Table of contents for No. 1412 in Music Week

As incomprehensible as it may be, 2025 is almost done and dusted. To say it was a momentous year in music would be the biggest understatement since Mayor Larry Vaughn claimed a shark had only “injured some bathers” in Jaws. We have well and truly seen it all play out before our eyes this year. Yes, there was the long-awaited, world-conquering Oasis reunion (and shout out to the magnificent Clipse reunion, too!), but there was so much more besides. Since January, we have witnessed a procession of restructures and acquisitions, leading executives stepping down, major new appointments, protracted disputes and, of course, the tragic loss of some inspirational artists and executives. And, soundtracking all of it – the highs and the lows, alike – were some truly incredible songs, albums…

Sophie Benjafield Marketing manager, ADA @soph_benj How did you get your first break in the music industry? “I spent my teens doing anything I could to immerse myself in music: writing for online magazines, putting on gigs and volunteering at events. Growing up in Devon, there wasn't much of a music scene, so it wasn't until I moved to Brighton to study the music business that I could really get stuck in. After university, I landed a 12-month internship at ADA, not knowing what distribution or label services really entailed. I was fortunate enough to be made full time when those 12 months were up, and I haven't looked back since.” What's been the biggest surprise about the business for you so far? “It's a lot more data driven than…

RELEASE: Storm Warnings (out now) LABEL: Warner Records MANAGEMENT: Partizan Artists WHAT THE TEAM SAY: Joe Kentish, president, Warner Records and Parlophone Label Group: “Florence Road are on an incredible trajectory. Every live show seems to attract a new host of fans, and their Irish heritage and tight-knit sisterhood give them a unique identity at a time when fans crave authenticity.” Keir Fullerton, SVP, A&R, Warner Records: “It's a privilege working alongside a band so full of energy, drive and artistry. It feels like we're laying the foundations of something truly special.”…

Ace Frehley Alan Bergman Alan Yentob Alex Machurov Alf Clausen Al Foster Amadou Bagayoko Angie Stone Anthony Jackson  Ariel Kalma  Barbara Jeffries Barry Goldberg Bill Fay Bob Andrews Bobby Hart  Bobby Sherman Bobby Whitlock Brent Hinds Brenton Wood Brett James Brian James Brian Wilson Bruce Loose Buck White Cavin Yarbrough Chris Dreja  Chris Jasper Christine Hahn Chuck Mangione Clem Burke Cleo Laine Colin Earl Colin Jerwood Connie Francis D'Angelo D'Wayne Wiggins Daniel Williams Dan Stevens Danny Thompson Dave Allen Dave Ball Dave Cousins Dave Jerden  Dave Shapiro David Johansen David Kaff David Lynch David Roach David Thomas DJ Unk Donna Jean Godchaux  Douglas McCarthy Eddie Palmieri Edweena Banger Elliot Ingber Ernesto Barajas Flaco Jiménez Garth Hudson Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield Gene ‘Groove’ Allen Gerard Engelter Graham Fenton Gwen McCrae Harry Elston Huey P. Williams Irv Gotti  James Baker Jamie Muir JD Twitch Jeannie Seely Jeff Cheen  Jellybean Johnson Jerry Butler Jesse Colin Young Jill Sobule Jimmy Cliff Joe McFadden Joe Stevens Joey Molland John Glover John Lodge Johnny Rodriguez John Palmer John Sykes John Weider Larry Bastian Larry Tamblyn Leonardo Jiménez Les Binks Lou Christie Marianne Faithfull Mark Snow Mark Volman Max Romeo Mel Rudder Michael Antunes Michael B. Tretow Michael Hurley Michael Sumler Mick Ralphs Mike Berry Mike Peters Mike Ratledge Nigel Templeman Nino Tempo Ozzy Osbourne Patrick Walden Peter Sinclair Peter Yarrow Richard Darbyshire Richard Perry Rick Buckler Rick Davies Rick Derringer Robby Turner Roberta Flack Robert…

