![\"AMSTERDAM,](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2160782996-e1777489715220.jpg?w=237&h=147&crop=1\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Olivia](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/P103YS8I-e1770029955529.jpg?w=300\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\tLabels & Distributors\t<\/h2>\n
0207 Def Jam<\/strong><\/p>\n Alec Boateng, President, 0207 Def Jam, Universal Music Group U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\t0207 Def Jam\u2019s marquee signing Stormzy dropped his first single in almost a year in May 2026, teaming up with Odeal for the party-starting single \u201c24 Hours\u201d. It follows a flurry of activity in early 2025 with the tracks \u201cSORRY RACH!\u201d and \u201cHold Me Down\u201d alongside a feature with ODUMODUBLVCK later in the year. There\u2019s also been success with other 0207 Def Jam-signed acts such as Nia Smith and Amie Blu, the latter of which recently released the long-teased single \u201cTrees For The Woods.\u201d<\/p>\n ADA<\/p>\n <\/strong>Howard Corner, Managing director U.K. & EMEA, ADA<\/em><\/p>\n ADA has played a major role in \u201credefining how we break U.K. talent globally,\u201d Corner says. He spotlights the \u201cgrassroots strategy\u201d behind The K\u2019s sophomore LP Pretty on the Internet<\/em>, the Merseyside band\u2019s first No. 1 on the U.K.\u2019s Official Albums Chart, and the \u201cglobal-first\u201d mindset that has seen rapper EsDeeKid surpass one billion streams as proof of their methods. \u201cWe\u2019ve positioned ADA as the ultimate \u2018plug-in\u2019 for labels like LAB Records, Aemeralds, and Lizzy Records, leveraging Warner Music\u2019s EMEA infrastructure to scale independent visions,\u201d Corner says of the recent successes.<\/p>\n Atlantic Records U.K.<\/strong><\/p>\n Briony Turner, Co-president, Atlantic Records U.K. \n\tFor the past 12 months, the Atlantic Records U.K. team has continued to throw their weight behind signees Charli xcx and Fred again.., with Turner saying that the latter \u201chas completely reimagined the connection between electronic music and live performance.\u201d Ultimately, \u201cour mission remains to pair British creative ingenuity with unparalleled international scale\u201d and the team has recently inked deals with Barry Can\u2019t Swim and Erin LeCount. \u201cBy fostering deep-rooted artist development via our incredibly talented team, we ensure our roster, from our icons to our newest signings, leads the global conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n AWAL U.K.<\/strong><\/p>\n Matt Riley, President, AWAL U.K. \n\tAfter a standout year for AWAL, Riley points to both scale and strategy behind the company\u2019s momentum. Breakout moments included Djo\u2019s \u201cEnd Of Beginning\u201d surpassing three billion streams and spending two weeks at No. 1 in the U.K., alongside BRIT-nominated albums from CMAT and Little Simz. \u201cOur mission is to partner with independent artists to tell stories that shape culture,\u201d says Riley. \u201cOperating from London as a global hub, we\u2019re uniquely positioned to bring British, Irish and international creativity to the world stage \u2014 driven by the independent, entrepreneurial spirit of our roster and our teams.\u201d<\/p>\n Beggars Group<\/strong><\/p>\n Martin Mills, Chairman, Beggars Group \n\tThe Beggars Group celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2026, having opened the inaugural Beggars Banquet record shop in southwest London in 1976. Mills and the group are celebrating major successes in the past year for Pulp (Rough Trade), Jim Legxacy (XL Recordings), FKA twigs (Young) and more. Beggars also played a major role in the distribution of War Child\u2019s charity LP Help(2)<\/em>, starring contributions from Olivia Rodrigo and Arctic Monkeys, which raised funds for children caught up in conflict zones. In December, Mills announced the formation of the MM Settlement Trust that sees all shares in the Group transfer to the trust \u201cto preserve the company\u2019s independence and help to ensure continuity over future generations, in the interests of both artists and employees.\u201d<\/p>\n Capitol Records U.K.