Björk, Avelino, and Hospital Records were among the big winners at the 2023 AIM (Association of Independent Music) Awards, which took place at London’s Roundhouse last night (September 26).
Celebrating the best of the independent music scene, the 2023 AIM Awards saw a raft of the most innovative and influential figures from across the sector come together to honour the year’s achievements.
Making her first personal appearance at an awards ceremony since the 2012 Webbys, Björk received AIM’s publicly-voted award for Best Live Performer.
“I’m incredibly honoured and grateful to have been chosen by the fans as the best live performer,” she said. “I have been singing at concerts since I was a child and the audience’s presence merging with mine has given me many of the most rewarding moments of my life… Shout out to One Little Independent and shout out to independent labels. Come on, we got this!”
Avelino was named winner of Best Independent Album in association with Spotify, for his debut album God Save The Streets. Collecting his award, he made an impassioned speech about the lives that have been lost on the streets of London and across the UK.
“This is far deeper than thousands of sales, it’s about thousands of lives at stake on the streets of London and up and down the UK…” he said. “To all the children in the trenches and to all my brothers and sisters out there trying to get through this madness, I hope you realise that rock bottom is only the stepping-stone onto bigger and better things. God bless everyone and God save the streets.”
RAYE and 070 Shake also won big as viral Escapism (Human Re Sources) was crowned Best Independent Track in association with Meta.
Speaking via video, RAYE said: ““Moments like this you work really hard for and I’m just sending all my gratitude. Congrats to all the other independent artists doing it. Being independent is definitely one of the hardest things but it’s so creatively liberating too.”
Best Creative Campaign, in association with Able, was won by Partisan Records for Ezra Collective'sWhere I'm Meant to Be campaign, with the newly-crowned Mercury Prize-winners collecting the trophy in person.
British-Lebanese rapper/producer Laughta, meanwhile, picked up the One to Watch in association with BBC Music Introducing award, following a show-stopping live performance.
The PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist was awarded to Domino Records’ indie outfit Wet Leg. Rapper and songwriter ENNY took home the award for Best Independent EP / Mixtape supported by BBC 1Xtra forWe Go Again (FAMM).
Hospital Records were crowned 2023's Best Independent Label, celebrating almost three decades leading the charge for drum and bass, boasting an impressive roster including London Elektricity, Nu:Tone, Flava D and P Money & Whiney.
Music Entrepreneur of the Year was awarded to Caius Pawson, founder of Young, who has supported the careers of The xx, FKA twigs and Sampha. Brighton-based record store Resident Music collected the award for ‘Independent Champion’ in association with Downtown
Erol Alkan took to the stage to accept Outstanding Contribution to Music in association with Merlin on behalf of Soulwax – with brothers David and Stephen Dewaele appearing by video.
The ceremony also featured a live performance by P Money & Whiney, as the duo delivered their powerful blend of grime & drum and bass.
AIM CEO Silvia Montello said of the evening: "The AIM Awards are always about more than celebrating the nominees, winners and attendees in the room; they celebrate everyone across our varied and diverse rights-holder community throughout the regions and nations. From the founders and long-established labels who’ve defined our sector right through to those forming the future independents. From the entrepreneurs driving new creative businesses to the artists carving out their independent journey. AIM celebrates the legends, visionaries, innovators, and all the creative talent who continue to keep our UK's vibrant independent music community the envy of the world.”
