aaamusic | On 11, Nov 2011

The inaugural AIM Independent Music Awards took place last night in central London, hosted by BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq and Radio 1’s Huw Stephens.  Conceived to recognise and celebrate the artists, labels, companies and individuals at the heart of this thriving sector, the sold out event saw 13 awards bestowed to the great and the good of the independent sector. 

 Adele and Frank Turner both won 2 awards apiece whilst Bjork was the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award and Domino Recording Company’s founder Laurence Bell was the recipient of the Pioneer Award. 

 The evening saw performances from Frank Turner, Beardyman and James Yorkston and was a huge success, recognising genuine innovators in a sector that continues to challenge the mainstream, nurture talent and thrive even in the face of tests such as the recent fire at the SONYDADC warehouse which destroyed the stock of hundreds of independent labels.

 AIM Chairman and CEO Alison Wenham commented: “Our first awards show was beyond expectations. Everyone had a good time and the evening was blessed by great people in the room, great performances by Beardyman, James Yorkston and Frank Turner; it couldn’t have gone better.”

 AIM Independent Music Awards Winners In Full:

 Independent Entrepreneur of the Year (in association with The Orchard)

 Rob da Bank (Sunday Best Recordings / Bestival / Camp Bestival / AIF / Radio 1)

Best Difficult Second Album

’21’ – Adele (XL Recordings)

Catalogue Release of the Year (in association with Rovi)

‘Matador at 21’ – Various Artists – Matador Records

Best Small Label (in association with Sound Performance)

Stolen Recordings

Hardest Working Band or Artist (in association with Live Nation)

Frank Turner (Xtra Mile)

Innovative Marketing Campaign of the Year

Ninja Tune – ‘Ninja Tune XX’ campaign

Independent Breakthrough of the Year

SBTRKT (XL Recordings)

Indie Champion

John Robb, Louder Than War

Golden Welly Award for Best Independent Festival (in association with AIF and Virtual Festivals)

Bearded Theory

PPL Award for Most Played Independent Artist

Adele (XL Recordings)

Best Live Act (in association with Sailor Jerry, voted for by readers of The Fly)

Frank Turner (Xtra Mile)

Pioneer Award

Laurence Bell (Domino Recording Company)

Outstanding Contribution to Music (in association with eMusic)

Bjork (One Little Indian)