This incredible achievement marks a defining moment in Skye’s journey and highlights her artistry and dedication. From unforgettable performances at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Live Lounge debut to chart-topping hits, Skye is shaping the future of British music.

Skye made history by landing Top 20 hits with her first two singles, ‘Hairdresser’ and ‘Family Matters’ – the first UK female solo artist in over a decade to achieve this with both debut releases, and one of only four artists to do so in 70 years. She continued this momentum with ‘FU&UF’, which also landed in the Top 20.

Reacting to the news, Skye said: “I’m still in shock that I’ve won Radio 1’s Sound of 2026! So many artists that I’ve listened to over the years have been honoured with the award and now me! To think that Sound Of started the year I was born, 2003, and now I’m a winner! I’m so grateful and wouldn’t be where I am without my people and the BBC supporting me on my journey. Thank you!”

Dipesh Parmar, President of Columbia Records UK, added: “We’re incredibly proud of Skye and everything she’s accomplished to date. Winning BBC Radio 1’s Sound Of 2026 is a remarkable milestone that reflects her talent, vision and hard work after such a groundbreaking year. British music is once again asserting itself as a global powerhouse, and Skye is perfectly placed to lead this new wave.”

Previous winners of this accolade include global superstars such as Adele and Sam Smith, underlining its significance as a launchpad for new artists.

The post Skye Newman wins BBC Radio 1’s Sound Of 2026 appeared first on Sony Music UK.

In the UK, we continued this spirit of generosity by partnering with Trussell and New Horizon Youth Centre. Volunteers from SMP and RCA joined artist Mimi Webb at Lambeth & Croydon Foodbank, part of the Trussell network, to help provide essential support to those in need. 

This marks our fourth year supporting these charities, and we’re proud of the difference we’ve made together. Thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy to help brighten lives across the UK this holiday season. 

To see more BTS of what the team got up to, click here.

The post The Season of Giving at Sony Music  appeared first on Sony Music UK.

The group attended the course in person three days a week at Sony Music’s Podcast offices in London. In addition to the scheduled sessions, mentees were given access to studios, equipment, editing software and in-house technical support for recording, editing, mixing, grading and exporting their podcasts.

Over the six-week programme, mentees explored sessions including:

• AI and the Future of Podcasting
• Commissioning & community building
• Editing, sound design, production & production management
• Overcoming imposter syndrome, networking + team building
• Ideation, storytelling & narrative craft
• Pitching, working with talent & developing IP
• Marketing, audience building & brand partnerships
• CV and job application support and advice

The mentees were tasked with crafting 10-Minute Pilot Commissions, developing fully visualised pilots for original podcast formats inspired by Sony Music’s guiding theme for the project, “Entertainment First.” These pilots were showcased to an industry panel featuring representatives from Audio UK, Jampot and Sony Music as part of the group’s final graduation and celebration in the last week.

The final Podcast Pilots were pitched during a showcase at the end of the course to rapturous applause and glowing feedback on their originality, humour, professionalism and entertainment value.

More about the Sony Music Podcast Academy

Sony Music Podcast Academy 2025 Mentors:
Alan Weedon, Charlie Murrell, Dan Cocker, Dom Tyerman, Dulcie Whadcock, Grace Laiker, Hannah Talbot, Heather Dempsey, Matt Smith, Nia Deo, Rahnee Prescod, Suhaar Ali, Selina Ream

Sony Music Podcast Academy Class of 2025:
Damilola Fasinro, Ellie O’Mahony, Fathiya Saleh, Genevieve Brown, Jenny Huang, Ola Alatishe, Ronaldo Da Costa, Saeed Hirad-Warsame, Shania Manderson, Suki Glockling, Teejay Ameen, William Norton

Final Words from the Class of 2025:
“The Sony Music Podcast Academy arrived at exactly the right moment in my creative journey and career. It’s one of the most valuable experiences I’ve ever been part of. I’m leaving with a new level of confidence, industry knowledge, and a network of inspiring people who I’m proud to now have in my orbit.” – William Norton, Mentee

“One of the many lessons that I will take with me is to just go out and make the thing you want, to be fearless and to not listen to imposter syndrome!” – Fathiya Saleh, Mentee

“This programme has been amazing. I came into it knowing very little about creating podcasts and now I feel like I know everything there is to know.” – Ronaldo Da Costa, Mentee

“Ever wanted to gain a new family, learn skills from the most qualified people in the Podcast industry, and create your own Podcast pilot from scratch? You have come to the right place! The SMPA will forever remain the turning point in my career and life for when I truly found my reason for wanting to pursue a career in the creative radio/podcast industry.” – Suki Glockling, Mentee

The Sony Music Podcast Academy is a Sony Music initiative co-designed by Fran Plowright’s Meet a Mentor scheme and supported by a range of industry partners. The 2025 programme ran at Sony Music’s Podcast offices in London.

