CATEGORIES 2017

ENTRY DEADLINE: 16TH DECEMBER 2016

CRITERIA:

This Award is for an A&R team (defined as more than one person), rather than an A&R individual. Entries should include:
 
  • Details of performance across three artists within the timeframe for entries. 
  • Your entry should include clear evidence of artists signing and development leading to commercial and creative success. This can include: Sales figures, Critical acclaim, Testimonials
Previous winners include: Atlantic Records, Capitol Records, Domino
This award is for a record company that is majority owned independently – must be this to qualify. Entries should include:
 
  • Clear evidence of creative and commercial success across a maximum of five releases within the time frame detailed for entries.
  • Sales figures across these releases.
Previous winners: Bella Union, Heavenly Recordings
 
 
 
Catalogue Marketing Campaign
This Award is for Catalogue Marketing Campaign focused upon the rejuvenation of previously existing work.  Entries should include:
 
  • Details of their marketing campaign including, but not exclusively: Developments – TV, Radio, Print, Billboards, Online, Social etc.; Budget adhered to; Evidence that it worked and has reignited consumer interest in the artists back catalogue of work based on key performance indicators such as: Sales figures, Proof of increased presence in the market, Uplift in social media following 
  • Judges will also consider the creative quality of the campaign, the level of innovation and consistency displayed throughout across multiple platforms. 
Previous winners include: Elvis Presley – If I Can Dream – Sony Music Commercial Group, Oasis – Chasing the Sun – Ignition/Big Brother, The Trevor Nelson Collection – Sony Music Commercial Group
This Award is for Artist Marketing Campaign focused upon a new album or single. Entries should include:
 
  • Details of a marketing campaign focused on a single artist.
  • Your entry should include, but not exclusively: Developments – TV, Radio, Print, Billboards, Online, Social etc.; Budget adhered to; Evidence of success based on key performance indicators include: Sales figures, Proof of increased presence in market, Uplift in social media following 
  • Judges will also consider the creative quality of the campaign, the level of innovation and consistency displayed throughout across multiple platforms. 
Previous winners include: Years & Years (Polydor), Ed Sheeran (Atlantic), London Grammar (Ministry of Sound)
 
 
Entries should include:
 
  • Clear evidence of creative and commercial success across a maximum of five releases within the time frame.
  • Sales figures across these releases.
Previous winners include: XL Recordings, Atlantic Records, Virgin EMI
 
 
This award is open to independently owned music retailers across the UK.  Entries should include detail pertaining to:
 
  • Customer service
  • Product knowledge
  • Range merchandising 
  • Sales
  • Importance to the local music community 
Previous winners include: Banquet Records, Kingston, Resident, Brighton
This award rewards the efforts of Label & Artist Services Companies. Entries should include:
 
  • Details of up to 3 campaigns they’ve worked on for artists or labels including
  • Details of services rendered and evidence of success according to pre-set KPI's
  • Endorsements from those involved in those campaigns as to performance/customer service/success/
    innovation/commercial impact
Previous winners include: ADA, Caroline International, [PIAS] Artist & Label Services 
Entries should include:
 
  • Detail regarding artists represented and the live dates they have booked showing clear signs of career development and commercial success
  • Up to 5 endorsements from key contacts across the live business e.g. venues, promoters and managers 
Previous winners include: Jon Ollier (CAA), Summer Marshall (CAA), Alex Hardee (Coda)
 
 
 
This award is for any live music company promoting UK gigs, tours and festivals. Entries should include:
 
  • Details of up to 5 events that must have happened in the time period specified for eligibility, including: Event popularity – ticket sales, Event profile – details and examples of coverage received and reach of that coverage, Profitability of event – revenue and GP
Previous winners: SJM Concerts, Live Nation
 
 
Entries should include:
 
  • Evidence of career development across a single or multiple clients (limit of 3)
  • Commercial success across multiple industry sectors (recorded music, publishing, live, etc.)
  • Artistic merit 
Previous winners include: Paul McDonald & Ryan Lofthouse, Closer Artists, Jack Street, Sam Evitt and Elvin Smith, Method Management/Mansion Artists, Ian McAndrew & Geoff Barradale – Wildlife 
Entries should include evidence of:
 
  • Artistic Merit
  • Innovation
  • Increased sales/profile for both brand and artist 
Previous winners include: Google/Abbey Road Studios for Inside Abbey Road Studios, Sam Smith, #GooglePlayLive – Capitol & Google Play, Launched at Red Bull Studios – Globe 
The winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Charity Award is decided by the Music Week Team in consultation with the judges.
 
