At the beginning of 2026, Leigh-Anne is doing exactly as she pleases.
Music Week’s first cover star of the year is here with a resounding message for the music industry, as she prepares to unleash her first solo album.
Now, a debut record is always a huge milestone, but when it follows a decade spent in a world-famous group during their formative years, the magnitude is greater still. This is the precipice on which Leigh-Anne is standing, with the Little Mix star set to go it alone with My Ego Told Me To.
In order to make it, she bared her soul like never before, building a platform to express herself exactly as she desired. As Music Week finds out, Leigh-Anne had a lot to say.
Joined by Tap Music’s Ed Millett and Sairah Pinnock (her sister) and Virgin Music Group’s Vanessa Bosåen in our cover story, the singer discusses going independent, finding her sound and what the industry must do to become a better place for artists.
My Ego Told Me To is one of the most anticipated releases of Q1, and Leigh-Anne’s interview is part of our new music special.
Up next is Jack Saunders, who by now is synonymous with the phrase ‘new music’. Who better, then, to usher in 2026 with a state-of-the-nation address on emerging talent than the BBC Radio 1 star?
Our meeting comes in the wake of his first ever Music Week Award, after he scooped the Radio Show crown last May. In the latest edition of The Music Week Interview, he recalls celebrating the win with “Robbie Williams karaoke and Jägerbombs” before delivering his message to the business.
With the BRITs fast approaching and the winner of the Critics’ Choice soon to be revealed, Music Week brings you profile interviews with all three of the shortlisted acts, alongside their teams.
Up first, we meet Sienna Spiro – alongside her team at Method Music and Capitol Music Group – to find out how she’s making confessional pop go viral.
Next is Jacob Alon who, after bewitching everyone who heard their debut album In Limerence last year, is heading for the mainstream. We meet the compelling artist – with Bounse Management and Island EMI – to hear how they intend to cast their spell in 2026 and beyond.
They are joined by Rose Gray, who looks back on breaking out of London’s club scene with 2025 debut Louder, Please. Alongside Various Artists Management and Polydor Label Group, she charts her path to the big time with Music Week.
Also this month, over 10 pages, we gather more than 150 of the biggest names in the industry to find out what they want most from 2026, as they share their hopes and dreams for the year ahead. With an all-star cast featuring Dickon Stainer, Lorna Clarke, Simon Robson, Golnar Khosrowshahi, Glyn Aikins, Kanya King and many more, it’s not to be missed.
Elsewhere, the front section features big news from Emma Banks, as the CCA co-head looks forward to Lily Allen’s huge live comeback, while we also assemble a range of leading names to debate what’s next for new talent in the UK, following the 2025 boom.
In Hitmakers, Khris Riddick-Tynes tells the story of working on Kehlani’s R&B smash Folded, while UK music industry legend Darcus Beese marks the release of his new documentary with reflections on A&R, Amy Winehouse and creating a lasting legacy in The Aftershow.
Completing the line-up in a packed issue are A2IM CEO Ian Harrison, who features in our Spotlight Q&A, Rising Star Paola Levitch and Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd, who shines a light on the grassroots sector 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 January 20.
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PHOTO: Niklas Haze
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