Fabio & Grooverider will receive the Innovator Award at this year's AIM Independent Music Awards.
The DJ duo will be honoured at next month's event in recognition of their contribution to UK music and dance culture, including their integral role in the evolution of drum & bass and jungle.
“We're incredibly proud to be receiving the Innovator Award," said Fabio & Grooverider. "We've spent our lives pushing this music forward, breaking boundaries and staying true to what we believe in, so to be recognised for that journey means a lot to us!”
AIM (Association of Independent Music) has also revealed the final wave of nominees for the 2026 awards, which take place at London's Roundhouse on Tuesday, September 22.
Because Music, Dead Oceans, FAMM, Ninja Tune and Tru Thoughts are nominated for Best Independent Label, while Big Scary Monsters, Black Acre, TLD Records, Sweardown and Untitled (recs) compete for Best Boutique Label.
The Best Release Campaign category sees Partisan Records nominated for Geese's Getting Killed, alongside Ourness/Believe for Genesis Owusu's Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge, Steel City Dance Disks for Kettama's Archangel, Dead Oceans for Mitski's Nothing's About To Happen to Me, and Domino Recording Co for Wet Leg's Moisturizer.
Elsewhere, the publicly nominated Best Independent Record Store category features Applestump Records in Nantwich, Jacaranda Records in Liverpool, Just Dropped In Records in Coventry, Ignite Record Store in Birmingham and Slow Century Records in Solihull.
AIM is delighted to recognise Fabio and Grooverider's pioneering music and careers, and their impact on generations of fans
Gee Davy, AIM
Shortlisted in the Best Live Performer category – also publicly voted – are Amelia Coburn (Quiet Crown), Billy Lockett (Lockett Records), High Fade (RPN Records), Katherine Priddy (Cooking Vinyl) and The Molotovs (Marshall Records).
And the nominations for the newly-introduced Best Catalogue Release category include Cooking Vinyl for The Alan Parsons Project's I Robot, Stones Throw for Haruomi Hosono's Tropical Dandy, 4AD for the 2025 Remaster of Gala by Lush, London Records for Orbital – The Brown Album, and Cherry Red Recordsfor Chameleon – The Very Best of Toyah.
In addition, the PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist shortlist features Bees & Honey, Beyond Chicago, Clementine Douglas, Jim Legxacy and Poppy Baskcomb, with Jim Legxacy now receiving three nominations across this year's awards, level with Fcukers (Ninja Tune) as 2026's joint-most nominated artist.
Plus, Best Independent Video recognises directors Léa Esmaili for Thundercat's She Knows Too Much ft. Mac Miller (Brainfeeder), director Yorgos Lanthimos for Jerskin Fendrix's Beth's Farm (Untitled (recs)), Ocurens for Tinie Tempah, Skepsis and Carla Monroe's Eat It Up (Imhotep Records), Noel Paul for Mitski's Where's My Phone (Dead Oceans), and Zak Watson for Antony Szmierek's The Heron (Mushroom Music).
"AIM is delighted to recognise Fabio and Grooverider's pioneering music and careers, and their impact on generations of fans," said AIM CEO Gee Davy. "At the same time, recognising the importance of club culture to so many in the UK. The Independent Music Awards exists to spotlight many of those who contribute so much to UK's rich musical landscape and would otherwise go unnoticed – from independently owned record stores around the UK to the 'hidden high street businesses' that are local record labels, from the artistry of video directors to live performances and special catalogue releases.
"Though each category can only have one winner, we salute all of the nominees and the long list of submissions, all of them contributing to the collective strength of this exciting community. We thank our members, Friends, sponsors and partners for the support of the UK’s independent music community and have made these unique awards possible.”
PHOTO: Chelone Wolf
