Table of contents for No. 1409 in Music Week

As far as parting statements go, it was a powerful one. “I've been lucky to follow my passion for finding new music, and had the related benefit of working with some of the most creative people in the world and watching them craft masterpieces that change people's lives,” it read. “Work that brings happiness and solace, excitement and meaning all at once.” These were the words of exiting Warner Music UK CEO Tony Harlow to his staff in a memo obtained by Music Week, as the seasoned executive announced his decision to step down after six years in charge. Of particular interest was Harlow's rationale, explaining that he was making way for the next generation of leaders who would, in turn, be tasked with doing “what needs to be done…

THE BIG RELEASE Taylor Swift has announced the surprise release of a new album, The Life Of A Showgirl. Produced by Max Martin, Shellback and Swift, her 12th studio album will be released on October 3. The standard edition of the record released via Republic (EMI in the UK) will feature 12 songs, including a special guest feature from Sabrina Carpenter on the title track. The Life Of A Showgirl is Swift's first album following the news in May that she had acquired her original master recordings for her first six albums. THE BIG RULING The Competition Appeal Tribunal has rejected a proposed class action against PRS For Music, headed by CEO Andrea Czapary Martin (pictured). The claim by Blur's Dave Rowntree, on behalf of PRS members, related to ‘black…

“Starting this series came from a deep desire to see better representation in the guitar world” Colleen Harris THIS MONTH GUITARS OF R&B Host: Colleen Harris Contact: colleen@guitarsofrnb.com When journalist Colleen Harris launched Guitars Of R&B, she had no idea of the kind of tales she would uncover. From Malina Moye playing guitar on the table at an industry dinner, to Ari O'Neal almost missing her break with Beyoncé by not checking her DMs, the series has become a treasure trove. Here, Music Week finds out more… What was your main motivation behind starting the podcast? “It came from a deep desire to see better representation in the guitar world. For years, I've been going to guitar events and retreats that focused on rock, classical and blues, and they're fantastic genres,…

RELEASE: Voyeur (out now) LABEL: Polydor/Capitol MANAGEMENT: Hunger Management WHAT THE TEAM SAYS: Lillia Parsa, president, Capitol Music Group: “Alessi has quickly established herself as the next big player in the female pop space. She has such a clear vision for her artistry, from her songwriting prowess, to her unique creative and visual world. We are incredibly lucky to play a part in her artistic journey.” Jodie Cammidge, managing director, Polydor Label Group: “Alessi is such a special talent – fearless, unique, and completely herself. Within a short space of time she has built an incredible bond with her fanatical audience. It's been inspiring working so closely with her and her brilliant management team, and collaborating with Capitol US to help build something really exciting on a global level. We're…

“I've recognised that the music I was known for wasn't necessarily what filled my heart” Ella Eyre Having signed your first deal at 16, would you do anything differently now? “Luckily for me it went well, because for somebody of that age, being thrown into the deep end in that way, it's very easy to come out the other side with mental challenges much worse than mine. I definitely suffered in terms of my profession. I look at the process I've been through to make this new record and there was just no time for that. I'd done a lot of work prior to [2013 Rudimental collaboration] Waiting All Night but, because of the way the industry works, it was just, ‘We want to give the people what they want.’ I…

Management: Emily Braham & Sarah Howell (Yo&Co Management) Label: Capitol UK President: Jo Charrington MD: Tom Paul A&R: Willem Ward Marketing: Jamie Ahye Digital Marketing: Andrew Bunton International: Nickie Owen & Holly Shaw Socials: CYOA Publisher: Ollie Audouin & Sarah Gabrielli (Sony Music Publishing) Lawyer: Lizzie Payne-James (Lee & Thompson) Agent: Summer Marshall (CAA) Press: Cherry Create Radio: Joe Dodson (All Ears) Regional Radio: Mark Rankin (Universal) TV: Helena McGeough (Electric PR)/Flossie Easthope (Universal) Creative Director: Emily Braham (Yo&Co Management) Branding Agent: Lora Hadridge (5'3 Agency)…

Ask Tom Roberts if he has any hobbies outside of his work and he says trail running, DJing and playing the drums… So no, then, he doesn't. And maybe he doesn't need to. As director of Shoot Music, the company he founded back in 2008, Roberts has carved out a career uniting his two main passions: sport and music. The industry veteran was a radio plugger through the '90s and into the '00s, working with artists such as Oasis, Kasabian and Muse, and realised that an increasing number of acts under his charge would rather talk about football than how they'd made their new record. “Over a period of time, I got to a stage where I had a pool of artists that wanted to do a lot of their…

