Pundits
Below is a list of all the pundits who voted on this year's Sound of 2026 list - ranging from festival bookers to talent producers, Radio 1 presenters (Greg James, Mollie King + more), celebrated musicians (Dua Lipa, Elton John, JADE, Olivia Dean + more) and former Sound Of winners (Sam Smith, Sigrid, The Last Dinner Party).
| Full name | Job Title | Company |
| Adam Read | Music Programs Manager (UK & Ireland) | TikTok |
| Adam Ryan | Head of Music | The Great Escape Festival |
| Adem Holness | Head of Music | SXSW London |
| Adrian Binns | Director - Global Artist Relations | Deezer |
| Ajay Jayaram* | Director of Music | Broadwick Live |
| Alex Morley | Senior Talent Booker | Attachment |
| Alice Razack | Artist Services | TikTok |
| Alison Howe | Executive Producer | Later…with Jools Holland / BBC Studios |
| Alyx Holcombe | Presenter - Radio 1 Indie Show and BBC Introducing Rock | BBC Radio 1 |
| Andre AM | Music Team Producer | BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra |
| Andrew Trendell | News Editor | NME |
| Andy Copping | Promotion Consultant | Live Nation |
| Andy Rogers | Senior Live Music Producer | BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra |
| Ariel Cohen | Strategic Partner Manager | YouTube |
| Arielle Free | DJ & Presenter - Radio 1's Rave Up | BBC Radio 1 |
| Arusa Qureshi | Writer, Editor & Music Programmer | Freelance |
| Becci Scotcher | Grants & Programmes Manager | PRS Foundation |
| Becky Thomas* | Music Programming Consultant | Freelance |
| Ben Coleman | Booker / Director | Glastonbury / Green Man |
| Ben Jolley | Music Writer | Freelance |
| Benji B* | Presenter | BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra |
| Bernice Maria Billi John | Co- Founder/ General Manager | Everything RNB |
| Bradley Duggan | Producer - Future Artists with Sian Eleri | BBC Radio 1 |
| Brett James | Festival Booker | Live Nation |
| Cam Pia | Editor - Music Team | BBC Radio 6 Music |
| Carl Loben | Editor in Chief | DJ Mag |
| Carl Young* | Head of Music, EU | VEVO |
| Caroline Cullen | Series Producer | Later…with Jools Holland / BBC Studios |
| Charlie Hedges | Presenter - Rickie, Melvin & Charlie, Radio 1's Live Lounge | BBC Radio 1 |
| Charlotte Dryden | Chief Executive | Oh Yeah/NI Music Prize |
| Charlotte Kain | Dance Editor | Spotify |
| Chloe Gamble* | Programmer - Silver Hayes | Glastonbury |
| Chris Price | Head of Music | BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra |
| Christian Smith | Group Head Of Music Programming | Bauer Media |
| Cliff Joannou | Editor in Chief | Attitude Magazine/ Rolling Stone UK |
| Codie Bullen | Senior Showbusiness Reporter | Daily Mail |
| Daisy Jarrett | Producer - Radio 1's New Music Show | BBC Radio 1 |
| Dan Smee | Senior Music Programmer | Amazon Music |
| Danny Howard | Presenter - Radio 1 Dance Party | BBC Radio 1 |
| Dean Jackson | Presenter | BBC Introducing |
| Dellessa James | Senior Artist Relations Manager | Amazon Music |
| DJ Target | Presenter | BBC Radio 1Xtra |
| Dominik Prosser | Production Manager | Deviation Music |
| Dua Lipa | Artist | N/A |
| Duncan Allen | Head of Music Programming | MTV |
| Elise Cobain | Senior Music Programmer | Amazon Music |
| Elizabeth Turnbull | Assistant Producer - Music Team | BBC Radio 1 |
| Elton John | Artist | N/A |
| Emily Eavis & Nick Dewey | Managing Director / Head Programmer | Glastonbury |
| Femi Koleoso (Ezra Collective) | Artist | N/A |
| Fuzz Chaudhrey | Network Producer | BBC Introducing |
| Geoff Ellis | CEO | DF Concerts & Events |
| George Garner | Editor in Chief | Music Week |
