Jorja Smith, Neneh Cherry, Sparks & More

Neneh Cherry and Sparks were among the honorees at the 2024 Association of Independent Music (AIM) Awards, which also saw big wins for Jorja Smith, Sampha, Pendulum and fast-rising electronic music producer Barry Can’t Swim. 

Held at London’s Roundhouse venue on Thursday (Oct. 17), the 14th edition of the annual awards show, which recognizes the achievements of the artists, labels, entrepreneurs and companies that make up the U.K.’s indie sector, saw Cherry presented with the innovator award in recognition of her trailblazing career and lasting influence.

“I guess it’s better to be a pioneer than an old bag,” joked Cherry while accepting her award. “I also want to say that, without the independent music community, I’m not sure where I would be. So peace and power to independent thought, independent music and all those who support it.”

This year’s outstanding contribution to music award was collected by U.S. pop rock duo Sparks, who used the occasion to announce that they have signed a global deal with Transgressive Records for their next studio album. The as-yet-untitled release, due next year, will be distributed by Firebird Label Services, marking the veteran band’s return to the indie music community after reuniting with Island Records for last year’s The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte studio set.

One of the night’s biggest prizes went to British R&B singer Smith, who won the best independent album award for her 2023 sophomore album, Falling or Flying, released through FAMM. Accepting the award via video, Smith, a 2019 Grammy nominee for best new artist, thanked U.K. production duo DAMEDAME* for their work on the album and her label “for believing in me from all these years ago to now.”

Singer-songwriter Sampha took home prizes for best independent track for last year’s “Spirit 2.0” and best independent video for “Only”; he also performed at the ceremony. Other live performances came from Heavenly Recordings-signed Lynks, punk rock act BEX and Manchester rapper OneDa, who received this year’s one to watch award.

Other prizes given out on the night included independent breakthrough, which went to electronic music producer Barry Can’t Swim (real name Joshua Mainnie), and the public-voted best live performer title, awarded to Pendulum.

Heavenly Recordings was named best independent label, while record shop Drift in Totnes, Devon was crowned the U.K.’s best independent record store. Music Venue Trust co-founders Mark Davyd and Beverley Whitrick were jointly honored as independent music champions for their work supporting grassroots music venues in the U.K.

Prior to Thursday’s ceremony, Afrobeats artist, producer and songwriter Silvastone, who has collaborated with the likes of Popcaan, Sneakbo, Bugzy Malone and Lady Leshurr, was announced as AIM’s 2024 diversity champion in recognition of his community work.

“This community never ceases to amaze me with its collective spirit in celebrating each other’s wins and recognising that we rise highest when we rise together,” said AIM’s interim CEO Gee Davy in a statement.

According to figures released earlier this year from U.K. labels trade body BPI, independently released songs and albums accounted for almost one-third of all music consumption in the U.K. in 2023, with the equivalent of more than 53 million independently released albums streamed or purchased across digital and physical formats. The U.K. is the world’s third-biggest recorded music market in IFPI’s annual rankings behind the U.S. and Japan.

Previous winners at the AIM Awards include Adele, Idles, Little Simz, Wet Leg, Stormzy, Dave, Arlo Parks and Christine and the Queens, all of whom were recognized by the association early in their careers, prior to enjoying mainstream success.

Here’s the full list of nominees and winners at the 2024 AIM Independent Music Awards:

UK Independent Breakthrough (in association with Amazon Music):

Bar Italia (Matador Records)

Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune) *WINNER*

CASISDEAD (XL Recordings)

Saint Harison (Tell Your Friends)

Wunderhorse (Communion Records)

Best Independent Album (in association with Spotify)

Actress – LXXXVIII (Ninja Tune)

ANOHNI and the Johnsons – My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross (Rough Trade Records)

Barry Can’t Swim – When Will We Land? (Ninja Tune)

D-Block Europe – Rolling Stone (EGA Distro)

Jorja Smith – falling or flying (FAMM) *WINNER*

Kim Gordon – The Collective (Matador Records)

Mount Kimbie  – The Sunset Violent (Warp Records)

Nabihah Iqbal  – Dreamer (Ninja Tune)

Nubiyan Twist – Find Your Flame (Strut Records)

Skrapz – Reflection (EGA Distro)

Best Independent Track (in association with Meta)

