“A super cool imprint” – Manchester Evening News
Manchester’s SCRUFF OF THE NECK label has stormed to success at this year’s AIM Awards to be crowned ‘Best Small Label’.
At the prestigious annual music awards ceremony held at the London Roundhouse, the rapidly ascending imprint beat-off stiff competition from Fuzz Club Records, Killing Moon, Local Action and Speedy Wunderground to pick-up the top prize.
As some of industry’s greatest stars including Blondie’s Debbie Harry and Manchester icon Johnny Marr looked on, Scruff of The Neck CEO & Founder Mark Lippmann collected the Award with a candid acceptance speech, saying:
“This company has grown not just with the development of artists, but the development of talent and it’s people like this (Mitch Page, Label Manager) who have done this; from coming to work for me in a room in Hazel Grove for nothing, paying for his own trains and doing ticketing spreadsheets to becoming the ‘Best Small Label’ Manager just 2 years later.”
Starting out in 2009 Mark Lippmann ran the first ever Scruff of the Neck gig in the back room of student pub in Manchester. 10 years later, with the independent label still owned entirely by Mark, Scruff of the Neck, the company defied the odds as the only Northern label to be nominated in their category to claim the ‘Best Small Label’ at the Aim Awards in London.
Based out of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, the Scruff of the Neck Music Group now has 16 staff working across 9 divisions. The record label runs alongside a prolific live concert promotions team, artist management, festivals, video creative & marketing services, merchandise, event production, record label & music publishing; all with one goal; to be the vehicle to take artistic talent from hobby to career.
In the last two years alone, Scruff of the Neck Records has garnered 12 million Spotify Streams with editorial support from Spotify: (New Music Friday UK, The Indie List, Hot New Bands, Transistor, Indie Roadtrip. Amazon Music UK: Topping the Best New Bands playlist with The Hubbards, (content created for this accolade was also shared by Amazon Music UK in their seminar at this year’s AIM Connected.) UK Rising & two artists in Best New Bands of 2018.
In addition, their publishing arm has also seen multiple placements for artists across the world including 4 separate tracks being used on Netflix’s ‘Terrace House’, whereas the Scruff of the Neck Management services have propelled rising stars such as Larkins to play at huge headline shows at iconic venues such as Manchetser’s Albert Hall (2000 cap).
Praising the label’s hard work ethic and devotion to its artists, AIM CEO Paul Pacifico said:
“At this year’s AIM Independent Music Awards, the nominations for Best Small Label were all outstanding. On the night, SOTN emerged as the worthy winner and for me really highlight the depth of both commercial and creative talent at the heart of independent music. This small team from Manchester is punching above its weight time and time again and building a future facing music business that is ready to go from strength to strength. I look forward to their continued success and am proud to count them as a member of our community.”
The AIM awards were set up in 2011 to celebrate artists who achieve success without the support of the “big three” record labels – Sony, Warner Music and Universal.
Over the last 8 years, the AIM Awards have honoured an extraordinary array of independent artists, labels, and industry figures including: Björk, Stormzy, Adele, The Prodigy, Peggy Gou, Wolf Alice, London Grammar, Jorja Smith, Christine and The Queens, Daughter, SOPHIE, 4 AD, Ninja Tune, Transgressive, Martin Mills, Goldie, and Steve Beckett.
The 2019 ceremony marked 20 years of The Association of Independent Music (AIM) and championed the industry-led creativity, innovation, and performance shown by independent artists, labels, and outstanding individuals.
