We are thrilled to announce that one of the UK’s biggest recent success stories, Myles Smith, has returned to the cover of Music Week.
The Luton-born singer-songwriter's debut album, My Mess, My Heart, My Life, is long-awaited – and we have the story on one of 2026's most exciting releases.
In the June issue, we catch up with Smith to hear about his whirlwind 12 months – including adding an Ivor Novello award to his list of accolades – and we decode the science of his big breakthrough.
Extended Play Music Group’s Eric Parker, Closer Artists' Ryan Lofthouse, RCA's Glyn Aikins and Joe Iddison and WME's Craig D’Souza reveal why they're backing Smith all the way, as the singer talks about breaking big without compromise, learning from Ed Sheeran, and much more.
Up next, Chris Dempsey sits down for The Music Week Interview to talk about the first year of his management company, Corduroy Artists. In our conversation, the former YMU stalwart lays out his vision for the future of management, his plans for his roster, and explains why his career has never felt better. Dempsey also reflects on steering the careers of superstars ranging from Take That to Katherine Jenkins, and gives his two cents on AI and ticket prices.
Elsewhere in our features section this month, we speak to LA-based A&R exec Rhea Pasricha Kullas. In addition to heading up West Coast A&R for Prescription Songs, Pasricha Kullas manages Steph Jones, the hitmaker behind Sabrina Carpenter's Espresso. Pasricha Kullas has played a role in a host of mammoth hits by Beyoncé, Dua Lipa and Myles Smith. Here, we learn about her hopes for the songwriters and publishers of tomorrow.
Kasabian are preparing to chase an eighth consecutive No.1 album this summer with Act III – and Music Week gets the lowdown from bandleader Serge Pizzorno ahead of the release. Pizzorno looks back on nearly two decades in rock and explains why guitar music endures. He’s joined by co-manager John Coyne and Columbia president Dipesh Parmar for a chat about overcoming adversity and why music needs to be “wild” in 2026.
Rounding out the features section is an interview with hit songwriter Ines Dunn, who was one of the stars of the show at the Music Week Women In Music Awards last year. The Music Creative – Spirit Of The Studio winner, who has worked with Maisie Peters and Mimi Webb, chats songwriting, AI, representation, and Lewis Capaldi “moshing it up and playing darts” at her family BBQ.
In The Big Story, AEG Presents’ Lucy Noble reveals her ambitions to host global stars and breakthrough act at British Airways’ new ARC venue. Also in news, learn from the leaders of the Live Nation-supported music industry education initiative, The Piece Hall Academy, based at Halifax’s historic cultural exhibition venue. Meanwhile, Dr Richard James Burgess MBE, the new chair of PPL, talks neighbouring rights in Spotlight.
Fast-rising Oxford quartet South Arcade star in On The Radar, while soul artist Brooke Combe is in Incoming.
Adam Thein, co-producer of Djo’s sleeper hit, End Of Beginning, tells us about the “surreal” way the song has resonated globally in our latest instalment of Hitmakers.
Completing this month’s line-up is a five-year anniversary special of Mentor Me (brought to you in partnership with Carla Marie Williams MBE and Girls I Rate). Here, as Girls I Rate itself marks a decade, we speak to previous Mentor Me stars – from Sony Music UK’s Taponeswa Mavunga to Spotify’s Safiya Lambie-Knight – to hear about the impact the initiative is making. Carla Marie Williams, too, reflects on the milestones and shares her hopes for the future. And Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd discusses the hidden, systemic costs of live music in his latest column.
Lastly, in our expanded monthly charts section, we present the Top 75 Singles and Albums of the previous month, accompanied by revamped analysis pages, plus a host of new listings. These include specialist genre Top 20s for Americana, Classical, Hip-Hop & R&B, Jazz, Country, Dance, Folk and Rock & Metal. The issue is also home to streaming, compilations and vinyl charts.
The new issue of Music Week is available from May 12.
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