News

• Cosey Fanni Tutti to receive ‘Innovator’ award and Shed Seven to be crowned ‘Best Live Performer’ 
• All shortlists finalised, Ezra Collective and Fontaines D.C. frontrunners with three nods each
• Bandcamp to be named ‘Independent Music Champion’
• Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Coach Party, and Moonchild Sanelly to perform on the night

The Independent Music Awards has revealed the winners of its coveted ‘Innovator Award’, ‘Best Live Performer’ and ‘Independent Music Champion’ titles, as well as its final nominees for 2025. 

Taking place at London’s Roundhouse next month, Cosey Fanni Tutti will be honoured with the ‘Innovator Award’ for her radical work in art and music, which has redefined the boundaries of creative expression. As a founding member of Throbbing Gristle and art collective COUM Transmissions, she also co-founded the independent label Industrial Records to self-release the music of Throbbing Gristle. 

 Her later work with Chris & Cosey and CarterTutti, both formed with Throbbing Gristle bandmate Chris Carter, bridged experimental sound and accessible electronic music, shaping the evolution of industrial, synth-pop, and electronic music. Her books ‘Art, Sex, Music’ and ‘Re-sisters’ established her as a renowned author, to universal acclaim. 

Continuing to embrace her fiercely independent spirit, her two recent albums TUTTI and 2t2 were released on her own Conspiracy International label.

Her fearless experimentation and boundary-pushing approach have directly inspired artists such as Björk, Nine Inch Nails, and FKA Twigs, who cite her work as a vital influence on their own daring and innovative music. Through decades of fearless creativity, Tutti remains a vital force in avant-garde culture and independent music.

Two-time UK Official Album Chart toppers Shed Seven (Cooking Vinyl) will be crowned winners of the public-voted ‘Best Live Performer’ award for their high-voltage, crowd-pleasing sets. Fellow Cooking Vinyl artists, soulful powerhouse Elles Bailey and timeless voice Alison Moyet were shortlisted, alongside acclaimed singer, songwriter and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson (Hill and Gully), and rising rock powerhouse Wunderhorse (Communion Records). 

Nominees for ‘Best Independent Video’ (in association with VEVO) include Ezra Collective with ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’, alongside Bricknasty’s ‘Vinland’ (FAMM), Fontaines D.C. with ‘In The Modern World’ (XL), Black Honey’s ‘Psycho’ (Foxfive), and Wet Leg with ‘Catch These Fists’ (Domino).

Ezra Collective and Fontaines D.C. now lead the pack with three nominations each . Following closely behind, two-time nominees anaiis, Fcukers, Hope Tala, and Maverick Sabre are now joined neck-and-neck with fellow shortlisters Fat Dog, Bon Iver, Wunderhorse, and Wet Leg after scooping second nominations.

This year’s PPL Award for ‘Most Played New Independent Artist’ features First Time Flyers (Lookout Mountain), IN PARALLEL (Method 808) and NDOTZ (Chosen Flystr8) alongside second-time nominee Popeth (Recordiau Cosh). Joining them are electro-punk collective Fat Dog (Domino), collecting their second nomination for ‘Independent Breakthrough’.

Moonchild Sanelly (Transgressive), nominated for ‘Best Independent Album’, will deliver an exclusive live performance during the ceremony, bringing her signature Future-Ghetto-Funk sound to the Roundhouse stage. Also set to hit the stage are Isle of Wight alt-rock quartet Coach Party as well as Ayanna Witter-Johnson following her nod for ‘Best Live Performer’.

Online music platform Bandcamp has also been named this year’s ‘Independent Music Champion’ in association with PRS, recognising its enduring commitment to independent music. With 82% of sales revenues going directly to artists, Bandcamp has created a space where independent acts can thrive outside traditional streaming models. 

Nominated for ‘Best Independent Label’ are Because Music (whose roster includes ‘Independent Album’ nominee Oklou and ‘Independent Mixtape/EP’ nominee Shygirl), Communion Records (home to double-nominee Wunderhorse and Nectar Woode up for ‘Independent EP/Mixtape’), Modern Sky UK, Transgressive (Miso Extra,  Metronomy, Yannis & The Yaw and ‘Independent Album’ nominee Moonchild Sanelly), and XL Recordings (triple nominees Fontaines D.C. and ‘Independent Track’ nominee Jim Legxacy).

