THE BIG END OF YEAR WRAP-UP
We made it! As the British music industry kisses goodbye to 2022, MBUK asks a bunch of talented folks about the past 12 months – and what 2023 might hold in store…
Alistair Norbury President Repertoire & Marketing UK, BMG
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Two Fingers by Sea Power and Wet Leg’s eponymous album.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Gary Numan’s triumphant return to Wembley Arena in May after 40 years.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
A new studio album from the Rolling Stones.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
An increased awareness of the need to support the mental health of everyone connected to our industry.
What was your favourite song and album of 2022? My favourite track was Ayra Starr’s (pictured) Bloody Samaritan, which had a huge impact this year. My favourite album was Burna Boy’s Love, Damini which was full of interesting themes and collabs.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Watching Dave pick up his fourth Ivor in five years was incredible. It really shows the impact of his writing as well as the strength of his performances. Amid a massive year for him from a BRIT Award win to headlining festivals, it really was a standout moment.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what would you like to see change in the business next year?
I’d love to see more original, new acts breaking through. I hope the industry focuses less on chasing TitTok trends and more on building artists’ long-term careers.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
YouTube Music hitting 80 million global subscribers!
growth of developing markets in EMEA - MENA and SSA.
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
1975: Being Funny In A Foreign
Language. Eliza Rose: B.O.T.A
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
YouTube Shorts helping to help break more British acts globally and continued
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
No more ‘them’ and ‘us’: Continued tighter collaboration across the industry to help artists and songwriters forge long-lasting careers.
Amber Davis Head of A&R, Warner Chappell Music UK Dan Chalmers Head of Music EMEA, YouTube Amy Morgan September Management & PublishingWhat’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
Album: Obongjayar - Some Nights I Dream of Doors. Song: Morning Elvis - Florence and the Machine.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Glastonbury!
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
Discovering some new artists (as always).
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
I hope insurance is introduced to cover the ongoing threat of artists getting sick with Covid and not being able to perform. I also hope we continue to look for ways to help British artists build outside the UK.
Andy Varley Founder and CEO, InsanityWhat was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Being a father to 3-year-old and 18-monthold boys will likely mean that so far as the data is concerned, my favourite song was The Wheels on the Bus from the Cocomelon Complete Collection! Aside from that, As It Was from Harry’s House is my favourite pop song of 2022.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Appreciation and awareness of the significant role that songwriters play in the success of globally successful artists, the unsung heroes of our industry. On a personal note, my highlight of 2022 was watching our artist Joy Crookes perform on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what needs to change? The role of a manager has changed so much in the past 10 years and I’m not sure that the traditional 20% of net is going to work in 2023. A manager now has to be the A&R, marketeer, social strategist, accountant, mental health expert etc. Perhaps the managers should also have some ownership in the same way that modern music companies like Dirty Hit do?
Ant Hippsley UK MD, Milk & Honey
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
Romy - Strong. Great to hear this out first single from the album. Re: album, a body of work that I believe pushed the status quo and brought something truly original is Rina Sawayama - Hold The Girl.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Sam Fender winning best alt act at the BRITs. Great to see.
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
Looking forward to seeing first singles out from the rising talent that our roster of writers and producers have been across developing this last year or two... and seeing them break through!
What would you like to see change in the business? Fairer payments in general for songwriters and producers from rightsholders across the board. I think we’ve made good progress and would love to see respect for the key to every record, the song itself and those who create it, continuing to grow in 2023.
Anya Du Sauzay Head of Marketing, Parlophone Records
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
My favourite track was Diplo ft. Miguel –Don’t Forget My Love and my favourite album was Gabriels Angels & Queens Part 1
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
The return of festival season in full force – Glastonbury being a particular personal highlight. Seeing artists perform to huge crowds and being back doing what they do best felt truly magic.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what should change?
A continued focus on diversity and inclusivity both inside labels and for our artists. We need to continue make sure that the pledges made during the #BlackOutTuesday are more than just a social media moments and really hold ourselves to account.
Alex Boateng Co-President, 0207 Def Jam
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Miraa May (pictured) ft Jorja Smith –Hard For It; Asake – Mr. Money With The Vibe
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Dr Dre’s Superbowl performance / Stormzy’s Mel Made Me Do It video.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
The continued emergence of music and creativity from Africa.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
Less meetings and a wider selection of food delivery options in King’s Cross. Uber or Deliveroo.
