AIM’s Independent Music Awards are fast approaching with an eclectic list of labels and artists in the running.
Following the 15th anniversary edition last year, there’s a new look and feel this time (including that revamped logo) as AIM prepares to return to the London Roundhouse on September 22.
This year’s ceremony takes place under AIM’s 2026 theme of ‘Collective Strength’, recognising the networks, partnerships and communities behind the sector’s creative and commercial success.
“We’ve continued with our mission of inclusion for the Independent Music Awards by expanding our low-cost seating and making sure folks from out of town have some added benefit,” AIM CEO Gee Davy told Music Week.
Jim Legxacy and Fcukers lead the nominations with three each. There are also nods for Robyn, Geese, Jorja Smith, Romy, Nova Twins, Mitski, Bicep and Thundercat.
Fabio & Grooverider will receive the Innovation Award, while Outstanding Contribution winner Pauline Black, frontwoman of The Selector, will be performing at the ceremony.
Here, ahead of another big night for the indies, AIM’s Gee Davy previews the celebration and salutes the achievements of labels and artists from the sector…
Following its launch in 2011 as the AIM Independent Music Awards, how is the independents’ prize ceremony evolving at this point?
“For this year's Independent Music Awards, we did take that 15-year mark as a jumping-off point and think about, what's changing in the independent community and how can we best reflect that? And one of the big stories from my perspective of the last year is that it's become so much more apparent how long it takes to break an artist. That’s been very well known by those on the ground, but perhaps less well known by the general public. We've moved from a situation where it took perhaps two or three years for an artist to break, to a situation more like six to eight years. That's very difficult for artists, and it's very difficult for the businesses that invest in artists.
“So for this year's Independent Music Awards, we are [reflecting] the new realities for independence. We don't want to spoil what's really great about the event, but we did want to just recognise that shift in perspective. We’ve shaken up the event a little bit. We've done that in subtle ways with the new logo and the new look. But it's also really reflected in some of the nominations, and we have a new category for this year in the shape of the Best Catalogue Release.”
What was the thinking behind introducing that category?
“It's just really leaning into the reality that breaking an artist [takes longer]. We're now into redelivering music to audiences. We just wanted to highlight this year not just the importance of catalogue to building long-term businesses and to artists' long-term careers, which has always been the case, but more and more that catalogue comes at an earlier point in artist careers.”
I'm really delighted to see that there is this new generation of UK independent businesses coming through
Gee Davy
The nominations are (jointly) led by US electronic act Fcukers, who probably wouldn’t fit at many other music ceremonies. Does that show how unique the AIM event is in championing a range of music?
“Yeah, I really hope it's apparent to people that that's at the heart of the awards. When the awards was created, it was really because – I suppose similar to the AIM story – there was a feeling that the mixture of culture and commerce that independent music sits across wasn't being amply recognised elsewhere. There wasn't the opportunity for independent artists, and for businesses operating independently releasing music, to really be recognised for the impact that they were making. So really that's at the heart of the Independent Music Awards.
“I think this year, as much as any year, you'll see names at the Independent Music Awards that you wouldn't see at other award ceremonies. We want to recognise that breadth, and the community at large wants to recognise that breadth. It's really important to recognise that British music, and music released in Britain, is very broad and not just narrowly in a few different genres. It's really important to us that we have a moment of real inclusivity, so that artists and businesses that may not be well known and well understood elsewhere are really given a moment in the spotlight – as they should be for their cultural impact.”
Are Jorja Smith and FAMM a good example where you can recognise both the achievements of the artist and the label?
“Yeah, absolutely. It's very much part of our mission statement behind the awards. Jorja has had a really fantastic trajectory, and she's been in our lists in the past as well. At AIM, we've been following what she's been doing, so it's really great to see our tastemaker judges picking her up so strongly again this year. I just think she's such a great example of [an artist in] a genre that wasn't perhaps given much attention before. She's carved out a space, and FAMM being around her has really helped in that trajectory. It’s fantastic what she's achieved so far, and I’m very much hoping to see her there on the night.”
