IDLES & Jade Bird Lead AIM Independent Music Awards Nominations For 2019

Blondie’s Debbie Harry To Receive Outstanding Contribution To Music Award

• Georgia revealed for first-ever live show line-up
• Public voting open for Best Live Act: https://bit.ly/2Gdx2J0
• Largest ever number of submissions

London, 24 July 2019:- Followingthe biggest-ever influx of nominations, the AIM Independent Music Awards hasunveiled this year’s shortlist, with post-punk rockers IDLES and blues-popsinger-songwriter Jade Bird leading the way with four and three nominationsrespectively. Meanwhile, FKA Twigs, Christine and the Queens, Little Simz,Dave, Maribou State, Georgia and Fontaines D.C. are in the running for twogongs each.

The first-evernominees for “One To Watch” have also been announced, a brand new category for2019. In association with BBC Music Introducing, which supports unsigned,undiscovered and under-the-radar music across the UK, “One to Watch” championsfast-rising grassroots independent artists. Nominees include Arlo Parks, BarneyArtist, Georgia, KOKOROKO and Larkins. Find out more about this year's excitingshortlist and expert panel of judges below.

Today also sees the announcement of thecoveted Outstanding Contribution to Music award winner — Blondie frontwomanDebbie Harry — who will pick up her award at The Roundhouse-based ceremony on 3September. Famed for her sharp lyrics and inimitable style, Harry emerged fromthe ‘70s New York downtown music scene, performing with Blondie alongsideeveryone from the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop and DavidBowie.  She has written and performedsongs that defined an age, selling over 40 million albums, right the way to2017’s acclaimed Blondie album ‘Pollinator’. With all the grit, grime and gloryrecounted in intimate detail in her forthcoming memoir ‘FACE IT’, released inOctober, this is the perfect time to celebrate a true one-off, independentartist.

“Blondieemerged from a scene that was truly independent and we have never lost thatethos,” says Debbie Harry, “We alwaysfought for the freedom to create what we wanted, without interference. It is anhonour to receive this award from a community that helps make that happen everyday for artists.”

The AIM Independent Music Awards has alsoannounced breakthrough electro-pop star Georgia for its first-ever live show.Attracting major attention after the release of her 2015 self-titled debut,Georgia will be fresh from her spell-binding Glastonbury performance, where shedelivered an animated performance across the Park stage filled with 80s-clubenergy and pop nostalgia.

To top this all off, voting is now also openfor “Best Live Act”, in association with Songkick. The award, which will bedecided by the public vote, pays tribute to the most exhilarating live showsdelivered by independent artists from across the world, with previous winnersincluding Erasure, Counterfeit and Babymetal. Over 12,000 votes have beenreceived so far, responses must be made by 31 July here.

With less than two months to go until theawards show, tickets to the ceremony and live show are running out fast. Goldtables are now sold out, with only a limited number of tables remaining.

AIM CEO Paul Pacifico said “It’s great to see the diversity among thisyear’s nominees, which is a testament to the huge range of quality independentmusic being produced in 2019. We’re looking forward to honouring establishedartists like Debbie Harry, and relishing exciting upcoming performers likeGeorgia.”

AIM Independent Music AwardsShortlist

UK Independent Breakthrough (in associationwith YouTube Music)

• Black Midi
• Ezra Collective
• Gerry Cinnamon
• IDLES
• Jade Bird

International Breakthrough

• Afro B
• Jade Bird
• Maribou State
• Nilüfer Yanya
• IDLES

Best Independent Track (in association withFacebook)

• Dave, “Funky Friday (ft. Fredo)”
• FKA Twigs, “Cellophane”
• Fontaines D.C., “Boys In TheBetter Land”
• Georgia, “About Work TheDancefloor”
• JARV IS, “Must I Evolve”
• Jai Paul, “Do You Love Her Now”
• Holly Herndon, “Eternal”
• Little Simz, “Selfish (ft. CeloSol)”
• Sharon Van Etten, “Seventeen”
• Four Tet, “Teenage Birdsong”