<\/strong><\/p>\n Jo Charrington, President, Capitol Records U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tOlivia Dean\u2019s breakthrough has been one of the British music industry\u2019s finest moments in years. She kicked off the album campaign for The Art of Loving<\/em>, released via Capitol, in May 2025 and has since bagged two U.K. No. 1 singles (\u201cMan I Need,\u201d \u201cRein Me In\u201d with Sam Fender), been a mainstay in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, won best new artist at the 2026 Grammys and scooped a haul of four BRIT Awards. She\u2019s currently on a global arena trek which includes six nights at London\u2019s O2 Arena, plus a headline slot at Lollapalooza in Chicago this summer. Her ascent shows no signs of abating.<\/p>\n Columbia Records U.K.<\/strong><\/p>\n Dipesh Parmar, President, Columbia Records U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tColumbia has enjoyed a number of fresh U.K. chart successes over the past year, with Skye Newman standing out. Her breakthrough, Parmar says, has been \u201cextraordinary\u201d and he highlights a number of accomplishments for the rising London pop act, namely that Newman was the first U.K. female solo artist in over a decade to debut in the top 20 of the Official Singles Chart with her first two releases (\u201cFamily Matters\u201d and \u201cHairdresser\u201d); she was subsequently nominated for two awards at the 2026 BRIT Awards: best new artist and best song (\u201cFamily Matters\u201d). Newman\u2019s momentum is \u201creflected across the label, with Columbia most recently holding five of the U.K. top 10 and eight of the top 20 singles.\u201d<\/p>\n Decca Records U.K.<\/strong><\/p>\n Laura Monks, President, Decca Records U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tThe past 12 months brought a \u201cnew chapter\u201d at Decca with Monks assuming the role of president, a title she previously shared with Tom Lewis (now of UMG U.K.\u2019s Fontana Records). Monks spotlights the label\u2019s release of Max Richter\u2019s \u201cpowerful\u201d score for the Oscar-nominated Hamnet<\/em>, calling the German-British composer \u201ca joy to work with.\u201d She adds: \u201cWe are incredibly focused on delivering the best campaigns to amplify the role of music in film.\u201d<\/p>\n EGA Distro<\/strong><\/p>\n Colin Batsa, Chairman & president, EGA Distro<\/em> \n\tEGA Distro\u2019s roster hit a number of highs in the past year, with D-Block Europe landing another top five placement on the U.K.\u2019s Official Albums Chart (PTSD 2<\/em> placed at No. 4) and their signee Twin S scooping the best drill prize at the 2026 MOBO Awards. Expansion remains a priority, with Batsa promising a new era for the pioneering label as they enter into the \u201cmanagement field by teaming up with one of the world\u2019s biggest promoters, Live Nation,\u201d with the forthcoming launch of EGA Nation. \u201cWatch this space!\u201d<\/p>\n EMPIRE<\/strong><\/p>\n Guillermo Ramos, Managing director, Europe, EMPIRE \n\tEMPIRE\u2019s \u201cstrengthened\u201d U.K. team has allowed the label to deepen its expertise and scope over the past 12 months. Ramos says that this proved by the \u201cthe calibre of our domestic roster \u2014 led by J Hus \u2014 while using London as an international hub to sharpen our focus on the U.K. for global priority acts like Bebe Rexha and Shaboozey, as well as our best-in-class African Music roster.\u201d Expanding into new genres, May adds, has seen their capability and ambition scale up: \u201cThis is what a modern independent label looks like in 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Epic Records U.K.<\/strong><\/p>\n Sarah Lockhart, President, Epic Records U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tThe fanbase built by grime legend Skepta, Epic Records U.K.\u2019s marquee signing, has had a \u201cgenerational impact on U.K. artists\u201d while his influence on \u201ccreatives is phenomenal,\u201d Lockhart says. Recent accolades at the BRIT Awards, Grammys and MOBO Awards proves that the Londoner\u2019s \u201cmusic is more vital than ever,\u201d she adds. Fork And Knife<\/em>, his upcoming album, is receiving its final touches, he recently revealed. \u201cLong may his work continue to inspire Epic\u2019s ethos and to pioneer creative culture,\u201d Lockhart teases.