Music Week asked top execs from across the music industry to give their take on 2015 and reveal their hopes for 2016. Here's what some of them had to say, with more to follow in the coming days:
Laura Kirkpatrick (pictured), head of UK label relations, Spotify:
What was your highlight of 2015?
There have been several, but I’d particularly like to mention: The breaking of countless streaming records on Spotify this year, by artists including Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, One Direction, Justin Bieber, and Kygo (who became the fastest artist to hit 1 billion streams, in just one year). The inclusion of streaming data into the UK official album chart. Collaborating with Coldplay to bringing their new album A Head Full of Dreams to their fans on Spotify D'Angelo's next level return to form at the Roundhouse earlier this year, with his How Does it Feel 20 min outro...
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
My hope (and expectation) is for Spotify to continue being a key player in bringing growth back to the UK industry. We'll also play an instrumental role in shaping the future of our Spotlight artists, introducing artists like Jack Garratt, Samm Henshaw and JONES to new audiences.
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Track: Sorry, Justin Bieber.
Paul Connolly, president of Europe and UK, Universal Music Publishing
What was your highlight of 2015?
British artists and songwriters yet again enjoying huge success overseas as well as at home.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
Challenge: the music industry’s state of permanent revolution.
Hope: the music industry’s state of permanent revolution. Forward comrades!
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Album: Kendrick Lamar ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’
Track: Adele ‘When We Were Young’
Peter Thompson, managing director, PIAS:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Three things generally – Any Mew show anywhere in the world, Oscar & The Wolf headlining Sports Palais in Antwerp in front of 20,000 adoring fans and my 30th wedding anniversary. Oh, and our two mercury nominations (Ghostpoet & Roisin Murphy) was pretty cool too.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
I have many hopes and fears but clearly it would be amazing if, as a whole industry, we can establish a cohesive and consistent approach to streaming. We also need to address release date and touring bottlenecks created by Festival restrictions on bands. We can’t release everything in April and May!
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Outside of our own roster I love the Tame Impala and New Order albums but my favourite release was Mew +/-.
Kim Bayley, chief executive, Entertainment Retailers Association:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Not only first identifying some of the challenges facing the entertainment industry in our ERA Manifesto published in February, but then reaching out and working with supplier organisations and record companies themselves to help move the debate on. As an industry we need to get better at applying the same skills and spirit of collaboration which characterises the day-to-day commercial relationships between labels and retailers and digital services to some of the big picture commercial issues which challenge us all.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
My biggest hope is is for a greater appreciation of our new multichannel world in which music fans don’t just split neatly into digital or physical silos, but are happy to consume music in all kinds of different ways. The biggest challenge is the poor economic case for selling or streaming music. Whether by optimising the supply chain or rethinking the commercial model, it’s in everyone’s interest to make the business of selling music more commercially attractive.
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Album - Jack Savoretti - Written in Scars. Single - James Bay - Hold Back The River.
Jan Younghusband, BBC head of commissioning, Music:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Adele at the BBC for BBC One was a joy to work on so it was so satisfying for millions of viewers in the UK and around the world enjoy it, especially the Jenny sketch – we did not expect such a huge reaction and for it to break the BBC YouTube record, which now stands at 40.2m viewings. Antonio Pappano’s series about the classical voice was also brilliant for a deep look at the great roles and the greatest singers of the past 100 years. Two great artists talking about music, but so much more.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
That the BBC can continue to support so many great artists both in the UK and across the world. And not to let the world’s troubles damage our enjoyment of live music, and thanks to U2 for going back to Paris. I’m looking forward to watching this very special concert on BBC2 over the Christmas period.
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
I don’t have one favourite, it has been a stunning year of great new music.
Mark Yovich, president of Ticketmaster Entertainment:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Definitely following Australia to Rugby World Cup final and then a brilliant match against the All Blacks, but was not to be for the Wallabies. Especially a highlight as Ticketmaster successfully sold over 2.3M tickets for the event which was a roaring success. Best Music event though would have to be Latitude.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
The live events industry is in rude health and for Ticketmaster especially we will deliver another consecutive record year for ticket sales in Europe. The continued technology shift to mobile and the cloud present challenges but mainly huge opportunities to improve the experience for fans.
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Album: Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color.
Single: Tame Impala, Let It Happen.