With over 25 years of media experience, Jasmine Dotiwala has held roles including head of department, manager, broadcaster, producer, director and columnist at a range of companies including Netflix, Media Trust, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky News, MTV and more. She began her career presenting Channel 4's The Word, hosting the likes of Snoop Dogg, Aaliyah and Mary J Blige, before moving to MTV where she interviewed stars including Jay-Z, Mariah Carey plus Eminem, and headed up MTV Base and MTV Dance. Dotiwala has also hosted radio shows on ChoiceFM and BBC Radio London, and wrote a column in The Voice for 14 years. She went on to work for Channel 4 News, while today she curates talent training programmes for platforms such as Netflix, Media Trust and The King's…

Stephen ‘Tav’ Taverner, founder, East City Management Last month, Stephen ‘Tav’ Taverner was presented with the Managers’ Manager honour at the 2025 Artist & Manager Awards. Here, the East City Management founder reflects on his career guiding artists such as Ash, Alt-J and Wolf Alice, as well as late-night bouts of nausea… I'd never been awarded anything until recently… “So it was nice to receive the AMAs’ Managers’ Manager Award from my peers. It's partly my fault, because I tend to not put myself up for things, but it felt like the managers in the room were pleased for me. Managers, traditionally, have been like islands, but the great thing about the Music Managers Forum is that it's brought all of us together. We all communicate together now, and we're…

Your essential primer for the month ahead From a British chart revival to the rise of K-pop, the past year has seen even greater success among the biggest acts and several artists on the rise. Here, we take a closer look at the chart trends of 2025… GO (SIX) FIGURE The leader of the pack in 2025 was the same as 2024: Taylor Swift ended the year with the biggest-selling album. Following its release in October, The Life Of A Showgirl had amassed 578,489 units (Official Charts Company) by late November. Swift's 12th studio album opened with consumption in the UK of 423,444 units, beating her own week one result (270,091 units) for 2024's The Tortured Poets Department. The vinyl version of the album moved 125,592 units in a week,…

Florence Road might have spent November travelling around Europe with Wolf Alice, living the dream of supporting one of their biggest influences whilst adding a host of new venues and cities to their rapidly expanding gigography, but the quartet have also had to deal with a traitor in their midst. “I got murdered, it was rough,” notes a slightly fluey but very much alive vocalist Lily Aron. “Yeah, I was murdered so early on,” bassist Ailbhe Barry sighs, sitting next to her bandmate as we join them on the road in Belgium. Thankfully for the rest of the band (completed by guitarist Emma Brandon and drummer Hannah Kelly) and the growing troupe of fans that Florence Road have accumulated since the release of Heavy, their debut single through Warner Records…

MAYA DELILAH Ahead of the release of a deluxe edition of her debut record The Long Way Round, rising jazz-inspired musician Maya Delilah talks breakthroughs, social media and “advocating for more women playing guitar”… How did The BRIT School prepare you for the industry? “Oh my God, it was the best two years of my life. It was like being in School Of Rock every day. You see so many people around you take off, and you get to see their whole journey and learn from it. Olivia Dean was in the year above me and Lola Young was in the year below.” As you're about to release the deluxe edition of your debut, how do you reflect on your own path so far? “It's been a very long one!…

“Lewis Capaldi turned up at the studio in gym shorts – I think he'd had a pretty crazy night…” Connor McDonough “Publishing is such an old-fashioned business that really needs to be reinvented. It's always about how much money and how long the retention period is for. I know from working with artists, they're not in the business of corporations, they're in the business of people” Tommas Arnby, Special Projects “I listen to every demo that gets sent my way; you never know what random email could be the one that changes someone's life” Rhea Pasricha, Prescription Songs “It's pleasing there are so many first-time headliners at BST Hyde Park this year, if only to stop people talking about the talent pipeline – I think it's been the biggest bullshit…

TOP UK TRACKS BY UK ARTISTS IN 2025 The UK sounds used most in creations by the UK TikTok community this year 1 Jess Glynne Hold My Hand Video Creations: 6,581,348 Jess Glynne's feel-good anthem became 2025's defining UK soundtrack after a Jet2holidays ad went viral, turning it into a global smash. The trend captured everything from travel chaos to summer joy, inspiring cross-generational skits and montage edits. A decade on, the song became a worldwide phenomenon, proving how TikTok can revive beloved hits with unexpected cultural force. 2 Radiohead Let Down Video Creations: 6,028,495 Radiohead's Let Down emerged as one of 2025's most surprising catalogue revivals, with TikTok's community embracing it for storytelling, memorial content and introspective edits. Younger listeners discovering Radiohead for the first time also helped drive the track…

