The Last Dinner Party have been impossible to ignore ever since they first burst onto the scene, and now they must deliver on the hype all over again, armed with their brilliant second record From The Pyre.
To celebrate its release, the group star on the cover of Music Week for the second time, as we meet them – plus Q Prime’s Peter Mensch, Island EMI Label Group president Louis Bloom and CAA’s Emma Banks – to lift the curtain on their new era.
This month’s cover story is an incendiary tale, one in which the band detail their expansive new sound, offer up a riposte to the naysayers and speak their minds on what the industry must do to protect new artists, grassroots venues and the ecosystem they came from.
Also this month, Music Week is face to face with Amy Allen, the most influential hitmaker on the planet. Earlier this year, Allen became the first woman to win the Grammy for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical, and more evidence of her genius swiftly followed in the form of Sabrina Carpenter’s No.1 album Man’s Best Friend.
What better time, then, to take stock of her molten hot streak, as we meet the songwriter – plus her team at Warner Chappell Music – to discuss “hysterical” laughter in the studio, the importance of advocacy and the women “leading the charge” in songwriting.
With the 11th edition of the Music Week Women In Music Awards taking place this month, we toast the achievements of one of last year’s big winners, Key Production Group founder Karen Emanuel. The latest subject of The Music Week Interview, Emanuel unravels the story of her physical music empire and hits back at industry whispers that vinyl and CD sales are faltering.
Following up the success of his 2022 album Alpha Place, which secured a Top 3 chart finish and a MOBO award, Knucks is about to return with new record A Fine African Man. To dig into his grand plan, we meet the MC, alongside his Tru Tribe Management team and new partner ADA.
Completing the features line-up this month is our annual special on the Black Music Coalition’s Excellence Honourees. Now in its fourth year, the initiative recognises emerging talent changing the industry. In our feature, chair Sheryl Nwosu introduces this year’s Honourees and we catch up with five of them to hear their plans to build a lasting legacy in the business.
In The Big Story, Music Week breaks down the Q3 stats to check the state of play with UK streaming growth, with extra insight coming courtesy of some top names from across the business. Also in the news section, we look at the huge impact PRS Foundation has made ahead of its 25th anniversary celebrations.
In Hitmakers, co-producers Connor and Riley McDonough break down the making of Lewis Capaldi’s surprise 2025 No.1 single Survive, while Downtown Music CEO Pieter Van Rijn looks back on his life and times in the business so far in The Aftershow.
Elsewhere, Chocolate City Music EVP/Nahla Initiative CEO Aibee Abidoye offers her Top 5 career tips in the latest Mentor Me. Completing the line-up in a packed issue are Aaron Rowe, this month’s On The Radar act, Symphonic founder & CEO Jorge Brea, who features in our Spotlight Q&A, Freya Ridings, who tells the story of her big comeback with BMG in Incoming and new Domino signings Upchuck, who are our latest Making Waves act.
Lastly, in our expanded monthly charts section, we present the Top 75 Singles and Albums of the previous month, accompanied by revamped analysis pages, plus a host of new listings. These include specialist genre Top 20s for Americana, Classical, Hip-Hop & R&B, Jazz, Country, Dance, Folk and Rock & Metal. The issue is also home to streaming, compilations and vinyl charts.
The new issue of Music Week is available from October 14.
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PHOTO: Rachell Smith
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