Yes, the Mercurys are coming, but they’re not the only music biz awards taking place this week.

An increasingly beleagured-looking MOBOs will take place on Saturday November 3. Yesterday, however, also saw a much more low-key – and substantially more interesting – events ceremony hand out a selection of prizes. The second ever Association of Independent Music (AIM) awards took place in London, and saw the UK’s principal trade body for the independent music industry reward its own. As reported, Rustie, Wiley and Lorn were all nominated – and one of the three has reason to celebrate.

Wiley’s Evolve Or Be Extinct was given the (somewhat ambiguous) Genre Spotlight Award, making up for what many perceive to be a Mercury snub for the LP. 4AD were named Independent Label Of The Year, and Mute’s Daniel Miller received a richly deserved Pioneer Award. Other notable winners included The Prodigy (Best Live Act), 65daysofstatic (Hardest Working Band Or Artist), and Edwyn Collins. The full litany of gongs is below.

Awards
Best Live Act: The Prodigy
Independent Breakthrough of the Year: Alt-J
Hardest Working Band or Artist: 65daysofstatic
Best ‘Difficult’ Second Album: First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
Independent Album of the Year: Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood of Colour
Best Small Label: Black Butter Records
Genre Spotlight Award: Wiley – Evolve Or Be Extinct
Independent Entrepreneur of the Year: Simon Raymonde, Bella Union
PPL Award For Most Played Independent Act: Adele
Special Catalogue Release of the Year: The 13th Floor Elevators – Music From The Spheres
Independent Label of the Year: 4AD
Indie Champion Award: Ian Evans, IME Music
Golden Welly Award: Leefest
Outstanding Contribution to Music: Edwyn Collins
Pioneer Award: Daniel Miller, Mute