The big moment has arrived… it’s time to reveal the finalists for the Music Week Awards 2026!
After yet another year of record-breaking entries, Music Week is excited to reveal the finalists for the latest edition of the biggest night in the business.
Following on from last year’s star-studded event – which concluded with Ian McAndrew being presented with the Strat Award by Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner and Emma Greengrass – we are returning to celebrate all of your achievements at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London on May 7. Tickets are available here – book early to avoid missing out.
Already set to join us are a host of sponsors and partners, with Downtown, Deezer, Proper Music Distribution, PPL, Virgin Music Group, Official Charts Company, RadioMonitor and Music Venue Trust all on board for the celebrations.
As a reminder, the Music Week Awards remains the only ceremony in the British music business that recognises work conducted across a broad spectrum of the music industry – the place where the achievements of everyone from record labels and music publishers to live, radio, marketing, PR and more are all celebrated on one night, under one roof.
Each year, it is free for all to enter submissions and our prestigious awards are peer-voted and judged by an independent panel of specialist judges. To maintain the highest standards of integrity and impartiality, our judges are also reviewed and refreshed annually, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives and sustained relevance.
2025 Strat winner Ian McAndrew with Alex Turner and Emma Greengrass
This year’s event will honour the work done between January 1 and December 31 2025 – a time period that saw everything from the blockbuster rise of domestic stars like Olivia Dean, Sam Fender, Lola Young, Jade and Central Cee, the uncovering of emerging talents such as Skye Newman, Jim Legxacy, Jacob Alon, Sienna Spiro and Rose Gray, the juggernaut that was Oasis’ Live ’25 tour and huge campaigns from Lily Allen, Ed Sheeran, Dave, Wolf Alice, Elton John & Brandi Carlile and many more.
Without further ado, you can see this year's finalists below:
MUSIC WEEK AWARDS 2026 FINALISTS
A&R Award
Atlantic Records
AWAL
Capitol Records
Columbia Records
Fontana Records
Island EMI Label Group
Polydor Records
RCA Label Group
Robots + Humans
Sony Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner Chappell Music UK
Warner Records & Parlophone
Artist Marketing Campaign – Sponsored by Official Charts Company
Biffy Clyro – Warner Records
Dave – Neighbourhood Recordings
Ed Sheeran – Atlantic Records
Elton John & Brandi Carlile – EMI Records
Hayley Williams – Post Atlantic/Secretly Distribution
Jade – RCA Records
Lily Allen – BMG
Lola Young – Island Records
Olivia Dean – Capitol Records
Sam Fender – Polydor Records
Tom Grennan – Insanity Records
Wolf Alice – Columbia Records
Catalogue Marketing Campaign
Coldplay – Parlophone
Elton John – UMR
Kendrick Lamar – Polydor Records/UMR
Kylie Minogue – Rhino
Madness – West Village Music
Motörhead – BMG
Oasis – Big Brother Recordings/Ignition
Orbital – London Records
Pink Floyd – Sony Music UK
Shygirl – Because Music
T. Rex – Demon Music Group
Wham! – Sony Music UK
Festival Of The Year
American Express Presents BST Hyde Park
BBC Proms
Download
Isle Of Wight Festival
Labyrinth On The Thames
Latitude Festival
Liverpool Sound City
Reading & Leeds
The Great Escape
Wireless Festival
Grassroots Venue: Spirit Of The Scene – Supported by Music Venue Trust
Camden Assembly, London
Future Yard, Birkenhead
Slay, Glasgow
Strings Bar & Venue, Newport, Isle Of Wight
The Boileroom, Guildford
The Forum Music Studios, Darlington
The George Tavern, Stepney, London
The Globe, Newcastle Upon Tyne
The Half Moon, Putney
The Sugarmill, Stoke
Independent Publisher Of The Year – Sponsored by PRS For Music
Beggars Music
Believe Music Publishing
Concord Music Publishing
Downtown Music Publishing
Notting Hill Music
NQ Music Publishing
Payday Music Publishing
Phrased Differently
Reservoir
Stellar Songs/Tim & Danny Music