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Tion Wayne IFTK and Burna Boy Last Last. Favourite album was Kojey Radical Reason To Smile.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? The live music scene back up and running, reinvigorating the ecosystem that helps sustain our current and future stars.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what would you like to see change in the business next year?
I’m looking forward to seeing the industry continue to grow and flourish, and I hope that we save nightclub culture.
Char Grant A&R Director, 0207 Def Jam
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Album: Renaissance by Beyoncé. Song: Blessing Me by Mura Masa with Pa Salieu & Skillibeng.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Seeing the love and respect shown to Jamal Edwards by the entire music industry throughout the year has been inspiring, and it’s encouraging to see that although we sadly lost him, his light continues to shine bright.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
I’m looking forward to hearing big voices sing big songs.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
A continued study of racial and gender pay gaps throughout the industry is needed.
Dani Sawyerr Director of A&R, Universal Music Publishing UK
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
Album: Harry Styles - Harry’s House. Single: Sam Fender17 Going Under
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? The whole year. Post the covid gloom of 2021, 2022 brought us more face to face connectivity between industry from all over the world. Also more festivals and shows. Glastonbury was incredible!
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
I’m excited to see the next evolution of various genres, and to see the next wave of talent come through. 2023 could be the year where we see more artists break through, more hit records and more opportunities for our writers.
What would you like to see change?
A continuation of the drive towards better remuneration for songwriters from streaming services and other digital platforms.
Austin Daboh, EVP Atlantic Records UK DJ Semtex Director of Artist Development, Sony Music UK
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Favourite song - SmallGod ft Black Sherif & Tory LanezGidi Gidi. Favourite album - Kendrick Lamar, Mr Morale & The Big Steppers.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Interviewing the Chairwoman and CEO of Epic Records, Sylvia Rhone, in front of an intimate audience at the launch of Sony Music’s new event space. Sylvia is a living legend, her name rings out throughout the timeline of music. Her story is incredible, and she rarely does interviews or panels. To make it happen I presented her one of my most personal and emotional pitches ever, and I promised her that it wouldn’t be recorded or documented. Minutes before we started, she said “only you m’f*cker...”. Of course the talk was nothing but Epic!
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
The return of J Hus who will influence the next generation of UK artists.
Dominique Casimir Chief Content Officer, BMGWhat was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: George Ezra and Joel Pott are one of the great contemporary songwriting partnerships. in honor of that - Green Green Grass. Album: Gabriels, Angels & Queens Part 1. One of the most sensational debuts in a long time. It’s a record you can almost always listen too - it adapts to your mood or the other way round maybe.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
That songwriters finally got a better deal from streaming in the US.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
Two years since the start of the pandemic, I still have concerns about the live business. Things are obviously better. Some shows are doing amazingly well. But there’s a whole ecosystem out there. We need it to thrive.
Ferdy Unger-Hamilton Founder, Promised Land MusicWhat was your favourite Song and Album of 2022?
Adele - I Drink Wine; Beyoncé –Renaissance
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? The growth of African music in the UK and globally.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
The continual rise of Fred Again.
And what would you like to see change? More thought/focus given to breaking new artists in an increasingly competitive environment.
Dutt Managing Director, The Orchard UK
What was your favourite Song and Album of 2022?
Song of the year for me was undoubtedly KH - Looking At Your Pager. It bangs in the club, at festivals, on my headphones, in the car, while I’m cooking... it simply just bangs. It’s pretty hard to look past Beyonce’s Renaissance as album of the year for me. A perfect album delivered at exactly the right time.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
The fact that I say Glastonbury for my highlight every single year, speaks volumes about how important Glastonbury is to the industry. That, and the continued global rise of Bad Bunny (he’s just getting started) and moving back in with Sony Music, in the Kings Cross office.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what would you like to see change?
What I’m most looking forward to is the industry being able to navigate the prevailing headwinds with the economy and coming out the other side collectively stronger. The thing I’d like to see change is the mindset towards DIY and the volume of music being released into the market. Too often there are negative connotations. We should embrace what the underground are doing as they’ll deliver our next breakthrough artists.
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Track: Fred again...’s Jungle. Album: Gabriels’ Angels and Queens Part 1
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Glastonbury. Without a hesitation. Every year it’s an incredible experience musically and culturally.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what needs to change?
I think that we’ve been in quite a destabilised place for the last three years as an industry. Covid, the accompanying changing working practises and the very real anxieties from re-emerging out of that experience. No-one has fully recovered from that yet even though we’re walking like we have. It’s important that we normalise conversations around that with both artists and our teams and support each other as much as possible.
