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AIM Independent Music Awards have announced the recipients of two awards: the legendary Edwyn Collins is set to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award and Mute founder Daniel Miller will receive the prestigious Pioneer Award.
All other winners will be unveiled at the AIM Independent Music Awards second ceremony which will be held at The Brewery in Clerkenwell on October 29th.
The AIM Independent Music Awards are very pleased to unveil this year’s Outstanding Contribution To Music and Pioneer Award recipients ahead of the second AIM Independent Music Awards taking place in London on October 29th.
Celebrating the incredible array of talent at the heart of the thriving independent music sector, the Awards will see renowned champions of credible music, BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq and BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens hosting the ceremony once again.
Recognizing a visionary independent label founder, the Pioneer Award sponsored by Nokia, this year goes to Mute’s Daniel Miller, one of the most influential figures in the history of electronic music.
After years of experimenting with synthesizers and electronic sounds, Miller founded Mute in 1978 releasing his first single Warm Leatherette as The Normal, which went on to sell a remarkable 40,000 copies in the UK.
Before long Daniel had signed Depeche Mode and produced the albums that would lead the band to become one of the biggest acts in the world and cement his position as a visionary independent music pioneer.
Mute went on to enjoy enormous commercial success, signing artists such as Yazoo, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Cabaret Voltaire, Moby, Sonic Youth, Wire and many more. Returning to Independence in 2010 under Miller’s guidance, Mute continues to thrive, nurturing an array of new talent and globally successful acts.
Daniel Miller said of winning the award: “I am very flattered and honoured to receive this award. It’s particularly special to be acknowledged by fellow independents.”
This year’s Outstanding Contribution to Music Award sponsored by eMusic has been awarded to Edwyn Collins, whose 36-year musical career has seen him write, record and produce some of the most influential music of the last three decades. As founder and frontman of guitar-pop pioneers Orange Juice, Collins enjoyed success with the Scottish band in the early 1980s before pursuing a solo career after the band broke up in 1985.
As well as writing, recording and performing as a solo artist, Collins has also worked as a producer with other artists including The Cribs, The Proclaimers and Little Barrie. Following a personal battle with illness in 2005, Collins went on to win the Ivors Inspiration Award in 2009 and released his latest album Losing Sleep in 2010 featuring collaborations with Johnny Marr, Roddy Frame, The Cribs Ryan Jarman and Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy.
Edywn Collins said: “How gracious of AIM to consider me, I’m most flattered. Thirty years of rock n’ roll independence! It’s where I started and I’m there yet. I think it’s the future, young people.”
Chairman and CEO of AIM, Alison Wenham said: “I have such admiration for both Daniel and Edwyn and congratulate them on winning our most coveted awards. They are survivors, they never give up, they are ridiculously talented, and they set a standard for others to follow. We wish them both a special evening with us at the AIM awards event on 29th October knowing they will be amongst their own people – indies who understand their special qualities and who will be as admiring and respectful of these two people as I am.”
The winners were decided by an expert panel of judges selected from across the music industry including such luminaries as Sean Adams (DrownedInSound), Tim Jonze (Guardian.co.uk), Ras Kwame (DJ), Pete Paphides (Music Journalist and Broadcaster), Paul Stokes (Associate Editor (Digital) Q), Luke Turner (Associate Editor, The Quietus) as well as AIM Independent Music Award hosts Huw Stephens (DJ, BBC Radio 1) and Steve Lamacq (DJ, BBC 6Music).
The 2012 categories in full:
• Best Live Act – For the best live act signed to an independent label, voted for by readers of The Fly
• Independent Album of the Year – For the year’s best independently released album
• Best ‘Difficult’ Second Album – The independent album that has built on the success and brilliance of a debut release
• Golden Welly Award for Best Independent Festival – Recognising the UK’s best independent festival
• Independent Breakthrough of the Year – For an artist that made serious waves in 2012
• Genre Spotlight Award – Recognising a great release in a niche or specialist genre
• Special Catalogue Release of the Year – For a catalogue release that offers something special
• Best Small Label – They’re not big (yet) but they are clever!
• Hardest Working Band or Artist – For a band or artist that demonstrates an admirable work ethic
• PPL Award for Most Played Independent Act – For the independent act most played in public and on radio
• Pioneer Award – Recognising a visionary independent label founder
• Outstanding Contribution to Music – For an artist who continues to influence and inspire with their work
• Independent Label of the Year – For a label that has had a truly brilliant year
• Independent Entrepreneur of the Year – For someone approaching the market in a smart and forward thinking way
• Indie Champion Award – For an individual who demonstrates unwavering support for the independent community
Voting for the Best Live Act Award, chosen by readers of The Fly and the Indie Champion Award, chosen by AIM member labels and visitors to the AIM website will be open from August 13-30.
Voting for the Golden Welly Award, chosen by readers of This is Fake DIY will be open from September 10-23.
Winners at the inaugural ceremony held last year included: Adele for Best ‘Difficult’ Second Album and the PPL Award for Most Played Independent Act, Bjork for Outstanding Contribution to Music Award, SBTRKT for Independent Breakthrough of the Year, Stolen Recordings for Best Small Label and Domino’s Laurence Bell, who received the Pioneer Award. A full list of winners is available at musicindie.com/awards
AIM is a not-for-profit trade body established in 1999 to represent the UK independent music industry. Now in its 10th year, AIM acts for over 90% of the independent market, with over 800 members from small start-ups to the largest and most respected independents in the world. AIM promotes this exciting and diverse sector globally, leveraging the sector’s power as a fifth major to enable its members to grow, grasp new opportunities and break into new markets.
AIM oversees an independent sector whose artists have claimed four Mercury Music Prizes in a row (2003 – 2006) and earned two thirds of all nominations between 2005 and 2008. Artists signed to UK Independents also scooped a quarter of all available prizes at the 2008 Brit Awards, with an independent-signed act grabbing “Best British Group” for the fourth year running. This confirms the sector’s undoubted lead in A&R.
The independent sector regularly accounts for 30% of all UK artist album awards (silver, gold, platinum/multi-platinum). In 2009, independent albums made up half of the 50 “best albums of the year” according to the UK music press, and independents claimed seven of the top 10 releases.