@blacksabbath Ozzy forever. (Black Sabbath via Instagram) Tuesday, July 22 @joelryanb After work dinner on a Friday is actually rude. I wanna go home. (Joel Ryan Borquaye, Spotify via X) Friday, November 21 @oliviarodrigo Can't think of anything more exciting than headlining Glastonbury, but being in the NYT crossword is pretty close. (Olivia Rodrigo, artist via Instagram) Saturday, March 8 @townsendyesmate.bsky. social Worked at Warner Music for seven years now. And for the seventh year in a row, I am proud to say that I have lost my office ID pass over Christmas and will require a new one on my first day back in the morning. (Mike Townsend, ADA via Bluesky) Wednesday, January 1 #1 @oasis It has begun (Oasis, band via X) Friday, July 4 @jojoldn I've done six…

January 9 Alter Bridge Alter Bridge Napalm The Cribs Selling A Vibe Sonic Blew/PIAS Dry Cleaning Secret Love 4AD The Kid Laroi Before I Forget Columbia January 16 Cavetown Running With Scissors Futures Music Group Courtney Marie Andrews Valentine Thirty Tigers Elles Bailey Can't Take My Story Away Cooking Vinyl & Outlaw Music Kid Kapichi Fearless Nature Spinefarm Kreator Krushers Of The World Nuclear Blast Mother Vulture Cartoon Violence Mother Vulture Sleaford Mods The Demise Of Planet X Rough Trade Records Soen Reliance Silver Lining Music January 23 Callum Beattie Indi Cooking Vinyl Louis Tomlinson How Did I Get Here? BMG Megadeth Megadeth Blkiiblk Poppy Empty Hands Sumerian PVA No More Like This It's All For Fun/Secretly Distribution The Damned Not Like Everybody Else EarMusic The Paper Kites If You…

DICKON STAINER Universal Music Group UK What is your main takeaway about the music industry at the end of 2025? “I have always had a deep belief in the power of British music to connect internationally, and it has been inspiring to see British artists like Olivia Dean and Lola Young breaking through this year.” Can you tell us your track of 2025? “Sam Fender – Remember My Name. The strength and emotional impact of the lyrics, combined with the uniquely moving sound of the colliery band, gives this song a special and enduring quality.” And your favourite album? “Well, I probably have to go for Sam Fender again and say his Mercury Prize-winning album, People Watching. It's such a brilliant album. It's so authentic.” AMY WHEATLEY Columbia Records UK…

Netflix film K-Pop Demon Hunters has been nothing short of a phenomenon in 2025, its soundtrack spawning many hits, none more monstrous than the million-selling No.1 Golden. Music Week meets co-writer, singer and vocal producer Ejae to tell the story of a song that has had a seismic impact on her career and the industry alike… I was in Korea doing songwriting camps for K-Pop Demon Hunters and also worked on the songs at home in New York, mostly from my closet! It's my little corner, my safety zone. I vocal produce and record myself, so I'm very flexible with where I can work. I sang all the demos except for two songs on the soundtrack and for Golden I was also vocal producing and did all of the harmonies.…

2025 REVIEW SPECIAL FIVE NEGATIVES FROM 2025 1 Policy by accident The government's approach to the grassroots music sector this year was well intentioned but poorly executed, creating a steady drain on venue resources through cumulative pressures. The rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions, the absence of targeted VAT relief and the escalating cost of compliance were never designed to target us, but their collective impact has been profound. The fundamental issue is a failure to actively design policy that helps rather than hinders. No one in Whitehall set out to cause harm, but by forgetting to make it easier, they have instead made it harder. We are left managing a crisis that remains largely unseen and unrecognised within the very policy frameworks that should be offering solutions, forcing us to…