Kamille SongwriterWhat’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: Break My Soul - Beyoncé / Sticky - Drake; Album: The Weeknd - Dawn FM / BeyoncéRenaissance.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? More female artists of colour starting to reign in the charts and being giving the opportunities. For me personally, it would be learning that you never can predict where a hit can come from, which happened this year with David Guetta and Bebe Rexha!
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
Releasing more of my own music, and also being able to write and collaborate with great artists.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
More major labels taking chances on incredible talent, especially those who might not currently have the big numbers or following, but who deserve a chance.
Bell GM of International, Partisan RecordsWhat was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: Alien Superstar (Beyoncé). Album: God Save The Animals (Alex G).
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Kendrick at Glastonbury
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
The vinyl manufacturing backlog starting to (hopefully) ease.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
Artists, having finally made it through the tumultuous 2020/2021, not having to keep contending with more and more challenges to their live business. From rising travel costs and ongoing brexit hangovers, to consumer anxiety and the economy at large.
Lascelles CEO, Blue Raincoat Music
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Favourite song: Two Ribbons by Let’s Eat Grandma; Favourite album: Big Thief’s Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Having two of our artists - Nova Twins and Self Esteemshortlisted for Mercury Prize. (Lowlight... neither won!)
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
Releasing our spectacular Nick Drake covers album. Watch this space.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
Reduction - or at least stabilisation - of touring costs, so that more artists can make touring viable again, particularly in Europe. Better still, a change of government to one that appreciates and values the arts a little more, and enables the above to happen.
Jeff Jeremy Julie Weir Director, MusicFor Nations
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: Congregation – Witch Fever, an outstanding piece of songwriting on both lyrics and melody and full of darkly uplifting beauty. Album: Drug Church - Hygiene. With a special mention to Under the Midnight Sun by The Cult – a welcome return to bombastic Goth form from Misters Astbury and Duffy.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
For me this year it was peeking behind the curtain of what a team we work with on a large scale – for the filming of an arena show of one of our artists. From the start to finish we watched them work wiring an entire arena to set up their own control gallery, working with a Dutch team to do a 12 camera shoot in a totally seamless and professional exercise. It was a delight to watch – and made us appreciate the 4th Floor Video team (special thanks to Laurence Warder, Vicky Smith and Katie Harris – and Johnny Richards who is now tirelessly working to edit hundreds of hours of footage from multiple cameras) and their approach even more, if such a thing was possible.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what would you like to see change in the business next year?
A change in culture of the industry to be more open, fostering of new people ad supportive. With events like Women in Music, and the advent of great networking/ education and support groups like Moving the Needle, She Said So and Women in CTRL, it feels like a great time of change and development of community that hasn’t existed inside the industry for a while. We are seeing a wonderful new generation of people who want to come into the industry as true music fans of music with a passion for this world which makes me very happy – as we all NEED this. There have never been more opportunities to take a step up or step in. As part of this, the amount of mentoring schemes coming through where established industry executives are taking time out to help people find their feet is wonderful – and I would urge people to get involved in this if you can. It’s a great way to give back, and very worthwhile – I guarantee you will learn a lot yourself. As for what I would like to see change, is making the North/South and class divide less restrictive to people wanting to enter the industry. Hopefully all the above will help with this.
Joe Kentish
President, Warner Records UK
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
My favourite song was BOTA, Eliza Rose (pictured) - UK dance music at its culture-clashing best. And my favourite album was Mr Money With The Vibe – Asake.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
The summer was brilliant for us at Warner Records, with Liam Gallagher’s historic Knebworth show followed by back to back number 1 records with LF System and Eliza Rose.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what would you like to see change in the business next year?
More great and diverse records coming out of Africa. The change I’d like to see is new British acts breaking globally at the highest level again - it’s been too long.
Jon Ollier
Founder, One Fiinix Live
What was your favourite Song and Album of 2022?
Song: Nail Tech, Jack Harlow. Album: Her Loss, Drake & 21 Savage.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
I think I would have to say t is the return of touring proper and all that it has brought with it.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
I think we all have to hope that we will see some progress and resolution to the war in Ukraine and stabilisation of global affairs. I know this is not music industry specific, but it really is what would have the most profound impact on everyone’s wellbeing.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
I would like the focus to return to breaking artists after for too long, broadly speaking, the focus merely being on breaking songs.
