Today the Independent Music Awards have unveiled the final batch of nominees for 2024, as anticipation grows for the UK’s biggest night in independent music at London’s Roundhouse. On 17th October the immense achievements of the independent music community will be celebrated in style.

Afrobeats artist, producer, songwriter and MOBO Award nominee Silvastone has been named ‘Diversity Champion’ in recognition of his commitment to his local community in Croydon. As well as collaborating with the likes of Popcaan, Sneakbo, Bugzy Malone, Lady Leshurr, and others, Silvastone is a Youth Ambassador for the borough, delivering workshops to local schools to enable young people to discover and harness their creative talents.

The top 5 for the public-voted ‘Best Live Performer’ Award sees two previous Independent Music Award winners, RAYE (Human Re Sources) who recently performed at the Royal Albert Hall, plus folk singer-songwriter and outspoken champion for the live sector, Frank Turner (Xtra Mile Recordings). Also in the running are Belfast rap trio KNEECAP (Heavenly Recordings) fresh from their Glastonbury debut, singer and songwriter Laura Misch (One Little Independent), and electronic artist Pendulum (Mushroom Music). Public voting has now closed. 

The shortlist for the PPL Award for ‘Most Played New Independent Artist’ features a third nod for Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune) — who is also up for ‘Best Independent Album’ and ‘UK Independent Breakthrough’. He is nominated alongside Coach Party (Chess Club Records), Far From Saints (Ignition Records), Popeth (Recordiau Côsh Records) and Tom A. Smith (TYM Records). 

Nominated for ‘Best Independent Label’ in association with BBC 6 Music are Heavenly Recordings (whose roster includes ‘One To Watch’ nominees OneDa and Lynks, and ‘Best Independent Track’ nominees KNEECAP), Ninja Tune (home to double-nominee Barry Can’t Swim, plus Actress and George Riley up for Best Independent Album and Best Independent EP/Mixtape respectively), Partisan Records (with Ezra Collective in the running for ‘Best Independent Track’ and HONESTY for ‘Best Independent EP/Mixtape’), Seattle’s Sub Pop Records, and Transgressive Records (home to ‘One To Watch’ Miso Extra). 

AIM has unveiled a new category for 2024 —  ‘Best Independent Record Store’ — which aims to celebrate the crucial role independent retailers play, both as key commercial partners for the sector and as hubs for local music communities. The category’s first ever nominees are Drift in Totnes, Honest Jon’s in London’s Ladbroke Grove, Manchester-based Piccadilly Records, Rough Trade Bristol,and Hackney’s Stranger Than Paradise Records. The award acknowledges the growth of independent record retailers to a 10 year high, as well as the ongoing resurgence of vinyl. 

AIM has also revealed the shortlist for ‘Best Creative Campaign’, a category that shines a light on the innovation and creativity inherent in independent release campaigns. Chrysalis Records is nominated for supporting BODEGA’s ‘Our Brand Could Be Yr Life’, alongside Dead Oceans for Slowdive’s ‘everything is alive’. Also recognised are Identity Music for Lofi Girl’s ‘Snowman’, Warp Records for Aphex Twin’s EP ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760’, and Young for Sampha’s ‘LAHAI’ album campaign.

The ‘Music Entrepreneur of the Year’ award highlights individuals who have shown considerable innovation within or for the independent community. This year’s nominees are Andrew Batey (co-founder and co-CEO of Beatdapp), Atlanta Cobb (Founder & Director of Music Industry Mentor), Colin Batsa (President and chairman of EGA Distro), Meg Carnie (Studio Manager, co-founder and Artist Manager at South Lanes Studios) and Tom Allen (President, Downtown Royalties and Financial Services at Downtown Music).

This year’s ‘Best Boutique Label’ (in association with Qobuz) nominee list sees innovators AD 93, home of Damsel Elysium and Joanne Robertson, and Houndstooth, whose roster covers world-class artists ranging from Call Super and SCALER. The shortlist also includes LAB Records (Antony Szmierek, BEKA, The K’s) , New Soil (Theon Cross, Tumi Mogorosi, Ill Considered), and Sonic Cathedral (Dot Allison, deary, Whitelands).

Finally, as anticipation reaches a peak, AIM also announces two of the artists lined up for exclusive and intimate live performances taking place throughout the ceremony. Singer-songwriter Sampha (Young), who is in the running for ‘Best Independent Video’ and ‘Best Independent Track’ will be adding his unique atmospheric sound to the evening. Manchester MC and ‘One to Watch’ nominee OneDa (Heavenly Recordings) will also be taking to the stage to showcase her signature blend of hip-hop and drum and bass.  

BBC Radio 1’s Jack Saunders, presenter of the flagship New Music Show, will host the ceremony.

AIM interim CEO, Gee Davy, said: “We are excited to share a further round of nominees, announce Silvastone as this year’s Diversity Champion in recognition of his incredible generosity of spirit in his work with young people in Croydon, and reveal Sampha and OneDa as performers for 2024’s Independent Music Awards. We’re looking forward to a glorious night celebrating the growing success and creativity of the independent music community.”

Newly announced AIM Independent Music Awards 2024 winners:

Diversity Champion

Silvastone

Newly announced AIM Independent Music Awards 2024 nominees:

Best Independent Label (in association with BBC 6 Music)

Heavenly Recordings

Ninja Tune

Partisan Records

Sub Pop Records

Transgressive Records

Best Creative Campaign 

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

Dead Oceans (Slowdive, ‘everything is alive’ )

Identity Music (Lofi Girl, ‘Snowman’)

Warp Records (Aphex Twin, ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760’)

Young (Sampha, ‘LAHAI’ )

Best Live Performer

Frank Turner (Xtra Mile Recordings)

KNEECAP (Heavenly Recordings)

Laura Misch (One Little Independent)

Pendulum (Mushroom Music)

RAYE (Human Re Sources)

Best Boutique Label (in association with Qobuz)

AD 93

Houndstooth

LAB Records

New Soil

Sonic Cathedral

PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist

Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune)

Coach Party (Chess Club Records)

Far From Saints (Ignition Records)

Popeth (Recordiau Côsh Records)

Tom A. Smith (TYM Records)

Best Independent Record Store 

Drift

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)

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

Previously announced AIM Independent Music Awards 2024 nominees:

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)

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 Remix

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

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

UK Independent Breakthrough (in association with Amazon Music)

Bar Italia (Matador Records)

Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune)

CASISDEAD (XL Recordings)

Saint Harison (Tell Your Friends) 

Wunderhorse (Communion Records)

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)