Fontaines D.C., Gilles Peterson and Ezra Collective were among the winners at the 2025 Independent Music Awards on Tuesday evening (Sept. 23).

The ceremony, which took place at London’s Roundhouse, celebrated independent musicians and record labels in a number of categories. The awards are organised by the Association of Independent Music (AIM) and winners selected by a jury panel.

DJ, broadcaster and label boss Gilles Peterson collected the outstanding contribution to music prize for his work in the U.K. dance and jazz scenes over the past four decades. Peterson hosts a regular show on BBC Radio 6 Music, founded the influential Acid Jazz and Brownswood Recordings labels, and in recent years began the We Out Here festival in Dorset, England. 

Commenting on his win on his Instagram, Peterson wrote, “There’s a lot to fight for in keeping the U.K. music industry and culture at the cutting edge both here and abroad. But this award is more than a recognition of one person – it takes a village.”

Fontaines D.C.’s fourth album Romance scooped the best album prize and was collected by bassist Conor Deegan III. The Irish band recently concluded touring for the LP, which landed at No. 2 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart and was nominated for two Grammy awards. The album was also named on the shortlist for the Mercury Prize, which will be awarded on Oct. 16 in Newcastle. The band’s current label XL Recordings also won the best independent record label.

Jazz group Ezra Collective earned the best independent track award for “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing” featuring Yazmin Lacey. The song appeared on Dance, No One’s Watching, the group’s third LP.  

Throbbing Gristle member and Industrial Records co-founder Cosey Fanni Tutti was awarded the innovator award, and used her speech to celebrate the U.K.’s indie creative scene. “Everything I’ve done has been totally independent,” she said. “This is really special because innovation and independence really are sisters with me. I’ve seen innovation as a lifeblood of the music world – without that there would be no inspiration.”

There were also wins for Bon Iver and his label Jagjaguwar (best creative campaign), corto.alto (best independent breakthrough), Shed Seven (best live performer) and more. See the full winners list below.

Outstanding Contribution to Music

WINNER: Gilles Peterson

Innovator award

WINNER: Cosey Fanni Tutti

Best live performer

Alison Moyet (Cooking Vinyl)
Elles Bailey (Cooking Vinyl)
Ayanna Witter-Johnson (Hill and Gully Records)
WINNER: Shed Seven (Cooking Vinyl)
Wunderhorse (Communion Records) 

Best independent video 

WINNER: Bricknasty – “Vinland” (FAMM)
Black Honey – ”Psycho (Foxfive Records) 
Fontaines D.C. – ”In The Modern World” (XL Recordings)
Ezra Collective – “God Gave Me Feet For Dancing” (Partisan Records)
Wet Leg – “Catch These Fists” (Domino Recording Co.)

PPL Award for most played new independent artist

Fat Dog (Domino Recording Co)
First Time Flyers (Lookout Mountain)
IN PARALLEL (Method 808)
NDOTZ (Chosen Flystr8)
WINNER: Popeth (Recordiau Cosh Records)

Best independent label 

Because Music
Communion Records
Modern Sky UK
Transgressive 
WINNER: XL Recordings

Best independent record store 

Art Beats (Saffron Walden)
A Slice of Vinyl (Gosport)
Raven Records (Camden, London)
Spinning Around Records (Wellington, Telford)
WINNER: Wax & Beans (Bury)

Best creative campaign 

NQ Records and Aitch (4)
WINNER: Jagjaguwar and Bon Iver (SABLE, fABLE)
XL Recordings and Fontaines D.C. (Romance)
The Leaf Label and Snapped Ankles (Hard Times Furious Dancing)
Transgressive and SOPHIE (SOPHIE)

Best boutique label

WINNER: AD 93
Clasico Records
Flystr8
Submarine Cat Records
Untitled (recs)

Independent music champion in association with PRS

WINNER: Bandcamp

Best independent track

anaiis, Grupo Cosmo, “B.P.E” (5dB Records)
WINNER: 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, 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)
WINNER: 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 (Because Music / True Panther Records)
TAAHLIA, Gramarye (untitled (recs))

U.K. independent breakthrough (in association with Amazon Music) 

WINNER: 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)
WINNER: 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

Fat Dog, “Peace Song” [TowerBlock1 mix] (Domino Recording Co.)
Home Counties, TATYANA, “Uptight” – TATYANA remix (Submarine Cat Records)
Koreless, “Seven” (Jorg Kuning Bicton Barns Remix) (Young)
WINNER: Nilufer Yanya, “Just a Western” (Boy Harsher Remix) (Ninja Tune)
Rosie Lowe, “Gratitudes” (D’Monk remix) (Blue Flowers Music)

One to Watch

anaiis (5dB Records)
WINNER: BINA. (TLD Records)
Chloe Qisha (VLF Records / Are You Serious) 
Cristale (Believe)
Fcukers (Ninja Tune)

Music Entrepreneur of the Year

WINNER: Karen Emanuel (Key Productions)

DEI Champion 

WINNER: ESEA Music