The Music Producers Guild, in association with Dolby and Mix With Masters, has revealed Lauren Laverne as this year’s winner of the MPG Special Recognition Award. The announcement comes as Laverne returns to BBC Radio 6 Music with a new show, following her return to Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs at the end of last year.
The MPG has also revealed the shortlist for the remaining categories of their 2025 awards, featuring Charli XCX, AG Cook, MNEK and many more. The winners will be announced at the ceremony on April 21 at The Troxy in London.
There are three more gifted awards: PPL Present The MPG Award For Outstanding Contribution To UK Music, which has been awarded to Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), the MPG Inspiration Award and the MPG Icon Award, which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Previous MPG award winners include Kid Harpoon, Nile Rodgers, Marta Salogni (Björk, Animal Collective, Anna Meredith and Bon Iver), Paul Epworth (Adele), Dr Susan Rodgers (Prince) and Joan Armatrading.
“I am deeply honoured to be recognised by the MPG. British artists and producers are among the best in the world: endlessly creative, exciting and surprising,” said Laverne. “It has been one of the greatest joys in my life to find a job that means I get to plug into that every single day and share what they do with listeners at home”
Lorna Clarke, BBC director of music, commented: “Lauren is a world-class broadcaster who we are privileged to say has been sharing her knowledge and passion for music with 6 Music listeners for over 16 years. It’s wonderful to see her dedication celebrated with this MPG Special Recognition Award, following her recent return to the station with her new mid-morning show. Congratulations Lauren, this is richly deserved.”
“The Music Producers Guild is delighted to honour Lauren Laverne with this year’s Special Recognition Award for her unwavering commitment to championing new music,” added Anu Pillai, executive director of the MPG. “As a celebrated broadcaster on BBC Radio 6 Music and television, Lauren has continually spotlighted emerging talent and the innovative music production that is a hallmark of British musical culture. This accolade recognises her impact on the music industry and reaffirms our dedication to nurturing the dynamic relationship between artists and the producers who bring their music to life.”
Executive director at the MPG Matt Taylor commented: “As we enter the 17th year of the MPG Awards, it’s incredible to see how the industry continues to evolve, with positive change reflected in this year’s nominations. The MPG Awards celebrate excellence and are the only ceremony that celebrates all aspects of music production. This year’s nominations are a testament to the talent, creativity, and innovation that continues to drive our industry forward, and this year is no exception. The MPG Awards have always been an indicator of our talent pipeline and what we see today is inspiring excellence.”
The shortlists for each of the MPG 2025 Awards categories are:
Producer Of The Year sponsored by Flare Audio
AG Cook
James Ford
Marta Salogni
Writer-Producer Of The Year
Danny L Harle
MNEK
Richard Turvey
Tayte Nickols
Breakthrough Producer Of The Year
Gareth Nutall
Isabel Gracefield
Shuta Shinoda
Breakthrough Engineer Of The Year sponsored by SSL
Animesh Raval
Ary Maudit
Joe Brice
Self-Producing Artist
Clean Cut Kid
Frank Turner
The Anchoress
Recording Engineer Of The Year sponsored by AMS Neve
Isabel Gracefield
Katie May
Richie Kennedy
Mix Engineer Of The Year sponsored by Avid
Andrew Scheps
Manon Grandjean
Oli Jacobs
Mastering Engineer Of The Year sponsored by DCS Audio
Cicely Balston
John Webber
Natalie Bibby
Vocal Producer of the Year
Cameron Gower Poole
Lorna Blackwood
MNEK
Unsung Hero sponsored by Musicians Union
AIR Studio Assistants Team
Mike Banks
Sam Pemberton
Small Commercial Studio Of The Year sponsored by Neumann
Angelic Studios
Sleeper Sounds
Snap Recording Studios
Large Commercial Studio Of The Year sponsored by Neumann
Air Studios
Eastecote Studios
Metropolis Studios
The Church Studios
Dolby Atmos Mixer Of The Year sponsored by Dolby
David Wrench
Emre Ramazanoglu
Mike Hillier
Original Score Recording Of The Year
Ferrari (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Produced by Daniel Pemberton
Recorded by Lewis Jones
Mixed by Andrew Dudman
Saltburn (Original Motion Picture Score)
Produced by Anthony Willis
Recorded by Ashley Andrew-Jones and Nick Wollage
Mixed by Nick Wollage
Mastered By Cicely Balston
Wonka (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Produced by Joby Talbot and Neil Hannon
Recorded by Tom Bailey
Mixed by Tom Bailey and Andy Bradfield
Album Of The Year sponsored by Mix With The Masters
Charli XCX: BRAT
Producer – AG Cook
Mixed By – Geoff Swan
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: Wild God
Mixed By - Nick Cave, Warren Ellis
Producer – Nick Cave, Warren Ellis
Recording - Luis Almau
Rachel Chinouriri: What A Devastating Turn Of Events
Producer: Rich Turvey
Mixing: Tom Longworth
Mastering: Matt Colton
