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Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT AIM

How can I contact AIM? What is AIM’s address?

AIM's address is:

Lamb House
Church Street
Chiswick
London
W4 2PD

Telephone: 020 8994 5599
Fax: 020 8994 5222
Email: info@musicindie.com

Nearest tube: Turnham Green

Visit the Contact Us page for maps and further details.

Can I join AIM’s mailing list / sign up to AIM’s newsletter?

If you are not a member, sign up to our newsletter via our homepage. AIM members automatically get a weekly e-bulletin from AIM every Tuesday.

What does AIM do?

AIM is a membership organisation for UK based independent record companies and distributors and anyone releasing music. We offer advice, information, support, help with exporting, training, networking events and more to our members. We are funded by membership subscriptions which means that we can only enter into projects sanctioned by our members, and that are for their direct benefit. We are not able to offer our services to non-members, but non-members can pay to attend our events and download certain guides on this site.

What benefits do I receive as an AIM member?

The benefits of AIM membership are tenfold. From providing expert advice on running your business to access to a vast network of potential partners, to offering up-to-date industry information and market research, our membership is incredibly valuable.

Visit the Benefits of Membership section to find out more.

Am I eligible for AIM membership? Can I join AIM?

You must be an independent record company or distributor. This means that you make or distribute sound recordings.

Many of AIM's members are self-releasing artists or bands - so if you are an artist looking to put out your own recordings, you are essentially a DIY record label, and you are eligible to join. Similarly you might be a manager, producer, studio owner, publisher etc etc. If you own and release sound recordings, you are also a label!

An independent company is one that is not owned (51% or more) by a major record company. Our record company members must also be members of the PPL, as our fee involves paying a percentage of PPL income. You can join AIM before joining PPL, or whilst waiting for your PPL membership to be processed, just let us know when you get your PPL membership number.

Join AIM by visiting the Membership section.

How Do I Join AIM?

Visit the Membership section where you can sign up online.

I am based outside the UK, can I still join AIM?

Unfortunately only companies based in UK and Ireland can join AIM, but you can find links to our sister organisations around the world on this site.

You can join our mailing list though, by signing up through the homepage of this site.

What is the cost of joining AIM? What are AIM’s membership rates?

Record company membership costs: Joining fee of £100 +VAT. There is also an annual renewal fee payable every January from the January after the year in which you join. This is currently set at £126+VAT.

Plus all members pay a subscription of 10% of PPL income.

Distributors pay an annual membership fee of £750+VAT - there are no other fees or charges for distributors.

For more details check the Membership section.

What is the difference between AIM and the BPI?

The BPI is a trade association for all UK record companies, including the majors. AIM operates solely in the interests of the independent sector, which has issues quite different to those of the majors. AIM works to give the indies a voice, and to create a level playing field for them to compete. Members of AIM can join the BPI and vice versa, and the two organisations work together on various campaigns.

Can AIM help me find a record label or get signed?

We do not assist artists or management to find labels – AIM does not deal with the A&R process – just the business side of running an independent label. We suggest you try the Unsigned Guide, The Music Week Directory, The Showcase Directory, or a google search to locate labels operating in a genre of music that you do.

If you want to know who AIM’s members are and visit their websites, you can search our Members Directory from the Resources section.

Can AIM help me to find work experience / a job in a record company?

You are welcome to post your details on the site with a short resume, explaining what you are looking for, and it will be viewable by AIM members only. Visit the Post My CV page in the Resources section.

Can you tell me more about AIM events?

AIM regularly put on useful themed events for members across the country, with topics such as digital distribution, funding, marketing on a shoestring, licensing and so on. Members can attend for a discounted fee and watch presentations, be involved in seminars and have meetings. The events are great for making business contacts and learning more about important areas. Our annual Music Connected digital day is attended by around 400 delegates from record and digital music companies around the world.

You can book tickets for many of these events online through the Events section of the AIM website. Members get a significantly discounted rate for all of AIM’s events.

Can AIM help me find staff / work experience staff / help with recruitment?

AIM members can advertise jobs in AIM e-bulletins and can contact AIM for advice on employment regulations and so on. They can also take advantage of our work experience scheme, which places music business students in placements with members.

Which companies/labels are members of AIM?

Browse our Members Directory in the Resources section to see details of AIM’s members.

Who are the AIM board members?

Visit the Our Board page in the About AIM section to see AIM’s current Board members.

I am not a record company or distributor, but would like access to AIM's members for business purposes, is this possible? Can I market my service to AIM members?

AIM runs a 'Friends of AIM' scheme, which companies who wish to do business with AIM members can join. The scheme facilitates trade between suppliers and AIM members and gives suppliers instant access to the independent sector. The cost of joining this scheme is £1050 + VAT P/A.

