The Pundits
This year, 144 UK-based tastemakers were selected by BBC News to vote for their Sound Of 2016.
Although the panel includes a selection of the BBC’s most respected new music presenters and producers, the majority of the pundits are from newspapers, magazines, blogs, commercial radio & TV. This year’s list also includes organisers and bookers for some of the biggest UK music festivals like Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and T in the Park, plus lead editorial figures and music curators at music streaming services such as YouTube, Spotify and Deezer.We hope to represent a huge spectrum of music from across the world, covering a diverse range of musical styles and backgrounds.
When selecting the pundits, the BBC’s looking for the most genuine and passionate music fans, whose day-job also involves showcasing the best new music to a wider audience. None of the pundits are paid for taking part.
The Full List
A
Adam Ryan - Festival Booker - The Great Escape, Lovebox, Wilderness
Aimee Cliff - Associate Editor - The Fader (UK)
Alex Baker - Broadcaster - Kerrang! Radio
Alex Critchley - Senior Talent & Music Manager - MTV
Alex Donelly - Head Of Curation - MusicQubed
Alex Hoffman - Head Of Music - VICE UK / Noisey
Alison Howe - Series Producer, Later… with Jools Holland - BBC Music TV
Amelia Hartley - Head of Music - Endemol UK / Tiger Aspect
Andrea Madden - Music Supervisor - Made In Chelsea
Andrew Trendell - Editor - Gigwise.com
Andy Malt - Editor - CMU (Complete Music Update)
Anna Karatziva - Head Of Talent & Music - MTV Networks
Annie Mac - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1
Austin Daboh - Music Manager - BBC Radio 1Xtra
Azi Eftekhari - Head of EMEA Music Partner Management - Google Play
B
Ben Tipple - Editor - Punktastic
Benji B - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra
Bethan Elfyn - Broadcaster & Project Manager, Horizons - BBC Radio Wales
C
Caroline Sullivan - Writer - The Guardian
Chantelle Fiddy - Freelance Writer - Mixmag Urban, Dazed & Confused, i-D
DJ Charlesy - Broadcaster - Capital FM & Capital XTRA
Charlie Sloth - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra
Chloe Pearson - Producer, Music Team - BBC Radio 1
Chris Pattinson - Director Of Music - Black Cab Sessions
Christian Pambrun - Head Of Editorial - Omnifone
Christian Smith - Music Producer - Capital FM & Capital XTRA
Clara Amfo - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1
D
Daisy Jones - Music Editor - Dazed & Confused Magazine
Daniel P Carter - Broadcaster, Rock Show - BBC Radio 1
Danny Howard - DJ & Broadcaster, Dance Anthems - BBC Radio 1
Dave Chase - Director of Music - Burberry
Dave Kerr - Music Editor - The Skinny
David Coull - Group Music Manager - UKRD Group
David Rodigan - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1Xtra
David Smyth - Chief Rock & Pop Critic - Evening Standard
Dean Jackson - Broadcaster - BBC Introducing in the East Midlands
Dermot O'Leary - Broadcaster - BBC Radio 2
Dexter Batson - Assistant Producer, Music Team - BBC Radio 1
Duncan Allen - Head Of Music Programming - MTV
E
DJ Edu - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1Xtra
Emily Eavis - Co-organiser - Glastonbury Festival
G
Gary Bales - Producer, Lauren Laverne - BBC Radio 6 Music
Geoff Ellis - CEO - DF Concerts (T in the Park)
Georgina Parnell - Head Of Entertainment Partnerships - Twitter UK
Goldierocks - Broadcaster, The Selector - The British Council
H
Harriet Jordan-Wrench - Founder - Secret Sessions
Huw Stephens - Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1
I
Ian Greaves - Sr Director Music Programming & Label Relations - Napster UK
J
Jack Mills - Deputy Editor - Wonderland Magazine
Jacob Rickard - Assistant Producer, Annie Mac - BBC Radio 1
Jamal Edwards MBE - Founder & CEO - SB.TV
James Cabooter - Showbiz Editor, Wired - Daily Star
James Curran - Director of Music - Magic and Absolute Radio Network
James Foley - Browse Senior Editor - Spotify UK & Ireland
Jamie Milton - Editor - DIY
Jane Beese - Head Of Music - Roundhouse
Jeff Smith - Head Of Music - BBC Radio 2 & BBC Radio 6 Music
Jez Welham - Broadcaster - Capital Xtra
Jim Brackpool - Head of Music - BT Sport
