freshed)
CASISDEAD - ‘Venom’ (XL Recordings)
Ezra Collective - ‘Ajala’ (Partisan Records)
Fontaines DC - ‘Starburster’ (XL Recordings)
Hudson Mohawke & Nikki Nair - ‘Set The Roof’ (Warp Records)
Jorja Smith - ‘Little Things’ (FAMM)
KNEECAP, Grian Chatten - ‘Better Way To Live’ (Heavenly Recordings)
Matthew Halsall - ‘An Ever Changing View’ (Gondwana Records)
NikNak - ‘1200RPM’ (Accidental Records)
Sampha - ‘Spirit 2.0’ (Young)
Best Independent EP/Mixtape
George Riley - ‘Un/limited Love’ (Ninja Tune)
Headie One & K-Trap - ‘STRENGTH TO STRENGTH’ (One Records and Thousand8)
HONESTY - ‘BOX’ (Partisan Records)
JGrrey - ‘If Not Now?’ (PACE, a subsidiary of Marathon Music Group)
Potter Payper - ‘Thanks For Hating’ (EGA Distro)
UK Independent Breakthrough (in association with Amazon Music)
Bar Italia (Matador Records)
Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune)
CASISDEAD (XL Recordings)
Saint Harison (Tell Your Friends)
Wunderhorse (Communion Records)
Best Independent Video (in association with Vevo)
Gia Ford - Poolside (Chrysalis Records)
Khruangbin - A Love International (Dead Oceans)
Master Peace - I Might Be Fake feat. Georgia (PMR Records)
Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine (Dead Oceans)
Sampha - Only (Young)
About AIM
AIM is the not-for-profit organisation representing and supporting the UK’s independent music sector and community, which makes up more than a third of the UK’s recorded music market alone. Now in its 26th year, AIM’s 1000+ members range from the largest, most respected independent record labels and associated music businesses in the world to self-releasing artists and the next generation of entrepreneurs in music. These include 4AD, Black Acre, Because Music, Beggars Group, Chrysalis / Blue Raincoat, CTRL Music, Domino Recording Co, Finesse Foreva, Hospital Records, HQ Familia, The Leaf Label, London Recordings, Ninja Tune, Numbers, Partisan, Transgressive, Scruff of the Neck, Secretly Canadian, Stones Throw, Supernature, Warp, and XL Recordings.
AIM’s regular ‘Ahead of the Curve’ sessions were the first of their kind in the sector, bringing together music and technology professionals, businesses and projects for meaningful engagement. AIM provides continuing professional development and insight sessions on a range of subjects throughout the year through the AIM Academy brand - with webinars, in-person training and networking - and through AIM’s conference programme: AIM Connected, AIM Sync and AIM’s Future Independents. AIM supports the wider music community through its new AI-driven platform, the Knowledge Space, currently in rollout across the industry.
AIM champions the talent and innovation in the independent music community at its annual Independent Music Awards, which will be back at the Roundhouse in London for 2024 on October 17th, recognising global success and the best emerging talent in the industry, with the help of key media partners including the BBC.
AIM exists to level the playing field for the UK’s independent music businesses and entrepreneurs - the beating heart of music. No matter their genre, their background, how much money they have, how they identify or their location, AIM provides access to the knowledge and contacts creative entrepreneurs need to create, build and win. AIM supports its members, not only through the difficult times, but also on a day-to-day level with practical support that makes a real difference to their lives and work, helping them take their business to the next level.