The boss and co-founder of XL Recordings, Richard Russell, will receive the AIM Pioneer Award at the AIM Independent Music Awards in London on September 6th.
After working in pirate radio, Russell founded independent record label XL Recordings in 1989 in partnership with Beggars Banquet Records.
The label enjoyed major success with The Prodigy, before going on to work with the likes of The White Stripes, Adele, Thom Yorke, Radiohead, Dizzee Rascal, M.I.A., The xx, FKA twigs and Vampire Weekend.
Russell is also a producer, who has worked with Gil-Scott Heron (on 2010’s I’m New Here) as well as Bobby Womack (The Bravest Man In The Universe) and Damon Albarn (Everyday Robots).
Last year Russell produced Ibeyi’s eponymous debut album, signed to XL.
Alison Wenham, AIM chair/CEO said: “I have long admired Richard as an artist whose natural abilities as a music man have extended in many directions and always brought forth music to astonish.
“He is at home as a composer, musician, producer, collaborator, inspirer… his confidence with music shines. He is our Pioneer for 2016.”
Russell is the sixth recipient of the Pioneer Award following previous winners Digby Pearson (Earache Records), Martin Mills (The Beggars Group), Geoff Travis (Rough Trade), Daniel Miller (Mute) and Laurence Bell (Domino).
The AIM Awards takes place on September 6th at The Brewery, Clerkenwell.
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