AIM held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Glaziers Hall in London yesterday, featuring a programme of events that included a keynote interview with AIM founders Martin Mills (Beggars Group founder) and departing CEO Alison Wenham in conversation with Simon Raymonde of Bella Union.
Charles Caldas, CEO of Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the world’s independent label sector, also made a presentation outlining the positive outcomes Merlin’s members are experiencing as the market transitions to one dominated by digital and streaming.
The AIM membership also voted on a shortlist of ‘Your Big Idea’ submissions. The initiative saw the organisation inviting ideas that would become agenda setting policies or campaigns moving forward. Submitted in advance by AIM members these Big Ideas were pared down to a shortlist of 10 by the AIM board with individual members ‘sponsoring’ an individual idea. That member then worked closely with the idea’s proposer to present it at the AGM, where a vote decided which one is adopted and actioned. The winning idea was submitted by Stephen Richards (Lucky Number Music) and sponsored by Shirin Foroutan (Mute Group) and Stephen Richards (Lucky Number Music). The idea was for AIM to lobby and further investigate tax breaks for investment in UK A&R asset creation.
As part of the AGM, four new AIM board members were appointed: Achal Dhillon, Killing Moon, Frederick Jude, Snapper Music, James Endeacott, 1965 Records, Jane Third, Because Music. They replace the following retiring Board members: Charlie Larby, CRC Music, Merida Sussex, Stolen Recording, Michael McClatchey, Moshi Moshi Records, Tony Morley, The Leaf Label.
In her departing speech, Wenham said: "The final AGM of my AIM tenure was hugely enjoyable. Being able to share memories with Martin Mills and Simon Raymonde was great fun as was helping agree the shortlist for this year’s ‘Big Idea’ and seeing the brilliant submission from Stephen Richards voted for by the membership. I would also like to congratulate our four new board members on their election and thank Charlie, Merida, Michael and Tony who are stepping down and who did a fantastic job for us."
You can read Music Week’s Big Interview with Wenham here.
