A&MAs: Debbie Gwyther named manager of the year
The Music Managers Forum (MMF) and Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) have announced final details of the 2019 Artist & Manager Awards (A&MAs), with Debbie Gwyther (FEAR) named manager of the year and Lewis Capaldi to receive artist of the year.
Hosted by BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, the A&MAs 2019 take place at London’s Bloomsbury Big Top on Thursday 14 November.
Alongside UROK’s Sam and Roy Eldridge, who will present her award, Gwyther has masterminded the return of Liam Gallagher to centre stage, having delivered two No 1 albums, with Why Me? Why Not following As You Were to the UK’s top spot in September 2019.
Gwyther and the Eldridges have also guided Gallagher to live success, reinvigorating Oasis classics alongside his newer material for a run of celebratory sold-out performances in Europe, the Americas and Australasia. The award for Manager of the Year is sponsored by YouTube Music.
Annabella Coldrick, CEO of the MMF, comments: “Selecting a manager of the year is always a massive challenge, but Debbie’s impact over the past 12 months has been undeniable.
“Debbie’s impact over the past 12 months has been undeniable”
“We all know that Liam Gallagher is one of the UK’s greatest, most enduring and recognisable rock stars, but behind the scenes is a story of incredible team work and collaboration – all with the goal of putting Liam back where he belongs.
“MMF are delighted to recognise Debbie’s success and thrilled that Sam and Roy have agreed to present the award. Why her? Why not!”
The rise of Lewis Capaldi, meanwhile, has been “the irrefutable story of 2019”, say A&MAs organisers. In just 12 months, the singer-songwriter has graduated from theatres to sold-out arenas shows, and released a number-one album, Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent.
As previously announced, other confirmed winners at the 2019 Artist & Manager Awards are Nile Rodgers (artists’ artist award), Rebecca Boulton and Andy Robinson (managers’ manager award), Neneh Cherry (pioneer award), Sam Fender and Owain Davies (FanFair Alliance outstanding contribution to live music), Andy Varley (entrepreneur award) and Sandy Dworniak (writer/producer manager).
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Neneh Cherry to be named ‘pioneer’ at A&MAs
The Music Managers Forum (MMF) and Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) have revealed that Swedish-born singer and rapper Neneh Cherry will receive the pioneer award at the 2019 Artist & Manager Awards (A&MAs) in November.
The award, sponsored by Facebook, will be presented at the A&MAs on Thursday 14 November at the Bloomsbury Big Top in London. BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens will host the evening, which is sponsored by travel, lifestyle and hospitality brand Selina.
New Order managers Rebecca Boulton and Andy Robinson will pick up the managers’ manager award at the ceremony, with Nile Rodgers receiving the artists’ artist award.
Cherry has released five solo albums over a career spanning more than three decades. The artist kicked off her musical journey performing in post-punk bands the Slits and Rip Rig + Panic, before working with Bristol band Massive Attack on the album Blue Lines.
“Neneh Cherry has had an incredible career and her unique sound and energised performances have an ongoing influence
Cherry has also collaborated with artists including Michael Stipe, Robyn, Lenny Kravitz, Kieren Hebden (also known as Four Tet) and her husband, Cameron McVey.
A busy 2019 saw Cherry perform at Flow Festival, Way Out West, Pitchfork Music Festival, Latitude, Nice Jazz Festival, Roskilde, Primavera Sound and Glastonbury Festival, among others.
“[Cherry] has had an incredible career and her unique sound and energised performances have an ongoing influence made even more powerful by the fact that, having already reshaped musical culture and norms in music, she is still pushing creative and cultural boundaries decades later,” comments FAC board member Lucy Pullin.
“In partnership with Facebook and the illustrious board of the FAC we are delighted to honour Neneh Cherry with our pioneer award.”
Previous recipients of the award include Kano, Giggs, Imogen Heap and Amanda Palmer.
A full list of winners and nominees will be revealed in coming weeks.
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