Music Week

We are the leading trade media brand for the UK music industry with unrivalled access to game-changing artists and executives. Music Week remains essential reading for anyone who needs to understand the business of music.

Music Week

Welcome to Music Week

Olivia forever: Grammys triumph set to fuel worldwide growth for Olivia Dean • Following the Best New Artist victory and performance, Universal Music Uk international marketing and Island US execs discuss her “truly global” impact

High Styles: Blockbuster Q1 line-up to deliver ‘international cultural moments’ • With a run of huge albums from superstars including Harry Styles, Raye, Bruno Mars and BTS, execs across labels, retail and DSPs assess the market impact

FOR THE RECORD • SOME OF THE BIGGEST STORIES FROM THE PAST MONTH IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS

SPOTLIGHT SHINING A LIGHT ON MUSIC'S BIGGEST NAMES • Founded in 2006, Cutting Edge Group is a global player in media music investment and management with a $1 billion portfolio of rights from films, TV shows and video games. Here, chief operating officer Tara Finegan discusses their part in the publishing catalogue boom, the power of scores on screen and the rise of orchestral film concerts…

START ME UP • THE NEW COMPANIES DRIVING MUSIC'S FUTURE

IN POD WE TRUST • INSIDE THE BEST MUSIC PODCASTS

28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE/DURAN DURAN • This zombie blockbuster combines classic hits by Duran Duran and a post-apocalyptic world to compelling effect…

RISING STAR • Meet the industry's brightest new talents…

POSTS OF THE MONTH

ESSENTIAL INFO

ABSOLUTELY • As she releases her second album, Paracosm, singer, songwriter and producer Absolutely tells Music Week about the “whimsical, fantastical” sound of her music, TikTok's power, and how she's leapt from songwriting for David Guetta and Teddy Swims to playing arenas with her sister, Raye…

KEY RELEASES

INCOMING • Since exploding onto the scene in 2019, Ms Banks has built a strong reputation in UK rap. Here, Music Week meets the South Londoner to discuss her journey to her debut album, the industry and nights out with Megan Thee Stallion…

THE PLAYLIST

TASTEMAKERS • The industry's favourite new sounds

MAKING WAVES • THIS MONTH'S HOTTEST BRAND NEW ACT

HOTSHOTS

PERFECT 10 • December 10, 2025 could be a date that goes down in music business history. This was the day on which December 10, industry legend Simon Cowell’s newly assembled boyband, were unveiled to the world, via Netflix series Simon Cowell: The Next Act. With additional backing from EMI, manager Cassandra Gracey - plus a dream team of writers and producers - the seven-piece are set on world domination. The question is: after years without a successful UK boyband, can they get there? To answer it, Music Week meets the band, plus Cowell, Gracey, Island EMI Label Group president Louis Bloom and more. What follows is the unmissable story of how some of the finest minds in the business are reigniting the concept of boybands for 2026 and beyond…

ROLE CALL MEET TEAM DECEMBER 10

THE Music Week INTERVIEW ANNA-SOPHIE MERTENS • Winner of the Live Music Inspiration Award at the 2025 Music Week Women In Music Awards, Anna-Sophie Mertens is a totem of the British live business. As SVP, touring at Live Nation UK, she works with an array of talent including Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, Lewis Capaldi, Myles Smith, Chris Stapleton and more. A member of the Country Music Association board, she also launched Highways Festival in the UK. Here, she reflects on her rise - which began with a Live Nation internship - and tackles the sector's biggest issues…

THE FUTURE OF A&R • As the founder of A&R Worldwide and the man behind Musexpo, Sat Bisla's been at the...