We can't wait to welcome you to Future Independents next week - our free online conference for emerging artists, labels and entrepreneurs!
Check out the latest wave of experts who will be speaking on topics such as 'Budgeting for Independent Artists', 'Paid Marketing 101' and 'Campaign Strategies in 2026'.
➡ Future Independents is a free, multi-day, online conference expertly curated by AIM specifically for anyone looking to expand their business, further their career or increase their music industry knowledge.
📅 18-22 May.
🌎 Online.
🔗 Follow the link in bio or go to futureindependents.co.uk to book a FREE ticket.
Thank you to our platinum partners @spotifyuk , @meta , @merlinnetwork and @amazonmusicuk and to our event sponsor @beatbread .
As @greatescapefest takes place, where discovery and long-term artist development are front of everyone's mind, we’re spotlighting a brand new category for the AIM Independent Music Awards 2026: Best Catalogue Release.
Celebrating the labels and artists giving incredible music a second life, the award recognises reissues that connect timeless releases with brand new audiences.
And “catalogue” doesn’t just mean heritage acts or decades-old records. In today’s landscape, where artist breakthroughs and fan discovery can take time, releases from just a few years ago can still play a huge role in audience growth, discovery, and career momentum.
From cult favourites finding new fans, to reissues that shine a fresh spotlight on emerging artists, catalogue is becoming an essential part of artist development.
If you’ve reissued a single, EP or album originally released 2+ years ago, whether remastered, repackaged, expanded, or reimagined, we want to hear about it.
Find out more on how to submit for the 2026 AIM Independent Music Awards on our website
Need to up your streaming game?
As part of Future Independents next week we're hosting two key sessions with our Platinum Partners, @amazonmusicuk and @spotifyforartists , which will help you make the most of these essential platforms. Spotify will be presenting a tools-based deep dive, whilst Amazon will open the floor for an ‘ask me anything’ Q&A session!
These are must-attend sessions for independent artists and labels looking for best-practice tips to maximise their streaming impact.
➡ Future Independents is a free, multi-day, online conference expertly curated by AIM specifically for anyone looking to expand their business, further their career or increase their music industry knowledge.
📅 20 May.
⏰ Maximising Spotify For Artists: Tools Every Independent Artist Should Use - 2PM.
⏰ Amazon Music: Ask Me Anything - 2:30PM.
🌎 Online.
🔗 Follow the link in bio or go to futureindependents.co.uk to book a FREE ticket.
AIM will be heading to Brighton for @greatescapefest over the next couple of days! Our schedule is as follows:
📍 AIM presents The Team Behind The Campaign: Bon Iver, SABLE, fABLE
Join us as the @secretly team behind the @Boniver award-winning SABLE, fABLE campaign unpack the strategy, creativity and collaboration that brought one of the most talked-about campaigns in recent years to life. Expect practical insights into storytelling, audience-building and creating culturally resonant campaigns in today’s landscape.
Thursday 14th May, 13:15 – 14:15 @ Conference Room 1
📍 AIM HOUSE LIVE
We’re bringing back AIM House Live, our two-day showcase at The Alternative Escape in collaboration with AIM’s Small Labels Committee. Join us at @thebootleggerbrighton across 14–15 May from 13:30 for a free showcase spotlighting an incredible line-up of emerging independent artists. These showcases are all about creating opportunities for discovery, connection and artist development across the independent sector.
Thursday 14th May & Friday 15th May, from 13.30pm @ The Bootlegger
📍 AIM X QOBUZ HAPPY HOUR
And of course, we’ll also be bringing the community together for networking at our Happy Hour with our friends at @qobuz .
Thursday 14th May, 17.30-19.30 @ @deadwaxsocial
See you in Brighton 👋
We’re thrilled to confirm the first wave of expert speakers who will be sharing their insights with you at Future Independents next week.
Every sessions has been carefully curated to help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to excel in the modern music industry, and the speakers joining us are leaders in their fields and bring with them unparalleled expertise.
Swipe to take a look at them, along with the sessions they’ll be speaking on.
➡ Future Independents is a free, multi-day, online conference expertly curated by AIM specifically for anyone looking to expand their business, further their career or increase their music industry knowledge.