Tileyard Music Publishing
Young Songs
Independent Record Company – Sponsored by Downtown
Because Music
Concord Label Group UK
Dirty Hit
EGA Distro
Empire
LAB Records
Modern Sky UK
Ninja Tune
NQ Records
Partisan Records
The Other Songs
XL Recordings
International Marketing Team – Sponsored by Deezer
AWAL
Pockets
Sony Music UK
The Orchard
Universal Music Group UK
Virgin Music Group
Warner Music UK
Label/Artist Services Company – Sponsored by Proper Music Distribution (PMD)
Absolute Label Services
ADA
AWAL
Believe
Canvas Music
Cooking Vinyl
EGA Distro
FUGA – A Downtown Company
Secretly Distribution
SoundOn UK/EMEA
The Orchard
Virgin Music Group
Live Music Agency (Company)
CAA
Coalition
Mother Artists
Primary Talent
Pure Represents
Roam
Solo Agency
UTA
WME
Live Music Promoter (Company)
AEG Presents UK
Communion ONE
DHP Family
Kilimanjaro Live
Live Nation
Senbla
SJM Concerts
Manager Of The Year
Ben Mawson/Ed Millett – Tap Music
Benny Scarrs/Jack Foster – Neighbourhood
David Furnish/Rachael Paley – Rocket Entertainment
Dukagjin Lipa – Radical Management
Emily Braham – Yo&Co
John Dawkins/David Bianchi – Various Artists Management
Nick Shymansky – Day One Entertainment
Owain Davies – OD Management
Phoebe Gold – Up Close
Ryan Richards – Future History
Wez Banton – D-Block Europe
Music & Brand Partnership
Annie Mac x Bimini x English Teacher x Greentea Peng x Nova Twins x Sam Ryder x Self Esteem & More… x Trainline x Glastonbury x Truant London x The Marketieers – I Came By Train
Burna Boy x Virgin Media O2 x UTA – Priority Gig at O2 Forum Kentish Town
Ezra Collective x Abbey Road Studios x CAA x Bowers & Wilkins x Volvo Cars – Abbey Road Studios Sound Mode
FKA Twigs x H&M x UTA – H&M’s Spring 2025 Global Campaign
Joy Crookes x Bacardi x Sony Music UK/4th Floor Creative – Move With The Greats
Katy Perry x Milka/Mondelez x CAA x Ogilvy – Milka Mmmax
LeoStayTrill x Arsenal FC x Universal Music Globe x 0207 Def Jam – Arsenal FC Away Kit Launch
Lewis Capaldi x The Lego Group x Universal Music Globe – Lego Christmas
Olivia Dean x Burberry x Yo&Co x Fivethree Agency – Her Parfum Campaign
Tems x Hennessy x Sony Music UK/4th Floor Creative – Made For More Campaign
The Rolling Stones x Aston Martin Aramco F1 x Bravado – Co-Branded Collaboration
Tom Grennan x Popchips x Sony Music UK/4th Floor Creative – Popchips Taste The Beat Campaign
Music Consumer Innovation
Apple Music – Fred Again.. Apple Music Live Campaign
Evolution Music – EvoVinyl
Fontana/Universal Music Group/Pause – Aurora Runaway Music Video
Music Glue – The Artist Marketplace
RCA – Sleep Token/Download Festival 2025 Geo-drop Experience
Serenade – One-Tap Lanyard
TikTok – Pre-Save
Universal Music Youth Strategy x Joe Wicks x Studio AKA – Activate with Joe Wicks
Vinyl.com – Consumer-Led Vinyl Availability
PR Campaign
CMAT – Overheard PR
Ed Sheeran – Grumpy Old Management
Elton John & Brandi Carlile – DawBell
Ghost – Satellite414
Jacob Alon – Chalk Press Agency
Lily Allen – MCPR
Lola Young – Cherry Create
Olivia Dean – Cherry Create
PinkPantheress – Satellite414
Rosalía – Columbia
Sleep Token – RCA
Tom Grennan – Kings & Queens
Yungblud – Outside Organisation
Promotions Campaign – Sponsored by RadioMonitor
Alex Warren – Atlantic Promotions
Cat Burns – RCA/Since ’93
Lola Young – Island EMI
Olivia Dean – Capitol Records
PinkPantheress – Warner Records
Raye – On Aire Promotions
Robbie Williams – Sony Music UK
Sabrina Carpenter – Dawn Promotions & Consultancy
Sam Fender – Polydor Label Group
Sammy Virji – Listen Up
Sienna Spiro – Plugged In PR
Skye Newman – Columbia Records
Publisher Of The Year – Sponsored by PRS For Music
Kobalt Music Publishing
Sony Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner Chappell Music UK
Radio Show
Ace – The KISS R&B Show, KISS
Baylen Leonard – Absolute Radio Country
Elton John – Rocket Hour, Apple Music 1
Jack Saunders – New Music Show, BBC Radio 1
Jasmine Takhar – The Official British Asian Music Chart, BBC Asian Network
Jo Whiley – BBC Radio 2
Lauren Laverne – BBC Radio 6 Music
Nick Grimshaw – BBC Radio 6 Music
Remi Burgz – BBC Radio 1Xtra