MK SONG: DIOR FT CHRYSTAL DJ, producer & remixer MK has been a defining force in dance music for over three decades, but this year he reached a new milestone. The house music legend secured his first ever UK No.1 alongside breakout star Chrystal with their deep house track Dior, racking up over 60 million Spotify streams since its release in June. Here, he talks about the little details that made a big impact and the magic of Chrystal's vocals… My daughter is always playing me music and when she first played me Chrystal [The Days], I thought it was really cool. I started looking at other stuff she had done and I thought she'd be a really good fit to [work with]. Her songs and the way she delivers…

UNITED KINGDOM Denon Reed & Cru2 Let Him Go Video Creations: 150,000 This month's breakout SoundOn success story is Denon Reed & Cru2's Let Him Go, a bassline anthem that advanced into the UK Top 40. The track's success marks more than just a chart moment; it places bassline firmly back in the spotlight as the genre experiences a powerful revival. The TikTok community has propelled the song with a wave of organic storytelling, soundtracking everything from defiant post-breakup edits to style and nightlife montages. Its punchy hook has been embraced as a signal of independence and self-confidence, turning Let Him Go into a rallying cry for fresh starts. By leaning in with creators and amplifying the trend directly, Reed and Cru2 have helped generate momentum, proving that bassline's energy…

Your essential primer for the month ahead I- sland EMI president Louis Bloom has told Music Week that Lola Young is the “next global superstar”. Young has already made an impact with her anthem Messy, which has amassed more than a billion streams. The prolific UK breakthrough artist is now about to drop her third album, I'm Only F***ing Myself (out September 19). “We think she's the next global superstar,” said Bloom. “She's unique. These artists come along once every 10 years.” The album arrives less than 18 months after her previous LP. Top 20 single One Thing has been a summer chart fixture. “We follow the momentum of creativity,” said Bloom. “She wants to get in the studio, that's her happy place, and then she wants to release it to…

“The talent is here in the North East – it's about time everyone got behind it” MICK ROSS, GENERATOR You recently used an event in London to call for a regional balancing of funding for music – what was your message to the industry? “The message on the day was that talent is everywhere, but opportunity hasn't been and the North is ready to lead and to move forwards. We're developing the infrastructure, we've got the partners. The fact that devolution has happened, all of the combined [local] authorities that we work with across the North have put music as a priority sector. So it's about saying that the talent is here and it's about time that everyone got behind it.” Is the North East music sector growing? “There's been massive…

Writing songs makes Alessi Rose feel invincible. Her music is the Derby native's safe place, where she puts all the words and emotions that might otherwise pinball around in her restless mind. The things other people might be afraid to say out loud? Rose puts them in song. “Sometimes people are like, ‘How do you do that when you're still in contact with the person you've written about?’” relates the affable 22-year-old from Los Angeles, where she's working on the follow-up to her recent third EP Voyeur, her first release since signing to Capitol (Polydor puts out her music in the UK). “I'm like, ‘Well, this is how I express everything.’ I don't keep a diary, I keep a songwriting book and I put anything in there. Even if it's…

LUVCAT This Halloween, Luvcat plans to send shockwaves through the industry in the form of her bombastic debut album Vicious Delicious. Music Week meets the Liverpool musician to talk emo, alter-egos and writing bangers… Before Luvcat, you put out three EPs under your own name. What prompted the shift? Were you restless? “I think ‘restless’ is a good word. A lot changed in my life and I just felt like I was returning to something inside me that was always there. As soon as I said the word ‘Luvcat’, it just all made sense. It's not a character, I just feel like Luvcat was a name, other than my own name, that sums up me as a character.” The project's aesthetic is very strong – how would you characterise it?…

Nearly a year into her role as CEO of the Association Of Independent Music (AIM), where she is a longtime servant, Gee Davy has had plenty to get her teeth into in the top job. The executive has been steering AIM through thorny policy debates, championing the indie sector and pushing for fair pay as technology reshapes the music landscape. Given her varied career, Davy being at the helm feels like she's coming full circle. “This is really the role where I feel like everything's come together,” she smiles as we settle down to talk in the late afternoon on a sweltering London summer's day in the run-up to the 15th anniversary edition of AIM's Independent Music Awards, which take place on September 23 at the Roundhouse. “There are a…

In an industry that thrives on breaking convention, why should your executive search still be playing by the book? “Forgive me, I should start by introducing myself, as I strongly suspect many readers won't know much about Saxton Bampfylde. So, here's a quick lowdown… “Established in 1986 on the founding principles of doing executive search differently, today we are proudly the leading firm for the arts and creative industries. Headhunters, if you must. Every year, our practice places scores of executives in roles from C-suite to senior leadership, across a diverse range of businesses. “While our name may be new to you, the organisations that we partner with definitely won't be. We have placed the very best leadership talent in some of the world's most important institutions – from the…

