Music Week

29/07/2024

We are delighted to announce that Vevo will once again sponsor the Inspirational Artist category at the Music Week Women In Music Awards.

Read more about it here - https://bit.ly/3M40qDb

29/07/2024

The story behind the physical sales uplift in 2024 including Record Store Day UK

The industry has welcomed the incredible turnaround for physical music in the latest market results. Here, Kim Bayley, CEO of digital entertainment & retail association ERA, digs into the latest trends for formats...

26/07/2024

KISS FM UK DJ Esi on the future of UK rap

The London-born DJ, who debuted as presenter of the station's Rap Show earlier this year, shares her determination to use her platform to make a difference...

25/07/2024

SJM honours Chris York, a key figure at the promoter for three decades

SJM Concerts has paid tribute to promoter Chris York, who has died aged 55 following a long illness. He was a central figure in the success of the company over three decades, and played an instrumental role in the Teenage Cancer Trust fundraising concerts and Country To Country Festival…

25/07/2024

A former Mercury Prize winner from the 1990s is up for the prize again in 2024 as one of the eight debut albums shortlisted

The Mercury Prize shortlist of the albums of the year for 2024 has been unveiled with a strong showing for new UK talent. Read on for the full details…

24/07/2024

How YouTube is taking over intimate venues for superstar livestreams including Burna Boy at KOKO London

YouTube Music Nights recently hosted Burna Boy at London’s Koko to celebrate the fifth anniversary of his African Giant album. Here, newly promoted YouTube exec Lizzie Dickson speaks to Music Week about the platform's live initiative for artists…

23/07/2024

Ahead of the Mercury Prize nominations, last year's winners Ezra Collective look back on the award's impact and prepare to release the follow-up to the triumphant jazz album

Ezra Collective band members Femi Koleoso and Ife Ogunjobi, plus manager Amy Frenchum, speak to Music Week about their upcoming third album Dance, No One's Watching...

22/07/2024

Big changes at the Mercury Prize for 2024

In a major change for 2024, organisers have confirmed that the usual live performance event element of the Mercury Prize has been dropped in favour of “other extensive promotional activity”. Read on for the full story…

22/07/2024

The Association of Independent Festivals on ways to address this summer's huge challenges for the sector

More than 50 UK festivals have already been postponed, cancelled or shut down permanently in 2024. Here, AIF CEO John Rostron considers the key issues, as well as how festivals will look in the future as a result of the current pressures…

19/07/2024

Music industry legend Darcus Beese on his new memoir and how maverick A&Rs can lift the UK music scene

Legendary executive Darcus Beese sits down with Music Week to discuss his candid book, Rebel With A Cause, and reflect on the current state of the domestic music business including the challenges in developing homegrown talent...

18/07/2024

Inside the data-led A&R process at Sony Music UK label Robots + Humans

Label president and entrepreneur Robert Ronaldson reflects on life at Sony, the shift to data-led A&R and the UK's breaking acts conundrum...

17/07/2024

Ed Sheeran is on top of the Official Charts' 10-year streaming rankings

This month marks 10 years since streaming was added into the UK’s Official Chart, and Ed Sheeran has been crowned ‘king of the streaming era’ for his 2017 album Divide and its lead single Shape Of You. Read on for the details in full…

16/07/2024

“Everyone wants to play our festival": NOS Alive founder Álvaro Covões on the growth of the festival in Lisbon, which featured headliners including Dua Lipa and Pearl Jam last weekend

Another hugely successful edition of NOS Alive festival has just wrapped, bringing headliners such as Dua Lipa and Pearl Jam among a host of other acts to Lisbon. Here founder Álvaro Covões tells Music Week why the Portuguese event has become a go-to destination for some of the world's biggest act...

15/07/2024

Booming vinyl sales and the resilient CD format are set to deliver the first increase in physical music sales in two decades, according to new figures from The BPI

Superfans and vinyl collectors are boosting the physical sector, alongside initiatives such as Record Store Day, HMV Vinyl Week and National Album Day. Read on for our analysis of the latest sales figures for vinyl and CD...

12/07/2024

boygenius producer Catherine Marks on what the music business must do to support the next generation of studio creatives

Grammy-winning producer Catherine Marks opens up on what the industry must do to help the next generation of studio creatives...

11/07/2024

The indie sector is rising in the North with coordinated support from the Association of Independent Music and Tileyard North

Following the first industry roundtable in Wakefield, execs from the indie trade body and creative hub outline ambitions for regional collaboration and growth...