| Gerry Debono | Head of Programming | 356 Entertainment Malta |
| Greg James* | Presenter - Radio 1 Breakfast show | BBC Radio 1 |
| Hana Staddon | Assistant Producer - Music Team | BBC Radio 6 Music |
| Hannah Clubley | SRA Music Officer | Student Radio Association |
| Hazel Berry | Senior Artist Relations Manager | Amazon Music |
| Honor Morrison * | Assistant Producer | BBC Radio 1 |
| Howell Davies | Associate Bizarre Editor | The Sun |
| Hugo Schaap | Head of Music | NPO 3FM |
| Jack Allen | Producer - Radio 1's Future Pop | BBC Radio 1 |
| Jack Morlen | Director - Artist & Entertainment Relations | Global |
| Jack Saunders | Presenter - New Music Show | BBC Radio 1 |
| Jacob Rickard | Founder / Director | lemontank young writers’ room |
| Jacqueline Lockinger | Associate Director - Editorial & Programming | VEVO |
| JADE | Artist | N/A |
| Jade Style | Music Editor | BBC Radio 1Xtra |
| Jaguar | DJ & Presenter - BBC Introducing Dance | BBC Radio 1 |
| Jakk Breedon | Founder | A1234 |
| James Ayo Ojuolape | Director & Founder | Director & Founder |
| James Cousins | Head of Music Programming and Strategy | Boomtown Festival |
| Jamie Laing | Presenter - Going Home on Radio 1 | BBC Radio 1 |
| Jana Recmanikova | Talent Booker | Festival Republic |
| Jasmine Hill | Producer - Radio 1 Rock Show & Radio 1 Indie Show | BBC Radio 1 |
| Jasmine Takhar | Presenter - Introducing on the Asian Network, Asian Network Chart Show | BBC Asian Network |
| Jason Kramer | Presenter / DJ | KCRW (LA) |
| Jeff Smith | Head of Music | BBC Radio 2 & 6 Music |
| Jeremiah Asiamah* | Presenter - Radio 1's Soundsystem Party | BBC Radio 1 |
| Jesley Fantolgo | Editor - Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Emerging | Spotify |
| Jess Iszatt | Presenter - BBC Introducing on Radio 1 | BBC Radio 1 |
| Joe Dougan | Director of Concerts & Talent | Shine, Ireland |
| Joe Hubbard | Festival Director / Promoter | Live at Leeds/ Futuresound |
| Jon McIldowie | Promoter | Festival Republic / Live Nation |
| Jorja Smith | Artist | N/A |
| Joseph 'JP' Patterson | Editor in Chief / Founder | Complex UK & Trench Magazine |
| Josh Shreeve | Content Producer | BBC Radio 1 |
| Kath McDermott | Producer - Music Team | BBC Radio 6 Music |
| Katie Thistleton | Presenter - Going Home on Radio 1 | BBC Radio 1 |
| Katy Leckie | Assistant Commissioner | BBC Music |
| Kelly Betts | Editor | BBC Introducing |
| Kerrie Cosh | Presenter | BBC Introducing |
| Kwabz Ayim | Director | Mixtape Madness |
| Lana Webb | Entertainment Booker | TV |
| Laura Lukanz | Head of Music - Amazon UK/ANZ | Amazon Music |
| Lauren Brennan | Editor - Music Team | BBC Radio 2 |
| Lauren Kreisler | Director of Brand & Digital | Official Charts |
| Lori Duncan | Producer - The Entertainment Mix | BBC Scotland |
| Lucy Kinghorn | Producer | BBC Radio 1 |
| Lucy Wood | Head of Music | Roundhouse |
| Luke Morton | Editor | Kerrang! |
| Mandeep Mann | Assistant Commissioner | BBC Asian Network |
| Manny Singh | Founder / Director | under the radar |
| Mark Findlay | Senior Advisor - Broadcasting & Content | Global |
| Mark Lampo | Senior Music Editor | Amazon Music |
| Mark Savage | Music Correspondent | BBC News |
| Mark Sutherland | Presenter | The Money Trench Podcast |
| Megan Townsend* | Deputy Editor | Mixmag |
| Mel Lewis | Editor | Apple Music |
| Melvin Odoom | Presenter - Rickie, Melvin & Charlie, Radio 1's Live Lounge | BBC Radio 1 |
| Michael Lambert * | Director | Wide Days |
| Michael Michel | Producer - Music Team | BBC Radio 1 |
| Mike Lightford | Booker | Boardmasters Festival |