Benefits include regular e-mailshots to our membership, a premier listing in our Supplier Database, access and discounted entry to all of our member events and invites to the annual Friends of AIM networking dinner. There is more information in the Membership section of this site.

If Friends of AIM falls outside your budget, you could take a listing in our Supplier Directory. Members searching for services browse this database, and can contact those companies listed. This costs just £200+VAT. Visit the Supplier Directory page for details.

What are Friends of AIM?

Friends of AIM are associate members, who pay a subscription to AIM in order to be part of and show their support for the independent music community. We do not share members’ details with Friends of AIM, instead we send out a weekly Friends of AIM email each Monday, which lets members know about the services and discounts they can access from Friends.

To find out more about Joining as a Friend of AIM, visit the Membership section.

I am an AIM member. How do I log in?

You will need your username which is your email address as registered on AIM’s database. You will also need your password. Once you have logged into the website, the system will remember you if you tick the relevant box.

It’s important to log in, or else you will not have access to a variety of first-class information, that only members can retrieve.

What are the benefits to logging in?

You can view the full range of AIM's offerings from contacts directories and how-to guides to important business areas, to videos of past events.

You can access member-only content such as reports; consultation papers; business guidance documents; meeting presentations; industry newsletters and so on.

You can promote your company through the online member database; which also allows you to contact other members.

How can I get a job at AIM?

AIM is a very small team and is rarely recruiting, but you can post your CV on the site for AIM and our members to view. Visit the Post My CV page in the Resources section.

Can I use AIM’s logo?

Members can use a special ‘Member of AIM’ stamp on their websites and stationary, rather than the actual AIM logo. If you require this stamp, please email info@musicindie.com.

If you require AIM’s logo for other purposes, please send your request to info@musicindie.com.

How many people work at AIM?

AIM currently has a full time team of 7 staff, plus a number of consultants, accountants and others who work with us part time or freelance.

Visit the Our Staff page in the About AIM section to find out more.

What is AIM’s turnover?

In 2008 AIM’s turnover was £1,149,075.
In 2007 AIM’s turnover was £888,466.

AIM is a not for profit organisation, funded by membership subscriptions.

For further details, visit the AGM and Annual Reports page in the About AIM section.

What is Independents Day?

Independents Day is the global celebration of independent music that takes place each year. AIM organises the UK activity, which in previous years has included a charity auction of independent music memorabilia, a season of independent gigs at The ICA in London, a compilation album including exclusive tracks from top independent acts and special programming of independent music across radio, TV and press.

Independents Day takes place in July each year, sign up to our mailing list on the homepage to receive details.

INDUSTRY ORGANISATIONS

What is PPL?

PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd) is a collection society which licenses radio stations and television broadcasters for use of recorded music. If you are a record company, you should join PPL (it is free to join) to give them permission to collect money on your behalf. If your recordings are played on the radio, there is the chance that will be paid by PPL for these uses. You will have to supply them with details of your releases, including details of the performers involved.

www.ppluk.com

What is UK Trade and Investment / UKTI ?

UK Trade & Investment is the Government organisation that supports companies in the UK doing business internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to set up or expand in the UK.

See the media section of the UK Trade & Investment site for more information.

www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/

What is Merlin?

Merlin is a not-for-profit organisation charged with representing independent music companies in enhancing the commercial exploitation of their copyrights on a global basis.
With members in over 25 countries, Merlin is the first rights body focusing purely on the interests of the global independent music sector, which collectively represents 30% of all music sales.

With a globally representative board elected by its community, Merlin ensures that independents finally have a vehicle which can protect and enhance the strength, diversity and unique interests of its members and enhance their ability to compete and access new revenue streams in the ever changing world of digital music.

Merlin exists because the independents need their own body to ensure their interests are properly represented by an organisation focused wholly on their sector. Independents work in a incredibly competitive environment, ruled by shrinking physical sales, a digital market that is not replacing the fall in revenues, and where independent’s ability to compete is being eroded by the major corporations that dominate the market, from both the supply and retail side.
Merlin is not an aggregator or distributor. Its remit is to represent its members in new media deals that can’t be easily negotiated locally or individually or are not covered adequately by existing arrangements.

www.merlinnetwork.org

What is WIN?

WIN is a global forum for the professional independent music industry. Along with our equivalent bodies in other countries, AIM is a member of WIN, which addresses issues faced by the independent sector everywhere.

www.worldwideindependentnetwork.com

What is Impala?

Impala is a not-for-profit trade body representing the independent music sector in Europe. AIM is a member of Impala, as are trade associations for independents in other European territories.

www.impalasite.org

What is AIF?

AIF, a division of AIM, is a not-for-profit trade association looking after the interests of independent festivals in the UK.

www.aiforg.com

What is UK Music?