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fiction Records<\/strong><\/p>\n Jim Chancellor, Managing director, Fiction Records<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tUnder Chancellor\u2019s leadership, Fiction Records, now part of the Virgin Music Group, has seen \u201cexceptional and exponential growth\u201d over the past year. Recent signings include U.K. indie darlings Man\/Woman\/Chainsaw and songwriter Tom A. Smith, while the label has also taken on multi-disciplinary artist and former Savages bandleader Jehnny Beth, who released her second solo record You Heartbreaker<\/em> in August 2025 to critical acclaim. Seeing both Fiction and Virgin \u201cexpand their influence all over the world, without losing that personal touch or passion for the music has been so rewarding,\u201d adds Chancellor. \u201cWe\u2019re scaling with class.\u201d<\/p>\n Fontana<\/strong><\/p>\n Tom Lewis, President, Fontana, Universal Music Group U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tIn 2025, UMG U.K. announced the launch of Fontana Records, a revived imprint dedicated to jazz, folk, blues and soul artists; Lewis, previously of Decca Records, assumed the role of president. \u201cWe\u2019re the only label of our kind in the U.K. but our ambitions will always be global, and this is borne out in the international fanbase footprints for all our artists,\u201d he says. TOMORA, a supergroup made up of Chemical Brothers\u2019 Tom Rowlands and Norwegian pop star AURORA, issued their debut LP Come Closer<\/em> via the label in March. Lewis is now looking forward to what comes next: \u201cWe\u2019re only six months in and have already unveiled two amazing new signings: the incredible Scottish soul powerhouse Brooke Combe, and Geordie punk jazz trailblazers Knats.\u201d<\/p>\n Island EMI Label Group<\/strong><\/p>\n Louis Bloom, President, Island EMI Label Group, Universal Music Group U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tBloom says that Island EMI is \u201cpassionate about artist development and nurturing new talent\u201d and says that Lola Young\u2019s 2025 breakthrough has been \u201cbrilliant to see.\u201d First signed to Island in 2019, Young\u2019s career hit new highs following the release of \u201cMessy\u201d which topped the U.K.\u2019s Official Singles Chart and won the Londoner her first Grammy award (best pop solo performance). Following the release of her second album proper I\u2019m Only F\u2013king Myself, <\/em>Young earned the breakthrough artist prize at the 2026 BRIT Awards and recently took to the stage as a performer following a brief hiatus. \u201cShe is a truly exceptional global talent,\u201d Bloom concludes.<\/p>\n The Orchard<\/strong><\/p>\n Ian Dutt, President U.K., The Orchard \n\t\u201cClients of The Orchard have reached too many achievements to single any one out,\u201d says Dutt, reflecting on an exceptional 12 months for the Sony-owned company, which supports a diverse roster of U.K. artists and labels through distribution and marketing services. \u201cThe fact that we support so many independently minded entrepreneurs on a daily basis still fills me with an enormous sense of pride.\u201d The Orchard\u2019s work on RAYE\u2019s second full-length effort, This Music May Contain Hope.<\/em>, underscores that impact. Upon its release in April, it became the singer\u2019s first U.K. No. 1 album and was followed by an international arena tour.<\/p>\n [PIAS]<\/strong><\/p>\n Kenny Gates, Executive chairman, [PIAS]<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tReflecting over the past year, Gates says that the rapid rise of Geese, whose 2025 LP Getting Killed <\/em>was distributed by label, proves [PIAS]\u2019 \u201ccontinued ability to identify and develop globally relevant talent at an early stage.\u201d Similarly, the signing of Massive Attack further strengthened its \u201creputation as a home for artistically important, artist-led projects,\u201d while Kneecap\u2019s recent LP Fenian<\/em> landed at No. 2 on the U.K.\u2019s Official Albums Charts. Gates also oversaw \u201can important leadership evolution at the company\u201d with Edwin Schr\u00f6ter moving to the role of CEO, while Gates assumed the executive chairman title. This move, Gates says, is \u201cdesigned to position the company for its next phase of international growth while maintaining its longstanding artist-first philosophy and independently minded ethos.\u201d<\/p>\n Polydor Label Group<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben Mortimer, President, Polydor Label Group, Universal Music Group U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tMortimer is most proud of how Polydor Label Group \u2014 which combines Polydor Records, 0207 Def Jam and Capitol Records \u2014 has come together as \u201cfully-integrated business at pace,\u201d while simultaneously delivering \u201cglobal success for artists including Polydor\u2019s Sam Fender and Capitol\u2019s Olivia Dean.