| Mike Walsh | Co-Founder & Exec Producer | The Money Trench Podcast |
| Millie Carter | Production Coordinator | BBC Introducing |
| Mollie King | Presenter - Future Pop & Matt and Mollie | BBC Radio 1 |
| Molly Hart | Live Events Coordinator | BBC Live Music & Events |
| Myles McCaulskey | Assistant Producer - Music Team | BBC Radio 1Xtra |
| Nadia Jae | Presenter - Radio 1Xtra Breakfast Show | BBC Radio 1Xtra |
| Nadine Walker | Director | Tenement TV/Trail |
| Nathan Goodman | Producer - Music Team | BBC Radio 1 |
| Nick Reilly | Content Editor | Rolling Stone UK |
| Nina Evans | Music Producer - Sunday Brunch | Channel 4 |
| Olivia Dean* | Artist | N/A |
| Olivia Peter | Assistant Producer - Radio 1's New Music Show | BBC Radio 1 |
| Oscar Tuttiet | Booker (BST, All Points East) | AEG Live |
| Oskar Strajn | Booker | ESNS - Eurosonic Noorderslag |
| Patrick Nazemi | Head of Talent & Programming | Ibiza Rocks Group |
| Paul Bridgewater | Editor in Chief | The Line of Best Fit |
| Paul Malone | Talent Producer | The Graham Norton Show |
| Paul Scaife | MD/Publisher | Record Of The Day |
| P-C Rae | Booker | The British Music Embassy at SXSW |
| Pete Tong | DJ & Presenter | BBC Radio 1 |
| Rachel McHalroy* | Commissioning Executive | BBC Radio 1 |
| Rafe Offer | Founder | Sofar Sounds |
| Raphaella Lima* | Global Music Partnerships & Marketing | EA Sports FC |
| Remi Burgz | Presenter | BBC Radio 1Xtra |
| Rhys Buchanan | Music Journalist | Freelance |
| Ric Blaxill | Music and Content Director | Bauer Media |
| Richard McGinnis | Promoter and Booker - Circus & Warehouse Project | Billboard US |
| Richard Smirke | UK Correspondent | Billboard US |
| Rickie Haywood-Williams | Presenter - Rickie, Melvin & Charlie, Radio 1's Live Lounge | BBC Radio 1 |
| Rob Da Bank | Co-Founder | Bestival |
| Robert Meijerink | Booker | ESNS - Eurosonic Noorderslag |
| Robin Murray | Editor in Chief | Clash Magazine |
| Roisin O’Connor | Music Editor | The Independent |
| Rory Connolly | Head Of On Demand Music | BBC Music |
| Ruth Collett | Lead, Artist & Label Partnerships | Spotify |
| Safiya Lambie-Knight | Head Of Music - Northern Europe | Spotify |
| Sam Smith | Artist | N/A |
| Samantha Kinnaird | Producer | Later…with Jools Holland / BBC Studios |
| Sara Coe | Editorial Lead - UK & Ireland | Spotify |
| Sarah Jamieson | Managing Editor | DIY Magazine |
| Sarah Matthews | Talent Executive | Freelance |
| Sarah Story | Presenter - Future Dance | BBC Radio 1 |
| Shannon Carragher | Senior Editor | Spotify |
| Sheniece Charway | Head Of Black Music & Culture - EMEA | YouTube Music |
| Shreni Yajnik | Producer - Introducing on the Asian Network | BBC Asian Network |
| Sian Eleri | Presenter - Future Artists / Chillest Show | BBC Radio 1 |
| Sigrid* | Artist | N/A |
| Sophie Ellis | Producer | BBC Radio 1 |
| Sophie Williams | Music Writer & Broadcaster | Billboard UK |
| Stephen Ackroyd | Editor | Dork |
| Sybil Bell | Founder and CEO | Independent Venue Week |
| The Last Dinner Party | Artist | N/A |
| Thomas Hannan | Senior Content Producer | Amazon Music |
| Tom Gane | Producer - Radio 1 Breakfast | BBC Radio 1 |
| Toyin Mustapha* | Head of Music Partnerships | TikTok |
| Travis Walby | Producer - Rickie, Melvin & Charlie / Radio 1's Live Lounge | BBC Radio 1 |
| Will Reynolds | Assistant Producer - Radio 1's New Music Show | BBC Radio 1 |
| Will Wilkin | Commissioning Executive | BBC Music |
| Wolf Alice | Artist | N/A |
| Yemi Abiade | Contributing Editor | TRENCH |
| YUNGBLUD | Artist | N/A |
* Only took part in one round of voting
