Warp Records co-founder Steve Beckett will receive the Pioneer Award at this year’s AIM Awards ceremony.
The yearly Pioneer Award aims to recognise those who’ve played a significant role in supporting independent music within the UK with The Association of Independent Music (AIM) existing to represent the UK independent music industry.
Starting out as a way to release records submitted by local artists for Steve Beckett and Rob Mitchell’s FON record shop in Sheffield in 1989, Warp has grown to be the top hub for all manner of underground electronic music. After Mitchell passed away in 2001, Beckett has continued to develop the label by signing unique artists and steering Warp towards new music innovation with offshoots such as Bleep, a pioneering DRM free download store, and Warp Films. The label is known for pushing the boundaries in electronic music and signing artists with an exciting and singular vision, from Aphex Twin, Autechre and Flying Lotus to more recent signing such as Kelela, Evian Christ and GAIKA.
Upon receiving the award, Steve Beckett said that the company has remained “staunchly independent throughout – not to be ‘against’ anything, but to be ‘for’ creating our own destiny".
