News

With just over two weeks until the ceremony returns to London’s Bloomsbury Big Top on Thursday 20th November, the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Music Managers Forum (MMF) are proud to reveal our final awardees and shortlists for the 2025 Artist & Manager Awards.

Final tickets for the event are available here.

Our Artist Champion for 2025 is DJ AG and his co-managers Fiona Ramsay and Zeon Richards.

As a self-described open-format DJ, Tottenham-born AG has transformed the streets of London and other cities around the world into a global stage. Providing an accessible and inclusive platform for upcoming talent and A-listers alike – including the likes of Burna Boy, Skepta, JME, Central Cee, Jorja Smith, Ella Eyre, Craig David, Ed Sheeran, Slick Rick, Tiwa Savage, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man and Ciara – his celebratory and spontaneous pop-up events have been amplified via TikTok and Instagram into authentic online communities, attracting hundreds of millions of views.

The impact on emerging artists has been especially profound, with all-comers lining up for a five-minute spotlight, passing over their USBs and stepping into a livestream that reaches hundreds of viewers in real time. Taking that format to schools, care homes and youth centres, one can witness the pure power of music to impact lives and effect change.

Recognised by The Guardian as the UK’s most important DJ, profiled by the Financial Times, featured on Channel 4 News, the BBC and Good Morning Britain, and named Time Out Londoner of the Year, DJ AG has become a cultural force who bridges gaps and platforms often overlooked voices, from rising stars to everyday people overcoming challenges.

He is a worthy artist champion, and testament also to the guidance of Fiona Ramsay and Zeon Richards – two of the UK’s most respected talent managers and music strategists, who have organically expanded DJ AG’s cultural impact, while never once losing its humble, electrifying and generous essence.

Our 2025 Writer / Producer Manager (sponsored by Concord) is awarded to Oli Isaacs and Luke Williams at This Is Music, recognising in particular their remarkable long-term partnership with the producer, artist and songwriter James Ford.

Established in 2007, This Is Music has specialised predominantly in underground electronic music. The company’s current roster also includes Bicep, SHERELLE, Jayda G and Ross From Friends.

However, Oli and Luke’s relationship with James Ford goes back even further, managing him as a producer and for his initial releases as one half of Simian Mobile Disco since 2005 – incidentally, This Is Music still represents SMD as well as the other member of the duo, Jas Shaw.

James Ford’s early productions include albums for the likes of Klaxons (Mercury-winning Myths of the Near Future), Arctic Monkeys (Favourite Worst Nightmare, Suck It and See, AM) and The Last Shadow Puppets (The Age of the Understatement).

Over the ensuing period, James has established himself as one of the UK’s most pre-eminent producers and collaborators – working for an impressively diverse range of artists, and helping to unlock and support their creative vision. In the past two years alone, that has included records by Depeche Mode, Jessie Ware, Blur, Pet Shop Boys, The Last Dinner Party, Geese, Beth Gibbons, Fontaines D.C., Black Country, New Road and Pulp.

In 2023, he also released a debut solo album on Warp Records, The Hum, as James Ellis Ford.

Celebrating such an incredible, era-defining partnership, that has imparted record collections the world over with such an indelible stamp of quality, the MMF and FAC are delighted to present Oli and Luke with this award.

The Writer / Producer Manager category is sponsored by Concord, the world’s leading independent music company that supports more than 125,000 artists and songwriters whose works are licensed, marketed, and performed globally.

David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition:

“With less than three weeks to go, we’re incredibly excited to confirm our final awardees and shortlists for the 2025 Artist & Manager Awards. I am absolutely delighted we can recognise the incredible impact of DJ AG as a champion of other artists, as well as the vital roles played by Fiona and Zeon, and of Oli and Jake at This Is Music for their work with James Ford. All demonstrate the pure power of music and collaboration.”

2025’s awards for Breakthrough Artist (sponsored by Symphonic), Breakthrough Manager (sponsored by Amazon Music) and Secret Weapon will be announced on the evening of the ceremony.

The former two categories are always among the most hotly-contested, while our Secret Weapon award recognises a member of a management team who has made invaluable behind-the-scenes contributions to a campaign, career or event.

These shortlists are as follows:

Breakthrough Artist (sponsored by Symphonic):

Good Neighbours
Jim Legxacy
Luvcat
Overmono
Skye Newman
Wunderhorse

Breakthrough Manager (sponsored by Amazon Music):

Jamlia Scott – Made Management (AURORA, Jack Kane, halfrhymes, Melle Brown, Hannah Yadi)
Hamish Fingland – Bounse MGMT (Jacob Alon, James Emmanuel, Lucia & The Best Boys, Walt Disco)
Beniam ‘Hanz’ Hannes (Odeal)
Alex Omisesan (Nemzzz)
Claire Kilcourse – Big Life Management (Orla Gartland, LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER, Sivu )
Charlotte Maher – Solar Management (David Wrench, Marta Salogni, Sam Petts-Davies, Luca Perry, Ellie Mason)

Secret Weapon

Jackie Joseph, General Counsel – Blue Raincoat Music
Jessica Miller, Senior Creative and Operations Manager – Karma Artists
Myradh Cormican, Director of Audience and Partnerships – Frame Artists
Tina Bhattacharjee, Senior Day to Day Artist Manager – September Management

Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive, Music Managers Forum:

“With the winners of five categories being announced on the night, this year’s awards should be particularly exciting. Both our Breakthrough shortlists are incredibly strong, and the nominees for Secret Weapon highlight those unsung heroes who have contributed significantly to specific teams or campaigns. We can’t wait to welcome our friends, partners and communities to celebrate with us on November 20th.”

Previously announced winners for the 2025 Artist & Manager Awards are:

Pulp & Jeannette Lee (Artist & Manager Partnership, sponsored by PPL)
Stephen Taverner (Managers’ Manager)
Craig Logan (Entrepreneur, sponsored by Sound Royalties)
Soul II Soul (Pioneer, sponsored by PRS for Music)
NATURE the artist & EarthPercent (Earth Action)

Winners of Artist of the Year (sponsored by Tixel) and Manager of the Year will be revealed on the night.

For the second year in succession, the ceremony will be hosted by BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Remi Burgz.

www.amawards.org