The post Inside the 2025 Sony Music UK Podcast Academy appeared first on Sony Music UK.

The 41-year-old single was streamed around 12 million times in the UK alone over the past week and has now passed five million units for the post-1994 period. ‘Last Christmas’ has now racked up 11 non-consecutive weeks at the top. 

Andrew Ridgeley said: “I am delighted that Wham!’s perennial Christmas classic continues to occupy a special place in people’s hearts. Thank you all for your enduring support. Wishing you a very merry Christmas.” 

To celebrate, Andrew appeared at an exclusive signing at RCA’s pop-up shop at Mare Street Market, King’s Cross, which for one day only was transformed into a festive chalet inspired by the iconic ‘Last Christmas’ music video. Fans queued to meet Ridgeley and pick up limited-edition vinyl and merchandise, making the activation a highlight of the season for WHAM! devotees. 

Originally peaking at No.1 in 16 countries upon release, ‘Last Christmas’ is now officially the fourth highest-selling single of all time in the UK. 

The post WHAM! resume festive dominance with ‘Last Christmas’  appeared first on Sony Music UK.

Jack brings his trademark humour and charisma to the BRITs’ new northern home. His connection to Manchester runs deep – having studied at the University of Manchester and started his comedy career there, this year’s show is a full-circle moment for the award-winning comedian, actor, and presenter. 

Jack Whitehall said: “I am so excited to be coming back for this very special BRIT Awards in Manchester, a place that is so important to me. The city I started my comedy career in – it feels like a real full circle moment returning to host this historic night at Co-op Live, a venue that’s only a stone’s throw away from the comedy club where I did my first 10-minute set. Hopefully I get a few more laughs than I did that night. I cannot wait.” 

Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, said: “Jack is absolutely brilliant at his craft, so we are thrilled to welcome him back. His legacy hosting the awards speaks for itself, and as the BRITs enters a new era in a city familiar to him, there’s nobody better placed to take the helm of the biggest night in music.” 

The post Jack Whitehall returns to host the BRIT Awards 2026 in Manchester  appeared first on Sony Music UK.

After opening the ceremony with a performance of ‘Someone New’, Myles claimed the award and used his acceptance speech to reflect on his journey and the importance of music education: 

“For me, music isn’t something that’s just given these days. It really stays with you. I grew up in Luton, a small, working-class town where instruments were scarce and opportunities were scarce, and we didn’t really grow up with much belief in who we were or what we were going to do. 

“But luckily enough my school was one of 150 schools in the country to get instruments, and that’s the reason why I started.” 

Congratulations to Myles on this incredible achievement and to the brilliant nominees from across Sony Music UK’s labels and partners.

The post Myles Smith wins The Breakthrough Award at the 2025 Rolling Stone UK Awards  appeared first on Sony Music UK.

This year’s cohort brings together exceptional creative-tech innovators tackling challenges across music, entertainment, and culture, with solutions spanning AI, immersive technologies, accessibility, and education. 

Hari Ashurst-Venn, Senior Director of Digital & New Tech at Sony Music UK, said: “We are proud to announce the third cohort of the Black Founders Programme, alongside Digital Catapult, Channel 4 and Sony Music Publishing. The calibre of this cohort is exceptional and aligns with the rapid advancements we’re seeing in the industry, spanning the full spectrum of music and entertainment. We look forward to continuing to offer world-class mentorship, hands-on support, and routes to partnership to help guide these ideas to market alongside the cohort of entrepreneurs.” 
 
Jessica Rushworth, Chief Partnerships Officer at Digital Catapult, added: “This wave of start-ups represents the UK’s diverse creative economy and the innovative ideas driving new deep tech breakthroughs into music, entertainment and culture. The Black Founders Programme helps unlock growth through access to tools and connections, and we’re delighted to continue working with Sony Music Group and Channel 4 to support these creative deep tech companies to scale successfully.” 

Meet the 2025 Cohort 

• Halo + Echo – AI-native creative studio helping brands stay relevant online 

• Limitless XYZ – Music-tech platform for financial clarity, growth insights and career education 

• Lurexo – Fan-first ticketing platform 

• Melunos – Beauty-tech business 

• MIXD Reality – Award-winning AR technology company 

• Storyhouse – Family history platform using voice, video, photos and transcripts 

• Loujo – Educational songs to help dyslexic children learn 

• PRYNTD – Physical ticketing converged with accessibility-focused streaming for disabled audiences 

• SportQube – Affordable video tech and AI analytics for grassroots sports 

• Symolem – Digital trade passports for creative goods across music, film and fashion 

• That’s My Jamm – AI-driven trend intelligence for creators 

• Undarated – Football investment simulation platform for talent identification 

With these 12 companies now onboard, the programme continues to champion diversity and innovation, paving the way for transformative ideas that will shape the future of music, entertainment and creative technology. 