UK Music is an umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the UK’s commercial music industry, from artists, musicians, songwriters and composers, to major and independent record labels, managers, music publishers, studio producers and collecting societies.

www.ukmusic.org

STARTING AND RUNNING A LABEL

How do I start a record company?

You create or license some recordings, then manufacture and sell them. You may not even need to manufacture anything if you decide to only release digitally. You could be a singer-songwriter or producer who wants to release your own material, if you make and own your recordings then that's it - you're a record company! But there are some business issues you will need to become aware of.

There is no formal “registration” process that you have to go through – anyone can start a record company. You should read our guide: So you want to start a label…

You will need to make sure you follow procedures involved in setting up any company, and in particular that you follow industry procedures – making agreements for the rights with artists, paying MCPS where applicable, paying artist royalties etc.

Visit the Starting a Label page in the Resources section for some more tips, or join AIM now if you haven’t already!

Is there a good guide book to the music industry available?

There are many music industry guides and contacts books available. The AIM Guide to Survival and Success in the Music Business is an E-book free to members, or available to non-members at a cost of £10 plus VAT. The guide is indispensable to anyone studying or working in any area of the UK music industry.

AIM E-Guides to specific areas of the business are also available, including the 'AIM E-Guide to Synchronisation Licensing'. This is free to members or available to non members for £40 +VAT.

Visit the Downloadable E-Books page in Resources to browse the guides available.

Is there a register of record label names already in use?

There is not a single definitive list or register, but if you have an idea of a name you should make checks - check with Company's House, look the name up in the Music Week Directory, look at lists of AIM and BPI members and search for the name on the internet. If your name is similar to or the same as that of another company, it might be necessary to seek advice to be sure there are no problems.

Where can I look for grants /funding?

The Princes Trust offers grants for people between 18-30 who are starting their own businesses and are either unemployed or underemployed. They can be contacted on 0800 842 842.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have a small business support service - www.dti.gov.uk

Also check out: Business Link - www.businesslink.gov.uk

Arts Council - www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding

What are my options for funding / finance?

You should consider which of the following sources of finance best suits your company and situation: Bank loans and overdrafts, venture capital and private investors, Business Angels, individual investment and loans, record company investment, grants and government assistance...

Visit Business Link -www.businesslink.gov.uk - for more information.

What is a synchronisation licence?

A license to synchronise music with an image, such as in a TV programme (known as dubbing), film, computer game or advertisement. Also known as secondary licensing. Companies who want to obtain a recording synchronisation license will usually have to get the rights to use the song or composition (from the publisher or writers) AND the rights to the recording (from the record company or master rights holder).

Members should download the free invaluable 'AIM E-Guide to Synchronisation Licensing' from the AIM E-Guides page in Member Resources - this comprehensive guide tells you everything you need to know about synchronisation licensing, as well as containing a directory of over 100 synch industry contacts. This guide is free to members, and can be bought by non members for £40 +VAT from the Downloadable E-Books page in Resources.

How can I find out more about Copyright Law?

Copyright law is covered in the AIM Guide to Survival and Success In The Music Business which is free to members, or £10 to non-members. Visit the Downloadable E-Books section in Resources to download this guide.

What is the duration of copyright for sound recordings and musical works?

Currently in the UK, the duration of copyright is as follows:

Sound recordings: 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which it was recorded, or 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which it was released, providing it was released within that first period.**

**At present many labels and organisations are campaigning for extension of copyright on sound recordings and this is being reviewed.

Musical Works: Copyrighted for the life of the composer plus 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the composer died.

Who collects and distributes the money made from downloads?

AIM and PPL are not involved in the collection of this money. The money from deals with companies such as Napster, I-Tunes etc will go directly from the online retailer to the record company, via your digital distributor or aggregator if you have one.

How do I get a barcode (bar code) for my records?

Go to GS1 UK – www.gs1uk.org. They are the body that issues bar codes for all products, from baked beans to music. When you become a member of GS1 UK you will have the ability to issue your own barcodes. You will be given a company code, to start the barcode, and can then generate the last bit of the barcode to identify which product of yours it is. Some distributors and manufacturers also offer to barcode their clients products.

AIM, BPI and GS1 UK have come together to launch the ‘Unique Music’ initiative. Members of AIM are now able to get single use bar codes for just £25 each.

What is an ISRC code?

ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is a worldwide identification system for individual sound recordings. Its use is important to ensure you get paid what you are due from radio, television and public performance. Collecting societies use it to match their income to the proper recordings. If you don 't use ISRCs, it's money down the drain and you won 't be able to use CatCo.

It is very easy to use the ISRC system. Just call PPL HelpDesk on 020 7534 1122 for more information.

Starting a Record Label ?

Buy the 'AIM Guide to Survival and Success in the Music Business' - for everything you need to know to setup and run your label.

Starting up guide

Members Directory

Search record companies and distributors.

Members directory