Adele Named Most Played Act at AIM Independent Awards

Big surprise! Adele was named the Most Played Independent Act at the AIM Independent Music Awards during a ceremony held Monday night in Clerkenwell, London. Also not a surprise: The British songstress wasn't in attendance, as she recently gave birth to her first child.

Other winners included the Prodigy for Best Live Act, Alt-J for Independent Breakthrough of the Year, First Aid Kit for Best Difficult Second Album ('The Lion's Roar') and Enter Shikari for Independent Album of the Year ('A Flash Flood of Colour').

The venerable 4AD won Independent Label of the Year, while Daniel Miller, founder of Mute, took home the Pioneer Award. Ian Evans at IME Music won the Indie Champion Award, and the annual LeeFest in London snagged Best Independent Festival.

Of the 15 awards given out, 11 were decided by expert judges, three were voted on by the public and one was decided by airplay. The event was hosted by hosted by Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens, and live performers included Frankie and the Heartstrings, Big Deal and Land Observations.