XL'S RICHARD RUSSELL HONORED AS PIONEER

XL boss Richard Russell will receive the Pioneer Award at the Association of Independent Music’s annual awards in London on 9/6.

As an exec and record producer, Russell has spent more than 25 years in the independent music business, during which time he has helped further the careers of artists such as Radiohead, Dizzee Rascal, Vampire Weekend, Basement Jaxx, Jungle and M.I.A.

Then there’s Adele, who signed to XL in 2006 and helped take the label from fairly niche indie tastemaker to a real competitor in the global commercial music scene.

“I have long admired Richard as an artist whose natural abilities as a music man have extended in many directions and always brought forth music to astonish,” Alison Wenham, AIM Chair/CEO, said. “He is at home as a composer, musician, producer, collaborator, inspirer…his confidence with music shines.”

Russell is the sixth recipient of the honour following Digby Pearson (Earache Records), Martin Mills (The Beggars Group), Geoff Travis (Rough Trade), Daniel Miller (Mute) and Laurence Bell (Domino).