The ‘Best Independent Record Store’ award, celebrating the vital role of independent retailers as both commercial partners and community hubs, returns for a second year. Nominees include Art Beats in Saffron Walden, A Slice of Vinyl in Gosport, Camden Town’s Raven Records, Spinning Around Records in Wellington, Telford, and Wax and Beans in Bury. 

AIM has also revealed the shortlist for ‘Best Creative Campaign’, which spotlights the most innovative independent release campaigns. NQ Records is nominated for Aitch’s ‘4’, a five-month rollout with multiple singles, unique physical formats, OOH advertising, and sold-out performances. Jagjaguwar is recognised for Bon Iver’s ‘SABLE fABLE’ – a playful campaign featuring salmon-hued merch and tinned fish collabs. XL Recordings is nominated for Fontaines D.C.’s ‘Romance’, combining striking visuals, live experiences, and creative vinyl editions. Transgressive is recognised for SOPHIE’s posthumous release, ‘SOPHIE’, with immersive visuals, unreleased singles, and global playback events. The Leaf Label rounds out the list with Snapped Ankles’ ‘Hard Times Furious Dancing’, blending protest-themed visuals, interactive retail, and community engagement. 

This year’s ‘Best Boutique Label’ (in association with Qobuz) nominees include innovators AD 93 for the second year running (home of Martha Skye Murphy, James K and Moin), Clasico Records (roster includes JIALING, Giulia Tess, and WTCHCRFT), FLYSTR8 (NDOTZ, IMHRAN, Vienna I), Submarine Cat Records (Home Counties, Housewife, Swim Deep), and Untitled (Recs) (TAAHLIAH, Lauren Auder, Jerskin Fendrix).

AIM CEO, Gee Davy, said: “The Awards are about celebrating the entire ecosystem that makes independent music thrive, from boundary-pushing artists, visionary labels and creative teams, to record shops and music businesses that platform music, to the fans and communities that keep it thriving. 

“This year’s nominees are a testament to the creativity, passion, and success that defines the independent music community. Among our winners, we’re delighted to honour Cosey Fanni Tutti, whose fearless innovation continues to inspire a generation of artists; Shed Seven, recognised for their fan-favourite live performances; and Bandcamp, recognised for their continued role in creating opportunities for independents to connect directly with fans.”

Newly announced Independent Music Awards 2025 nominees:

Innovator Award

Cosey Fanni Tutti *WINNER*

Best Live Performer

Alison Moyet (Cooking Vinyl)

Elles Bailey (Cooking Vinyl)

Ayanna Witter-Johnson (Hill and Gully Records)

Shed Seven (Cooking Vinyl) *WINNER*

Wunderhorse (Communion Records) 

Best Independent Video (in association with VEVO) 

Bricknasty – Vinland (FAMM)

Black Honey – Psycho (Foxfive Records) 

Fontaines D.C. – In The Modern World (XL Recordings)

Ezra Collective – God Gave Me Feet For Dancing Ft. Yazmin Lacey (Partisan Records)

Wet Leg – Catch These Fists (Domino Recording Co.)

PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist

Fat Dog (Domino Recording Co)

First Time Flyers (Lookout Mountain)

IN PARALLEL (Method 808)

NDOTZ (Chosen Flystr8)

Popeth (Recordiau Cosh Records)

Best Independent Label 

Because Music

Communion Records

Modern Sky UK

Transgressive 

XL Recordings

Best Independent Record Store 

Art Beats (Saffron Walden)

A Slice of Vinyl (Gosport)

Raven Records (Camden, London)

Spinning Around Records (Wellington, Telford)

Wax & Beans (Bury)

Best Creative Campaign 

NQ Records and Aitch (‘4’)

Jagjaguwar and Bon Iver (‘SABLE, fABLE’)

XL Recordings and Fontaines D.C. (‘Romance’)

The Leaf Label and Snapped Ankles (‘Hard Times Furious Dancing’)

Transgressive and SOPHIE (‘SOPHIE’)

