The AIM (Association of Independent Music) Independent Music Awards are set to return to London’s Roundhouse on September 26 2023.
Now in its 13th year, the Awards elebrate the achievements of independent artists, labels, entrepreneurs and other rightsholders that make up the UK’s independent music sector, which now accounts for a third of the UK recorded music market.
This year’s Awards will focus on recognising the independent music community, incorporating more exclusive live performances set to take place throughout the ceremony.
The 2023 Awards also features a newly streamlined list of categories. Returning categories include the Diversity Champion award, which was won last year by British multi-platinum artist Stormzy. 2022’s newly-established awards for Music Entrepreneur Of The Year and Best Independent EP / Mixtape also return for this year’s event. Submissions have now closed.
Last year saw the return of the Awards to the Roundhouse following the pandemic. Live performances included winners of the Special Recognition Award, The Libertines. Outstanding Contribution winner Lethal Bizzle also performed a set that featured iconic surprise guest appearances from both Giggs and JME. 2022 also saw Wet Leg (Domino Recording Company) take home the award for UK Independent Breakthrough (in association with YouTube Music), with Cleo Sol (Forever Living Originals) leaving with the award for Best Independent Album (in association with Spotify).
Other 2022 winners included Scotland’s TAAHLIAH with Best Independent EP/ Mixtape for ‘Angelica’, and Rina Sawayama, who walked away with the Innovator Award (in association with Amazon Music) and was one of Elton John’s surprise guests at his headline Glastonbury performance. London’s Rough Trade Recordings took home the award for Best Independent Label, having released music from the likes of Jockstrap, Black Midi and Dean Blunt.
Silvia Montello, CEO at AIM, commented: “This year’s Awards will be a celebration of the UK’s independent music community, and a recognition of the hard work and creativity we’ve seen over the past year from independent artists and the teams behind them. Today’s creators have more opportunities to have their music heard and find new audiences than ever before, and we are proud to see diversity and innovation thriving in UK music as a result, across independent label rosters, self-releasing artists and the rapidly growing DIY artist sector.”