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Awards Business News
Geoff Travis to receive AIM’s Pioneer Award
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 13 June 2013
Rough Trade founder Geoff Travis has been named the winner of the Pioneer Award at this year’s AIM Independent Music Awards, joining previous recipients Daniel Miller of Mute and Laurence Bell of Domino.
Travis opened the first Rough Trade record shop in 1976, setting up the label of the same name two years later, and going on to sign artists including The Fall and The Smiths. He was later forced to sell off the label’s catalogue, after the company’s distribution arm failed in the 80s. However, in 1999, he and Jeannette Lee resurrected the label, signing the likes of The Strokes and The Libertines.
Travis was also the co-founder of the Blanco Y Negro label in 1983, the WEA Records subsidiary that went on to release music by Bananarama, The Jesus And Mary Chain, Everything But The Girl and others.
On the news of his award, Travis said: “There is not much that betters having respect from your peers. So thank you AIM!”
The Association Of Independent Music’s CEO Alison Wenham added: “Geoff is an icon not just amongst independents but across the whole industry. He shows the way, he inspires, he is and always has been true to his beliefs”.
The Independent Music Awards will this year take place at The Brewery in Clerkenwell on 3 Sep.
