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Here’s How to Enter Submissions for AIM’s 2025 Independent Music Awards

The U.K.’s Association of Independent Music (AIM) has announced its Independent Music Awards will return to London this fall (Sept. 23).
Celebrating its 15th year, the event will take place at the capital’s iconic Roundhouse venue and spotlight a wealth of artists, labels and entrepreneurs in the independent music community — which makes up a third of the U.K.’s recorded music market.

Categories include U.K. independent breakthrough, best independent EP/mixtape and best independent remix, as well as other artist-focused awards such as best live performer. See a full list of categories below.

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AIM Rightsholder members can submit entrants for free. Submissions are now open via the organization’s official website and close at 11:59 p.m. GMT on July 9. For non-members, there are submission costs – albeit discounts are available to organizations connected with AIM, such as those who focus on encouraging further diversity in the industry.

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The one to watch, EDI (equity, diversity inclusion) champion, independent music champion and music entrepreneur of the year categories, however, are free for anyone to enter. The full list of categories and submission guidance can be found via the AIM website.

The only categories that are not open for submissions are outstanding contribution to music, the innovator award and PPL award for most played new independent artist, as these are decided in-house by AIM.

Tickets for the show will go on sale later in the summer. Last year’s ceremony saw legendary pop duo Sparks receive the outstanding contribution to music award in honor of its illustrious five-decade career, while Neneh Cherry collected the innovator award. Music Venue Trust was named independent music champion and Totnes’ Drift Records was honored with the best independent record store award. 

The 2025 event will see the reintroduction of AIM’s local music champions (previously known as Local Heroes, debuted in 2019), in collaboration with BBC Introducing. The accolade will honor those who have “demonstrated unwavering support for their local music community or used their position to improve the wider ecosystem,” according to a press release. 

Gee Davy, CEO of AIM, said in a statement: “We are delighted to bring the U.K.’s most vibrant music community awards back to the Roundhouse, celebrating the breadth of talent and innovation across independent music.“The Independent Music Awards is the best place to celebrate and recognise those who often go unsung, creating the most culturally impactful music coming out of the U.K., as well as an opportunity for us to honour some of our heroes and champions who make a wider impact.”

The Independent Music Awards will round out AIM’s wider programme of events for 2025. It will follow shortly after AIM Connected, a conference for business leaders and senior managers in the independent music sector, which will take place on Sept. 9 at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. 

June 19, 2025

Billboard UK  ·  Music  ·  Music News  ·  nsfs  ·  Politics
Rod Stewart Says He’s No Longer Friends With Neighbor Donald Trump: ‘He Became Another Guy’

Rod Stewart and Donald Trump may live close to one another, but that doesn’t mean the rock star feels any sort of neighborly way about the President of the United States.
In an interview with Radio Times published Tuesday (June 17) ahead of his upcoming Glastonbury performance, Stewart didn’t hold back when asked about the mogule-turned-politician, with whom he used to be friends. “I’m not a great fan of Trump,” he told the publication. “I knew him very, very well. I used to go to his house.”

“I live literally half a mile away,” continued Stewart, who has a residence in Palm Beach, Fla. “We’re both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties. He’s always been a bit of a man’s man. I liked him for that. But he didn’t, as far as I’m concerned, treat women very well.”

Stewart added that he thinks becoming the leader of the country changed his former pal for the worse. “Since he became president, he became another guy,” the musician said. “Somebody I didn’t know.”

Trump and Stewart were friends for many years. Even leading up to the 2016 election — which the billionaire ended up winning, securing his first of two nonconsecutive White House terms — the Grammy winner stood by his fellow Floridian, telling Billboard when asked about the election in 2015, “I have strong political beliefs, [but] I don’t want to get into it … Donald Trump happens to be a friend of mine.”

Now, Stewart says he definitely doesn’t consider Trump a friend, citing one policy issue in particular as unforgivable. “No, I can’t anymore,” the artist said. “As long as he’s selling arms to the Israelis — and he still is. How’s that war ever gonna stop?”

Stewart joins a number of musicians who have criticized Trump’s administration, with many of them similarly taking issue with the U.S. government’s involvement in Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas — a conflict that has resulted in the deaths of more than 50,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023, when the terrorist group incited retaliation after killing 1,200 Israeli civilians and took 251 hostages.

“Someone’s gotta do something,” added Stewart. “What [Israeli President] Netanyahu is doing to the Palestinians is exactly what happened to the Jews. It’s annihilation, and that’s all he wants to do — get rid of them all. I don’t know how they sleep at night.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is set to headline Glastonbury later in June, with The 1975, Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo also leading the four-day festival’s bill. Charli xcx, Doechii, Gracie Abrams, Noah Kahan, Wolf Alice and Busta Rhymes will perform as well.

Stewart’s set will take place after he was forced to postpone a handful of U.S. concert dates due to illness.