Kim Frankiewicz EVP, Concord
What’s your song and album of 2022?
Single: Omar Apollo – Evergreen. Album: Rosalia – Motomami.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Being able to attend live shows and awards again.
What are you most looking forward to in 2023? More UK artists dominating the international charts.
What would you like to see change next year?
Same as every year: that songwriters start getting paid more money from streaming platforms.
Mark Gillespie CEO & Founder, Three Six Zero
What’s been your song and album of 2022?
Favourite song: Lila Drew – 2023.
Favourite album: Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol 2.
Mark Mitchell Co-President, ParlophoneRecords
What’s your song and album of 2022?
My favourite song was Gabriels’ Professional and my favourite albums were Paolo Nutini’s Last Night in the Bittersweet and I keep coming back to Lil Silva’s Yesterday is Heavy.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Eurovision!
What are you looking forward to in 2023 – and what would you like to see change in the business next year? That the platform battles ultimately acknowledge the true value of music and that benefits the next generation of artists.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Kieran Four Tet settling his historic royalty rate dispute with Domino Records.
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
It’s been a bad year for the space but overall but I’m still a big advocate of
Louis Bloom President, Island Records UK
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: Flo, Cardboard Box; Album: Kendrick Lamar, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Glastonbury.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
I think we are about to see new UK acts breaking in numbers again.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
A&R to be less male-dominated…so it’s brilliant to see the roll-out of Universal Music’s programme to encourage more women into A&R.
web3 technology, I’m looking forward to seeing tokenised tech in play with big name artists in ‘23.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
It would be great to see a path for artists to be able to make real income from short-form content.
CEO,What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
17 Going Under – Sam Fender. Fave LP –Paolo Nutini, Last Night In The Bittersweet.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Return of Glastonbury and it was one of the best and busiest I’ve ever been to.
What are you looking forward to most in 2023 – and what would you like to see change?
I’m looking forward to the unexpected! The last few years have seen a bit of inertia and predictability in new music –I’d really like to be pleasantly surprised by something new and exciting happening creatively. I’d like to see more UK signed acts/writers/producers making world-class innovative music to keep the UK relevant globally as a source of great talent.
Mike McCormack Universal Music Publishing UK Merck Mercuriadis CEO, Hipgnosis Song Management
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
My favourite singles of the year are: Shakira - Te Felecito featuring Rauw Alejandro; probably my most played song of the year. It exemplifies the influence and success of Latin music all over the globe and is Shak taking it to a whole new place. Top 10 globally. 56 million monthly Spotify listeners!
Beyoncé (pictured) - Break My Soul; The-Dream delivers the song of the summer with Tricky Stewart. Beyoncé slays!
Beyoncé - Cuff It; The-Dream and Nile Rodgers deliver the song of 2023. Beyoncé at her very best!
Nicki Minaj - Super Freaky Girl; from Rick James’ pen this song is now a smash three times’ over and is one of the monster songs of the last 40 years – from Super Freak to U Can’t Touch This to Super Freaky Girl!
My favourite albums of the year are: Neil Young - World Record; made with Rick Rubin - on the 50th (!) anniversary of Harvest Neil gave us another special album that will eventually be seen as one of his 10 best and that’s saying something!
Stromae - Multitude; he is amongst the most important songwriters, recording artists and live performers of our time! Maybe the most underrated artist in the world despite his enormous success.
Beyoncé - Renaissance; this is where music is right now! Every song on the album is driven by The-Dream and Break My Soul defines 2022 in the same way that Cuff It will define 2023! The Bleachers - Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night; Anyone that loves Jack’s work with Taylor Swift, Lorde and Lana Del Rey owes it to themselves to check out the source. Jack Antonoff is a genius!
What was your music industry highlight of the past 12 months?
By the time the year ends we will have invested half a billion dollars in some of the finest artists and songs including Justin Timberlake, Kenny Chesney, Nelly Furtado, Nile Rodgers, Leonard Cohen and many more which we’ll start to announce shortly. I’m also delighted that the CRB III appeal was denied and that songwriters are getting their much deserved 44% increase!
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
Hipgnosis will have an even bigger year of acquisitions next year but I think music in general will have a phenomenal
year. When people are living their best lives they are doing it to a soundtrack of great music. Equally well when they are experiencing challenges – and this is the most challenging macroeconomic environment we have seen in 15 years – they take comfort and escape with their favourite music. Catalogue will continue to dominate and Spotify will join Apple in raising its prices. There is no better value than a paid premium music streaming subscription in a high inflation environment. All of this is good news!