\u201d Their collaborative track \u201cRein Me In\u201d is now the U.K.\u2019s Official Singles Chart longest-reigning male\/female No. 1 duet, surpassing Rihanna and Jay Z\u2019s \u201cUmbrella.\u201d At the time of writing, the song has notched 12 non-consecutive weeks at the summit and nabbed song of the year at the 2026 BRIT Awards.<\/p>\n RCA Records U.K.<\/strong><\/p>\n Glyn Aikins, Co-president of RCA Records U.K. \n\tAikins, who shares the role of co-president with Stacey Tang, says that RCA U.K. has been reshaped into a \u201ctruly global A&R engine\u201d that \u201ccompetes at the highest level while staying rooted in U.K. culture.\u201d Myles Smith, who is due to release his debut album My Mess, My Heart, My Life<\/em>,in June is proof of that mission. Tang concurs, adding that JADE, Bring Me The Horizon and Smith \u201creflect ambition, commitment to artistry and creative bravery that build genuinely meaningful relationships with fans.\u201d 2026 also saw Tang act as the chair for the BRIT Awards, and \u201cworking with British talent that connects powerfully across the globe is a theme that was key\u201d to this year\u2019s ceremony.<\/p>\n Rubyworks<\/strong><\/p>\n Niall Muckian, Founder and managing director<\/em>, Rubyworks<\/p>\n \n\tRubyworks once again toasted the success of Hozier \u2014 who penned his first deal with the Irish indie label and artist management company back in 2013 \u2014 after he equaled his fellow countrymen U2\u2019s six consecutive number one singles on Billboard\u2019s Adult Alternative Airplay chart. While they await the next major release from the County Wicklow singer-songwriter, Rubyworks founder and MD Muckian is keen to highlight the label\u2019s upcoming \u201clandmark\u201d tribute album to the late Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan. Featuring contributions from Bruce Springsteen, Primal Scream and Tom Waits, it has also seen the label call upon Hozier for a promising collaboration with Oscar winner Jessie Buckley. \u201cIn keeping with MacGowan\u2019s long-standing values,\u201d Muckian adds, \u201c50% of artist royalties from the project are being donated to the Dublin Simon Community to support those experiencing homelessness.\u201d<\/p>\n Secretly Group<\/strong><\/p>\n Matthew Fogg, Director of promotions, Secretly Group \n\t\u201cAs the industry becomes more consolidated and increasingly shaped by opaque systems, we\u2019ve made a deliberate choice to invest in tools that give our labels clarity, control and a real competitive edge,\u201d says Downs, pointing to Secretly\u2019s growing focus on infrastructure as it continues to scale its independent ecosystem. That investment runs alongside a strong year for the group\u2019s U.K. team across promotions and A&R, with Edge highlighting standout results for Mitski and Bon Iver, with the latter securing their highest-charting album in nearly a decade. \u201cA big focus for us has been how those campaigns are built, thinking beyond release week so records have room to grow,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n SoundOn<\/strong><\/p>\n Nichal Sethi, Managing director SoundOn EMEA, TikTok \/ SoundOn<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tFollowing its launch in 2022, Sethi describes the previous calendar year as a breakout period for the team in the U.K. In 2025, SoundOn earned six Top 40 placings on the Official Singles Chart, with WizTheMc\u2019s \u201cShow Me Love\u201d peaking at No. 3 and breaking into the top 20 of Spotify\u2019s Global Charts. Working with indie artists such as Denon Reed, Tkandz and HAVEN, and labels including AAO, Jinx and Broke Records, Sethi says, proves that SoundOn can elevate artists no matter \u201chow early on or developed they are in their career\u201d by \u201cleveraging our expertise on TikTok, the No. 1 platform in the world for music discovery and promotion.