Best Independent Album (in association withSpotify)

• Better Oblivion Community Center,“Better Oblivion Community Center”
• Christine And The Queens, “Chris”
• Dave, “Psychodrama”
• Fontaines D.C., “Dogrel”
• Frank Carter & TheRattlesnakes, “End of Suffering”
• Jade Bird, “Jade Bird”
• Jordan Rakei, “Origin”
• Little Simz, “GREY Area”
• Snapped Ankles, “Stunning Luxury”
• Swindle, “No More Normal”

Best [Difficult] Second Album

• Erland Cooper, “Sule Skerry”
• IDLES, “Joy as an Act ofResistance.”
• Julia Jacklin, “Crushing”
• Maribou State, “Kingdoms InColour”
• SOAK, “Grim Town”

One To Watch (in association with BBC MusicIntroducing)

• Arlo Parks
• Barney Artist
• Georgia
• KOKOROKO
• Larkins

Best Small Label

• Fuzz Club Records
• Killing Moon
• Local Action
• Scruff of the Neck
• Speedy Wunderground

Best Creative Packaging (in association withMCPS)

• Various Artists, Confessin’ TheBlues compilation
• Murlo, “Dolos”
• IDLES, “Joy as an Act ofResistance”
• Various Artists, Sick Music 2019compilation
• Keith Richards, “Talk Is Cheap”

Best Independent Video (in association withVevo)

• Christine and the Queens, “5Dollars”
• Hot Chip, “Hungry Child”
• John Grant, “He’s Got His Mother’sHips”
• Caleb Steph, “Black Boy”
• FKA Twigs, “Cellophane”

Best Independent Label (in association with[PIAS])

• Brownswood Recordings
• Domino
• Nuclear Blast
• Partisan Records
• Rough Trade

PPL Award for Most Played New IndependentArtist

• AJ Tracey
• Cosmo Sheldrake
• Freya Ridings
• Guru Randhawa
• Jorja Smith

Judges

Representing all corners of the musicindustry, this year’s expert panel of judges includes Aaron Coultate(Editor-in-Chief — Resident Advisor), Carl Loben (Editor-in-Chief — DJ Mag),Danielle Perry (Presenter — Absolute Radio), Jamz Supernova, (BBC 1Xtra DJ),Jesse Bernard         (ContributingEditor — Trench Magazine), Julie Adenuga (Presented — Beats1), Kate Hutchinson,(Freelance Journalist/Presenter), Laura Snapes (Deputy Music Editor — TheGuardian), Lea Stonhill (Music Producer — Radio X), Matt Stocks        (DJ/Presenter), Merlin Alderslade(Editor — Metal Hammer), Ryan Penty (Booking Agent — Coda Agency), Sean Adams      (Social Media Producer — BBC) and TomBillington (Editor — BBC Music Introducing).

Event Details

The ceremony will begin at 3pm, with the liveshow and after-party running from 8:15pm-2am.

Tickets to the ceremony, which include dinner,drinks receptions, and access to the exclusive live gig and after-party, can bepurchased here: http://bit.ly/2KVqlON

Tickets to thelive gig and after-party only are available here: http://bit.ly/2Fh1vFF 

Socials
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AIMIndependentMusicAwards
Twitter: @AIMAwards
Instagram: @aimawards

About AIM
AIM is the not-for-profit trade body exclusivelyrepresenting the UK’s independent music sector, which makes up a quarter of therecorded music market. Now in its 20th year, AIM’s members range from thelargest, most-respected record labels and associated music businesses in theworld to self-releasing artists and the next generation of entrepreneurs inmusic. AIM promotes and supports this exciting and diverse sector globally andprovides a range of services, commercial opportunities and practical help tomembers, enabling them to innovate, grow and break into new markets.