Romesh Ranganathan – For The Love Of Hip-Hop, BBC Radio 2/Sounds
Sian Eleri – Future Artists, BBC Radio 1
Soweto Kinch – ’Round Midnight, BBC Radio 3
Radio Station - Sponsored by PPL
Absolute Radio Country
BBC Asian Network
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 6 Music
Capital Dance
Heart
Hits Radio
Kerrang! Radio
Radio X
Record Company
Atlantic Records
Columbia Records
Fontana Records
Island EMI Label Group
Neighbourhood Recordings
Polydor Label Group
RCA/Since ’93
Robots + Humans
Warner Records & Parlophone
Sales Team
Believe
Cargo Independent Distribution
Concord Label Group
[Integral] UK
Lasgo Worldwide Media
Proper Music Distribution
Sony Music UK
The Orchard
Universal Music Group UK
Virgin Music Group
Warner Music
Sync Team Of The Year
AWAL
Believe/Believe Music Publishing
Concord Music Publishing Sync
Kobalt Music
[PIAS]
Sony Music UK
Sony Music Publishing
Universal Music UK Globe
Universal Music Publishing Group
Virgin Music Group
Warner Chappell Music
Warner Music UK
Ticketing Company
AXS
Dice
Gigantic Tickets
Ticketmaster
Tixel
Twickets Limited
Venue Of The Year
Alexandra Palace – London
Co-op Live – Manchester
Koko – London
OVO Arena Wembley – London
Rock City – Nottingham
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club – London
Roundhouse – London
Royal Albert Hall – London
The O2 – London
The Piece Hall – Halifax
Utilita Arena – Newcastle
The Strat
To be awarded by the Music Week team
Island EMI Label Group president Louis Bloom with Chris Blackwell and team Island at the Music Week Awards 2025
There are going to be some fascinating contests across the categories at the awards, so let’s look at some key stories developing from it.
The nominees reflect a year when UK talent was resurgent at home and abroad with Grammys victories for Olivia Dean, Lola Young, Yungblud, FKA Twigs and more, along with huge campaigns for international stars both new and established.
The hugely coveted award for Record Company will see current holders Island EMI Label Group defend their title, following a year of success for key artists including Lola Young, Elton John, Chappell Roan, Taylor Swift, Mumford & Sons, The Last Dinner Party, Jacob Alon and more.
They will be up against winners from recent years including Polydor Label Group and Atlantic Records, and heavyweights such as RCA/Since ’93, Columbia Records UK, Neighbourhood Recordings, Robots + Humans, Warner Records & Parlophone, and the revived Fontana label.
Several of those top flight record companies are also recognised in the A&R category with nods again for 2025 double winners Island EMI Label Group, Atlantic Records UK, Columbia Records UK, Fontana, Robots & Humans, RCA and Warner Records & Parlophone, along with A&R entries for AWAL, Capitol Records UK and Polydor Records plus music publishers Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group and Warner Chappell Music.
Speaking of which, those three majors will be duking it out with fellow song rights giant Kobalt in the Publisher Of The Year category – a trophy collected by Sony Music Publishing in 2025. Meanwhile, Independent Publisher Of The Year’s line-up showcases a thriving sector with a dozen top companies including 2025 winners Stellar Songs/Tim & Danny Music returning to defend their title.
Team Sony Music Publishing celebrate their win at the Music Week Awards in 2025
Stellar Songs / Tim & Danny Music celebrate their Independent Publisher win in 2025
Manager Of The Year will see an epic contest involving big hitters in the industry behind stars including Olivia Dean (Emily Braham – Yo&Co), Lola Young (Nick Shymansky – Day One Entertainment), Dave (Benny Scarrs/Jack Foster – Neighbourhood), Dua Lipa (Dukagjin Lipa – Radical 22), Sam Fender (Owain Davies – OD Management ), PinkPantheress (Phoebe Gold – Up Close), Elton John (David Furnish/Rachael Paley – Rocket Entertainment), Lana Del Rey (Ben Mawson/Ed Millett – Tap Music), D-Block Europe (Wez Banton), Sleep Token (Ryan Richards – Future History) and Tom Grennan/Ashnikko/Good Neighbours/Rose Gray (John Dawkins/David Bianchi – Various Artists Management).
