The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Music Managers Forum (MMF) have revealed more awardees and shortlists for the 2025 Artist & Manager Awards.
The event, which celebrates the unique relationship between artists and managers, returns to London’s Bloomsbury Big Top on Thursday November 20. It will again be hosted by BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Remi Burgz.
Recognising 30-plus years guiding the careers of artists including Ash, alt-J and Wolf Alice, Stephen “Tav” Taverner, founder of East City Management, will receive the award for Manager’s Manager.
“A hugely popular and long-serving former MMF board member, Tav is undoubtedly one of the most successful British managers of his generation, who has repeatedly helped artists achieve greatness while embracing individualism, independence and innovation,” said a statement.
Following spells at Rough Trade Distribution and Big Cat Records/Bedlam Management as an A&R scout, he went on to launch indie label La La Land. Its first release was the debut single by Ash, now his longest-standing management client. The band’s most recent album, Ad Astra, entered the UK Top 20 earlier this month.
Taverner has steered the success of Wolf Alice, whose latest record and major label debut, The Clearing, peaked at No.1.
Through East City Management, he has mentored a group of young managers who oversee a diverse roster of artists including The Big Moon, Public Service Broadcasting and Kodaline. London-based four-piece Keo – newly signed to Island – are among the latest acts to join East City’s roster.
“A passionate advocate for transparency, creators rights and empowering artists to build their own businesses, Tav remains a music enthusiast, and an inspiration to the wider management community,” added the statement.
Tav is such a trusted, popular and supportive individual, and a real pillar of the MMF community
Annabella Coldrick
Annabella Coldrick, chief executive, Music Managers Forum, said: “I am delighted we have this opportunity to recognise Tav’s career successes at East City, alongside his wider contribution to music management. This is long overdue. Tav is such a trusted, popular and supportive individual, and a real pillar of the MMF community. His commitment to long-term talent development with artists such as Wolf Alice, alt-J and Ash is widely recognised by his peers, many of whom cite him as an inspiration. He is a true managers’ manager.”
2025’s awards for Artist Of The Year and Manager Of The Year will be announced on the night of the ceremony and drawn from two shortlists. Both feature individuals and groups from a wide array of genres, who have achieved domestic success and international recognition over a sustained period.
2025 Artist of the Year Shortlist (sponsored by Tixel):
– CMAT
– Fontaines DC
– Jade
– Lola Young
– PinkPantheress
2025 Manager of the Year Shortlist:
– Amy Frenchum - Blue Raincoat Artists (Ezra Collective, Yazmin Lacey)
– Emily Braham - Yo&Co (Olivia Dean)
– Muyiwa Awoniyi & Wale Davies (Tems)
– Ryan Richards - Future History (Sleep Token)
– Wesley Earl Banton (D-Block Europe)
The inaugural Earth Action Award will be presented to Nature the artist and EarthPercent.
Developed by the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live, EarthPercent, AKQA and Spotify, and delivered in partnership with musicians and nature sound recordists, as well as environmental organisations, the initiative has resulted in a series of recordings that incorporate the sound of nature.
Artists who have collaborated with Nature include Hozier, Ellie Goulding, Bomba Estereo, The Staves, London Grammar, Aurora, Armaan Malik, Raveena and Sam Lee – accruing royalties that are donated to biodiversity conservation and restoration projects.
David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition, said: “Breaking with previous year’s conventions, I’m really happy we can reflect the array of talent and diversity in today’s music scene by presenting two shortlists for Artist and Manager of the Year. All these remarkable nominees deserve recognition for the incredible recordings, live performances and campaigns they’ve delivered over the past 12 months. We are also delighted to recognise the highly innovative Sounds Right initiative that has combined the power of music and nature to such stunning effect. It’s a brilliant piece of advocacy, involving a wide team of campaigners, and a deserved winner of our Earth Action Award.”
As previously announced, the Artist & Manager Awards will also recognise the long-term partnership between Pulp and Rough Trade Management’s Jeannette Lee (Artist & Manager Partnership, sponsored by PPL), the manager and music executive Craig Logan (Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by Sound Royalties), and the legendary Soul II Soul (Pioneer Award, sponsored by PRS for Music).
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