The BPI represents the UK recorded music business, and is a trade organisation funded by its members - which include the UK’s four major record labels and hundreds of independent music companies. BPI members account for more than 90% of all recorded music sold in the UK, and globally the UK’s recorded music market is the third biggest. Its work covers protection  (anti-piracy, lobbying), promotion (the charts, industry stats, the BRITs) and support and representation (events and services for members, media relations). The BPI also is responsible for the annual BRITs show and the organising company - BRIT Awards Limited - is a fully owned subsidiary of the BPI. Proceeds of the show go to The BRIT Trust, the charitable arm of the BPI that has donated almost £15m to charitable causes since its foundation in 1989.

 www.bpi.co.uk

AIM is a not-for-profit trade body established in 1999 to represent the UK independent music industry. Now in its 10th year, AIM acts for over 90% of the independent market, with over 800 members from small start-ups to the largest and most respected independents in the world. AIM promotes this exciting and diverse sector globally, leveraging the sector’s power as a fifth major to enable its members to grow, grasp new opportunities and break into new markets.

AIM oversees an independent sector whose artists have claimed four Mercury Music Prizes in a row (2003-2006) and earned two thirds of all nominations between 2005 and 2008. Artists signed to UK Independents also scooped a quarter of all available prizes at the 2008 Brit Awards, with an independent-signed act grabbing “Best British Group” for the fourth year running. This confirms the sector’s undoubted lead in A&R.

The independent sector regularly accounts for 30% of all UK artist album awards (silver, gold, platinum, and multi-platinum). In 2008, independent albums made up over half of the 50 “best albums of the year” according to the UK music press, and independents claimed five of the top ten releases.

Artists signed to AIM member labels include: Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Basement Jaxx, Bjork, Bloc Party, Bon Iver, Coldcut, Franz Ferdinand, Jack Penate, Jarvis Cocker, Jose Gonzalez, Katie Melua, M.I.A., Maximo Park, Nitin Sawnhey, Radiohead, Rogrigo Y Gabriela, Seasick Steve, The Prodigy, The White Stripes, Vampire Weekend and many more.

www.musicindie.com