The post Digital Catapult and Sony Music UK announce the 2025 Black Founders Programme cohort  appeared first on Sony Music UK.

In a landmark move, the BRIT Awards will be hosted in Manchester for the very first time, taking place at Co-op Live on Saturday, 28th February 2026. This marks an exciting new chapter for the ceremony, placing Manchester’s rich creativity and culture at the centre of the festivities. 

The BRIT trophy design project was led by Matthew Williamson, together with Stacey Tang, BRIT Awards Committee Chair and Co-President of RCA, and Glyn Aikins, Co-President of RCA. 

A trophy rooted in Manchester’s spirit 

Stacey Tang, Chair of the 2026 BRIT Awards Committee and Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, said: “The BRITs’ move to Manchester has enabled us to think about how we do things in such a brilliant and different way so I am delighted that Matthew accepted the invitation to design the award for next year’s show. As a creative from Manchester, he’s brought a unique perspective to the design process, developing a simple, sophisticated and striking concept that embodies the spirit and values of the city and is also a visual statement for the show, supporting our ambition to put British music on the global stage. We couldn’t be more pleased with what Matthew has created, and to have him be part of such a historic show in BRITs history.” 

Reflecting on the opportunity, Matthew Williamson said: “Following in the footsteps of great designers and artists before me, it’s an honour and a career highlight to design the 2026 BRITs trophy. The BRITs is an event I’ve watched since childhood, and I’m still so immersed in it to this day. I’ve always looked at it in awe and wonder, so to even be offered this opportunity feels like a real milestone moment.” 

Glyn Aikins, Co-President of RCA Records at Sony Music UK, said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Matthew Williamson as the designer of the 2026 BRIT Award trophy. Matthew’s bold, expressive creativity has shaped British fashion for over two decades, and his work has always stood at the intersection of art, style and cultural imagination. His vision for this year’s trophy draws inspiration from the iconic worker bee, a powerful symbol of Manchester’s resilience, community and creative spirit. The result brings a new sense of colour, optimism and individuality to the BRITs, perfectly capturing the energy of British music today. I couldn’t be more excited to unveil his design to artists, fans and the wider creative community.” 

Sony Music UK is proud to celebrate this milestone in Manchester, honouring the city’s legacy and the worldwide influence of British music. 

The post Designer of the 2026 BRIT Award trophy announced  appeared first on Sony Music UK.

Day to day, members of the Academy will work closely with A&R teams who scout and develop new talent. You’ll learn how A&R acts as the bridge between artists, management and the label, overseeing the recording process and supporting marketing and promotion. This is a hands-on role where you’ll help nurture artists and see what goes into releasing a track. 

This 12-month paid opportunity forms part of Sony Music UK’s wider internship network. Successful applicants will join a vibrant community of interns across the business, building connections and championing positive change. You’ll be empowered to bring your best ideas and shape what’s next in music. 

The programme starts in March 2026 and is paid at the London Living Wage. All roles are based at our Kings Cross offices in London. Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK and available for a full-time role for 12 months.

Opportunities are available within RCA, Columbia and Ministry of Sound. Head to our careers page to check out the job description and apply to your chosen label. 

Applications are open from Monday 10 November at 10am until Monday 24 November at 10am. 

The post Sony Music UK’s 2026 A&R Academy opens for applications  appeared first on Sony Music UK.

Glyn Aikins, co-president of RCA UK, and Joe Iddison, A&R director at RCA UK, were awarded A&R Of The Year: Adult Contemporary. This accolade recognises their exceptional efforts in discovering and developing new talent, as well as their influence in shaping the contemporary music landscape, including the success of Myles Smith, who has become one of the defining breakthrough artists of his generation since joining RCA in December 2023. 

Sarah Stern, senior A&R admin project manager, was honoured with The Forbesie – A&R Administrator of the Year, recognising her dedication and precision behind the scenes that make creative success possible. 

We also celebrate Peter Edge, chairman & CEO of RCA Records, who received the prestigious Sir George Martin Award. In his acceptance speech, Peter shared guiding principles that have shaped his career: trust the artists, be patient as they grow, and take risks to help them change culture. 

We are also delighted to announce that our partner, The Orchard, was recognised as Artist & Label Services Company of the Year. This honour underscores The Orchard’s dedication to supporting independent projects and consistently achieving outstanding results. 

These achievements reflect the talent and hard work across our teams and partners, driving success for our artists and the wider music community. 

The post Sony Music UK celebrates wins at Music Business UK Awards 2025  appeared first on Sony Music UK.