Johnny Marr to Headline Inaugural AIM Awards Live Show & Receive Pioneer Award

20 June 2019 - Press release

BBC 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne to host Roundhouse-based ceremony

Award submissions extended until 24th June

Iconic guitarist and former Smiths member Johnny Marr is set to showcase his legendary talents as the headliner for AIM Independent Music Awards’ first ever live show.

Before tuning his guitar ahead of the industry gig, Marr will also take to the stage to receive AIM’s Pioneer Award in recognition of his prodigious career spanning nearly 40 years.

Making his name as the co-songwriter and guitarist for The Smiths, Marr left the band in1987 and went on to collaborate with some of the greatest musicians of a generation including Talking Heads, Modest Mouse and New Order’s Bernard Sumner, as well as developing his solo career. Marr achieved considerable success with 2014’s Playland and 2018’s Call the Comet charting in the UK at #9 and #7 respectively. The Pioneer Award honours trailblazers in the independent sector with previous winners including Goldie and Warp’s Steve Beckett.

Meanwhile, radio royalty Lauren Laverne will be hosting the awards ceremony. A champion of independent music both on and off air, the BBC Radio 6 Music DJ will be unveiling winners across the 16 categories throughout the night. Recently named Radio Broadcaster of the Year, Laverne is a well-known voice across the BBC as the host of 6 Music’s breakfast show and BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. She has enjoyed a storied career spanning writing, radio, and television, covering major music events like Glastonbury Festival for the BBC, as well as chart success as the lead vocalist, guitarist and lyricist for pop-punk band Kenickie.

On performing at the industry awards, Johnny Marr said “Independent music is one of the things the UK does best, and it is great to see it celebrated. It’s a privilege to be awarded the Pioneer Award and I’m looking forward to taking part in this year’s show not only as a recipient but as a performer too.”

Commenting on the awards, Lauren Laverne said “Independent music continues to produce some of the most innovative and exciting artists in the world. It has been my pleasure to support them over the years and I’m thrilled to be leading this celebration of independence as the host of the AIM Independent Music Awards 2019.”

CEO of AIM Paul Pacifico said “In the year of AIM’s 20th anniversary, it is absolutely appropriate that the AIM Awards steps up a gear and transitions to the legendary Roundhouse. Our first ever live show will feature some of the world’s greatest independent legends and rising stars - a suitable celebration, in size and spectacle, of the creativity, hard work, talent and diversity in the UK’s independent music community.”

For this year’s ceremony, AIM has introduced ‘One to Watch’, a free to enter category that champions fast-rising, grassroots independent artists. Prospective applicants will be pleased to hear that the deadline for submissions has been extended until 12pm midday on Monday 24 June. Submissions can be made on the AIM Awards website.

The AIM Awards comprises 16 categories including Independent Track and Album, Pioneer, Indie Champion, Small Label and Independent Label. The award for Best Live Act is decided by a public vote, while a judging panel of music journalists and tastemakers will decide the remaining categories.

 

2019 Award Categories

Independent Label

International Breakthrough

Innovator Award

Outstanding Contribution to Music sponsored by Merlin

PPL Award for Most Played Independent Act

Independent Video sponsored by VEVO

UK Independent Breakthrough

Best Creative Packaging sponsored by MCPS

Best Live Act sponsored by Songkick

Independent Album

Indie Champion

One to Watch

Independent Track

Pioneer Award sponsored by Bucks Music Group 

Best Small Label

Best [Difficult] Second Album

 

 

Event Details

The event will now run until 02:00am (with DJs to be announced). Due to high member demand, the post-awards live show will now be an industry-only live gig.

 

Tickets

Awards show tickets are available from £130. The price includes dinner, drinks receptions, access to the exclusive live gig and after-party. You can purchase these here: http://bit.ly/2KVqlON

 

Tickets just for the live gig and after-party are available here from 09:00am today: http://bit.ly/2Fh1vFF