AIM To Honour Bjork, Laurence Bell

At inaugural Independent Music Awards

Bjork and Domino founder Laurence Bell are set to be honoured at the first Independent Music Awards.

As the recent Sony DADC Warehouse fire so effectively proved, the independent community is increasingly fragile. Labels are run out of love, not money, with artists often making personal sacrifices to allow their music to be heard.

AIM (Association of Independent Music) was set up to help this community, providing assistance and allowing like-minded individuals to hook up.

Now the organisation has outlined plans for the first ever Independent Music Awards. Due to be held at Floridita in Soho, London on Thursday 10th November the ceremony will recognise some of the pivotal figures in the independent community.

The Outstanding Contribution to Music award will be given to Bjork. The Icelandic singer began life in The Sugarcubes, before embarking on a groundbreaking, confusing but always inspiring solo career.

Returning with ‘Biophilia’ earlier this year, the Icelandic artist has proved that there remains plenty of new ground to be broken. Working with One Little Indian, Bjork has stayed true to the independent ethos which launched her career.

Set to be honoured at the AIM Independent Music Awards, Bjork will be joined on the podium by a variety of figures from throughout the industry.

The Pioneer Award aims to highlight the work of independent labels, and has decided to focus on Domino Records founder Laurence Bell. Starting the imprint with a £40 a week allowance scheme, Bell has built up one of the most important independent labels operating in British music.

Maintaining a diverse roster, Domino have released records by everyone from Four Tet to Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand to Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.

The full list of categories reads as follows:

– International Achievement of the Year
– Catalogue Release of the Year in association with Rovi Europe
– Best ‘Difficult’ Second Album
– Independent Entrepreneur of the Year in association with The Orchard
– Innovative Marketing Campaign of the Year
– Pioneer Award
– Independent Breakthrough of the Year
– Best Small Label in association with Sound Performance
– Outstanding Contribution to Music
– Golden Welly Award for Best Independent Festival in association with AIF and Virtual Festivals
– Indie Champion Award
– Best Live Act in association with The Fly
– PPL Award for Most Played Independent Act
– Hardest Working Band or Artist

The AIM Independent Music Awards take place on November 10th.

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