Nominees & Winners:
Best Independent Album in association with Spotify
Avelino - God Save The Streets (More Music Records/ OddChild Music) WINNER
Kelela - Raven (Warp Records)
Little Simz - No Thank You (Forever Living Originals)
Nova Twins - Supernova (Marshall Records)
Obongjayar - Some Nights I Dream of Doors (September Recordings)
Oliver Sim - Hideous Bastard (Young)
RAYE - My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources)
Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl (Dirty Hit)
Shygirl - Nymph (Because Music)
Wu-Lu - LOGGERHEAD (Warp Records)
Best Independent Track in association with Meta
Connie Constance - ‘Hurt You’ (Play It Again Sam)
ENNY - Charge It (FAMM)
Four Tet - ‘Three Drums’ (Text Records)
Makaya McCraven - ‘Dream Another’ (XL Recordings)
Overmono - ‘Good Lies’ (XL Recordings)
RAYE, 070 Shake - ‘Escapism’ (Human Re Sources) WINNER
Shygirl - ‘Shlut’ (Because Music)
Sudan Archives - ‘Selfish Soul’ (Stones Throw Records)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - ‘Spitting Off The Edge of The World’ feat. Perfume Genius (Secretly Canadian)
Yves Tumor - ‘Echolalia’ (Warp Records)
UK Independent Breakthrough
Ezra Collective (Partisan Records)
I.Jordan (Ninja Tune)
Overmono (XL Recordings)
Shygirl (Because Music) WINNER
Suki Waterhouse (Sub Pop)
Best Live Performer
Björk: (One Little Independent) WINNER
PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist
AntsLive (Payday Records, Trademark Records)
John Summit (Off The Grid Records)
Surya Sen (Skint Records)
Vibe Chemistry (DnB Allstars Records)
Wet Leg (Domino Records) WINNER
Best Independent EP/ Mixtape in association with BBC 1Xtra
Bellah - ‘Adultsville’ (Base ‘N’ Rebulz X Marathon Music Group)
ENNY - ‘We Go Again’ (FAMM) WINNER
Jessica Winter - ‘Limerance’ (Lucky Number)
Saint Joshua - ‘EP2’ (Ditto Music)
yunè pinku - ‘BABYLON IX’ (PLATOON)
One To Watch in association with BBC Music Introducing
Jessica Winter (Lucky Number)
Juice Menace (Supernature)
FLOWEROVLOVE (FAE GRP)
Laughta (MDLBEAST) WINNER
Master Peace (PMR)
Best Creative Campaign in association with Able
Because Music (Shygirl - ‘Nymph’)
Dirty Hit (Rina Sawayama - ‘Hold The Girl’)
Human Re Sources (RAYE - ‘My 21st Century Blues’)
Ninja Tune (Young Fathers - ‘Heavy Heavy’)
Partisan Records (Ezra Collective - ‘Where I’m Meant To Be’) WINNER
XL Recordings (Yaeji - ‘With A Hammer’)
Best Independent Remix
Sega Bodega Remix (One Little Independent) - Björk - ‘Ovuke (feat. Shygirl)’
Soulwax Remix (Deewee / Because Music) - Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - ‘Cliche’
Nu:Tone Remix (Hospital Records) - GLXY - ‘Butterfly Effect (feat. Hugh Hardie & Visionobi)’ WINNER
Jamie XX remix (Young) - Oliver Sim - ‘GMT’
Boys Noize (Secretly Canadian) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - ‘Wolf’
Best Independent Video in association with Vevo
Ezra Collective - ‘No Confusion ft. Kojey Radical’ (Partisan Records)
Kelela - ‘Enough For Love’ (Warp Records)
Obongjayar - ‘I Wish It Was Me (Live)’ (September Recordings)
RAYE, 070 Shake - ‘Escapism.’ (Human Re Sources)
Wesley Joseph - ‘MONSOON’ (EEVILTWINN) WINNER
Outstanding Contribution to Music in association with Merlin
Stephen & David Dewaele - Soulwax / 2manydjs WINNER (Because Music / [PIAS])
Best Independent Label
Defected Records
Forever Living Originals
Hospital Records WINNER
One Little Independent
Transgressive
Best Boutique Label
Chess Club
Glasgow Underground
Houndstooth
Rough Bones WINNER
So Young Records
Music Entrepreneur of the Year
Alex Brees - Un:hurd
Caius Pawson - Young / Space WINNER
Jess Kangalee - Good Energy PR
Keturah Cummings - Forward Slash
Yasin El Ashrafi - HQ Familia
Independent Champion in association with Downtown
Jaguar Bingham
Resident Music WINNER
Cafe OTO
Innovator Award in association with Amazon Music
Dan Carey WINNER
Diversity Champion
Charisse Beaumont - Black Lives in Music WINNER