Barry Can’t Swim, Jorja Smith & More Lead 2024 AIM Awards Nominations: Full List

Final nominations have been announced for this year’s Association of Independent Music (AIM) Awards. Electronic music producer Barry Can’t Swim (real name: Joshua Mainnie) leads the pack with three nominations, followed closely by Jorja Smith, Sampha, CASISDEAD and Kneecap, who are up for two awards each.

Singer-songwriter Sampha, who is in the running for best independent video and best independent track, will be among the live performers on the night, alongside Manchester rapper and fellow nominee OneDa.

The 14th edition of the annual awards show, which recognizes the achievements of the artists, labels, entrepreneurs and companies that make up the U.K.’s indie sector, is set for Oct. 17 at London’s Roundhouse venue.

Nominees also include D-Block Europe, Kim Gordon, Actress, rapper Skrapz, Mount Kimbie, Anohni and the Johnsons and jazz nine-piece Nubiyan Twist, who are all in the running for the best independent album prize alongside Smith and Barry Can’t Swim.

AIM announced the nominees in seven categories on Aug. 13, but have now announced the nominees in all 14 competitive categories, as well as the recipient of the diversity champion award. Afrobeats artist, producer and songwriter Silvastone, who has collaborated with the likes of Popcaan, Sneakbo, Bugzy Malone and Lady Leshurr, has been named AIM’s 2024 diversity champion in recognition of his commitment to his local community in Croydon and work as a youth ambassador.

R&B singer Jorja Smith, a 2019 Grammy nominee for best new artist, is also listed in the best independent track category for her hit “Little Things,” which reached No. 11 on the Official U.K. Singles chart.

2023 Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective, Fontaines D.C., KNEECAP, Hudson Mohawke and Nikki Nair, Sampha, NikNak, Matthew Halsall, Amy Gadiaga and CASISDEAD — who was crowned best hip-hop/grime/rap act at the BRIT Awards on March 2 – round out the best track shortlist.

Other categories announced on Tuesday (Oct. 1) by AIM, which represents more than 1,000 U.K. independent artists and music companies, include best independent label. Heavenly Recordings, Ninja Tune, Partisan Records, Seattle’s Sub Pop Records and British indie Transgressive Records are the nominees in that category.

New for 2024 is the award for the U.K.’s best independent record store. Drift in Totnes, Manchester-based Piccadilly Records, Rough Trade Bristol and London’s Honest Jon’s and Stranger Than Paradise Records are all in the running for the inaugural prize.

The top five list for the public-voted best live performer title numbers Belfast rap trio Kneecap, Laura Misch, Pendulum, Raye and Frank Turner. All other nominees and winners are decided by the AIM board and a panel of expert judges.

The five contenders for the independent breakthrough award number London rapper CASISDEAD, Barry Can’t Swim, Bar Italia, Saint Harison and Wunderhorse, who all receive free access to studio time at London’s Metropolis Studios as part of their nomination.

AIM’s One to Watch category, which has previously been collected by Nia Archives and Arlo Parks, shines a light on spoken word artist Antony Szmierek, drum and bass MC OneDa, DJ Kitty Amor and artist/producers Lynks and Miso Extra.

Sponsors and media partners for October’s awards ceremony, which will be hosted by BBC Radio 1 DJ Jack Saunders, include Spotify, Vevo, Meta, Notion, Amazon Music and the BBC.

Here’s the full list of nominees for the 2024 AIM Independent Music Awards:

Diversity Champion

Silvastone

Best Independent Label

Heavenly Recordings

Ninja Tune

Partisan Records

Sub Pop Records

Transgressive Records

Best Creative Campaign

Chrysalis Records (BODEGA, ‘Our Brand Could Be Yr Life’)

Dead Oceans (Slowdive, ‘everything is alive’)

Identity Music (Lofi Girl, ‘Snowman’)

Warp Records (Aphex Twin, ‘Blackbox Life Recorder 21f / In a Room7 F760’)

Young (Sampha, ‘LAHAI’)

Best Live Performer

Frank Turner (Xtra Mile Recordings)

