In our jumbo-sized Music Week Christmas issue, we invited a host of top music executives to focus on the positives in music amidst the unprecedented times of 2020.
Here, we present the second part of our traditional end-of-year Q&As...
Rebecca Allen, president, EMI
2020 has been a tough year for most people. What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you?
“For me, it had to be working with team Bocelli and YouTube on the live stream from Duomo in Milan. It felt like the world stopped in that moment, took a breath and came together. It was an incredibly emotional moment for everyone involved.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Fine Line, Harry Styles. I appreciate this one was released in 2019, but it was definitely the album that myself and my girls listened to the most in 2020. I absolutely love the visual storytelling that accompanies everything he does.”
And what was your favourite track?
“Billie Eilish, No Time To Die. I am such a huge Billie and Finneas fan and I would be so bold to say that this song has to be classed as a James Bond theme tune masterpiece.”
David Ventura, co-MD, Sony/ATV
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“The way music creators have adapted so quickly, collaborating remotely and creating an incredible amount of new music coming out at the moment... It’s been truly inspiring and brings a great sense of hope!”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“The Weeknd, After Hours.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Holly Humberstone, Deep End.”
Andrea C Martin, CEO, PRS For Music
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“Despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, we have still been able to deliver record distributions to our members throughout 2020.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Moses Boyd, Dark Matter. I was fortunate enough to see Moses Boyd live at a PRS Presents event in February – the musicianship displayed was fantastic and this album is equally as stunning.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“All of the tracks that were performed as part of PRS Presents Lckdwn in April. Over 50 artists from across the music community came together for a 24-hour virtual event that helped to raise more than £38,000 for the PRS Emergency Relief Fund. Alfie Boe was my personal favourite.”
John Giddings, founder, Solo Agency
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
"The Little Mix TV show. We had to cancel the tour but they still got bigger!”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Letter To You by Bruce Springsteen, I can’t stop playing it.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Stupid Love by Lady Gaga.”
Willard Ahdritz, founder & chairman, Kobalt
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“The resilience and strength of music. Even in these crazy times, it continues to be one of the most important (and valuable) forms of art.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“The Weeknd, After Hours.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Empawa Africa, Mr Eazi & King Promise, Baby I'm Jealous.”
Chris Panayi, partner, Hentons Chartered Accountants
What was the one music biz- related bright spot for you this year?
“The resilience shown by everybody in the music industry during an incredibly difficult year. It really has been an unprecedented time so the will to keep going and think outside the box to continue achieving goals has been my shining light for the year.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Burna Boy, Twice as Tall. His transcendence from Africa’s best kept secret to a global superstar is almost complete. With most of it recorded during the pandemic, the album encapsulates the sentiment of 2020.
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Billie Eilish, No Time To Die. A young artist with big shoes to fill for a Bond theme tune and she delivered a track befitting the franchise supported by a moving performance at the BRIT Awards.”
Mike McCormack, UK MD, Universal Music Publishing Group
What was the one music biz- related bright spot for you this year?
“My personal highlight would be that at Universal Publishing UK, we managed to get through the bulk of lockdown together in the UK and that the team adapted so well to a whole new way of working. We all know it’s been a catastrophic year for other parts of the industry, so to get through this together safely has been both a joy and a relief.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Camelphat’s Dark Matter. I just think these guys make the most incredible atmospheric and joyous music. I’m amazed the LP hasn’t been a bigger success… If Pink Floyd had come out of a dance scene instead of rock, they would sound like Camelphat!
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Phoebe Bridgers’ I Know The End. It’s just brilliant.”
Kim Bayley, CEO, ERA
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“The world may have shut down but digital services and retailers moved mountains in 2020 to maintain the flow of music to the public. Without them, the undoubted hardship faced by many artists during the pandemic would have been far, far worse.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Reunions. Just a really personal album with beautiful lyrics and vocals.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Keith Urban and Pink, One Too Many, a song you just can’t help singing along to and which shows off both artists at their best.”
Alistair Norbury, president repertoire & marketing, BMG UK
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“Empathy amongst all sectors and an acknowledgement the industry is stronger together.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“James Dean Bradfield, Even In Exile.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Inhaler, Ice Cream Sundae.”
Amy Wheatley, general manager, Ministry Of Sound
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
"It’s been great to see how the team have been flexible, pivoted and grown regardless of the challenges faced. This has been reflected in success across the board for Ministry, especially with Saint Jhn (Imanbek remix), Doja Cat, Paul Woolford, Regard, Sigala, Tate all hitting the Top 10!”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Four Tet, Sixteen Oceans. What a journey.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Bicep, Apricots. It came at a time when escapism couldn’t be needed more."
Tiffany Calver, presenter, BBC Radio 1&1Xtra
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
"My favourite music related achievement for 2020 is seeing solid UK rap records getting the chart positions they deserve. Seeing Nines and Headie One take home number 1 albums meant a lot to the whole nation and you could feel the sense of support and community it took from us all to help them get there. The constant comradeship between artists taking time to push and cheer on other artists was a great thing to see constantly happening and in such a trying year like 2020, people really came together and you could feel it."
What was your favourite album of 2020 and why?
"Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon by Pop Smoke was one of my favourite releases. It's been incredible to watch the rise of homegrown music getting the recognition it deserves throughout the years and to me in 2020, it was received globally as well as locally. We've seen American and other international artists take on an appreciation for an era of music that was created in the UK and then watched it set the world on fire. Pop Smoke played such a major role in doing that, and also changing the lives of so many talented producers from the UK while he did it."
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“God there are so many! This year was incredible! But I'll give it to Pa Salieu and Backroad Gee with My Family. The video was phenomenal and fun. The back and forth on the record was playful and infectious. And mostly, you can't top Backroad Gee saying, 'Tell my babes, off her wig, we're going to war' if you tried."
Alison Donald, head of creative, AWAL & publishing
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia. It helped me dance through lockdown.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Taylor Swift, Folklore – a masterclass in songwriting.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“The Weeknd, Blinding Lights – clearly song of the year, a perfect pop record.”
Liz Goodwin, general manager, Atlantic Records UK
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“This year we’ve been reminded how much those who work in the music business really, really love what they do and the artists that they work with. I’ve been so overwhelmed by how well, and how positively, people have coped with the extraordinary challenges they’ve faced and how the industry has come together to help and support each other – both within their own teams and across the whole industry.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Declan McKenna, Zeros. His music goes from strength to strength and this album is amazing – a sign of a very important, young, homegrown career artist on the rise. Despite the challenges of the year, the campaign around this record was so full of positive energy, smart activations and driven really passionately by the artist at the forefront of everything.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Bright Light Bright Light, This Was My House. On first listen it’s a big, brilliant, uplifting pop track that nods towards Deee-Lite and ’90s Madonna, but scratch the surface and you discover a powerful ode to LGBT+ safe spaces. This song carries the important message that every living person deserves to feel safe in the place they call home.”
Amber Davis, head of A&R, Warner Chappell Music UK
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“Managing to maintain a level of ‘normal’ with work by still getting deals signed virtually, as well as building stronger relationships with other territories, something which I think was a direct result of the global pandemic.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“WizKid, Made In Lagos. It was a really easy listen in a time when there is so much darkness in the world.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“That's a hard question as there are so many to choose from! But Giggs ft. Jorja Smith, Im Workin'. Their voices really complement each other and I loved the simplicity of the video too. Also love Cookiee Kawaii, Vibe (If I Back It Up), had that on repeat!”
Ben Mortimer, co-president, Polydor Records
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“Michael Kiwanuka’s Kiwanuka is a masterpiece, so watching him collect the Mercury Prize. It shone a light on its brilliance, and reached a lot more people as a result.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Fontaines DC, A Hero's Death. I think I picked them last year as well, so prolific.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Dua Lipa, Hallucinate.”
Simon Barnabas, MD, Universal Music On Demand
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you?
“The initial flurry of global hip-hop DJ live streams from the likes of D-Nice, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Maseo leading to me staying up all night to see the mutual reverence between DJ Premier and RZA in their battle; reaching a pinnacle with DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Vol 2, featuring so many incredible rap legends – the best use of Zoom (arguably the internet full stop) ever.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Benny The Butcher, Burden Of Proof. The Griselda collective have been growing in profile over recent years, joining a slew of US artists making hip-hop that could have dropped in the 90s golden era. Shout out to Conway the Machine, Busta Rhymes, Statik Selektah, Freddie Gibbs, The LOX, Jay Electronica and Black Thought for their LPs too.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Statik Selektah ft. Nas & Joey Bada$$, Keep It Moving. Three minutes of soulful, lavish production based on the Bacharach/David standard Walk On By, laced with sublime flows exchanged between two of the greatest MCs of their respective generations.”
Zeon Richards, director, Renowned Group
What was the one music biz-related bright spot for you this year?
“The launch of 0207 Def Jam. I have known Alec and Alex Boateng for a long time, having worked with them both in different capacities. Witnessing their momentous rise to now becoming co-presidents of such an iconic label is inspirational for a great number of reasons.”
What was your favourite album of 2020?
“Headie One – Edna. Headie One has had an amazing year, with this album he conveyed his journey as well as the different aspects of life that he has to cope with on a day-to-day basis.”
What was your favourite track of 2020?
“Pa Salieu - My Family (feat BackRoad Gee). This record and video is everything that I love about the culture as it is both raw and unapologetic. It is a real shame that live shows haven't taken place this year as it would have elevated the record especially the line, ‘Tell my babes, off her wig, we’re going to war!’”
