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 nameJob TitleCompany
 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

 

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