What would you like to see change in the music business next year?
I believe our advocacy on behalf of songwriters over the last five years is having the desired affect. Not only with CRB III but also I think the sentiment in general even among the recorded music companies is moving in the right direction. The CRB IV proposal is something I am supporting (despite the fact that I don’t think it’s high enough rate-wise) because it will provide five years of stability for songwriters at the highest rates ever been paid. That stability will allow for even greater advocacy to take songwriters from the bottom of the economic equation to the top and my goal is to take how songwriters are paid away from legislation and into a free market in that window.
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Favourite song: All That You Want, Ibibio Sound Machine. Best Album: Cheat Codes, Dangermouse & Black Thought.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
That the live music industry came back in a big way. It has been chaotic and unpredictable but the love people have for being part of the live experience is undeniable.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what would you like to see change in the business next year?
I am most looking forward to seeing Blur play Wembley Stadium. I would dearly like to see the music industry wake up and take the lead when it comes to the environment. We have such an incredible position of influence yet so much of the music industry seems happy to stick its head in the sand.
Nick Burgess Co-President, Parlophone Records
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
My favourite song was Delilah (Pull Me Out Of This) by Fred again.. And my favourite albums were Harry’s House and Gabriels’ Angels and Queens Part 1
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
From the moment Ben Mawson offered us the opportunity for Sam Ryder to perform at Eurovision, what followed was a brilliant advert for how bonkers the music business can be. Full on blood, sweat and tears were put into this campaign from everyone involved, especially from Sam himself.
What needs to change in the music biz in 2023? I’d love an industry where truly unique, sophisticated music can really thrive. We live in an attention economy where patience is in short supply. The word ‘skip-rate’ is something that shouldn’t influence our decision making but the audience wants that dopamine hit and who are we to deny them that? I’m hoping that little by little people will see the beauty in the detail and be willing to spend more time with challenging music which will allow us to push the envelope a bit further in 2023.
Nickie Owen President, International Marketing, Universal Music UK
What was your song and album of 2022? Favourite album of the year is Florence & The Machine (pictured), Dance Fever and favourite song is Beyoncé, Break My Soul.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Seeing the return of artists being able to travel properly for promotion and touring.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
I’m really excited to see the evolution of music discovery and how this will lead us to new audiences round the world.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
I’d love touring to become easier for breaking artists.
Paul McDonald Founder, Closer ArtistsWhat’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
The 1975, Part Of The Band / Fred Again, Actual Life 3
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? The return of live shows – see George Ezra at Finsbury Park / Coldplay at Wembley / James Bay at Brixton / Holly Humberstone at Brixton.
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
Releasing great new music by our developing artists and a returning household name band.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
The rewriting of major label artist contracts to be more equitable. Share some of those record quarterly profits you are enjoying guys!
Paul Rene Albertini CEO, Marathon Music GroupWhat was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Bellah: Evil Eyes; Camidoh: Sugarcane;
Theon Cross: Intra-I; Boj: Gbagada Express
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Recorded music post-Covid flying more than ever / DSPs streaming growth combined with other platforms new revenues. However what comes with all of that is massively increased complexity for talents to get discovered.
What are you looking forward to most in 2023?
Greater support to artists to find their audiences versus quasi anonymous tracks / shorts. Good news is that we start to see this happening through big platform like YouTube and others.
What would you like to see change in the business?
Artists / connection with audiences should come first through all current platforms, MusicTech / web 3 should help to expose quality and talents to Gen Z audiences’ open minded appetite for agnostic genre and geographies. Otherwise music industry is at risk of becoming a ‘sound’ industry.
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: Joji’s Glimpse Of Us. Album: Beyoncé’s Renaissance.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Travel properly restarting. It allowed our writers and artists to be able to collaborate internationally in person.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what needs to change? More collaboration! We’ve got a songwriting camp coming up in February that we’re going to run in partnership with Instagram, bringing together Warner Chappell songwriters and Warner Music recording artists, focusing on talent to watch across the UK and the rest of Europe. It’s exactly the mix of blending cultures and working with partners that we need to see more of across the industry.
Castillo SVP A&R, EMI
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: IFTK - Tion Wayne & La Roux; Album: Midnights - Taylor Swift (pictured).
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Seeing N-Dubz return and sell out four O2 arenas and over 250k tickets across their new tour.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
The return of big pop crossover artists born out of the UK.