Previous winners include: The BRIT School, David Munns, Nordoff Robbins, Roger Daltrey, Teenage Cancer Trust 
 
This Award is for a PR campaign for an individual artist. Entries should include:
 
  • Details of a campaign for a single artist across the eligibility period 
  • The campaign must be across print and online and should include: Overall reach of the campaign (in numbers and engagement), Evidence of taking the artist into new demographics, Variety and quality of coverage
Previous winners include: Justin Bieber – We Care A Lot PR, Dolly Parton – Guesty PR, Rudimental – Atlantic 
Entries must include:
 
  • Evidence of significant and quality coverage across different forms of media 
  • Evidence of impact of said coverage on artist/releases/profile and/or commercial success
  • Evidence of breaking an artist in a new demographic 
Previous winners include: Atlantic Records
 
 
 
Publisher of the Year - NEW for 2017
This award is open to any publisher of music globally.
Entries must include:
 
  • Clear evidence of the promotion of the company’s song catalogue across a variety of market sectors (recorded music, sync, live, etc.)
  • Involving multiple writers 
  • Relevant for both singles and albums 
 
 
 
Radio Show
This award is open to all UK based individual radio shows on local and national radio stations where music is a key part of the offering. Entries must include:
 
  • Evidence of quality of output
  • Detail surrounding the show’s role as a platform for music promotion for the UK music industry 
  • Involvement in breaking new artists 
  • Supporting the work of UK music industry 
Previous winners include: Dermot O’Leary, BBC Radio 2, Alice Levine, BBC Radio 1, John Kennedy, XFM
Radio Station
This award is open to all local and national UK based radio stations where music is a key part of the offering. Entries must include:
 
  • Evidence of quality of output
  • Detail surrounding the show’s role as a platform for music promotion for the UK music industry 
  • Involvement in breaking new artists 
  • Supporting the work of UK music industry 
  • Number of listeners/engagement 
Music Retailer - NEW for 2017!
This new award will be awarded to the most effective platform for music sales or streaming in the UK. Entries must include:
 
  • Figures about sales and/or streaming 
  • Evidence of growth of market share and/or subscribers within the eligible year
  • Clear evidence of support for a wide range of UK music releases 
 
 
 
 
Sales Team
Entries should include evidence of:
 
  • Breadth of distribution
  • Adaption to new avenues to market 
  • Forecasting success
  • Commercial performance 
Previous winners include: Warner Music, Sony Music
Law Firm of the Year - NEW for 2017!
This brand new award will highlight the contribution of a law firm to the music industry. Entries must include:
 
  • Evidence (anecdotal is fine) of involvement in the music industry
  • Endorsements from clients
 
This award will recognise the crucial role played by ticketing companies in encouraging the continued strength of the live music industry, and is open to any ticket provider working within the music industry.  Entries must provide evidence of:
 
  • Prioritisation and focus on user experience, including, but not limited to: Platform innovation; Multiple collection options; Transparency of user journey; Details of booking fees and rationale behind them; Customer service (include up to 3 testimonials)
  • Support of multiple clients with detail as to how you have worked with up to three clients to help them reach and/or exceed their goals
  • Evidence of increased year on year uplift in revenue
  • Competitive differentiation: what makes you different from other ticketing companies? 
Grassroots Venue - NEW for 2017!
This brand new award will recognise the achievements of grassroots venues, as they struggle to survive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Venues must have a capacity of less than 500 to qualify. 
 
Entries must provide evidence of:
  • People playing over the year 
  • Support provided to grassroots musicians across all genres 
  • Contribution to local community and music scene 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The brand new Festival of the Year Award recognises the importance of the festival industry in the UK in breaking new artists and maintaining a vibrant live music scene, and is open to any UK festival that took place in 2016. 
 
Entries must provide evidence of:
 
  • Quality and innovation of the festival line up and content
  • Delivery of an outstanding experience for artists, festival goers and the music industry
  • Clear evidence of enhancing the careers of participating artists 
The Strat
This award is decided by the Music Week Team
 
2016: Max Hole, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group
2015: Neil Warnock, Founder, The Agency Group
2014: Rob Stringer, Chairman & CEO, Columbia Records, Sony Music
2013: Richard Griffiths and Harry Magee, Founders, Modest! Management 
2012: Richard Russell, Owner, XL Recordings 
2011: Fran Nevrkla, Chairman, PPL
2010: Lucian Grange, Chief Executive Officer, Universal Music Group
2009: Robert Partridge
2008: Tony Wadsworth, Chairman & CEO, EMI Music UK & Ireland
2007: Jazz Summers
2006: Daniel Miller, Founder, Mute Records