Association of Independent Music#AIM Awards

{{for|the American organisation|American Association of Independent Music}}

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| purpose = Supporting the UK's independent music companies

| headquarters = Chiswick, London

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| website = [http://www.musicindie.com www.musicindie.com]

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The Association of Independent Music (AIM) is a non-profit trade body established in 1999 by UK independent record labels to represent the independent record sector, which in 2016 constituted approximately 23% of the UK market. Its members include record labels, self-releasing artists and distributors.

It runs Indie-Con, an annual conference for the independent music industry.

History

Alison Wenham founded AIM in 1999, and spent 17 years as its chair and CEO.{{cite web|url=https://theindustryobserver.thebrag.com/alison-wenham-is-stepping-down-as-ceo-of-win/|website=The Industry Observer|title=Alison Wenham is stepping down as CEO of WIN|first=Lars|last= Brandle|date=13 December 2018|access-date=16 August 2019}}

In 2004, AIM featured in the press over their contract negotiations with Apple for rights to distribute their labels' content on the iTunes service.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3805565.stm|title=Europe launch for Apple's iTunes|date=15 June 2004|publisher=|accessdate=16 April 2018|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/independent-bands-out-of-tune-with-worlds-biggest-jukebox-732382.html|title=Independent bands out of tune with 'world's biggest jukebox'|date=16 June 2004|publisher=Independent.co.uk|accessdate=16 April 2018}} AIM was ultimately successful in negotiating equivalent terms for its independent labels members that Apple had originally only offered to the 'major' labels.

In September 2008, AIM became a founding member of UK Music, which represents all aspects of the UK music industry.{{cite web |url=http://www.ukmusic.org/page/news-6 |title=UK Music |publisher=www.ukmusic.org |date=September 26, 2008 |accessdate=2009-02-21|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311133532/http://www.ukmusic.org/page/news-6 |archivedate=11 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}

In November 2016 AIM appointed Paul Pacifico as CEO.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7496029/paul-pacifico-appointed-ceo-of-uk-indie-body-aim|title=Paul Pacifico Appointed CEO of U.K. Indie Body AIM|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=16 April 2018}}

The 2016 WINTEL report showed that the indie sector constituted about 23% of total market share.{{cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/new-report-puts-aussie-indie-labels-at-30-revenue-share-in-top-10-of-global-indie-markets/|website=The Music Network|title=New report puts Aussie indie labels at 30% revenue share, in Top 10 of global indie markets|first=Christie|last= Eliezer|date=4 September 2017|accessdate=15 August 2019}}

On 24 September 2018, Pacifico co-represented IMPALA, the body representing European indie record labels, at the expert workshop organised by the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels (BOZAR), the European Cultural Foundation and the British Council about Brexit and the cultural sector. The goal was "to reaffirm our shared intent and common values, and to produce practical recommendations from the cultural and creative sectors that go beyond those that have already been made", and a list of recommendations was afterwards published on the IMPALA website.{{cite web|url=https://www.impalamusic.org/content/impala-supports-key-brexit-recommendations-cultural-sectors|website=IMPALA|title=IMPALA supports key Brexit recommendations for cultural sectors|date=2 October 2018|access-date=18 August 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://encc.eu/news/brexit-and-cultural-sector|website=European Network of Cultural Centres|title=Brexit and the Cultural Sector|date=17 October 2018|access-date=18 August 2019}}

Pacifico stepped down in December 2022, having served two three-year terms.{{Cite web |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |date=2022-08-16 |title=AIM boss Paul Pacifico to step down at the end of the year |url=https://musically.com/2022/08/16/aim-boss-paul-pacifico-to-step-down-at-the-end-of-the-year/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Music Ally |language=en-GB}} He was succeeded by Sylvia Montello, who stayed in role just 15 months before resigning in April 2024. COO Gee Davy was named Interim CEO,{{Cite web |date=2024-04-11 |title=Gee Davy appointed interim CEO at AIM as Silvia Montello steps down |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/gee-davy-appointed-interim-ceo-at-aim-as-silvia-montello-steps-down/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}} before being formally appointed to the role in November 2024 at the organisations AGM. {{Cite web |title=AIM's 2024 AGM: Gee Davy Appointed CEO & New Board Members Elected |url=https://www.recordoftheday.com/news-and-press/aims-2024-agm-gee-davy-appointed-ceo-new-board-members-elected |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=www.recordoftheday.com}} Since November 2023 the organisation has been Chaired by Ruth Barlow, Director of Live Licensing at Beggars Group.{{Cite web |title=Beggars’ Ruth Barlow named Chair of AIM and new board members revealed at 2023 AGM |url=https://www.namemusic.net/press-releases/beggars-ruth-barlow-named-chair-of-aim-and-new-board-members-revealed-at-2023-agm |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Name PR {{!}} Music Communications Agency |language=en-GB}}

AIM Awards

The AIM Independent Music Awards are hosted by the Association of Independent Music (AIM) and were established in 2011 to recognize artists signed to independent record labels in the United Kingdom. Award categories include:

Best Small Label
Best 'Difficult' 2nd Album
Special Catalogue Release of the Year
Hardest Working Band or Artist
Golden Welly Award for Best Independent Festival
Independent Breakthrough of the Year
Indie Champion Award
Independent Video of the Year
Best Live Act
Independent Track of the Year
Independent Album of the Year
Independent Label of the Year
PPL Awards for Most Played New independent Act
Innovator Award
Pioneer Award
Outstanding Contribution to Music Award

The 2018 awards were held in partnership with Young Urban Arts Foundation and saw bands and labels like IDLES, Let's Eat Grandma and Partisan Records nominated.{{Cite news|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8469245/aim-independent-music-awards-nominations-full-list|title=AIM Independent Music Awards: IDLES, Let's Eat Grandma & Partisan Records Score Nominations|work=Billboard|access-date=2018-11-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.upsetmagazine.com/news/idles-zeal-ardor-and-wolf-alice-are-all-up-for-gongs-at-the-aim-independent-music-awards|title=IDLES, Zeal & Ardor and Wolf Alice are all up for gongs at the AIM Independent Music Awards|website=Upset|language=en|access-date=2018-11-07}}

Indie-Con

The inaugural music industry conference, the AIM Indie-Con took place in 2012 in the Glaziers Hall London, returning there each year until at least 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.ukmusic.org/events/aim-indie-con|website=UK Music|title=AIM Indie-Con|access-date=27 August 2019}} The inaugural music industry conference, Indie-Con took place in 2012 in the Glaziers Hall London, returning there each year until at least 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/aim-s-indie-con-confirmed-for-2018-return/070759|website=Music Week|title=AIM's Indie-Con confirmed for 2018 return|first=James|last=Hanley|date= 7 December 2017|access-date=27 August 2019}}

Aim Connected

The Association of Independent Music launched a new networking event in 2019, called [https://www.aimconnected.com Aim Connected]. Spread over three days in March, the event strives to connect business, tech and people. The event includes industry expert panels, workshops and one-on-one networking sessions. Aim Connected's 2019 speakers included executive producer of 'Surviving R. Kelly' dream Hampton, London's Night Czar Amy Lame, Hospital Records founder Chris Goss, and VICE creative director, Emil Asmussen.

=Unrelated Australian version=

From 2017, a separate event known as Indie-Con Australia has been run in Adelaide, under the auspices of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), with support from the South Australian government.{{cite web|url=https://theindustryobserver.thebrag.com/indie-con-coming-australia/|website=The Industry Observer|title=Indie-Con is coming to Australia|first= Lars|last= Brandle|date=27 June 2017|access-date=27 August 2019}}