Longtime AIM marketing and events director Lara Baker is leaving the indie trade body this week after almost 14 years.
Music Week understands Baker is launching her own consultancy. She was recognised at the Music Week Women In Music Awards last year.
Baker was at AIM for much of its 19-year history and has worked to support the independent sector, as well as tackling issues of diversity and inclusivity in the music industry. She launched the Women In Music conference, worked on initiatives including Love Music Hate Racism and contributed to the UK Music Diversity Taskforce.
“I’m so proud of all the work I’ve done at AIM, supporting independent labels and artists has been a worthy cause and an absolute pleasure,” wrote Baker on Facebook.
Baker also helped create the AIM Awards in 2009. “We’ve built something really special,” she said of the event, which has now become an annual fixture.
Paul Pacifico, AIM CEO, said “Lara started at AIM as in intern almost 14 years ago. As AIM has grown and developed, so has Lara within it and she has very much been a part of the AIM story. Over time, Lara has been at the heart of many of AIM’s key projects and events like the AIM Independent Music Awards and Women in Music conference which have become main events in the music industry’s calendar.”
“AIM is currently in a phase of exciting change and renewal with a number of announcements coming soon. We are very grateful for Lara’s contribution to AIM and in particular her passion for issues such as women in music, which has made AIM such a leader in the ongoing campaign for diversity. Lara’s dedication over such a long period of time gives us a great opportunity to build on the firm foundations she helped establish for AIM and that we now take forward. I, along with the whole AIM team, wish Lara all the best for the future.”