Earache Records boss Digby Pearson is to receive this year’s AIM Independent Music Pioneer Award.

The extreme metal evangelist has been given the award, which recognises a visionary independent label founder, for his decades-long efforts in pushing ear-splitting genius from the fringes to the forefront of the scene. Earache Records was founded in 1986 in Nottingham where it helped launch the careers of iconic grindcore and death metal bands like Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Carcass and Godflesh.

Maintaining the label’s independence for nearly three decades, Pearson continues to foster success with the label through recent signings like Rival Sons, The Temperance Movement and Blackberry Smoke.

Pearson said it was “great news for all up-and-coming independent rock and metal labels out there”. “If you’re dedicated and tenacious enough, it’s pleasing to know that hard work can pay off in terms of respect from industry peers,” he said.

Pearson joins previous Pioneer Award winners Martin Mills (The Beggars Group), Geoff Travis (Rough Trade), Daniel Miller (Mute) and Laurence Bell (Domino). As The Quietus points out, the label has already picked up few awards in its lifetime, including the Guinness World Records for the world’s shortest single and shortest music video.