Andrew Parsons, managing director, Ticketmaster:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Managed to get to seven of the festivals we work with up and down the UK, from T In The Park to Isle of Wight. Fantastic to see such an incredibly diverse range of events in good health with the UK really leading the industry.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
Holy grail of everyone working closely together from the beginning an artist and their team decides to go on tour.
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Foals - what went down. The Weeknd - I can't feel my face.
Malcolm Dunbar, co-founder PledgeMusic, president UK and Europe:
What was your highlight of 2015?
PledgeMusic continuing to build and getting to work with not only new and emerging artists but also partnering with a range of great labels, artist services and management companies.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
The big hope is that the industry continues to search for new ways to serve its customers and artists’ fans. PledgeMusic is very much in the centre of this and each and every one of the 1000+ projects we launch each year brings exciting challenges to work through.
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Album: Jamie xx - In Colour.
Track: The Libertines – Gunga Din.
Jane Dyball, CEO, MPA Group of Companies:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Watching East India Youth play at the first annual IMPEL Day gig.
What is your biggest hope for in the industry and what will be its biggest challenge?
My hope is that we get some really inventive and exciting new music programmes on telly. The biggest challenge will be maintaining the value and integrity of copyright.
Favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Foals’ What Went Down. 2015 was bookended by two great singles - Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and You Don’t Own Me by Grace.
Kim Frankiewicz, MD, Imagem Music UK:
What was your highlight of 2015?
The huge success of Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk and Uptown Special as well as his four Grammy nominations.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what will be its biggest challenge?
To get people to start buying albums again and getting more money from streaming outlets.
Favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Oh Wonder’s Oh Wonder and Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk.
George Akins, MD, DHP Family:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Ed Sheeran at Wembley, playing to 80,000 each night for three nights was pretty amazing - DHP Family’s biggest shows to date. And on the smaller scale, The Libertines at Rock City - one of the best gigs we’ve ever had there.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
The increased control of major festivals is preventing bands from announcing tours and the increased corporatisation of large venues is stifling a creativity industry. My hope is that we remember what makes this industry so great!
Favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Everything Everything - No Reptiles. Great album as well.
Neil Warnock, head of worldwide music, United Talent Agency:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Joining The Agency Group to UTA.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
My biggest hope is for a return to sanity from the recent tragedies in Paris. Our biggest challenge now is making sure our customers feel secure enough to buy tickets across all music genres.
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
David Gilmour – Rattle That Lock.
Julie Weir, md, Visible Noise/Wiseblood Management:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Seeing the scale of global success of Bring Me The Horizon - and everything around them.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
My biggest hope is that we can sustain new blood in both the talent and business side of the industry to keep developing in an era of diminishing returns. So I would really like to see more Government investment in the music and creative industries to develop the new generation of headliners and A&R. Especially when you can see the figures that have been released recently. Challenges: Keeping retailers interested in music as opposed to tech and finding the next best indispensable music app that lasts! Keeping vinyl the realm of the real music fan and not merely a hipster accessory.
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Album: Sol Invictus by Faith No More.
Track: Biters - Restless Hearts
Martin Goldschmidt, chairman, Cooking Vinyl Group:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Hearing the top Palestinian rappers free styling in a bar in Ramallah, capital
of Palestine.
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
Creating a proper streaming business model, as opposed to freemium streaming, online radio and YouTube being the end game for consumers.
What is your favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Album: C .Duncan - Architect
Track: Skepta - Shutdown
Vick Bain,? CEO,? BASCA:
What was your highlight of 2015?
Winning the judicial review (along with UK Music & the MU) to get the unlawful private copying exception overturned.
Biggest hope and challenge for the industry in 2016?
Legislation that will help the music industry instead of drain it; particularly legislation that will tighten up the definition of ‘safe harbour’.
Favourite album and single/track of 2015?
My favourite single is Bright Luck by Portico Their whole album - Living Fields - is definitely one to check out.
Ged Doherty, chairman BPI and BRIT Awards
What was your highlight of 2015?
Watching Jack Garratt perform in Aaron Paul’s living room in front of Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars and
many others!
What is your biggest hope for the industry in 2016 and what do you think will be its biggest challenge?
That our Industry can come together more effectively, particularly where we have areas of common ground, to better ensure that all parts of the music ecosystem are supported and that artists and the labels that back them can expect to be fairly rewarded for their work and investment by the digital platforms that prosper from them.
Favourite album and single/track of 2015?
Track: Liz Vice - There Is A Light, Shining On Me
Album: Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker