Welcome to Music Week's 2024 Year In Review special!
Throughout the past 12 months, Music Week has covered the stories that have defined an action-packed year, one that has proved itself to be the UK industry's busiest in recent history.
In this special end of year review, we look back on it all, from Taylor Swift’s global domination and Charli XCX’s Brat Summer to Beyoncé embracing country and Raye’s record-breaking BRITs success.
We gather over 120 top names from across the entire business, including Universal Music UK’s Dickon Stainer, Warner Music UK’s Tony Harlow, BBC’s Lorna Clarke, Columbia’s Dipesh Parmar, CAA’s Emma Banks, MOBO’s Kanya King and many, many more, to offer up their reflections, memories and opinions on moments from the year and to reveal the records they had on repeat throughout it.
We also honour the executives, global stars, producers, songwriters and other leading figures across the music business who we sadly had to say goodbye to this year.
Elsewhere in the features section, we meet Beatles icon Ringo Starr ahead of the release of his first album since 2019, Look Up. The living legend is joined by co-writer T Bone Burnett and his teams at UMG Nashville and Decca, to go deep on how the record came to life, talk AI and the Beatles’ Now And Then, and to reflect on how this new LP signals his return to country music as a solo artist.
Next up, we present three of the biggest breakthrough stories the UK has seen this year. We speak to Island EMI Label Group president Louis Bloom about The Last Dinner Party’s debut album and global impact, BRITs Rising Star and BBC Introducing Artist Of The Year Myles Smith about his journey so far, and Grammy-nominated artist Jordan Adetunji on his viral hit Kehlani and the importance of building a discography.
There's also our annual round up of the best insights, soundbites and one-liners from executives and artists who have featured in our pages this year, and the end-of-year edition of Hotshots.
Also, Deviate Digital CEO Sammy Andrews shares the top 10 digital discussions and debates that have defined 2024, from AI to ticketing to the rise of the superfan, while Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd guides us through the highs and lows the grassroots sector has faced this year.
In the final Hitmakers of 2024, we meet Dan Nigro to explore the inner workings of Chappell Roan’s breakout smash Good Luck, Babe!. The producer and co-writer takes us into the studio where it all started, looks back on the moment the Missouri-raised star blew his mind and reminisces on how the ‘Jane’ became ‘Babe’.
Meanwhile, in The Aftershow, Manic Street Preacher’s James Dean Bradfield looks ahead to the band’s new album Critical Thinking, reflects on why the charts still matter to him and reveals all the things he wishes he’d known sooner.
In Mentor Me – a collaboration between Music Week and Girls I Rate – The Orchard’s label manager Isa Perez offers up her top five tips to artists and executives alike on how to build a successful career in the music industry.
In the front section, Big Story sees Music Week examine the key chart trends that have defined 2024, from Taylor Swift’s record-breaking sales and Sabrina Carpenter’s 21-week streak at No.1 to the biggest breakthroughs.
Also inside, David Gray tees up his 13th album Dear Life and discusses his classic Babylon and the arc of a songwriter, whilst breakout singer-songwriter Gigi Perez goes deep navigating the industry so far, dealing with grief and Sailor Song’s global impact in On The Radar. In Spotlight, musician, broadcaster and BPI chair YolanDa Brown talks Independent Venue Week, co-founding venue and restaurant Soul Mama and supporting new talent.
Lastly, in our expanded monthly charts section, we present the Top 75 Singles and Albums of the previous month, accompanied by revamped analysis pages, plus a host of new listings. These include specialist genre Top 20s for Americana, Classical, Hip-Hop & R&B, Jazz, Country, Dance, Folk and Rock & Metal. The issue is also home to streaming, compilations and vinyl charts.
The new issue of Music Week is available from December 17.
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