And her live career is going well, too, with an O2 Arena show next year...
“Absolutely, and she just keeps delivering such great music, there's no let up. She's had some absolute bangers, and this year is no exception.”
What would you say about the Best Independent Album category this year, with nominations for acts including Bicep, Fcukers, Geese, Mitski, Blawan, Nova Twins, Prostitute, Scaler, Robyn and Thundercat? There’s a strong international contingent but also no crossover with the Mercury Prize with your British nominees…
“I don't like to rag on anyone, but it’s been a bit challenging this year with the Mercurys because it does seem to have diminished its independent representation; hopefully, that re-emerges next year. The Mercury Prize has, alongside the Independent Music Awards, been a really key prize and a really key moment. Obviously, that prize only celebrates one winner. So the Independent Music Awards provides an opportunity for a much more broad championing of what's great in independent music. So it's brilliant to be able to continue to deliver the event. “
“[In the Independent Album category] it feels like there are more international artists this year. I get conflicted about this: on the one hand, it's brilliant to see, and it shows that independents can really find success with international artists, and at the same time, it would be great to see more British artists on the list.”
Pauline Black is an absolute legend and an incredible activist for women and breaking down interracial issues and barriers
Gee Davy
Is it important that the Independent Breakthrough category features a range of labels, from Domino and Ninja Tune to Daptone, Believe and +1?
“Yes, this is one of the areas that does really follow on from what we were seeing last year. Last year I was saying it felt like there was a wave of new entrants, people we hadn't seen in the lists at the Independent Music Awards before. We're seeing the same again this year, so I'm really delighted to see that there is this new generation of UK independent businesses coming through. The artists that they're working with are really driving that success – there are new [artist] names on that list as well. We are seeing more of a spread of success, it’s a bit of a broader list this year.
“For most of the artist-focused categories, we rely heavily on our tastemaker judging panel, where we pull in judges from across radio, press titles and influential online sites as well. So we are slightly in the hands of our judges for some of this, and it's very interesting to see the way things change over time. We're continuing to see the broadening of genres. Jorja Smith's a great example: I don't think we saw much in the R&B space until a few years ago. Jalen Ngonda as well with the rise of soul coming back through, and there's a bit of a guitar lean as well this year. But you'd be hard-pressed to pick out a particular genre trend. Part of that, no doubt, is the consumption – everyone's got very broad in their listening habits. Part of it is the spread of success, and it's certainly a fantastic flourishing of the next gen of UK independent music businesses.”
Is it encouraging to see the longevity of companies represented this year, including Cooking Vinyl marking 40 years and Because celebrating 20 years?
“It’s absolutely brilliant to have those labels celebrating some really big milestones on the list. We've really got everything, that's what's really apparent to me in this year’s nominee list. You've got everything from the 40-year-old and 20 year-old labels with those very big milestones, and artists who've had quite a long career already – with Robyn really standing out for me among those – along with those from the new Best Catalogue Release category. It goes all the way through to our Best Boutique Label list, so it’s great to see that even labels at that smaller scale can get through to the nominees list for the Independent Music Awards.”
Finally, have you completed your performer line-up, will it be a big celebration with the main performance?
“It’s going to be fantastic. All the performers are now confirmed. The last time we had our Outstanding Contribution winner performing at the awards was a good few years ago. So we’re very excited to see Pauline Black on stage, not just a great performer, she’s an absolute legend and an incredible activist for women and breaking down interracial issues and barriers. She is just a wonderful woman and wonderful artist – it will be great to see her performance on the night. Also, Jalen Ngonda has had real critical acclaim recently, he’s been on a phenomenal journey. He’s an international artist who’s moved to the UK and is really building his career in the UK. So that’s a fantastic UK success story as well as an international one. Naima Bock will be rounding out the performances. It should make for a fantastic evening.”
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