HOSTED BY RADIO 1 DJS MISTAJAM AND – FOR THE FIRST TIME – CLARA AMFO.

THE BREWERY, CLERKENWELL ON TUESDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER. 

The 7th annual AIM (Association of Independent Music) Awards will take place on Tuesday, 5 September, at The Brewery in Clerkenwell, London. This year, Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo will co-host the event with her fellow Radio 1 DJ, Mistajam.

“I’m honoured to be hosting this year’s AIM Awards alongside my fellow Radio 1 DJ MistaJam” commented Clara Amfo. “The ceremony is an important part of the music industry’s awards calendar and a true celebration for new and independent talent.” 

Every year the AIM Awards shines a spotlight on the music industry’s independent sector, saluting important figures and celebrating emerging talent well ahead of other industry awards. In 2016, a year before he topped the charts with his debut album, AIM gave grime star Stormzy its Innovator award; and in 2015, Skepta was handed AIM’s Outstanding Contribution to Music award, acknowledging his influential body of work and 10 years shaping and defining the grime genre with Boy Better Know.

As well as celebrating the sector’s biggest successes and championing emerging scenes, the AIM Awards also celebrates the exciting diversity and growing strength of the industry’s independent sector. Over the past seven years, new, grassroots talent has rubbed shoulders with internationally-established artists, making the AIM Awards the most distinct and wide-ranging awards event in the UK.

Artists and industry figures honoured by AIM include Björk, Adele, The Prodigy, Little Simz, Roisin Murphy, Enter Shikari, Wiley, Daniel Miller (Mute), Richie Hawtin, Billy Bragg, Martin Mills (Beggars Group), Christine And The Queens,  Geoff Travis (Rough Trade), alt-J, SBTRKT, 4AD, Hyperdub, Stormzy and Laurence Bell (Domino).

Lara Baker, AIM Awards organiser, said of this year’s event: “This will be the 7th year we’ve celebrated the outstanding talent and world-leading A&R of the UK’s independent sector, and, come September 5, we’ll be honouring another diverse and exciting list of incredible artists and labels. The UK independent sector is home to some of the world’s most exciting and innovative artists and entrepreneurs, working across every possible genre, and the AIM Awards is a special moment to come together and celebrate their success.” 

This year’s judging panel features leading figures from the industry. New names on this year’s panel include A.Dot (BBC 1Xtra), Alex Hoffman (Vice), Carl Loben (DJMag), Julie Adenuga (Beats1), Laura Snapes (Pitchfork, Guardian, Uncut), Matt Stocks (Scuzz TV), Maya Jama  (RinseFM) and Merlin Alderslade (Metal Hammer). 

Categories for the 2017 Awards: 
Best Small label
Best ‘Difficult' Second Album
Special Catalogue Release of the Year
Hardest Working Band or Artist
Golden Welly Award for Best Independent Festival
Independent Breakthrough of the Year
Indie Champion Award
Independent Video of the Year
Best Live Act
Independent Track of the Year
Innovator Award
Independent Album of the Year
PPL Award For Most Played New Independent Act
Independent Label of the Year
Outstanding Contribution to Music 
Pioneer Award

More information, including last year’s winners, tickets, tables and sponsorship packages can be found at www.musicindie.com/awards

AIM Awards 2017 sponsors and media partners: AIF, Amazon, Believe, DIY, FUGA, INgrooves, Music Week, The Orchard, PPL, Proper Music Distribution, Radio X, Songkick, Vevo, Youtube.