Amy Gadiaga – ‘All Black Everything’ (Jazz re:freshed)

CASISDEAD – ‘Venom’ (XL Recordings)

Ezra Collective – ‘Ajala’ (Partisan Records)

Fontaines DC – ‘Starburster’ (XL Recordings)

Hudson Mohawke & Nikki Nair – ‘Set The Roof’ (Warp Records)

Jorja Smith – ‘Little Things’ (FAMM)

KNEECAP, Grian Chatten – ‘Better Way To Live’ (Heavenly Recordings)

Matthew Halsall – ‘An Ever-Changing View’ (Gondwana Records)

NikNak – ‘1200RPM’ (Accidental Records)

Sampha – ‘Spirit 2.0’ (Young) *WINNER*

Best Independent Remix (in association with Notion)

The Egyptian Lover Remix – Sudan Archives – Freakalizer (Stones Throw Records)

Joy Anonymous Remix – Ezra Collective, Sampa The Great – JOY (Life Goes On) (Partisan Records) *WINNER*

L BEATS Mashup – Jorja Smith – Little Things x Gypsy Woman (FAMM)

Olof Dreijer Remix – Björk – Oral (feat. Rosalia) (One Little Independent)

P-rallel Remix –  Aluna, Jayda G – Mine O’ Mine (Mad Decent Under Exclusive Licence to Because Music)

Best Live Performer

Frank Turner (Xtra Mile Recordings)

KNEECAP (Heavenly Recordings)

Laura Misch (One Little Independent)

Pendulum (Mushroom Music) *WINNER*

RAYE (Human Re Sources)

One To Watch (in association with BBC Music Introducing)

Antony Szmierek (LAB Records)

Kitty Amor (Defected Records)

Lynks (Heavenly Recordings)

Miso Extra (Transgressive Records)

OneDa (Heavenly Recordings) *WINNER*

PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist

Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune)

Coach Party (Chess Club Records)

Far From Saints (Ignition Records) *WINNER*

Popeth (Recordiau Côsh Records)

Tom A. Smith (TYM Records)

Best Independent EP/Mixtape

George Riley – ‘Un/limited Love’ (Ninja Tune)

Headie One & K-Trap – ‘STRENGTH TO STRENGTH’ (One Records and Thousand8)

HONESTY – ‘BOX’ (Partisan Records)

JGrrey – ‘If Not Now?’ (PACE, a subsidiary of Marathon Music Group)

Potter Payper – ‘Thanks For Hating’ (EGA Distro) *WINNER*

Best Independent Video (in association with Vevo)

Gia Ford – Poolside (Chrysalis Records)

Khruangbin – A Love International (Dead Oceans)

Master Peace – I Might Be Fake feat. Georgia (PMR Records)

Mitski – My Love Mine All Mine (Dead Oceans)

Sampha – Only (Young) *WINNER*

Best Independent Label (in association with BBC Radio 6 Music)

Heavenly Recordings *WINNER*

Ninja Tune

Partisan Records

Sub Pop Records

Transgressive Records

Best Boutique Label (in association with Qobuz)

AD 93

Houndstooth

LAB Records

New Soil

Sonic Cathedral *WINNER*

Best Creative Campaign (in association with Able)

Chrysalis Records and BODEGA (‘Our Brand Could Be Yr Life’ )

Dead Oceans and Slowdive (‘everything are alive’ )

Lofi Girl – Identity Music (‘Snowman’)

Warp Records and Aphex Twin (‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a Room7 F760’) *WINNER*

Young and Sampha (‘LAHAI’ )

Best Independent Record Store

Drift *WINNER*

Honest Jon’s

Piccadilly

Rough Trade Bristol

Stranger Than Paradise Records

Music Entrepreneur of the Year

Andrew Batey (Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Beatdapp)

Atlanta Cobb (Founder & Director, Music Industry Mentor)

Colin Batsa (President and Chairman, EGA Distro)

Meg Carnie (Studio Manager / Co-Founder / Artist Manager – South Lanes Studios) *WINNER*

Tom Allen (President, Downtown Royalties and Financial Services, Downtown Music)

Diversity Champion

SILVASTONE *WINNER*

Independent Music Champion (in association with Downtown)

Music Venue Trust *WINNER*

Outstanding Contribution to Music (in association with Merlin)

Sparks *WINNER*

Innovator

Neneh Cherry *WINNER*