Richie Hawtin To Win Outstanding Contribution To Music Award

The AIM Awards haven't yet muscled their way into public consciousness in the same was the Mercury has – maybe it's the lack of a whopping cash prize, or maybe it's the way the Mercury has kept itself focused on just a single best album award, whilst AIM's Award ceremony recognises somewhere round 14 categories. It's a shame though, because, theoretically, a music award run by the body devoted to promoting independent artists should be something to cherish.

This year – AIM's fourth award show- sees the ceremony taking place in The Truman Brewery on September 2nd. The group have already revealed that their 'Outstanding Contribution to Music' Award will be handed to Richie Hawtin. It's a safe choice, and Hawtin has undoubtedly inspired many. We can't help feeling that he also hasn't written that much for round a decade now, having spent much of the time pissing about with largely pointless tech gimmicks whilst dressing like an extra from a particularly sombre Blake's 7 re-enactment society. Plus, hello? SaundersonMayAtkins?

Still worse choices could have been made – take a look at the nominees for best live act:

Bonobo
Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip
Five Finger Death Punch
London Grammar
Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Fuck me! Live in the loosest possible sense of the term. The judges clearly aren't ready for the naked traumatic majesty of Fat White Family (btw, total nominations for FWF= zero. Total nominations for London Grammar = 4. No doubt history will bear that one out.).

In slightly more palatable news, Kode 9 has been given the 'Innovator Award' for his role in running Hyperdub – here's what the judges have to say – and to be fair, we can't argue:

"Hyperdub has managed to establish and uphold a reputation for consistently on-point and challenging releases that has seen it become one of the most vital UK independent labels.Celebrating their 10th Anniversary this year, Hyperdub stand proud as a risk-taking, innovative force in the independent music community, constantly seeking new ways to listen and respond to music on the dance floor."

More on the AIM Awards on their website.