📅 18-22 May.
🌎 Online.
🔗 Follow the link in bio or go to futureindependents.co.uk to book.
We’re thrilled to confirm the first wave of expert speakers who will be sharing their insights with you at Future Independents next week.
Every sessions has been carefully curated to help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to excel in the modern music industry, and the speakers joining us are leaders in their fields and bring with them unparalleled expertise.
Swipe to take a look at them, along with the sessions they’ll be speaking on.
➡ Future Independents is a free, multi-day, online conference expertly curated by AIM specifically for anyone looking to expand their business, further their career or increase their music industry knowledge.
📅 18-22 May.
🌎 Online.
🔗 Follow the link in bio or go to futureindependents.co.uk to book.
Part of landing a lucrative sync deal is WHAT you're pitching. But what can actually be more impactful to decision makers, is HOW you're pitching.
Using the DISCO platform, locking in accurate rightsholder information, checking samples are cleared, and across which territories. Are all songwriters registered with someone like PRS and contactable to speed things along. Do you have clean radio versions ready. Have you included a summary of lyrical themes, moods, languages, and included both stream and download options...
As Helen Wiltshire from @hwsync flagged at our Pitching To Music Supervisors panel as part of our Sync Starter event, it’s vital to understand what music supervisors are actively looking for. Having a strong awareness of the sounds, styles, and song types currently landing in sync across film, TV, advertising, and gaming will help to set you apart.
We host events like Sync Starter to share the knowledge between all of us, from top to bottom; experts in their field, to those just entering the sector.
It was great to see the independent sector come together at for the launch of @indielabelmkt Bristol with @bristolnewmusic . From crate-digging gems to conversations with the people shaping independent music, it was a reminder of why our community matters.
Since 2011, Independent Label Market has created spaces for independent labels to connect directly with music lovers, championing discovery, collaboration and the power of the indie community. From exclusive releases to vinyl rarities, the energy in the room showed exactly why these events are so important.
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by to celebrating the labels, artists and fans that keep grassroots music culture thriving. We’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going at Independent Label Market in London today, see you there.
Last year was unforgettable… but this year could be yours!
Submissions for the AIM Independent Music Awards are officially OPEN.
From breakthrough artists to labels, teams and innovators, these awards celebrate the very best of the UK’s independent music community.
⏰ Submissions close 21st May
🎟️ AIM Rightsholder Members can submit for free
If you’ve released something you’re proud of this year, now’s the time to put it forward. Find out more at the link in our bio
Sync can change everything. At our recent AIM Academy event ‘How to Get Started in Sync’, we tried to break down what that actually means. Not just at the Kate Bush end of the scale, but for independent artists building careers from the ground up.
Landing a sync isn’t easy. But when it happens, it can be transformative. For some, such as @lloydluther it’s the difference between balancing a day job and making music full time. We’ve heard first-hand how a single placement has taken artists out of entirely different careers.
Whether you’re just starting out or already established, these are the kinds of conversations we’re having at AIM. Practical, honest, and focused on helping you move forward.
BEHIND THE NOISE 3/3 with @demajerle 🎤
Join us for a look back at Above The Noise — the West of England’s No.1 music industry event in our three part series taking you BEHIND the noise, with your host Demajerle Myers.
Finally, we took a deep dive into why grassroots venues are crucial for our communities, culture and emerging artists, while exploring how we can all play a part in supporting these spaces.
Hadie Abido @thejamjar_bristol
Jamell Ackford @bristoltrinity
A single drink can go a long way! 🥤
📹 @jinplumo
#behindthenoise
#abovethenoise
BEHIND THE NOISE 2/3 with @demajerle 🎤
Join us for a look back at Above The Noise — the West of England’s No.1 music industry event in our three part series taking you BEHIND the noise, with your host Demajerle Myers.
Next up, we chatted with guest speakers from programmers to artists and directors, sharing inspiring insights into their creative journeys.
@berwynberwynberwyn Artist / Producer
@iamcatcouture We Are All Alike
@nazfromnewham TRENCH
We’re certainly taking notes from this one! ✍️
📹 @jinplumo
#behindthenoise
#abovethenoise