What would you like to see change in the business next year? I’d like to see more young exec development across the industry to help us guide the next generation of artists through.
Richard Griffiths Co-founder, Modest! Management
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: As It Was by Harry Styles; Album: Wet Leg.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Little Mix’s farewell tour
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
Niall Horan’s new album.
What would you like to see change in the business next year? Touring costs to get under control.
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: Last Last, Burna Boy; Album: Kendrick Lamar (pictured), Mr Morale & The Big Steppers
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? The breakthrough of Afro beats.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what would you like to see change?
I always look forward to new music and the discovery of new artists that the new year brings. I’ve become very aware of how few female senior executives there are and even fewer female executives of colour; I’d like to see that change.
Rodney Williams Co-founder, Raw Kingdom
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: Burna Boy, Last Last. Album: Stormzy, This Is What I Mean
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Kamille having her first Billboard Top 10 hit with David Guetta & Bebe Rexha.
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
Dan Lancaster has joined Muse and will be touring the US in 2023! I am excited about going to those shows.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
I would like to see more black female artists in the UK Top 40 chart.
Sam Adebyao Senior A&R, Island Records UKWhat was your favourite song and album of 2022?
My favourite song of the year has to be Peru by Fireboy and Ed Sheeran. Not only has it been a career highlight of mine, it’s just such a great song and gets better every single time you hear it. As for my favourite album of the year, it was definitely Burna Boy’s Love, Damini. It was the soundtrack of my summer and the album had so many great songs in there, especially Last Last and It’s Plenty.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Being able to go back to Glastonbury for the first time since the pandemic. The energy in the crowds were electric and the performances overall were outstanding.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
All the new, exciting talent coming through and also discovering new sounds. This is what drives my career and also inspires me on a personal level.
Sam Eldridge Co-founder, UROK
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song: Part of the Band, The 1975. Album: Could We Be More, Kokoroko.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Liam Gallagher at Knebworth was such a highlight, the atmosphere was just incredible, a beautiful, vital intergenerational moment that felt so needed. Also jumping back and forth between watching Megan Thee Stallion and Paul McCartney at Glastonbury is the kind of handbrake turn that only Glastonbury can provide.
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
A genuine new superstar breakthrough from the UK.
What would you like to see change?
Less focus on parochial UK charts and old-fashioned metrics. A more progressive take on what genuine success looks like and the multifaceted ways that can now be achieved.
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
I’ve long been a fan of American jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, and her latest album and debut on Nonesuch, Ghost Song, does not disappoint. As for a song, I love the joyous, infection energy of Kokoroko’s We Give Thanks from their album Could We Be More
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Abel Seloacoe’s breakthrough with his debut album, Where Is Home (Hae ke Kae) – it’s not every day that a cellist steals the show on Later… with Jools. It was also amazing watching Little Simz garner the accolades she deserves.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what needs to change?
I am excited for the launch of Apple Music’s new classical streaming service, which I think will be a game changer for fans of the genre. I’d love for us to work together as an industry to make the Official Classical Charts in the UK more visible, dynamic and inclusive, as they’re a hugely important platform for launching the careers of artists.
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Song – Self Esteem, Fucking Wizardry Album – Loyle Carner, Hugo.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Two magical musical days in May. Day one was Michael Kiwanuka’s “hometown” show at Ally Pally. I literally could have stood there all night soaking up the atmosphere and musicianship. Then less than 24 hours later came the opening night of ABBA Voyage which blew my mind.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
More UK artists reaching bigger global audiences – go FLO for starters!
What would you like to see change next year?
It’s too much to expect a moment of calm but I do hope we can get to a less frenetic place where artists and execs alike get a bit more space to be creative.
Shani Gonzales MD, Warner Chappell Music UK
What was your song and album of 2022?
I really loved Dua covering George Michael’s Freedom! 90 for the YSL campaign. And I was blown away by the new Stormzy album This Is What I Mean. The evolution from his first album has been incredible and it’s been amazing to watch him grow as a Black man, as he leads conversations, pushes forward culture and fights for equality. He is an inspiration.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
I was so pleased that the Copyright Royalty Board in the US ordered digital services to pay songwriters more. I was proud that Warner Chappell played a part in the campaign.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023 – and what needs to change?
We’re campaigning to ensure policymakers worldwide realise that everything in our industry starts with a song; writers need respect and fair pay when their music is used to grow others’ businesses.