June 18, 2025

Billboard UK  ·  genre pop  ·  Music  ·  Music News  ·  Pop
Lola Young Announces New Album ‘I’m Only F–king Myself’: Here’s When It Arrives

Lola Young only has “One Thing” on her mind: The British songwriter’s third full-length album is officially on its way. Young will release I’m Only F–king Myself on Sept. 19, following a huge 18 months that have put the Londoner […]

June 18, 2025

Billboard UK  ·  Legal  ·  Music  ·  Music News
Kneecap’s Mo Chara Released on Bail Over Terror Charge, Hearing Date Set

Kneecap’s Mo Chara appeared at Westminster’s Magistrates Court on Wednesday (June 18) in relation to an alleged terror offense.
In May, the MC (born Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) was charged for allegedly showing support for militant organizations Hamas and Hezbollah – both of which are defined as terror groups by U.K. law – in newly surfaced videos from a past concert. The video appeared to show Chara shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and displaying a Hezbollah flag at a show in London in November 2024.

During the hearing, Mo Chara spoke only to confirm his name. The Press Association reports that Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, presiding over the case, released him on unconditional bail and set a hearing date of Aug. 20. Mr Goldspring said that the 27-year-old must attend court on that day. Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove told the court: “This case is not about Mr hAnnaidh’s support for the people of Palestine or his criticism of Israel.” (via The Irish News)

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Campaigners supporting the group were present at the court’s entrance, with the band and its label Heavenly encouraging fans to attend.

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The Belfast trio, made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí arrived to court wearing “Free Mo Chara” t-shirts. In the build-up to the court case, Kneecap had “plastered” London with billboards with the message ‘More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara,’ in reference to the discriminatory slogan that was present at some London pubs in the 1950s and ’60s.

Speaking on their social platforms, the group called the charge “a carnival of distraction” from what they see as the real issue at hand: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes.”

The group say that their pro-Palestine views have been weaponised against them and claimed that their artistic free speech has been infringed. A number of artists including Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C., Paul Weller and IDLES signed an open letter backing the trio. On Monday, The Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr shared a statement showing support for Kneecap, and called for them to remain on the bill at Glastonbury Festival next week (June 27-29) despite calls for a boycott.

The Northern Irish hip-hop trio released their breakthrough album Fine Art in 2024 alongside a self-titled biopic which saw critical acclaim, and was nominated for an Academy Award as well as winning a BAFTA prize.

In April 2025, the group ended their Coachella sets with a message that stated: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F–k Israel; free Palestine.” A number of industry names including Sharon Osbourne called for them to be removed from the bill and their work visas to be revoked.

Past videos of the band soon began to surface, including one from November 2023 with the group allegedly saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” Kneecap issued a statement on the remarks, offering an apology to the families of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox; both were killed while standing as MPs in separate incidents in 2021 and 2016, respectively. 

“Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay,” the group said. “We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history. We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.” The group were not charged in connection with this incident.

During the fallout, a number of the band’s shows were cancelled by organisers, including TRNSMT in Glasgow, Scotland and the Eden Sessions in Cornwall. Kneecap announced – and promptly sold out – make-up shows for fans in those cities.

June 18, 2025

Billboard UK  ·  genre rock  ·  Music  ·  Music News  ·  Rock  ·  UK Business
Oasis to Launch Pop-Up Merch Stores Alongside Reunion Tour Dates in U.K. & Ireland

Oasis has announced a series of pop-up stores for fans to purchase merchandise for its hotly anticipated reunion tour, which kicks off on July 4 in Cardiff, Wales.
The official Oasis Live ‘25 Fan Stores will launch nationwide throughout the U.K. and Ireland, giving fans the opportunity to purchase merchandise ahead of the shows. The first space will open in Manchester on June 20 until July 27, with stores in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Birmingham set to be announced in due course. Locations for each are to be confirmed in the coming days; there is currently no confirmation if the band will open similar pop-up stores for their other dates later this summer.

Fans will be able to access a range of official tour merchandise, including exclusive brand collaborations, limited-edition products and items exclusive to the Live ‘25 Fan Stores. The band’s web store will also begin stocking official tour merchandise later this week, with details set to be confirmed imminently.

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In November 2024, it was announced that Oasis had selected Warner Music Group’s merchandise and fan-experience division WMX as the official partner for their Live ‘25 reunion tour. In May, Amazon also launched its own exclusive range of Oasis merch, including a reproduction of a T-shirt from the band’s Knebworth shows in 1996.

They’re not the first to announce pop-up shops to meet fans’ demand for merchandise. Last week, Dua Lipa announced an pop-up in London ahead of her sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium (June 20, 21), and Tyler, the Creator, Harry Styles and more have all tapped into the lucrative merchandise market with dedicated stores for fans on tour stops in recent years.

In August 2024, it was announced that Noel and Liam Gallagher would reunite as Oasis to play a series of concerts, their first since 2009. The band is set to play a run of 41 shows across the U.K. and Ireland, North America, Latin America, Asia and Australia throughout 2025.

While details on the shows remain under wraps, Liam has used his social media profiles to tease fans with insider info. When he joined rehearsals in early June, Liam said the band sound “F–king FILTHY,” and that new drummer Joey Waronker was a “special” addition to the lineup.

It is thought that Waronker will join former Oasis members Andy Bell (bass), Gem Archer (guitar), Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs (guitar) alongside Noel and Liam at the shows.

June 17, 2025