The A&R Awards 2018 in association with Abbey Road Studios welcomed the great and the good of the UK music industry last night (November 6) in London – and the surprises didn’t stop coming.
Big winners at the MBW ceremony included A&R Icon recipient Simon Cowell, who was presented with his award by Sony Music CEO Rob Stringer.
“I am so grateful not only to work with him, but to call him my friend,” said Stringer of the Syco founder.
Cowell thanked many of the UK individuals who helped him in the early stages of his career, including David Howells, Mike McCormack, Nick Raymonde, Steve Mac and Jeremy Marsh, in addition to songwriters, artists and his Syco/Sony family.
“This is a huge deal for me – thank you very much,” said Cowell at the close of his speech, before receiving a standing ovation across the room.
The Artist Loyalty award – recognising a long-standing relationship between a performer and music business executive – was collected by Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) and his manager for the last 30 years, Garry Blackburn.
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SUPPORTED BY ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS
Steve Mac
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – SUPPORTED BY DOWNTOWN
Camille Purcell
A&R OF THE YEAR: ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Dominic Fyfe – Decca Classics
A&R OF THE YEAR: ELECTRONIC/DANCE
Mike Pickering & Julian Palmer – Columbia
A&R OF THE YEAR: HIP-HOP/GRIME
Benny Scarrs & Jack Foster (& Dave) – NBR Hood
A&R OF THE YEAR: POP/R&B
Joe Kentish – Warner Bros
A&R OF THE YEAR: ALTERNATIVE/ROCK
Charlie Christie & Theo Lalic – September Management
A&R ADMINISTRATOR
Rebecca La Porta & Paul Walmsley – Polydor
PUBLISHER (1)
BMG
PUBLISHER (2)
Good Soldier Songs
INDEPENDENT LABEL
Domino
MANAGEMENT COMPANY (THE DAVID ENTHOVEN AWARD) – SUPPORTED BY CENTTRIP MUSIC
UROK Management
MAJOR LABEL – SUPPORTED BY INSTRUMENTAL
Atlantic
THE SIR GEORGE MARTIN AWARD
Jamie Oborne, Dirty Hit
THE ARTIST LOYALTY AWARD
Norman Cook & Garry Blackburn
THE A&R TRAILBLAZER AWARD
Lunick Bourgess, Virgin EMI
THE A&R ICON AWARD
Simon Cowell