The trophy went to Charli XCX’s managers Twiggy Rowley & Sam Pringle at Project Gold last year in recognition of the global Brat phenomenon.
Twiggy Rowley & Sam Pringle
Global success by UK-based companies’ international teams is acknowledged in our International Marketing Team Of The Year category. The seven finalist companies oversaw worldwide campaigns by artists including Olivia Dean, Myles Smith, Wolf Alice, Raye, Ed Sheeran, PinkPantheress, Fred Again.., Little Simz, Tom Odell and Craig David.
Meanwhile, the Independent Record Company features a dozen labels covering the full range of genres, including artists such as Shaboozey, D-Block Europe, Ghost, The K’s, Black Country, New Road, Geese, Ezra Collective, Jim Legxacy and more.
Representing a growing independent sector, the finalists are: Because Music, Concord Label Group UK, Dirty Hit, EGA Distro, Empire, LAB Records, Modern Sky UK, Ninja Tune, NQ Records, Partisan Records, The Other Songs and 2025 winners XL Recordings.
XL Recordings on stage with the Independent Record Company trophy
In the live sector, 2026 marks the reintroduction of Venue Of The Year, which is open to any non-grassroots venue up to capacity of 24,000, located in the UK. The finalists for this year’s award are: Alexandra Palace, Co-op Live, KOKO, OVO Arena Wembley, Rock City, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Roundhouse, Royal Albert Hall, The O2, The Piece Hall and Utilita Arena Newcastle.
Venue Of The Year complements our existing category Grassroots Venue: Spirit Of The Scene in partnership with the Music Venue Trust along with the finalists across the live sector categories (Live Music Promoter, Live Music Agency and Festival Of The Year), which were won by SJM Concerts, CAA and Reading & Leeds respectively.
For 2026, we have also updated the Promotions Team category to Promotions Campaign with a focus on one specific campaign. This year the finalists worked on promotions campaigns for stars including Alex Warren (Atlantic Promotions), Cat Burns (RCA), Lola Young (Island EMI), Olivia Dean (Capitol Records UK), PinkPantheress (Warner Records Label Group), Raye (On Aire Promotions), Robbie Williams (Sony Music UK), Sabrina Carpenter (Dawn Promotions & Consultancy), Sam Fender (Polydor Label Group), Sammy Virji (Listen Up), Sienna Spiro (Plugged In PR) and Skye Newman (Columbia).
Jack Saunders & team celebrate their Radio Show win
The Music Week Awards also recognises the radio networks and shows that supported those campaigns. BBC Radio 6 Music will be defending their Radio Station title against fellow BBC contenders (Asian Network, Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2 and Radio 3) as well as commercial rivals Absolute Radio Country, Capital Dance, Heart, Hits Radio, Kerrang! Radio and Radio X.
Meanwhile, Radio 1 New Music Show presenter Jack Saunders returns to defend his Radio Show title against familiar names including Ace (The KISS R&B Show), Baylen Leonard (Absolute Radio Country), Elton John (Rocket Hour, Apple Music 1), Jasmine Takhar (The Official British Asian Music Chart, BBC Asian Network), Jo Whiley (BBC Radio 2), Lauren Laverne (BBC Radio 6 Music), Remi Burgz (BBC Radio 1Xtra) and Romesh Ranganathan (For The Love Of Hip-Hop, BBC Radio 2/Sounds), as well new finalists for 2026 – Nick Grimshaw (BBC Radio 6 Music), Sian Eleri (Future Artists, BBC Radio 1) and Soweto Kinch (’Round Midnight, BBC Radio 3).
In addition to all of this, The Strat is Music Week’s special award chosen by the Music Week team in recognition of outstanding achievement. Last year Wildlife Entertainment CEO Ian McAndrew was presented with the honour by Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner. The winner this year will be revealed on the night.
Good luck to all of this year’s finalists!
For information about sponsorship opportunities at the Music Week Awards 2026, please contact lawrence.cooke@futurenet.com for more information.
If you have any booking queries, please contact: Kate Smith, customer relations manager: kate.smith@futurenet.com