\u201d<\/p>\n Universal Music Recordings<\/p>\n <\/strong>Hannah Neaves, President, Universal Music Recordings, Universal Music Group U.K. Virgin Music Group<\/strong><\/p>\n Nick Roden, President, Europe, Virgin Music Group<\/em> \n\tVirgin Media Group announced its acquisition of Downtown back in February, with the latter\u2019s portfolio including FUGA, the largest full-service B2B music distributor in the world. The move typified why VMG is such \u201can exhilarating place to be,\u201d as Bos\u00e5en describes it. \u201cThe breadth of services and expertise we\u2019re now able to offer to our partners feels genuinely special,\u201d she adds. \u201cOver the past year, I\u2019ve had the privilege of working alongside incredible music, visionary artists and ambitious entrepreneurs, all pushing boundaries in their own way. What\u2019s most exciting is that we\u2019re only just getting started.\u201d<\/p>\n Warner Records & Parlophone Label Group<\/strong><\/p>\n Joe Kentish, President, Warner Records Label Group U.K. \n\tThe success for PinkPantheress has been a \u201cstandout highlight\u201d for the Warner Records U.K. team over the past 12 months. In March 2026, \u201cStateside\u201d hit No. 1 on Billboard\u2019s Global 200 and reached the summit of the Global Spotify Chart, which Kentish considered a \u201clandmark moment\u201d for the team. Pink also made history by becoming the first woman \u2014 and youngest ever artist \u2014 to win BRIT Awards\u2019 producer of the year prize. \u201cHer success proves that when you back an artist\u2019s authentic vision, there are no limits to how far that sound can travel.\u201d<\/p>\n Believe\/TuneCore<\/strong><\/p>\n Alex Kennedy, Managing director, U.K., Northern Europe & AUS\/NZ, Believe\u00a0 \n\tKennedy says the past year saw his team \u201c<\/em>play an important role\u201d in supporting the French company\u2019s global strategy, which included the launches of Believe Music Publishing and its label and artist services business in the United States. He points to the \u201chuge global success\u201d of Adekunle Gold, viral success of Novo Amor and a U.K. top 10 album for Craig David as recent highlights. \u201cWe\u2019ve continued to attract outstanding new talent, both emerging and established, while also helping the artists and labels we work with achieve meaningful growth and tangible success,\u201d he adds, crediting Wilson\u2019s leadership with making TuneCore an \u201cintegral and effective partner for artists at all levels.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n BMG<\/strong><\/p>\n Alistair Norbury, President, U.K., continental Europe & APAC, BMG Reflecting on a transformative year, Norbury notes that BMG\u2019s move into a new Pimlico office \u2014 plus a brand identity refresh \u2014 has been \u201ca real step forward for the London team.\u201d The new office space houses three recording studios, allowing for artists signed to the combined music publisher and record label to create and collaborate on-site. BMG also saw standout success with Lily Allen\u2019s zeitgeist-shifting West End Girl <\/em>LP, which arrived via a surprise drop, or as Norbury puts it, \u201ca more unconventional and discreet approach.\u201d He adds: \u201cIt reflects how we operate: artist-first and built around what the music needs.\u201d<\/p>\n Reservoir\/Blue Raincoat Music<\/strong><\/p>\n Jeremy Lascelles, CEO\/co-founder, Blue Raincoat Music; CEO, Chrysalis Records \n\tThe past 12 months marked \u201canother year of strong momentum\u201d for Blue Raincoat Music, part of the Reservoir group, with \u201csuccesses and growth across each division of our integrated business,\u201d says Lascelles. Highlights from the firm\u2019s artist management arm included Tony Berg\u2019s production work on Sombr\u2019s breakout debut I Barely Know Her,<\/em> alongside the conclusion of Cigarettes After Sex\u2019s sold\u2011out arena world tour. On the publishing side, there were new deals with Brendan Benson and the estates of Nick and Molly Drake, while Chrysalis Records added Hiss Golden Messenger to its frontline label roster, joining Laura Marling, Nadia Read and Bodega.<\/p>\n Charli xcx Management<\/strong><\/p>\n Brandon Creed, Founder and CEO, Good World Management \n\tBeyond her ability to capture the zeitgeist, Charli xcx\u2019s management team has played a major part in her success in recent years. Life after Brat<\/em>, her 2024 LP is looking strong already with her Wuthering Heights<\/em> soundtrack LP hitting No. 1 on the U.K.