Best Boutique Label (in association with Qobuz)

AD 93

Clasico Records

Flystr8

Submarine Cat Records

Untitled (recs)

Independent Music Champion in association with PRS

Bandcamp *WINNER*

Previously announced AIM Independent Music Awards 2025 nominees:

Best Independent Track

anaiis, Grupo Cosmo – ‘B.P.E’ (5dB Records)

Ezra Collective, Yazmin Lacey – ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’ (Partisan Records)

JIALING – ‘FREAKY HORNS’ (Clasico Records)

Jim Legxacy – ‘father’ (XL Recordings)

Jorja Smith, Maverick Sabre – ‘Loving You’ (FAMM)

Miso Extra, Metronomy – ‘Good Kisses’ (Transgressive)

Orla Gartland – ‘Mine’ (New Friends Music)

Wet Leg – ‘Catch These Fists’ (Domino)

Wunderhorse – ‘The Rope’ (Communion Records)

Yannis & The Yaw, Tony Allen – ‘Rain Can’t Reach Us’ (Transgressive)

Best Independent Album

Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE (Jagjaguwar)

Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching (Partisan Records)

Fontaines DC – Romance (XL Recordings)

Hope Tala – Hope Handwritten (Big Family Music)

John Glacier – Like A Ribbon (Young)

Maverick Sabre – Burn The Right Things Down (FAMM)

Moonchild Sanelly – Full Moon (Transgressive)

Nala Sinephro – Endlessness (Warp Records)

Oklou – Choke Enough (Because Music / True Panther Records)

TAAHLIA – Gramarye (untitled (recs))

UK Independent Breakthrough (in association with Amazon Music) 

corto.alto (Ninja Tune previously New Soil)

Fat Dog (Domino Recording Co.)

Glass Beams (Ninja Tune)

Hope Tala (Big Family Music)

Sara Landry (HEKATE Records)

Best Independent EP/Mixtape

Fcukers – Baggy$$ (Technicolour)

MRCY – VOLUME 1 (Dead Oceans)

Nectar Woode – Head Above Water (Communion Records)

Shygirl – Club Shy Room 2 (Because Music)

Zino Vinci – The Late Bloomer ( Believe UK)  

Best Independent Remix

Boy Harsher Remix – Nilufer Yanya – ‘Just A Western’ (Ninja Tune)

D’Monk Remix – Rosie Lowe – ‘Gratitudes’ (Blue Flowers Music)

Jorg Kunning Bicton Barns Remix – Koreless – ‘Seven’ (Young)

Tatyana Remix – Home Counties – ‘Uptight’ (Submarine Cat Records) 

Tower Block 1 – Fat Dog – ‘Peace Song’ (Domino Recording Co.)

One To Watch

anaiis (5dB Records)

BINA. (TLD Records)

Chloe Qisha (VLF Records /Are You Serious Records) 

Cristale (Believe)

Fcukers (Ninja Tune)

About AIM

AIM is the not-for-profit organisation representing and supporting the UK’s independent music sector and community, which makes up close to a third of the UK’s recorded music market. Now in its 27th year, AIM’s 1000+ members range from the largest, most respected independent record labels and associated music businesses in the world to self-releasing artists and the next generation of entrepreneurs in music. They include Black Acre, Because Music, Beggars Group (4AD, Matador, Rough Trade Records, XL Recordings and Young), Chrysalis / Blue Raincoat, Domino, Finesse Foreva, HQ Familia, The Leaf Label, London Records, Ninja Tune, Numbers, Partisan, Transgressive, Scruff of the Neck, Secretly Canadian, Stones Throw, and Warp.

AIM exists to level the playing field for independent music businesses and entrepreneurs – the beating heart of UK music. Regardless of genre, background, income, identity, or location, AIM provides access to the knowledge and contacts creative entrepreneurs need to create, build, and succeed. 

AIM champions talent and innovation in the independent music community at its annual Independent Music Awards, which recognise global success and the best emerging talent in the sector. It also provides professional development and insight sessions throughout the year as part of the AIM Academy, and through its regular conference programme, comprising AIM Connected, AIM Sync and AIM’s Future Independents.