It was a successful night for XL Recordings at the AIM Independent Music Awards, as the label and star act Fontaines DC both won big.
Following their triumph at the Music Week Awards earlier this year – where Fontaines DC co-manager Ian McAndrew also won The Strat – XL won Best Independent Label at last night’s event, while Fontaines DC took home the award for Best Independent Album.
The show took place at The Roundhouse in London, where Gilles Peterson was honoured as the winner of Outstanding Contribution To Music, Cosey Fanni Tutti received the Innovator Award and Key Production Group and Moving The Needle founder Karen Emanuel was named Entrepreneur Of The Year. This follows her Businesswoman Of The Year win at last year’s Music Week Women In Music Awards.
Last night highlighted the breadth of talent across the sector, and the passion that keeps it thriving
Gee Davy, AIM
Ezra Collective won Best Independent Track for Yazmin Lacey collaboration God Gave Me Feet For Dancing, while Bon Iver and label Jagjaguwar won Best Creative Campaign and Corto.alto won UK Independent Breakthrough.
Elsewhere, MRCY won Best Independent EP/Mixtape, Boy Harsher claimed Best Independent Remix and Bricknasty won Best Independent Video.
The One To Watch section was won by BINA, with the public-voted Best Live Performer trophy going to Shed Seven and Popeth winning the PPL Award for Most Played New Artist.
Best Boutique Label went to AD 93, Bandcamp was recognised as Independent Music Champion and ESEA Music received the DEI Champion award. Best Independent Record Store went to Bury shop Wax & Beans.
Performers on the night included Moonchild Sanelly, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Coach Party and MRCY.
AIM CEO Gee Davy hailed the evening as “an unforgettable celebration of the creative freedom, resilience, and innovative spirit that has always defined the independent music community.”
Davy, who features in the new edition of Music Week, added: “This fearless innovation is seen in everything from Cosey Fanni Tutti’s pioneering art and enterprise, Fontaines D.C.’s uncompromising music, Ezra Collective’s unfolding excellence, XL Recordings’ unwavering support for artists, ESEA's inspiring advocacy, Karen Emanuel's ethical and inclusive entrepreneurship, Gilles Peterson's boundary-pushing passion, and the unending dedication to platforming talent of Wax & Beans and Bandcamp.”
“The night highlighted the breadth of talent across the sector, and the passion that keeps it thriving,” Davy signed off. “It was a joyous occasion and a reminder of the continued importance of the independent music sector as the epicentre of creative freedom.”
Read our full interview with Davy online here.
PHOTO: Sam Verdi
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