The Grammys has signalled the return of British talent to the global stage.
After a fairly quiet couple of years – notwithstanding career breakthroughs for acts including Charli XCX, Raye and Myles Smith – there is suddenly a surge in British success on global rankings and key markets such as the US.
Olivia Dean triumphed in the Best New Artist category at the Grammys – the first UK act to do so since Dua Lipa in 2019 – as well as performing at the ceremony. Fellow Best New Artist nominee and Grammys performer Lola Young also collected a Grammy (Best Pop Solo Performance) following the streaming impact of Messy.
Dean, in particular, has been leading the charge internationally with success in multiple markets for The Art Of Loving album (Capitol), including a No.3 peak in the US. Man I Need has risen to No.2 on the US Hot 100 – one of five Dean singles on the rundown – and it is currently No.1 on the US Radio Songs chart.
Meanwhile, Harry Styles is at No.1 on the US Hot 100 with Aperture – a first for a UK artist in more than three years. In fact, the US rundown currently includes multiple British stars and breakthrough acts including Raye (Where Is My Husband!, No.13), Sienna Spiro (Die On This Hill, No.19 and You Stole The Show, No.55), Myles Smith (Nice To Meet You, No.25), EsDeeKid (4 Raws, No.33 and Phantom with Rico Ace, No.82) and Dave (Raindance with Tems, No.89).
Central Cee was also a presence on the US charts last year with the release of the Can’t Rush Greatness album.
In terms of UK talent, there were also Grammys wins for Yungblud (Best Rock Performance – for Changes), FKA Twigs (Best Dance/Electronic Album for Eusexua) and Cynthia Erivo (Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Ariana Grande for Defying Gravity), while UK alternative rock veterans The Cure won their first ever Grammys (Best Alternative Music Performance for Alone and Best Alternative Music Album for Songs Of A Lost World).
Prior to the main ceremony, Raye won the Recording Academy's Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award (Ice Cream Man).
British rock band Sleep Token also made their mark with a pair of nominations in the wake of their US and UK No.1 album Even In Arcadia.
Here, Dr Jo Twist, CEO of UK labels body the BPI, discusses the new wave of global breakthroughs, reflects on the cyclical nature of the business and looks ahead to what will be a celebratory edition of the BRIT Awards…
How does the Grammys success underline the revival of British talent on the global stage? What is the role of labels in the long-term development of the big winners?
“Last year saw the emergence of a new generation of successful artists not only on home turf but in key international markets like the States, and wins by the likes of FKA Twigs, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, Yungblud and Raye at the Grammys only serve to underline quite how much impact British artists are having on the world stage.
“It's fair to say that our record label members have a key part to play in many of the big winners' journeys, both in how they partner with artists and in how they work as part of the wider British music ecosystem. Labels are vital in nurturing and investing in exceptional talent, helping artists to cultivate and realise their creative visions and navigate a rapidly changing industry, and working to make sure great music can cut through the noise and connect with audiences. As we all know, what might look to music fans like an ‘overnight success’ is often the result of years of genuine partnership, artistic development, and incredibly hard work on all sides.”
The Grammy Award wins go to show that British label businesses are truly world class
Dr Jo Twist
Olivia Dean was the first Best New Artist winner since Dua Lipa in 2019 – and Lola Young was nominated too. What do you think is behind the revival in UK talent globally following a period when US stars seemed to dominate, including on our own domestic charts?
“We know that fans and listeners look to connect with the human side of music wherever they can, and seek out the storytelling in their favourite artists' music. We're fortunate in the UK to have a new generation of artists coming through with incredible stories to tell and richly varied lived experiences to share through their art, and it's gratifying to see this resonate so strongly with audiences around the world.
“The recorded music market has of course always been a cyclical one, but the revival in UK talent globally definitely reflects the industry entering an invigorated new phase as well. To paraphrase [Capitol president] Jo Charrington: if we want to have the world's best artists coming out of the UK, then we need the world's best teams around those artists offering creative support, guidance and investment. The Grammy Award wins go to show that British label businesses are truly world class.”
Olivia Dean is currently pushing for the top of the US charts for albums and singles – while Harry Styles has just debuted at the summit. Does that show how UK stars can compete internationally based on streaming and ticket sales?
“We absolutely believe a new generation of British talent can cut through globally and it's encouraging to see this reflected in international charts so far in 2026. Moments like the Grammys and recent excellent showings in the Billboard charts by the likes of Olivia and Harry Styles are exciting –and we're hoping for many more moments like these in the year ahead. We're also confident that British artists can compete across a broad range of genres – just look at Sleep Token and Central Cee's international successes last year, for example.”
The revival in UK talent globally definitely reflects the industry entering an invigorated new phase
Dr Jo Twist
What are the lessons from K-pop's UK chart success in terms of successful exports?
“K-pop’s success tells us many things. On one level, it’s obviously a case study of a perfectly executed global marketing campaign, enabled in large part by significant annual funding from a South Korean government that understands the true value of music and the creative arts in producing global cultural reach and economic growth. Of course we have the government-funded Music Export Growth Scheme in the UK, which is valued by the BPI and SME music companies, and the government has also identified music as a priority subsector within its Creative Industries Sector Plan. This is a recognition of music’s value to the UK economy and its potential for growth, and we hope this can be a platform for further meaningful support.
“But the success and storytelling of K-pop also speaks to how much of a global village the world has now become, with all forms of media – socials, games, film, and music cross-fertilising to bring us that much closer in a real-time exchange of cultural ideas and influences. That’s not to diminish or undervalue in any way the quality of K-pop music and performances, which can be absolutely brilliant, as the success of Demon Hunters testifies. What K-pop seems to have grasped so effectively is the aspiration that music represents to young fans the world-over, and its songwriters and creators have tapped into this in a very impressive way.”
Heavier rock has made an impressive impact at the top of the albums charts with the likes of Sleep Token, Those Damn Crows and Yungblud. Has the British rock scene been under appreciated, is there scope for a rock revival that takes it further into the mainstream?
“It’s sometimes easy to overlook just how huge and popular rock/metal still is – whether iconic legacy artists or contemporary new acts such as Sleep Token and Yungblud, as well rock’s mainstream, where bands such as Wet Leg, Wolf Alice and Nova Twins are helping to bring in new audiences. It’s something the UK has always been incredibly good at – Iron Maiden and Bring Me The Horizon still absolutely pack them in whenever they play, and Sleep Token, who enjoyed No.1 success in the UK and the US last year, are just the next chapter in that. We’ve also seen great performing new albums from Architects, The Darkness and As December Falls among others.
“Rock was, of course, the theme for last year’s National Album Day, arguably helping it to be the most effective campaign to date in terms of media coverage, digital engagement and charts impact. It was also interesting to note that, as we approached National Album Day itself, the announcement of Joakim Brodén of Swedish power metal band Sabaton as the final album champion – along with Architects, Iron Maiden, Nova Twins, and Wolf Alice – added a whole new dimension to the campaign. Metal’s impact doesn’t always show itself in the upper reaches of the charts, but its roots and influence go deep, and we shouldn’t underestimate the scale at which it can connect with people.”
With the buzz around UK and international talent at the Grammys, how does this help to set up the BRITs later this month with multiple nominations for several key artists?
“The BRIT Awards with Mastercard has always been a celebration of the diversity and power of British music, and this year's event is shaping up extremely well. We're sure the Grammy wins will be getting artists, fans and the wider music community even more excited for what's to come!”
PHOTO: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
FOLLOW 
