Wet Leg and RAYE & 070 Shake were among the winners at the 2023 AIM Independent Music Awards, which were presented on Tuesday (Sept. 26) by the Association of Independent Music (AIM) at London’s Roundhouse.
Wet Leg won the PPL award for most played new independent artist. The duo also won Grammys on Feb. 5 for best alternative music album for their eponymous debut album and best alternative music performance for “Chaise Longue.” They were also nominated for best new artist.
RAYE and 070 Shake won the AIM Award for best independent track for their global hit “Escapism.” The song reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January.
Shygirl won UK independent breakthrough following a widely praised debut, Nymph, and a series of sold-out shows.
In her first in-person appearance at an awards show since the 2012 Webbys, Björk collected AIM’s publicly-voted award for best live performer, beating Beabadoobee, MUNA and Japan’s kawaii-metal girl band BABYMETAL. Björk has put 14 albums on the Billboard 200, including Volta, which debuted and peaked at No. 9 in 2007.
Best Creative Campaign was won by Partisan Records for Ezra Collective‘s Where I’m Meant to Be campaign, with the newly-crowned Mercury Prize winners collecting the trophy in person.
Avelino, winner of best independent album, joined a celebration marking 50 years of hip-hop.
As previously announced, Dr. Charisse Beaumont, CEO of Black Lives in Music (BLiM), was named Diversity Champion in recognition of her groundbreaking work in creating an inclusive music industry, such as the rollout of BLiM’s voluntary Music Industry Anti-Racism Code.
The AIM Independent Music Awards recognize the achievements of independent labels, artists and entrepreneurs that make up the U.K.’s independent music sector.
Here’s a complete list of nominees for the 2023 AIM Awards, with winners marked.
PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist
AntsLive (Payday Records, Trademark Records)
John Summit (Off The Grid Records)
Surya Sen (Skint Records)
Vibe Chemistry (DnB Allstars Records)
WINNER: Wet Leg (Domino Records)
Music Entrepreneur of the Year
Alex Brees – Un:hurd
WINNER: Caius Pawson – Young / Space
Jess Kangalee – Good Energy PR
Keturah Cummings – Forward Slash
Yasin El Ashrafi – HQ Familia
Best Boutique Label
Chess Club
Glasgow Underground
Houndstooth
WINNER: Rough Bones
So Young Records
Best Independent Label
Defected Records
Forever Living Originals
WINNER: Hospital Records
One Little Independent
Transgressive
Best Creative Campaign
Because Music (Shygirl – “Nymph”)
Dirty Hit (Rina Sawayama – “Hold the Girl”)
Human Re Sources (RAYE – “My 21st Century Blues”)
Ninja Tune (Young Fathers – “Heavy Heavy”)
WINNER: Partisan Records (Ezra Collective – “Where I’m Meant to Be”)
XL Recordings (Yaeji – “With a Hammer”)
UK Independent Breakthrough
Ezra Collective (Partisan Records)
I.Jordan (Ninja Tune)
Overmono (XL Recordings)
WINNER: Shygirl (Because Music)
Suki Waterhouse (Sub Pop)
Best Independent Track
Connie Constance – “Hurt You” (Play It Again Sam)
ENNY – “Charge It” (FAMM)
Four Tet – “Three Drums” (Text Records)
Makaya McCraven – “Dream Another” (XL Recordings)
Overmono – “Good Lies” (XL Recordings)
WINNER: RAYE, 070 Shake – “Escapism” (Human Re Sources)
Shygirl – “Shlut” (Because Music)
Sudan Archives – “Selfish Soul” (Stones Throw Records)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Spitting Off the Edge of the World” feat. Perfume Genius (Secretly Canadian)
Yves Tumor – “Echolalia” (Warp Records)
Best Independent EP/ Mixtape
Bellah – Adultsville (Base ‘N’ Rebulz X Marathon Music Group)
WINNER: ENNY – We Go Again (FAMM)
Jessica Winter – Limerance (Lucky Number)
Saint Joshua – EP2 (Ditto Music)
yunè pinku – BABYLON IX (PLATOON)
Best Independent Album
WINNER: Avelino – God Save The Streets (More Music Records/ OddChild Music)
Kelela – Raven (Warp Records)
Little Simz – No Thank You (Forever Living Originals)
Nova Twins – Supernova (Marshall Records)
Obongjayar – Some Nights I Dream of Doors (September Recordings)
Oliver Sim – Hideous Bastard (Young)
RAYE – My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources)
Rina Sawayama – Hold the Girl (Dirty Hit)
Shygirl – Nymph (Because Music)
Wu-Lu – LOGGERHEAD(Warp Records)
Best Independent Remix
Sega Bodega Remix (One Little Independent) – Björk – “Ovuke” (feat. Shygirl)
Soulwax Remix (Deewee / Because Music) – Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul – “Cliché”
WINNER: Nu:Tone Remix (Hospital Records) – GLXY – “Butterfly Effect” (feat. Hugh Hardie & Visionobi)
Jamie XX remix (Young) – Oliver Sim – “GMT”
Boys Noize (Secretly Canadian) – Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Wolf”
One to Watch
Jessica Winter (Lucky Number)
Juice Menace (Supernature)
FLOWEROVLOVE (FAE GRP)
WINNER: Laughta (MDLBEAST)
Master Peace (PMR)
Best Independent Video
Ezra Collective – “No Confusion” ft. Kojey Radical (Partisan Records)
Kelela – “Enough for Love” (Warp Records)
Obongjayar – “I Wish It Was Me (Live)” (September Recordings)
RAYE, 070 Shake – “Escapism” (Human Re Sources)
WINNER: Wesley Joseph – “MONSOON” (EEVILTWINN)
Independent Champion
Jaguar Bingham
WINNER: Resident Music
Cafe OTO
Innovator Award
WINNER: Dan Carey
Best Live Performer
WINNER: Björk (One Little Independent)
Diversity Champion
WINNER: Charisse Beaumont – Black Lives in Music