KNEECAP (Heavenly Recordings)

Laura Misch (One Little Independent)

Pendulum (Mushroom Music)

RAYE (Human Re Sources)

Best Boutique Label

AD 93

Houndstooth

LAB Records

New Soil

Sonic Cathedral

PPL Award for Most Played Independent Artist

Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune)

Coach Party (Chess Club Records)

Far From Saints (Ignition Records)

Popeth (Recordiau Côsh Records)

Tom A. Smith (TYM Records)

Best Independent Record Store

Drift

Honest Jon’s

Piccadilly

Rough Trade Bristol

Stranger Than Paradise Records

Music Entrepreneur of the Year

Andrew Batey (Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Beatdapp)

Atlanta Cobb (Founder & Director, Music Industry Mentor)

Colin Batsa (President and Chairman, EGA Distro)

Meg Carnie (Studio Manager / Co-Founder / Artist Manager – South Lanes Studios)

Tom Allen (President, Downtown Royalties and Financial Services, Downtown Music)

Best Independent Album

Actress – LXXXVIII (Ninja Tune)

ANOHNI and the Johnsons – My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross (Rough Trade Records)

Barry Can’t Swim – When Will We Land? (Ninja Tune)

D-Block Europe – Rolling Stone (EGA Distro)

Jorja Smith – falling or flying (FAMM)

Kim Gordon – The Collective (Matador Records)

Mount Kimbie – The Sunset Violent (Warp Records)

Nabihah Iqbal – Dreamer (Ninja Tune)

Nubiyan Twist – Find Your Flame (Strut Records)

Skrapz – Reflection (EGA Distro)

Best Independent Remix

“The Egyptian Lover Remix” – Sudan Archives – Freakalizer (Stones Throw Records)

“Joy Anonymous Remix” – Ezra Collective, Sampa the Great – JOY (Life Goes On) (Partisan Records)

“L BEATS Mashup” – Jorja Smith – Little Things x Gypsy Woman (FAMM)

“Olof Dreijer Remix” – Björk – Oral (feat. Rosalia) (One Little Independent)

“P-rallel Remix” – Aluna, Jayda G – Mine O’ Mine (Mad Decent Under Exclusive Licence to Because Music)

One To Watch

Antony Szmierek (LAB Records)

Kitty Amor (Defected Records)

Lynks (Heavenly Recordings)

Miso Extra (Transgressive Records)

OneDa (Heavenly Recordings)

Best Independent Track

Amy Gadiaga – “All Black Everything” (Jazz re:freshed)

CASISDEAD – “Venom” (XL Recordings)

Ezra Collective – “Ajala” (Partisan Records)

Fontaines DC – “Starburster” (XL Recordings)

Hudson Mohawke & Nikki Nair – “Set the Roof” (Warp Records)

Jorja Smith – “Little Things” (FAMM)

KNEECAP, Grian Chatten – “Better Way To Live” (Heavenly Recordings)

Matthew Halsall – “An Ever Changing View” (Gondwana Records)

NikNak – “1200RPM” (Accidental Records)

Sampha – “Spirit 2.0” (Young)

Best Independent EP/Mixtape

George Riley – Un/limited Love (Ninja Tune)

Headie One & K-Trap – Strength to Strength (One Records and Thousand8)

HONESTY – BOX (Partisan Records)

JGrrey – If Not Now? (PACE, a subsidiary of Marathon Music Group)

Potter Payper – Thanks for Hating (EGA Distro)

UK Independent Breakthrough

Bar Italia (Matador Records)

Barry Can’t Swim (Ninja Tune)

CASISDEAD (XL Recordings)

Saint Harison (Tell Your Friends)

Wunderhorse (Communion Records)

Best Independent Video

Gia Ford – “Poolside” (Chrysalis Records)

Khruangbin – “A Love International” (Dead Oceans)

Master Peace – “I Might Be Fake” feat. Georgia (PMR Records)

Mitski – “My Love Mine All Mine” (Dead Oceans)

Sampha – “Only” (Young)

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