FEATURE:
The Lockdown Playlist
IN THIS PHOTO: Arlo Parks/PHOTO CREDIT: Alex Kurunis
The 2021 AIM Awards Shortlists
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I wanted to put in…
IN THIS PHOTO: Dry Cleaning have been nominated in the Best Independent Album in association with Spotify category for New Long Leg (4AD)
a timely Lockdown Playlist, because the AIM Awards announced their shortlists earlier in the week. There are some great categories and artists that I will incorporate into a playlist at the very end. Before then, Music Week wrote about this year’s ceremony. Arlo Parks is recognised in four categories:
“Arlo Parks has said that she is honoured to be shortlisted in four categories at the Association of Independent Music (AIM) Awards 2021, as the full list of nominations is revealed.
Parks won in the One To Watch category at last year’s event, and follows that success with nominations for UK Independent Breakthrough, Best Independent Track, Best Independent Album and Best Independent Video. The artist’s haul of four nominations is the most this year, with Yorkshire group Working Men’s Club scoring three.
Parks is signed to Transgressive Records – which is up for Best Independent Label – and released her debut album Collapsed In Sunbeams earlier this year. The London-based artist won the breakthrough category at The BRITs last month. She starred on the cover of Music Week alongside Moses Boyd last summer.
Parks said: “What an honour to be nominated for four AIM Awards!! This is far beyond my wildest dreams and I’m so glad my work has reached this far and touched so many, especially in these tumultuous times.”
Working Men’s Club, who join Parks in the album category, said: “It’s a real honour to be nominated for three AIM Awards, many thanks to AIM and to everyone that has backed our record. We can’t wait to be back out playing in front of real people as soon as possible.”
For the second year in a row, the AIM Awards will take place virtually, with the livestream set for broadcast via YouTube, Facebook and On Air on August 25. BBC Radio DJs Tiffany Calver and Jamz Supernova will host the show, while Tomorrow’s Warriors and Refugee Council are charity partners.
Tiffany Calver said: “Having presented the ceremony in 2020, this will be marking a year of the world being in a global pandemic, a year where music and community really helped so many of us get through the tough times. To be able to celebrate the innovators and independent artists that flourished through such a challenging period is a true honour. I'm so excited to be co-hosting alongside Jamz this time, and continuing to champion great music as we have both done on a weekly basis with our individual shows and channels.
AIM has announced Paulette Long OBE as the first winner of the new Diversity Champion award. Long created the UK music industry’s first Diversity Charter and is deputy chair of UK Music’s Diversity Taskforce.
In another first, this year will see two separate winners of the Indie Champion: Bandcamp and Love Record Stores. The nominees for the Best Live [Streamed] Act and PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist will be announced next month”.
To nod to the incredible nominees for this year’s AIM Awards (taking place on 25th August), this Lockdown Playlist features many of those included. As you can see from the tracks, there is so much incredible talent…
IN THIS PHOTO: Nova Twins have been nominated in the One To Watch in association with BBC Music Introducing category/PHOTO CREDIT: Arthur René Walwin
ON display.