Jim Gellatly - Broadcaster - Amazing Radio
Jo Whiley - Broadcaster - BBC Radio 2
John Kennedy - Broadcaster, X-Posure new music show - Radio X
Jon Mac - Festival Booker - Reading & Leeds
Joseph 'JP' Patterson - Music Editor - Complex UK
Joe Walker - Music Writer - RWD
Julian Marshall - Global Head Of Content - Shazam
K
Kate Holder - Producer, Huw Stephens - BBC Radio 1
Keith Cameron - Contributing Editor - MOJO
Kevin Brown - Head Of Label Relations (EU/ANZ) - Spotify
Kevin Harley - Pop Critic - The Independent
Kieran Yates - Music Writer - The Guardian
L
Lana Webb - Head Of Music & Talent - Remedy Productions
Laura Snapes - Contributing Editor - Pitchfork (UK)
Lauren Brennan - Producer, Music Team - BBC Radio 6 Music
Laurie Tuffrey - New Music Editor - The Quietus
Lee Thompson - Music Editor - Record Of The Day
Lee Tyler - Editor - Blues & Soul Magazine
Leonard Foster - Founder - Flavourmag
Lewis Corner - Music Editor - Digital Spy
Lorena Blattner - Head Of Artist & Label Relations EMEA - Rdio
Loz Guest - Head Of Music & Broadcaster - Kerrang! Radio & Planet Rock
Ludovic Hunter-Tilney - Pop Critic - Financial Times
Luke Hood - Founder - UKF
M
Malcolm Jack - Music Editor - The Big Issue
Mark Adams - Music Director - The Box Plus Network
Mark Findlay - Group Head Of Live Music - Global
Mark Lampo - Senior Global Music Programmer - MixRadio
Mark Sutherland - Contributing Editor - Music Week
Mary Anne Hobbs - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 6 Music
Matt Baty - Head of Music - Amazing Radio
Matt Deverson - Head of TV - Global TV (Capital TV and Heart TV)
Matt Fincham - Producer, Annie Mac - BBC Radio 1
Matt Mason - Senior Editor - Q Magazine
Matt Wilkinson - New Music Editor - NME
Melanie Armstrong - Head Of Music - HMV
Michael Baggs - Senior Music Journalist - Shazam
Michael Cragg - Music Writer - Popjustice / The Guardian
Mike Walsh - Head Of Music / Deputy Programme Director - Radio X
MistaJam - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1 & BBC Radio 1Xtra
N
Nathan Thomson - Head Of Music - Kiss FM UK
Nick Grimshaw - Broadcaster, The Radio 1 Breakfast Show - BBC Radio 1
O
Oliver Keens - Music Editor - Time Out
Owen Myers - UK Editor - The FADER
P
Paul Bridgewater - Editor - The Line Of Best Fit
Paul Firth - Head of Digital Music UK - Amazon
Paul Hourican - Music Curation Lead - YouTube
Paul Lester - Writer - The Guardian
Paul MacInnes - Editor - The Guardian Guide
Paul Scaife - Editor-In-Chief - Record Of The Day
Paul Stokes - Associate Editor - Q Magazine / MOJO
Peter Bradbury - Head Of Music - Sky
Peter Robinson - Founder - Popjustice
Phil Taggart - Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1
Posty - CEO - GRM Daily
R
Rachael Bee - Managing Director - I Luv Live
Rachel Coomber - Producer - BBC Introducing
Raj Rudolph - Editor - EQ Music
Ric Blaxill - Music & Content Director - Bauer Media
Rigsy - Broadcaster - BBC Radio Ulster
Rob Copsey - Editor - OfficialCharts.com
Rob Fitzpatrick - UK Head of Original Content - Spotify
Robert Winters Ronaldson - Founder - The Whitelist
Robin Murray - Online Editor - Clashmusic.com
Ryan Newman - Producer, Music Team - BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra
S
Sam Ajilore - Founder & Editor - That Grape Juice
Sam Lee - Editor - Deezer (UK & Ireland)
Sam Wolfson - Editor, Noisey - VICE UK
Sean Griffiths - News Editor - Mixmag
DJ Semtex - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1Xtra
Sophie K - New Music Broadcaster - Team Rock Radio
Stephen Ackroyd - Founding Editor - DIY
DJ Swerve - DJ & Broadcaster - Kiss FM
T
DJ Target - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1 & BBC Radio 1Xtra
Tim Ingham - Editor - Music Business Worldwide
Tim Vernon - Deputy Head Of Music - Absolute Radio Network
Toddla T - DJ & Broadcaster - BBC Radio 1 & BBC Radio 1Xtra
Tom Connaughton - VP Content & Programming - VEVO
Tom Connick - Online Editor - DIY
Tom Cotton - Music Scheduler - Absolute Radio
Tom Lea - Editor In Chief - FACT
V
Vanessa Reed - Executive Director - PRS For Music Foundation
Verity Harris - Editor - Maximum Pop!
Vic Galloway - Broadcaster - BBC Scotland
W
William Caston Cook - Deputy Editor - The 405