Simon Robson President, International, Warner Recorded Music
What was your favourite song and album of 2022?
My favourite song was Benson Boone’s GHOST TOWN and my favourite album was Fred again..’s Actual Life 3.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Seeing WM International achieve #1 and #2 spots on the Spotify global chart with Brazil’s Anitta and Argentina’s Paulo Londra. It highlights how truly global our industry is becoming and this trend is just going to get bigger, and I’m determined that Warner Music is leading the way.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
The growth and influence of music from the Middle East and North Africa. The launch of charts there was an important milestone for the industry. Our acquisition of Qanawat, giving us offices in Cairo, Casablanca and Dubai for the first time, and our recent signing of Saudi Arabia’s Dalia Mubarak indicate Warner Music’s commitment to the region.
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
Album: I Love You Jennifer B by Jockstrap. The finest kind of indie is alive and well on this album. Song: Holiday by Confidence Man. This song (and album) takes me back to the London dance club scene circa 1990.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Glastonbury is always a highlight for me. This year was very stressful with Wolf Alice’s flight being cancelled, so I am looking forward to attending in 2023 as a music fan again, probably with Wolf Alice, and remembering why we all love the festival so much.
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
More Web3 adoption. I know it is still years off being a serious music destination for most people, but the more of us on it, the more people will come.
What would you like to see change in the business?
A fair deal for artists to sell their merchandise on tour. Some venues charge way too much for a service that could be much better.
Steve Rhodes CEO, elasticStageWhat was your favourite song and album of 2022?
Both Sam Fender Spit Of You (song) & Seventeen Going Under (album).
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
To see that music became “investible” by funds. Very different from the “dark ages” in the noughties.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
I will be selfish and say our on-demand vinyl platform launching in the second half of 2023. :)
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
Empowering small music creators to give them a better start building a career they can make a living from.
Tim Major Co-MD, Sony Music Publishing UK
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
It is hard to narrow it down, so I’ll focus on a few amazing releases from some of SMP’s newly-signed songwriters. According to Spotify Wrapped, my mostlistened to song was Hide & Seek by Etta Marcus – it makes sense, I’m completely obsessed with her music – and my most streamed album was, Fred again..’s Actual Life 3. I can’t argue with that either! I’m also particularly excited to see SMP songwriter Dylan (pictured) receiving recognition with her debut mixtape release earlier this year. She’s just been announced on the ‘BBC Sound of 2023’ list after some serious graft and hustle for the last three years. 2023 should be a big year for her.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Seeing our songwriters achieve incredible success, as well as having songwriter recognition at the BRITs for the first time (and for it to be awarded to such a worthy recipient as, Ed Sheeran). It has also been incredible to see the SMP UK team excelling in their work for our songwriters and in creating sustainable initiatives with Small Green Shoots, the Young Urban Arts Foundation and Girls I Rate and many more.
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
Seeing continued progress in support of songwriters globally. Across the industry, we saw pivotal moments like this year’s CRB settlement in the US – a win for songwriters that was a result of songwriter advocacy. At SMP, we have seen positive results from new service offerings and enhancements like our Songwriter Assistance program (launched at the start of 2022) and the expansion of our Legacy Unrecouped Balance program (first established in 2021), to name a few. I look forward to carrying this momentum into 2023 and seeing even more progress.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
I would love us to be more joined up in the way we address some of the challenges that our industry is facing. I think we could be way more connected and united in our approach to creating positive change.
Tom Allen CEO, Curve Royalty SystemsWhat was your favourite Song and Album of 2022?
Song: Zach Bryan - Alabama Smokeshow
Album: The Delines - The Sea Drift.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Conferences being back to some normality, and were in fact the best attended in years. You left most conferences saying ‘Everyone was there’.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
There’s some good interesting companies in the splitting of royalties space, blockchain driven or not. It will be super interesting to see what wider adoption here will look like.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
The rebalancing of venture backed growth across all industries is no bad thing. If it can fuel sensible growth, focus on solving real problems in the business, then this period could bring about some strong companies.
Vanessa Bosåen Managing Director, Virgin Music UK
What was your favourite Song and Album of 2022?
White Wine – French the Kid, puts the drive-thru McDonalds in Romford on the map! (You need to watch the video if you don’t know what I mean…) And you can’t mention album of the year without talking about D-Block Europe’s (pictured) Lap 5
What was your music industry highlight of 2022? Self Esteem at Glasto – what an incredible moment where we had the privilege to witness an artist breaking through in real-time.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
Watching – and wherever possible supporting – domestic rap culture as the music moves and collaborates with different countries. Look at what Mixtape Madness Next Up is growing in France, look at the collaborations happening with German artists – the evolution is palpable.