11/07/2024

We are excited to announce our Headline Partner for the Music Week Women in Music Awards 2024 is SoundCloud

"It is a privilege to work alongside and celebrate the exceptional women driving innovation and creativity in the music industry. Partnering with Music Week for the Women in Music Awards was an obvious choice for us and we’re honored to play a part in the recognition of the women paving the way for the next generation of talent" states Emmy Lovell, Global Head of Music, SoundCloud

Find out more https://bit.ly/4eUAaIi

10/07/2024

Welcome to the cover of Music Week, Ezra Collective! In our latest issue, the Mercury Prize-winning group are joined by manager Amy Frenchum and Partisan Records’ Jeff Bell & Zena White to reveal all about their highly-anticipated new record. Also joining them in this edition, Robots + Humans president Robert Ronaldson tackles the Music Week Interview, industry legend Darcus Beese guides us through his new memoir, Kamille talks going solo and KISS DJ Esi weighs in on the state of UK rap. There's all of that and much, much more... https://www.musicweek.com/media/read/ezra-collective-cover-the-august-edition-of-music-week/090108

09/07/2024

Universal Music UK is making huge changes to its structure including combining legendary labels EMI Records and Island Records UK as part of a global shake-up at Universal Music Group

A memo from Universal Music UK CEO & chairman David Joseph unveils the “supercharging” of the labels as a plan for the “next phase of our company’s growth”. Read on for what it means for legendary record labels EMI, Island and Polydor as well as key execs at the major…

08/07/2024

Billie Eilish's live team on her huge global tour

Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard And Soft has spent seven weeks in the Top 5, climbing to No.2 in the latest chart. Here, Wasserman agent Mike Malak looks ahead to the star's massive arena run including six O2 shows...

05/07/2024

The music industry reacts to the new Labour government

With the election of a new Labour government there is potential support for the music sector in areas such as improving EU touring for artists, exports and music education, as well as a pledge to clamp down on ticket touts. Read on for the latest political developments and reaction…

03/07/2024

This just in: Universal Music UK CEO & chairman David Joseph has announced Hannah Neaves as president of the award-winning catalogue division, Universal Music Recordings.

Music Week can reveal that there’s been a big shake-up over at Universal Music Recordings. Today (July 3), Universal Music UK CEO & chairman David Joseph has announced Hannah Neaves as president of the award-winning catalogue division, Universal Music Recordings. Find out more here...

02/07/2024

The Glastonbury Festivals effect is helping Dua Lipa following her headline set

Following a triumphant first ever headline performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, Dua Lipa has seen a significant chart boost. Read on for the full story…

01/07/2024

To continue our month of giveaways celebrating Music Week Women in Music's 10th anniversary, Rocksteady Music School is giving away a Foundation Day Experience. One winner will be able to gift a free music workshop to a charity of their choice.

'As part of our mission to empower as many children as possible through music, Rocksteady Music School works with hundreds of charities each year and gives away over £2m of free teaching and music workshops to charities and organisations working with children and young people. Spending a day making music as part of a Rocksteady band, adapted to suit each child’s needs, can offer valuable respite whilst having a positive impact on self-esteem and well-being’. Rocksteady

To be in with a chance to win, head over to Instagram and follow and and let us know in the comments which charity you would donate to.

The competition closes on Sunday 7th July at 11:59 pm. Our winner will be contacted on Monday 8th July. Good luck UK residents only. 18+. No cash alternative. The winners will be drawn using a random allocator. Standard rules apply for details go to https://lnkd.in/dxQAyc5

01/07/2024

The rise of boutique publisher Young Songs

Young Songs MD Gerard Phillips and COO Chloë Roberts look back on the first five years of the company, which triumphed in the Independent Publisher Of The Year category at the Music Week Awards 2024...

28/06/2024

Dua Lipa is headlining Glastonbury Festivals for the first time

In the wake of topping the charts with Radical Optimism, tonight sees the arrival of what promises to be the biggest moment of Dua Lipa's career so far. To celebrate her Pyramid Stage appearance, Music Week presents an exclusive extract from our cover interview...

26/06/2024

Decca Records co-presidents on Top 10 success for AURORA and her big moment on the Park Stage at Glastonbury Festivals

The label's Laura Monks and Tom Lewis reflect on the What Happened To The Heart? album campaign ahead of singer-songwriter Aurora's biggest tour to date...

25/06/2024

Yungblud on his festival manifesto for fans

Gen Z rocker Yungblud speaks about launching his own "affordable" festival at Milton Keynes Bowl on August 11 – whether the industry likes it or not. Read on for the festival manifesto from the Music Week cover star...

24/06/2024

To celebrate Music Week Women in Music Awards 10th Anniversary, we are hosting a month of giveaways, courtesy of this year's sponsors. Our first prize comes from Blinding Talent.

Blinding Talent is a leading Artist Development and Music Marketing company in the UK, founded by Music Industry Executive Mark Adams (Channel 4, EMAP, and Bauer). They are offering one fortunate artist the chance to boost their next single release with an incredible marketing prize bundle worth over £1,500. This includes Playlist Curator Pitching, Promotional Video Assets, Digital Advertising (Meta/TikTok), Smartlinks, and Social Media Strategy. Blinding Talent is also providing a highly targeted Press and Online PR campaign!

To be in with a chance to win head over to Instagram, follow and and tag a friend/colleague/mentor in the comments.

The competition closes on Sunday 30th June at 11:59 pm. Our winner will be contacted on Monday 1st July. Good luck

UK residents only. 18+. No cash alternative. The winners will be drawn using a random allocator. Standard rules apply for details go to www.futureplc.com/competition-rules/

Blinding Talent

24/06/2024

BBC Radio 6 Music breakfast presenter Lauren Laverne on her love of Glastonbury Festivals

Ahead of this year's festival, the BBC presenter discusses her friendship with organiser Emily Eavis, criticism of the 2024 line-up and recalls her favourite Glastonbury moments...