Originally written by Sean Adams · 8 September 2015
The AIM awards 2015 take place tonight. Swot up on the nominees with our 60-song Spotify playlist.
You can follow the action over on our Instagram where the team from AIM will be helping us bring you snapshots and quick chats with various nominees and attendees. Hopefully we'll catch up with everyone from Skepta to Wolf Alice (Ellie from the band is pictured above) via Simon from Bella Union and the folks from Earache.
And if the below playlist which we ran a few weeks ago isn't enough, we've also put together a pilot for the new DiS Review Show podcast which features a lot about this year's AIM Awards, as well as a chat with Metric (who used to be signed to our independent label).
The AIM awards 2015 nominees have been revealed.
To celebrate the Independent Music awards, we've made you a 60-song Spotify playlist to guide you through this year's nominees. And if you show your support for independent music by tweeting it, you'll be entered into a special draw to win a Spotify premium subscription (we'll pick a winner on September 6th).
Tweet This Playlist to Win A Spotify Subscription
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Wait, what are these AIM Independent Music Awards of which you speak...?
They were set up by the Association of Independent Music (aka AIM) to celebrate the successes of labels as varied as Warp, Erased Tapes and XL. This year will be the 5th year of the awards. The ceremony takes place on September 8th at a boozy dinner bash in London. The sorts of people judging the awards included me alongside representatives from Radio 1 and 1Xtra, 6Music, XFM, The Quietus, Mixmag, The Independent, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, DIY and FACT Magazine.
And without further ado, here are this year's nominees...
AIM AWARDS 2015 NOMINEES
BEST SMALL LABEL
in association with Disc Manufacturing Services
Basick Records Erased Tapes Records High Focus Records Planet Mu Records Rocket Girl
INDEPENDENT ALBUM OF THE YEAR
in association with dotFans
Bjork – Vulnicura Enter Shikari – The Mindsweep Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear Ghostpoet – Shedding Skin Jme – Integrity The Bug – Angels & Devils The Charlatans – Modern Nature The Xcerts – There Is Only You Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool Young Fathers – White Men Are Black Men Too
“Hey indie record shops! You'll be getting some of these lovely posters through this week:) @recordstoreday @ERALTD pic.twitter.com/QhyDz3grCl— The AIM Awards 2015 (@AIMAwards) August 13, 2015”
BEST DIFFICULT SECOND ALBUM
in association with XFM
Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color Holly Herndon – Platform Nadine Shah – Fast Food The 2 Bears – The Night is Young Young Fathers – White Men Are Black Men Too
SPECIAL CATALOGUE RELEASE OF THE YEAR
in association with Amazon Music
Cities of Darkscorch Boardgame Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Inside the Pleasuredome Bjork – Coloured Vinyl Catalogue Reissue The Pretty Things – Bouquets From a Cloudy Sky Imogen Heap – Sparks (Deluxe Boxset) Oasis - (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? Reissue
“AIM Awards judges met to decide this yr's nominees today! Here they are checking out some Special Catalogue entries. pic.twitter.com/pN7BcDpP6K— The AIM Awards 2015 (@AIMAwards) July 2, 2015”
HARDEST WORKING BAND OR ARTIST
Courtney Barnett JME Little Comets Swans Young Fathers
“Nominated for 3 @AIMAwards!!!Hardest working slacker band, independent breakthrough & independent track of the year pic.twitter.com/pDjMz5NiS0— courtney barnett (@courtneymelba) August 13, 2015”
GOLDEN WELLY AWARD FOR BEST INDEPENDENT FESTIVAL
in association with AIF, voted for by readers of DIY
ArcTanGent Barn On The Farm Brainchild Festival Pete The Monkey Truck Festival
INDEPENDENT BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR
Courtney Barnett FKA twigs Run The Jewels Songhoy Blues Wolf Alice
INDIE CHAMPION
in association with CI
Camilla Pia - BBC 6 Music Marc Riley - BBC 6 Music Peter Guy - Getintothis Rupert Morrison - The Drift Record Shop Tim Burgess - Songwriter & O Genesis Music Ltd
INDEPENDENT VIDEO OF THE YEAR
in association with Vevo
Alt-J – Hunger Of The Pine Flying Lotus – Never Catch Me Ghostpoet – Sorry My Love, It’s You Not Me Ibeyi – River Son Lux – Change Is Everything
BEST LIVE ACT
in association with Jack Daniel's, voted for by visitors to Songkick
All Time Low Alt-J Erasure Thunder To Kill a King Twin Atlantic
INDEPENDENT TRACK OF THE YEAR
in association with Spotify
Alt-J – Every Other Freckle Courtney Barnett – Pedestrian at Best FKA twigs – Two Weeks Jamie XX – Loud Places LA Priest – Oino Major Lazer – Lean On Mogwai – Teenage Exorcists Neck Deep – Can’t Kick Up The Roots Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love Wiley – On A Level
PPL AWARD FOR MOST PLAYED NEW INDEPENDENT ACT
FKA twigs Ghetts Jungle Ward Thomas
INDEPENDENT LABEL OF THE YEAR
in association with Believe Digital
Epitaph Records Erased Tapes Records Heavenly Recordings Planet Mu Records Transgressive Records
Two of 2015's winners have already been decided by our esteemed judging panel, these will be awarded at the AIM Awards ceremony on 8th September.
PIONEER AWARD
in association with The Orchard
Digby Pearson - Earache Records
INNOVATOR AWARD
in association with Promostream
Peter Quicke, Matt Black & Jonathan More - Ninja Tune
“25 years of Ninja Tune: kicking it with the maverick trailblazers http://t.co/Jq24u7B8FW #innovatoraward— The AIM Awards 2015 (@AIMAwards) August 12, 2015”
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC
in association with Merlin
Skepta
“. @Skepta to receive AIM Outstanding Contribution Award | Music Week http://t.co/hwt8nenA50— The AIM Awards 2015 (@AIMAwards) August 17, 2015”
For more about the awards visit musicindie.com/awards