Tom Lewis
Co-President,
Decca
What was your favourite Song and Album of 2022?
Album: Brightside by The Lumineers .
Song: Looking at Your Pager by KH.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Diana Ross at Glastonbury - just seeing so much happiness in one place was overwhelming.
What are you looking forward to most in the music industry in 2023?
Jacob Collier will release the fourth and final volume of his Djesse project and it will be fascinating to see where he is going to take us. I suspect it will be quite a ride.
What would you like to see change in the business?
It’s clearly a very challenging time for so many people at the moment. And, it doesn’t feel like the uncertainty will end anytime soon. History suggests that incredible, inspirational artists and music can emerge during times like these and give people hope. So, I actually feel very optimistic that we’ll see and hear some brilliant things next year.
What would you like to see change in the music business next year?
A wider understanding of how we can use AI tools, both in music production and in marketing/promotion. Specifically, how important it is for musicians and music businesses to take ownership of AI tools in music production – these cannot become solely technology products, we need to see them as instruments for the quality of music that is produced to be as creative and brilliant as possible. I can go on about this at length for anyone who’s interested…
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
“New Gold” by Gorillaz, feat. Tame Impala and Bootie Brown as what a gift to have a record from these two masters together. Album would be “Cheat Code” by Danger Mouse and Black Thought’s. It is one of these albums which you love even more and discover new layers every time you play it.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Being able to attend freely concerts and festivals for most of 2022 has been truly inspiring. Seeing people connecting and artists back on stage breathing music again has been air for the world has missed for almost 2 years!
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
Seeing even more recognition of songwriters and composers across the business. This year we saw the first-ever songwriter category at the BRITS and we will see this at the upcoming Grammys, which are important milestones. There is much more to be done and I believe this is just the beginning.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
With a pinch of naivety: music in its pure state of art to be the driver again rather than data.
Sam Dyson Founder, Distiller Records
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
Favorite album Sam Fender “Seventeen Going Under” favourite song “Seventeen Going Under”.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
Cliff Richard battling Stormzy for chart position.
What are you most looking forward to in the music industry in 2023?
All the releases we have lined up on Distiller Records.
What would you like to see change in the business next year?
A recalculation and revamp of streaming royalties.
JP Evangelista SVP Content, Programming and Marketing, Vevo
What’s been your favourite song and album of 2022?
It’s a tie between Taylor Swift ‘Midnights’ and Harry Styles’ Harry’s House. Both of them are such incredible bodies of work, I truly don’t think I could choose between the two. Taylor didn’t disappoint with a long awaited studio album of new material, with great songs and easter eggs for fans throughout her work makes her stand out as an artist that thinks about every aspect of their creativity. Harry’s House was one of the most cohesive and well produced albums I’ve heard in a long, long time. While each song has its own distinct personality, they flow together seamlessly, and I loved the mellowed-out, conversational style of his lyrics.
What was your music industry highlight of 2022?
A moment that really resonated with me was the Super Bowl Halftime Show and the resurgence of nostalgia through legacy artists. Seeing artists who were the blueprint for the modern scene getting the appreciation that they deserve, by hundreds of millions of people, was nothing short of spectacular.
What are you most looking forward to in 2023?
The past couple of years have seen artists express themselves in ways that we didn’t think were possible, and I’m excited to see how artists continue to adapt to an ever-changing landscape through nontraditional ways of creative expression. I can’t wait to see the boundary pushers, rule breakers and risk takers bring in new and exciting forms of authenticity that set them apart from the crowd.
What would you like to see change next year? With so much taken from this industry since 2020, and we saw countless creatives turn inward to come up with new and exciting ways to connect with fans: from live streams, to remote recording, to videos shot on phones, virtual meet and greets, entirely new genres, off the wall collaborations and beyond, creatives were determined to keep their communities of fans engaged particularly those at the early stages of their career. The pandemic placed pressure on artists. There wasn’t the option of connecting in person, so artists were faced with the task of finding ways to bridge the gap between them and their fans virtually.
I would like to see 2023 be the year of artists finding balance again. I’d like to see an industry that looks at artists with empathy, and makes a concentrated effort to create a happy medium between hustle culture and mental health.