News

The event, which celebrates the unique relationship between artists and managers, returns to London’s Bloomsbury Big Top on Thursday November 20th, and will be hosted for a second year in succession by BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Remi Burgz.

Information on tickets, tables and sponsorship packages is available here.

Recognising an illustrious 30+ years guiding the careers of artists including Ash, alt-J and Wolf Alice, Stephen “Tav” Taverner, founder of East City Management will receive our award for Manager’s Manager. A hugely popular and long-serving former MMF board member, Tav is undoubtedly one of the most successful British managers of his generation, who has repeatedly helped artists achieve greatness while embracing individualism, independence and innovation.

Graduating from the warehouse of Rough Trade Distribution, and initially establishing their in-house plugging department, where he promoted releases for the likes of The Lemonheads, Soundgarden, Rollins Band, The Shamen and The KLF. Tav then joined Big Cat Records / Bedlam Management as an A&R scout, going on to convince them to sign Pavement and Mercury Rev.

His next move was starting an indie label, La La Land. It’s first release being the debut single by Ash, now his longest standing management client, who are still delivering hit records. The band’s most recent album, Ad Astra, entered the UK Top 20 earlier this month.

Never shy to break with conventions, subsequent management successes with The Ting Tings, alt-J and classical pianist Riopy all utilised music platforms – from MySpace to SoundCloud to meditation apps – to find and grow new audiences, while keeping his clients’ music at centre stage. Tav has also backed his artists to evolve and develop, none more so than Wolf Alice, the four-time Mercury Prize-nominated band whose latest record and major label debut – The Clearing – has taken them to new heights on both sides of the Atlantic.

Through East City Management, Tav has mentored a group of young managers who, between them, oversee a diverse roster of artists including The Big Moon, Public Service Broadcasting and Kodaline. And he continues to back and support new talent. Following an innovative online campaign and a string of sold out shows, London-based four-piece Keo are East City’s next success story in waiting, recently signing a deal with Island Records.

A passionate advocate for transparency, creators rights and empowering artists to build their own businesses, Tav remains a music enthusiast, and an inspiration to the wider management community.

Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive, Music Managers Forum:

“I am delighted we have this opportunity to recognise Tav’s career successes at East City, alongside his wider contribution to music management. This is long overdue. Tav is such a trusted, popular and supportive individual, and a real pillar of the MMF community. His commitment to long-term talent development with artists such as Wolf Alice, alt-J and Ash is widely recognised by his peers, many of whom cite him as an inspiration. He is a true managers’ manager.”

2025’s awards for Artist of the Year and Manager of the Year will be announced on the night of the ceremony and drawn from two shortlists that encapsulate the best in contemporary musical innovation, craft and creative achievement.

Both feature individuals and groups from a wide array of genres, who have achieved domestic success and international recognition over a sustained period.

The Artist of the Year category is sponsored by Tixel, the honest fan-to-fan ticket exchange and waitlist tool that gives artists the power to own their audience and sell out faster, while protecting fans from touts and scammers

2025 Artist of the Year Shortlist (sponsored by Tixel):

CMAT
Fontaines D.C.
Jade
Lola Young
PinkPantheress

2025 Manager of the Year Shortlist:

Amy Frenchum – Blue Raincoat Artists (Ezra Collective, Yazmin Lacey)
Emily Braham – Yo&Co (Olivia Dean)
Muyiwa Awoniyi & Wale Davies (Tems)
Ryan Richards – Future History (Sleep Token)
Wesley Earl Banton (D-Block Europe)

Complementing these, and in recognition of Sounds Right – a groundbreaking initiative that helps activate fans, raise funds and inspire collective efforts to protect the planet – our inaugural Earth Action Award will be presented to NATURE the artist and EarthPercent, NATURE’s music manager.

Developed by the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live, EarthPercent, AKQA and Spotify, and delivered in partnership with musicians and nature sound recordists, as well as environmental, campaigning and global advocacy organisations, this ambitious, important and highly original project has resulted in a series of new and reimagined recordings that incorporate the sound of nature. Artists who have collaborated with NATURE include Hozier, Ellie Goulding, Bomba Estereo, The Staves, London Grammar, AURORA, Armaan Malik, Raveena and Sam Lee – accruing royalties that are donated to biodiversity conservation and restoration projects.

Since launch more than 26m fans from 181 countries have listened to 65 musical collaborations with NATURE and over 150 ecosystem tracks of field recordings from around the world. To date $225K of funding for Indigenous and community-led conservation has been awarded to projects in the Colombian Tropical Andes, and in November 2025 new funding will be announced for nature protection in the Amazon and Congo Basins.

David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition:

“Breaking with previous year’s conventions, I’m really happy we can reflect the array of talent and diversity in today’s music scene by presenting two shortlists for Artist and Manager of the Year. All these remarkable nominees deserve recognition for the incredible recordings, live performances and campaigns they’ve delivered over the past 12 months. We are also delighted to recognise the highly innovative Sounds Right initiative that has combined the power of music and nature to such stunning effect. It’s a brilliant piece of advocacy, involving a wide team of campaigners, and a deserved winner of our Earth Action Award.”

As previously announced, the Artist & Manager Awards will also recognise the long-term partnership between Pulp and Rough Trade Management’s Jeannette Lee (Artist & Manager Partnership, sponsored by PPL), the hugely respected manager and music executive Craig Logan (Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by Sound Royalties), and the legendary Soul II Soul (Pioneer Award, sponsored by PRS for Music).

For more information on sponsorship opportunities or tickets, please contact Gary Reid or Jonathan Robinson – gary@thefac.org / jonathan@themmf.net.