Scruff of the Neck record label founder and organiser of Blackpool Live honoured at Independent Music Awards

The man behind live music series Blackpool Live has been honoured at the 2026 Independent Music Awards.

Mark Lippmann, Scruff of the Neck record label founder, who has helped grow the Blackpool Live series into a huge success has been named Music entrepreneur of the year.

Blackpool Live brings huge live music to one of Britain’s most iconic seaside towns turning a gig into a night out, a weekend away and a proper Blackpool experience. Established in 2026 in the historic Winter Gardens venue, Blackpool Live has successfully showcased artists such as The Fratellis, Feeder, The Enemy, Cast, The Pigeon Detectives, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets and many more with huge further plans for the series in years to come.

Jorja Smith and Robyn also took two of the major awards at the 2026 Independent Music Awards.

The awards recognise independent artists and businesses operating at a small scale.

Smith, 29, won best independent track for The Way I Love You at the ceremony at The Roundhouse in London on Tuesday.

She won the independent breakthrough award in 2018 and has since won the best British female artist at the Brit Awards and was nominated for best new artist in 2019.

Best independent album went to Robyn for Sexistential.

The Swedish singer-songwriter and producer, who supported Harry Styles during his residency in Amsterdam earlier this year, released her first album in eight years in March.

DJ duo Fabio & Grooverider received the innovator award, which recognised their pioneering contribution to UK music and dance culture, in particular their place in jungle and drum’n’bass and their continuing work with young people.

Jalen Ngonda, 32, was named independent breakthrough. The American musician, who is based in England, rose to fame with the release of his debut studio album Come Around And Love Me in 2023.

The musician, who also performed at the awards, released his second album Doctrine Of Love in June.

Pauline Black, 72, frontwoman of The Selecter, was recognised with the outstanding contribution to music award.

Black, whose real name is Belinda Magnus, began performing with the 2 Tone ska revival band in 1979.

The Selecter split in 1982 but have reformed sporadically since 1994, while Black also developed an acting career and appeared in shows including The Bill and Hollyoaks.

She was made an OBE in 2022 for services to entertainment.

Black also marked the IMA honour by taking to the Roundhouse stage with The Selecter.

Other winners included Jim Legxacy, who took best independent mixtape/EP for black British music.

The award for most played new independent artist went to bees & honey, while rap-rocker Native James was named one to watch.

Billy Lockett won the best live performer award, voted for by the public, and Sherelle won best independent remix for her Intelligent Dyke Music Remix of Love Who You Love by Romy.

Director Lea Esmaili and label Ninja Tune received best independent video for Thundercat’s She Knows Too Much (feat. Mac Miller).

Because Music was named best independent label and untitled (recs) took home best boutique label.

Qobuz was recognised as independent music champion, and Cre8ing Vision received the DEI champion award, recognising the impact they make on young people across the UK.

In an award voted for by the public, Liverpool’s Jacaranda Records was named best independent record store.

The Association for Independent Music chief executive Gee Davy said the winners demonstrated “everything that makes the independent music community special”.

“We’ve celebrated artists, labels, entrepreneurs, record stores and organisations achieving extraordinary success, building opportunities and improving the world around them, not by standing alone, but through collective strength.

“That spirit of collaboration is a unique characteristic of the independent community and a key reason why our members continue to create cultural and commercial value far beyond their scale.”

She said: “In every corner of the UK, independent music businesses and entrepreneurs form a vital but largely unseen ‘cultural high street’ – local independent labels, distributors, studios, and more – that creates jobs, exports, investment and opportunity in communities everywhere.

“If we want to see more world-class artists emerge from the UK in the years ahead, we need to support and develop that cultural high street and back the independent businesses that use their expertise to take risks on new music and new talent.

“The success we celebrated tonight didn’t happen by accident, and neither will tomorrow’s.”