21/11/2024
The Production Music Awards 2024: A Night of Highs and Lows
Just back from the Production Music Awards 2024 at Indigo at the O2 in London, and it’s fair to say it was a night to remember—though not without its controversies. Here’s the breakdown of the evening, from the venue to the winners, and everything in between.
Venue: Indigo at the O2
Let’s start with the setting, and frankly, this was spot on. The Indigo is perfect for an event like this, striking a balance between intimacy and grandeur. A thumbs up to the organisers for choosing a venue that could comfortably host over 350 attendees without losing its charm.
Ambiance
Pre-show vibes were fantastic. The space was well-lit, and the background music was balanced just right—not intrusive but engaging enough to set the tone. It created the perfect environment for catching up with colleagues and rekindling friendships.
Staff, Food, and Drink
No complaints here. The staff were attentive and professional, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Food and drink? Excellent. Kudos to the catering team for delivering a quality experience.
The Ceremony: Highs and Lows
MC: Huw Stephens
Huw Stephens deserves a shoutout for his stellar job as MC. He kept his energy high throughout the evening, managing to engage the room without losing pace. A true professional who added a touch of class to proceedings.
Nominations and Categories
Here’s where things got a little sticky.
Nominations: For my taste, there were simply too many. Some categories had up to eight nominees, each accompanied by a sound clip. While it’s great to recognise talent, this stretched the ceremony too far—especially with no interval. A tighter focus (five nominees max) would have made for a sharper, more impactful event.
Categories: Mostly accurate, but there were some baffling decisions. Rock music without guitars? House without the signature four-on-the-floor beat? And ambient minimalism with thunderous bass? These anomalies raised eyebrows, particularly among the purists at my table. Still, on the whole, the categories did their job, even if there’s room for fine-tuning.
Winners
A hearty congratulations to all the winners, with a special nod to Extreme Music, who walked away with an impressive six awards. Their success highlights their consistent excellence in production music.
The Sound: A Major Letdown
Here’s where the evening fell flat—literally. The sound quality was shockingly poor. The PA system delivered a bass-heavy mix that turned every track into a muddy soup, obliterating the intricate details of the music.
For a music awards show, where the production quality of the tracks is under scrutiny, this felt like a massive oversight. It’s not just about volume—it’s about balance, clarity, and sparkle. Yet, all we got was a headache-inducing throb.
My sound meter app confirmed the problem: the bass was 15-20 dB louder than the mids and trebles throughout the night. This was presumably the house PA, but surely a better setup could have been arranged. After all, this was an audience of music professionals. The sound engineer and organisers missed an opportunity to showcase the tracks in their best light.
Diversity and Inclusion
A delicate subject, but one that can’t be ignored. Diversity was noticeably lacking, both in the nominations and the winners. This is an area where the industry—and the event—needs to step up. Representation matters, and there’s work to be done here.
The Cost of Attendance
At £294 per ticket (including VAT), this was not a cheap night out. Add £155 per track for entry fees, and the costs quickly add up, particularly for smaller players in the industry. It’s a significant investment, but given the prestige of the event, perhaps a justified one for many.
Looking Ahead
Overall, this was a pivotal event for the production music community. The venue was a step up, and the organisers deserve credit for elevating the experience compared to last year.
That said, there’s room for growth. Perhaps the awards could incorporate a charitable element, with a portion of profits going toward a foundation supporting elderly or unwell members of the profession.
Let’s also address the sound quality, the bloated nominations, and the diversity issue. Fixing these would take the awards from a solid success to an unmissable highlight of the year.
To the organisers and attendees—particularly those who travelled long distances—thank you for making it a night to remember. Here’s to 2025!