\u2019s Official Albums Chart, and two new singles (\u201cRock Music\u201d and \u201cSS26\u201d) ensuring she remains a defining force in pop. Alongside his colleagues Sam Pringle and Twiggy Rowley at Project Gold, Creed has played a key role in supporting that trajectory, helping solidify Charli\u2019s position as one of the most influential U.K. artists on the world stage. \u201cThe U.K has been a second home to me throughout my career,\u201d he says. \u201cIts musical culture is genuinely unmatched in its ability to shape global taste.\u201d<\/p>\n Coldplay Management<\/strong><\/p>\n Phil Harvey, manager \n\tThere aren\u2019t many things that qualify as new experiences for Coldplay these days, but their debut performances in India in 2025 won\u2019t be something they\u2019ll forget in a hurry. The four-piece played to over 110,000 fans on consecutive nights at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat \u2014 two of the largest stadium shows to have taken place this century. While ticking a new country off their list may have been something of a novelty to the well-travelled Chris Martin-led band, setting new standards is essentially what Coldplay do now for fun. A majestic 10-night run at Wembley Stadium rounded off the latest leg of their mammoth Music of the Spheres<\/em> tour (taking their total number of Wembley gigs on this tour to a record-breaking 16), with total ticket sales surpassing 13 million, officially the highest-attended tour in music history.<\/p>\n Day One Music<\/strong><\/p>\n Nick Shymansky, Founder, Day One Music<\/em><\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWatching Lola [Young] perform and win at the Grammys is a moment I will cherish forever,\u201d says Shymansky. \u201cKnowing everything we all went through to get there made it mean that much more, and it was a reminder of what\u2019s possible when you back someone all the way.\u201d Young\u2019s longtime manager has guided the London songwriter to the mainstream, landing a global smash with \u201cMessy.\u201d The growing Day One Music roster includes Sofia & The Antoinettes, Not Billy, Kid 12, Avi Barath and Manuka, rising stars with \u201cone-off talent, complexity, and a vision worth fighting for.\u201d<\/p>\n Extended Play<\/strong><\/p>\n Paul Jeboda, Artist manager, Extended Play<\/em> \n\tParker and Jeboda form the management team behind Luton-raised songwriter Myles Smith, one of British music\u2019s most remarkable success stories in recent years. The 27-year-old\u2019s folk-pop anthem \u201cStargazing\u201d has surpassed a billion streams and hit No. 1 on Billboard\u2019s Pop Airplay chart twice, while Smith has sold out a U.K. & Ireland arena tour ahead of the June release of his debut LP, My Mess, My Heart, My Life<\/em>. These milestones are \u201ca reflection of the trust he\u2019s built with his audience, and the work we\u2019ve done as a team,\u201d Parker affirms.<\/p>\n Future History<\/strong><\/p>\n Ryan Richards, CEO and artist manager, Future History Management<\/em><\/p>\n \n\t2025 was a banner year for Future History and its expanding roster of rock acts. British metalcore phenomenon Sleep Token crowned its nearly decade-long rise with a No. 1 album on both sides of the Atlantic, while Those Damn Crows celebrated its first U.K. No. 1 on the Official Albums Chart. \u201cBoth were very different campaigns in their approach and execution, so to see both result in entries of the summit of the charts was a great feeling,\u201d says Richards. In December, the firm appointed Jameson Roper as partner and president of U.S. operations, adding Bilmuri and Wage War to its client list.<\/p>\n Gaiety Management<\/strong><\/p>\n Caroline Downey, Artist manager, Gaiety Management<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tDowney has overseen a standout 12 months for Hozier, anchored by the continued rollout of his Unreal Unearth<\/em> campaign, which over the past few years has featured a Billboard Hot 100-topping hit in the form of \u201cToo Sweet\u201d and powered the Irish act to feature on Billboard\u2019s Year-End artist charts in 2025. Alongside a headline slot at Reading & Leeds Festival, the 36-year-old sold out shows in cities across North America, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and the U.K., with cumulative attendance surpassing seven figures. This increased touring demand has reinforced Hozier\u2019s position as a leading international live act under Gaiety\u2019s management and artist development strategy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Grumpy Old Management<\/p>\n <\/strong>Stuart Camp, Manager (Ed Sheeran), Grumpy Old Management
Ed Howard, Co-president, Atlantic Records U.K.
