Neneh Cherry, Sparks and Jorja Smith among the winners at the 2024 AIM Awards

Neneh Cherry and Sparks were among the honorees at the Association of Independent Music (AIM) Awards 2024, which also saw big wins for Jorja Smith, Sampha, Pendulum and fast-rising electronic music producer Barry Can't Swim.

Held at London's Roundhouse venue on Thursday (October 17), the 14th edition of the annual awards show, which recognizes the achievements of the artists, labels, entrepreneurs and companies that make up the UK's independent industry, saw Cherry awarded the Innovator Award in recognition of her distinguished career and lasting influence.

This year's Outstanding Contribution to Music award brought together American pop rock duo Sparks, who used the occasion to announce that they have signed a worldwide deal with Transgressive Records for their next studio album. The as-yet-untitled release, due next year, will be distributed by Firebird Label Services, marking the veteran band's return to the independent music community after reuniting with Island Records for last year's The girl is crying into her latte studio set.

One of the biggest awards of the night went to British R&B singer Smith, who won best independent album for her sophomore album 2023. Falling or Flyingreleased through FAMM. Accepting the award via video, Smith, nominated for a 2019 Grammy for Best New Artist, thanked British production duo DAMEDAME* for their work on the album and her label “for believing in me all these years ago until now ».

Singer-songwriter Sampha won Best Independent Track for last year's “Spirit 2.0” and Best Independent Video for “Only.” also performed at the ceremony. Other live acts came from Heavenly Recordings-signed Lynks, punk rocker BEX and Manchester rapper OneDa, who received this year's award to watch.

Other awards handed out on the night included independent breakthrough, which went to electronic music producer Barry Can't Swim (real name Joshua Mainnie), and audience-voted best live act, which went to Pendulum.

Heavenly Recordings was named best independent label, while Drift Records in Totnes, Devon, was crowned best UK independent label. Co-founders of the Music Venue Trust Mark David and Beverly Wittrick were jointly honored as independent music champions for their work supporting grassroots music venues in the UK

Ahead of Thursday's ceremony, Afrobeats artist, producer and songwriter Silvastone, who has collaborated with Popcaan, Sneakbo, Bugzy Malone and Lady Leshurr, was announced as the 2024 AIM Diversity Champion in recognition of his community work .

“This community never ceases to amaze me with its collective spirit of celebrating each other's victories and recognizing that we rise higher when we rise together,” said AIM's Interim CEO Gee Davy in a statement.

According to figures released earlier this year by UK record label trade body BPI, independently released songs and albums accounted for almost a third of total UK music consumption in 2023, with the equivalent of more than 53 million independent albums streamed or purchased in digital and physical formats. The UK is the world's third largest recorded music market in the IFPI's annual ranking behind the US and Japan.

Previous winners of the AIM Awards include Adele, Idles, Little Simz, Wet Leg, Stormzy, Dave, Arlo Parks and Christine and the Queens, who were recognized by the club early in their careers, before experiencing mainstream success.

Here is the full list of nominees and winners for the 2024 AIM Independent Music Awards:

UK Independent Progress (in partnership with Amazon Music):

Bar Italia (Matador Records)

Barry Can't Swim (Ninja Tune) *WINNER*

CASISDEAD (XL Recordings)

Saint Harison (Tell your friends)

Wunderhorse (Communion Records)

Best Independent album (in partnership with Spotify)

Actor – 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 – Fall or Fly (FAMM) *WINNER*

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 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” (Accident)

Sampha – “Spirit 2.0” (Young) *WINNER*

Best Independent Remix (in conjunction with Notion)

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

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

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 License to Why Music)

Best Live Performer

Frank Turner (Xtra Mile Recordings)

KNEECAP (Heavenly Recordings)

Laura Misch (One Little Independent)

Pendulums (Mushroom Music) *WINNER*

RAYE (Human Resources)

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) *WINNER*

PPL Award for Most Played New Indie Artist

Barry Can't Swim (Ninja Tune)

Coach Party (Records Chess Club)

Far From Saints (Ignition Records) *WINNER*

Popeth (Recordiau Côsh Records)

Tom A. Smith (TYM Records)

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) *WINNER*

Best Independent Video (in partnership 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) *WINNER*

Best Independent Label (in association with BBC Radio 6 Music)

Heavenly Recordings *WINNER*

Ninja Tune

Partizan Records

Sub Pop Records

Criminal records

Best Boutique Label (in partnership with Qobuz)

93 AD

Houndstooth

LAB Records

New Ground

Sonic Cathedral *WINNER*

Best Creative Campaign (in partnership with Able)

Chrysalis Records and BODEGA ('Our Brand Could Be Yr Life')

Dead Oceans and Slowdive (“everything is alive”)

Lofi Girl – Identity Music (“Snowman”)

Warp Records and Aphex Twin ('Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / in a Room7 F760') *WINNER*

Young and Sampha (“LAHAI”)

Best independent record store

Drift *WINNER*

Sincere 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 (Chairman and President, EGA Distro)

Meg Carnie (Studio Manager / Co-Founder / Artist Manager – South Lanes Studios) *WINNER*

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

A champion of diversity

SILVASTONE *WINNER*

Independent Music Champion (in association with Downtown)

Music Venue Trust *WINNER*

Outstanding Contribution to Music (in collaboration with Merlin)

Sparks *WINNER*

Innovator

Neneh Cherry *WINNER*