From the Fugees and his stellar solo career, to working with Destiny's Child, Whitney Houston and more, Wyclef Jean's legend is long established. With a new album in the offing, he talks Lauryn Hill, Beyoncé and why spotting talent is like being an Avenger… I haven't rapped in 15 years… “I'm very excited with this new project that I've got coming, I've reset the button to, ‘Ready or not, here I come’ in my rap brain. The first single is called Back From Abu Dhabi and I'm saying, ‘I'm back.’ It's me, Dave Chappelle on the intro, French Montana, Rick Ross and I'm doing all of the production. It's crazy. The full-length album comes out next summer and I promise you, I'm gonna have y'all dancing, singing along, rapping and…

Looking back to the start of your career, did you always want to work in publicity? “I have always been a music fanatic, so the idea of working in the industry was a big dream. I broke into the industry at the height of the pandemic in 2020 and I think what helped me most was being willing to hustle and put myself out there. Whilst I was applying for entry-level roles, internships and any available work experience, I made a point of staying visible and engaged on LinkedIn, connecting with people at companies, labels and agencies. I asked people how they got started, what their roles involved and any tips they had on breaking into the industry. I was blown away by how open and generous people were and…

SEPTEMBER 19 All Saints Saints & Sinners – 25th Anniversary edition Rhino Biffy Clyro Futique 1967/Warner Briscoe Heat Of July ATO Cardi B Am I The Drama? (out September 21) Atlantic Joanne Robertson Blurrr AD 93 Johnny Marr Look Out Live! BMG Lola Young I'm Only F**king Myself Island Motion City Soundtrack The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World Epitaph Nation Of Language Dance Called Memory Sub Pop NewDad Altar Atlantic The Divine Comedy Rainy Sunday Afternoon Divine Comedy Wednesday Bleeds Dead Oceans SEPTEMBER 26 Anaiis Devotion & The Black Divine Dream Sequence/5DB Doja Cat Vie Kemosabe/RCA Geese Getting Killed Partisan/Play It Again Sam Girls Aloud Chemistry – 20th Anniversary edition Polydor Good Neighbours Blue Sky Mentality Polydor Mother Love Bone Shine/Apple (2025 remaster) Mercury/UME Night Tapes Portals//Polarities Nettwerk Olivia Dean…

“Mass Appeal is giving other labels more confidence that they can do things with legacy talent that are actually viable” PETER BITTENBENDER, MASS APPEAL Passion exudes from every word of Peter Bittenbender, Annie Chen and Mike Lukowski, hip-hop fans who have tasked themselves to tell the stories the genre is missing. Midway through our interview, Chen receives a text from Ghostface Killah's team about the final marketing touches to his new album, the sequel to his pioneering 2000 opus Supreme Clientele. The hustle never stops, which is just the way over at Mass Appeal Records, the rap juggernaut with the legendary Nas as its leader that has been pushing stellar albums and documentaries for over a decade. The record label is an arm of the broader Mass Appeal creative entity, first…

With over a decade of experience in the creative industries, Ree Sewell has built an unconventional yet dynamic career spanning event management, presenting, radio, tour management and A&R. She has worked at (and with) both independent and major labels, including Universal, BMG and Believe, in turn shaping her diverse perspective on the music ecosystem. Now serving as senior artist and label relations manager at SoundCloud, Sewell focuses on supporting artist development, driving audience growth and helping foster vibrant music communities. Sewell's first A&R signing, GB/Ghetto Boy, was featured on Angélique Kidjo's Grammy Award-winning 2021 album Mother Nature. Alongside her professional achievements, she holds a Master's degree in Music Business Management from the University of Westminster and has collaborated closely with the Music Workforce and UK Music teams. Passionate about upskilling…

In mid-2025, the UK's grassroots music venue (GMV) sector stands at a defining moment. Across the country, operators are increasingly transitioning to not-for-profit structures. According to the latest Music Venue Trust data, 33% of GMVs are now formally registered as not-for-profit entities – up 29% on the previous year. One in three venues is a not-for-profit entity; in 2014, it was one in 34. The most common structure is the Community Interest Company, accounting for 18.2% of Music Venues Alliance members. The above isn't a paperwork exercise, it's a fundamental recognition of what these venues have been all along: community-powered, publicly-engaged cultural organisations. In 2024, the average GMV posted a profit margin of 0.48%. Nearly 44% reported a loss. Live music brought in £113.6 million but cost £275.7m to stage…