Gilles Peterson, Ezra Collective and Fontaines D.C. lead AIM Awards winners
Cosey Fanni Tutti and Bon Iver were also among the winners...
By Nick Reilly
Gilles Peterson, Ezra Collective and Fontaines D.C. were among the big winners at the The Association of Independent Music (AIM) Awards 2025 last night.
Legendary broadcaster Gilles picked up the Outstanding Contribution to Music award to honour a trailblazing career which dates back over four decades.
Ezra Collective, who had three nominations on the night, also took home Best Independent Track for ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’, which features Yazmin Lacey.
There was also an Innovator Award win for avant-garde icon Cosey Fanni Tutti, while Bon Iver and Jagjaguwar won‘Best Creative Campaign’ for the imaginative roll-out of SABLE, fABLE.
Cosey Fanni Tutti commented: “Everything I’ve done has been totally independent. This is really special because innovation and independence really are sisters with me. I’ve seen innovation as a lifeblood of the music world – without that there would be no inspiration.”
And when it came to Best Independent Album (in association with Spotify), that gong went to Fontaines D.C. for Romance, released via XL Recordings.
AIM CEO Gee Davy said: “Tonight’s 15th anniversary edition of The Independent Music Awards has been an unforgettable celebration of the creative freedom, resilience, and innovative spirit that has always defined the independent music community.
“This fearless innovation is seen in everything from Cosey Fanni Tutti’s pioneering art and enterprise, Fontaines D.C.’s uncompromising music, Ezra Collective’s unfolding excellence, XL Recordings’ unwavering support for artists, ESEA’s inspiring advocacy, Karen Emanuel’s ethical and inclusive entrepreneurship, Gilles Peterson’s boundary-pushing passion, and the unending dedication to platforming talent of Wax & Beans and Bandcamp.
“The night highlighted the breadth of talent across the sector, and the passion that keeps it thriving. It was a joyous occasion and a reminder of the continued importance of the independent music sector as the epicentre of creative freedom.”
Check out the winners in full below.
Outstanding Contribution To Music (in association with Merlin)
Gilles Peterson
Innovator Award
Cosey Fanni Tutti
Best Independent Album (in association with Spotify)
Fontaines D.C. – Romance (XL Recordings) *WINNER*
Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE (Jagjaguwar)
Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching (Partisan Records)
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 Records)
Nala Sinephro – Endlessness (Warp Records)
Oklou – Choke Enough (Because Music / True Panther Records)
TAAHLIAH – Gramarye (untitled (recs))
Best Independent Track (in association with Meta)
Ezra Collective – God Gave Me Feet For Dancing ft. Yazmin Lacey (Partisan Records) *WINNER*
anaiis, Grupo Cosmo – B.P.E (5dB Records)
JIALING – FREAKY HORNS (Clasico Records)
Jim Legxacy – father (XL Recordings)
Jorja Smith, Maverick Sabre – Loving You (FAMM)
Miso Extra, Metronomy – Good Kisses (Transgressive Records)
Orla Gartland – Mine (New Friends Music)
Wet Leg – Catch These Fists (Domino Recording Co.)
Wunderhorse – The Rope (Communion Records)
Yannis & The Yaw, Tony Allen – Rain Can’t Reach Us (Transgressive Records)
UK Independent Breakthrough (in association with Amazon Music)
corto.alto (Ninja Tune previously New Soil) *WINNER*
Fat Dog (Domino Recording Co.)
Glass Beams (Ninja Tune)
Hope Tala (Big Family Music)
Sara Landry (HEKATE Records)
Best Live Performer
Shed Seven (Cooking Vinyl) *WINNER*
Alison Moyet (Cooking Vinyl)
Elles Bailey (Cooking Vinyl)
Ayanna Witter-Johnson (Hill and Gully Records)
Wunderhorse (Communion Records)
Best Independent Video (in association with VEVO)
Bricknasty – Vinland (FAMM) *WINNER*
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.)
Best Independent EP/Mixtape (in association with Notion)
MRCY – VOLUME 1 (Dead Oceans) *WINNER*
Fcukers – Baggy$$ (Technicolour)
Nectar Woode – Head Above Water (Communion Records)
Shygirl – Club Shy Room 2 (Because Music)
Zino Vinci – The Late Bloomer (Believe UK)
Best Independent Remix (in association with BBC Radio 1 Dance)
Boy Harsher Remix – Nilufer Yanya – ‘Just A Western’ (Ninja Tune) *WINNER*
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.)
Best Creative Campaign
Aitch (NQ Records)
Bon Iver (Jagjaguwar) *WINNER*
Fontaines D.C. (XL Recordings)
Snapped Ankles (The Leaf Label)
SOPHIE (Transgressive)
One To Watch (in association with BBC Introducing)
BINA. (TLD Records) *WINNER*
anaiis (5dB Records)
Chloe Qisha (VLF Records /Are You Serious Records)
Cristale (Believe)
Fcukers (Ninja Tune)
PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist
Popeth (Recordiau Cosh Records) *WINNER*
Fat Dog (Domino Recording Co.)
First Time Flyers (Lookout Mountain)
IN PARALLEL (Method 808)
NDOTZ (Chosen Flystr8)
Best Independent Label
XL Recordings *WINNER*
Because Music
Communion Records
Modern Sky UK
Transgressive Records
Best Boutique Label (in association with Qobuz)
AD 93 *WINNER*
Clasico Records
Flystr8
Submarine Cat Records
Untitled (recs)
Best Independent Record Store
Wax & Beans (Bury) *WINNER*
Art Beats (Saffron Walden)
A Slice of Vinyl (Gosport)
Raven Records (Camden, London)
Spinning Around Records (Wellington, Telford)
Music Entrepreneur of the Year
Karen Emanuel (Key Productions) *WINNER*
DEI Champion
ESEA Music *WINNER*
Independent Music Champion (in association with PRS for Music)
Bandcamp *WINNER*