Sam Spencer, Executive vp, Atlantic Records U.K<\/em>.<\/p>\n
Sam Potts, Co-managing director, AWAL U.K.
Victoria Needs, Co-managing director, AWAL U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n
Paul Redding, CEO, Beggars Group
Ben Beardsworth, Managing director, XL Recordings
Caius Pawson, Founder, Young
Jeannette Lee, Co-managing director, Rough Trade Records
Ed Horrox, President, 4AD
Alex Keague-Davies, General manager, Matador<\/em><\/p>\n
Charley Snook, Managing director, EGA Distro<\/em><\/p>\n
Ted May, Senior vp, international marketing, EMPIRE<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Lola](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/P1056LX0-e1779811707163.jpg?w=300\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>
Chris Manning, Director U.K. and Europe, The Orchard
Richard Pattison, VP, A&R\/Label Partnerships, The Orchard<\/em><\/p>\n
Stacey Tang, Co-president of RCA Records U.K.<\/em><\/p>\n
Ali Murphy, International marketing director, Secretly Group
Adam Nealon, Senior director of A&R, Secretly Group
Will Edge, Director of projects U.K.\/EU, Secretly Group
Kristian Downs, Head of digital operations, Secretly Distribution
Tom Davies, Director, Global marketing & campaigns, Secretly Distribution<\/em><\/p>\n
<\/em>
Universal Music Recordings, the label responsible for elevating the catalogue of UMG U.K.\u2019s iconic catalogue, is bringing \u201ca wealth of new audiences to our legendary artists\u201d with innovative marketing strategies, synchs and more. Neaves says that UMR\u2019s \u201cbrilliantly creative team\u201d are putting a spotlight on works by The Beatles, Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley, Elton John, The Spice Girls and The Rolling Stones throughout the year, with the latter looking to earn their 15th UK. No. 1 on the Official Albums Chart with new LP Foreign Tongues<\/em>.<\/p>\n
Vanessa Bos\u00e5en, President, U.K., Virgin Music Group<\/em>
Liz Northeast, Senior vp, EMEA, FUGA
Tom Allen, Chief technology officer, Downtown<\/em><\/p>\n
Alex Burford, Managing director, Warner Records U.K.
Jennifer Ivory, Managing director, Parlophone<\/em><\/p>\n![\"PinkPantheress](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/P105CZIP-e1776580265296.jpg?w=300\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\tMultisector\t<\/h2>\n
Sarah Wilson, Head of TuneCore, U.K. & Ireland, AUS\/NZ, TuneCore<\/em><\/p>\n
Jamie Nelson, Senior vp, new recordings, U.K., BMG
Lisa Cullington, vp, creative, publishing, BMG<\/em><\/p>\n
Alison Wenham, COO, Blue Raincoat Music; COO, Chrysalis Records<\/em>
Annette Barrett, Managing director and global strategic liaison, Reservoir\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n![\"YUNGBLUD](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/P103YR5G.jpg?w=200\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\tManagement\t<\/h2>\n
Sam Pringle, Partner, Project Gold
Twiggy Rowley, Partner, Project Gold<\/em><\/p>\n
Arlene Moon, manager\u00a0
Mandi Frost, manager<\/em><\/p>\n
Eric Parker, Artist manager, Extended Play<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Myles](\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/P103H0C5-e1779811818295.jpg?w=300\")
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In the past year, Grumpy Old Management \u2014 who represent Ed Sheeran, alongside ascendant pop stars Griff and Maisie Peters \u2014 has focused on expanding its operations in order to \u201cbetter support our artists across all aspects of their careers,\u201d says Camp. Sheeran\u2019s Play<\/em> LP became his ninth U.K. No. 1 album last September, while the global superstar is currently in the midst of his all-new