Ezra Collective, anaiis, Hope Tala, And Fcukers Dominate The First Wave Of AIM’s 2025 Independent Music Awards Nominees List

With the summer coming to a close, that signifies one major event: the Association Of Independent Music Awards. Today (August 5), the first wave of AIM’s 2025 Independent Music Awards nominees was announced.

Earning two nominations apiece, Ezra Collective, Fcukers, Hope Tala, and anaiis dominated the categories shared. On the other hand, labels Ninja Tune, Transgressive, and Believe Records, lead the pack by way of their signees, pulling in three nominations each. But 5dB, Communion, Domino, FAMM, Partisan, Technicolour, XL, and Young aren’t too far behind with two nominations each.

For this year’s ceremony, AIM has encouraged fans to use their voice. Music lovers can cast their ballot for Best Independent Record Store and Best Live Performer.

Other prominent categories, including Best Independent Label and Music Entrepreneur Of The Year, have not yet been unveiled.

Continue below to view the first wave of 2025 AIM Independent Music Awards nominees.

Best Independent Track

anaiis & Grupo Cosmo – “B.P.E” (5dB Records)
Ezra Collective & Yazmin Lacey – “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing” (Partisan 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 and Tony Allen – “Rain Can’t Reach Us” (Transgressive Records)

Best Independent Album

Bon Iver — Sable, Fable (Jagjaguwar)
Ezra Collective — Dance, No One’s Watching (Partisan Records)
Fontaines DC — Romance (XL Recordings)
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 (Oklou / True Panther Records)
TAAHLIAH — Gramarye [untitled (recs)]

U.K. Independent Breakthrough (in association with Amazon Music)

corto.alto (Ninja Tune)
Fat Dog (Domino Recording Co.)
Glass Beams (Ninja Tune)
Hope Tala (Big Family Music)
Sara Landry (HEKATE Records)

Best Independent EP/Mixtape

Fcukers — Baggy$$ (Technicolour Records)
MRCY — VOLUME 1 (Dead Oceans)
Nectar Woode — Head Above Water (Communion Music)
Shygirl — Club Shy Room 2 (Because Music)
Zino Vinci — The Late Bloomer (Bawne London / Believe)

Best Independent Remix

Aluna – “Heatstroke” (Paul Woolford remix) (Mad Decent / Because Music)
Home Counties & TATYANA – “Uptight” – TATYANA remix (Submarine Cat Records)
Koreless – “Seven” (Jorg Kuning Bicton Barns Remix) (Young)
Nilufer Yanya – “Just a Western” (Boy Harsher Remix) (Ninja Tune)
Rosie Lowe – “Gratitudes” (D’Monk remix) (Blue Flowers Music)