AIM Awards 2016

AIM Awards 2016 announces shortlist

Skepta, Wolf Alice and Field Music are among the shortlisted acts for the Association of Independent Music (AIM) Awards 2016.

Jim Ottewill
  • By Jim Ottewill
  • 3 Aug 2016
  • min read
Skepta, Wolf Alice and Field Music are among the shortlisted acts for the Association of Independent Music (AIM) Awards 2016.

Taking place on 6 September, the annual event champions the great and the good from the independent music industry.

With 47 artists nominated, Skepta, Wolf Alice, Field Music, Roots Manuva and Radiohead are leading the way with two nominations each.

Categories include best small label, best difficult second album, hardest working band and independent breakthrough of the year.

Alison Wenham, AIM chief executive officer, said: ‘Where else other than the AIM Awards would you find grime acts going head to head with hardcore punk bands and electronic producers?

‘The shortlisted nominees represent a huge diversity of artist and genres, and highlight the fact that the best place to be in the music industry right now is the independent sector.’

The full list of nominees is:

Best Small Label (in association with Proper Music Distribution)
Beatnik Creative
Earth Recordings
Holy Roar
Local Action
Numbers

Best Difficult Second Album (in association with Radio X)
Daughter - Not To Disappear
Fat White Family - Songs For Our Mothers
Melt Yourself Down - Last Evenings On Earth
Money - Suicide Songs
Savages - Adore Life

Special Catalogue Release of the Year (in association with MODO)
British Sea Power - The Complete Illustrated British Sea Power (Vol. 1)
Mikael Tariverdiev - Film Music
Slade - When Slade Rocked The World
Various Artists - Ork Records: New York, New York
Various Artists - Leaf 20 Box Set

Hardest Working Band or Artist
Darren Hayman
Kamasi Washington
Martyn Joseph
Run The Jewels
Shaodow

Golden Welly Award for Best Independent Festival in association with AIF, voted for via diymag.com)
Barn On The Farm
Beat Herder
Brainchild Festival
Pete The Monkey
Strawberries & Cream Festival

Independent Breakthrough of the Year (in association with YouTube)
Christine And The Queens
Father John Misty
Flume
Neck Deep
Pvris
Stormzy

Indie Champion Award (in association with CI)
Chris Bye - Arts Council England / Liverpool Sound City
Jen Long - Dice
Jess Partridge - London In Stereo
Jon Tolley - Banquet Records
Mary Anne Hobbs - BBC 6music

Independent Video of the Year (in association with VEVO)
Darwin Deez - The Mess She Made
Grimes - Kill V. Maim
Kaytranada - Lite Spots
Oscar - Sometimes
Yeasayer - I Am Chemistry

Best Live Act (voted for by visitors to Songkick)
Babymetal
Caravan Palace
Courteeners
Sunset Sons
Wolf Alice

Independent Track of the Year (in association with MCPS)
Adele - Hello
Christine And The Queens - Tilted
Field Music - The Noisy Days Are Over
Flume - Never Be Like You
Ghetts X Rude Kid - One Take
Major Lazer Ft Nyla & Fuse Odg - Light It Up [Remix]
Protoje Ft Chronixx - Who Knows
Radiohead - Burn The Witch
Skepta - Man
Roots Manuva - Don’t Breathe Out

PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Act
KDA
Sigala
Wolf Alice
Tchami

Independent Album of the Year (in association with the orchard)
Arca - Mutant
Brian Eno - The Ship
Field Music - Commontime
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Blossom
Lapsley - Long Way Home
Little Simz - A Curious Tale Of Trials + Persons
Press To Meco - Good Intent
Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool
Roots Manuva - Bleeds
Skepta - Konnichiwa

Independent Label of the Year (in association with Believe Digital)
Because Music
Bella Union
Epitaph/Anti
Moshi Moshi
Ninja Tune

Outstanding Contribution to Music (in association with Amazon Music)
Roisin Murphy

Pioneer Award
Richard Russell, XL Recordings

Innovator Award (in association with Fuga)
TBA

The AIM Independent Music Awards 2016 will return to the Brewery in Clerkenwell on 6 September.

Tickets are on sale now