Artist & Manager Awards: The Cure's Robert Smith, Jordan Rakei and Quietus Management to be honoured

The upcoming 2026 Artist & Manager Awards, scheduled for November 18 at London’s Bloomsbury Big Top, will spotlight a range of influential figures reshaping the music landscape. This prestigious ceremony, hosted jointly by the Featured Artists Coalition and Music Managers Forum, celebrates the vital partnerships between artists and their managers, highlighting those who have catalysed change within the industry.

Among the distinguished honourees is Robert Smith, frontman of The Cure, who will receive the Fan Champion Award. Smith’s activism focuses on advocating for fairer ticketing systems, combating ticket touting, and pushing for government action to cap resale prices. His advocacy aligns closely with the objectives of the FanFair Alliance, a campaign initiated by the Music Managers Forum to protect live music consumers. Smith’s efforts have been recognized for not only benefiting The Cure’s fanbase but also for inspiring the broader artist community to engage proactively with issues surrounding live event ticketing.

Jordan Rakei is set to receive The Artists’ Voice Award, acknowledging his transparency regarding the challenges artists face in the modern music business. Rakei has openly discussed navigating record label dynamics, financial constraints, and the pressures of sustaining a creative career. By sharing insights through masterclasses and online content that reveal his songwriting and production processes, he has contributed to a more informed and candid dialogue within the artist community.

Quietus Management will be honoured with the 2026 Entrepreneur Award, an accolade sponsored by Cuffe & Taylor. Established in 2010 by Ian Grenfell, Quietus Management has pioneered a progressive business model by becoming the world’s first employee-owned music management company. Representing notable acts such as Simply Red, Simple Minds, Suede, The Charlatans, and The Pretenders, the company manages hundreds of live performances annually and oversees a broad portfolio including albums, reissues, documentaries, and literary projects.

The transition to employee ownership, formalized in 2019 through an Employee Ownership Trust, marks a significant shift in corporate governance within the music management sector. This restructuring not only supports equitable business practices but also demonstrates that long-term commercial success can coexist with progressive organizational values.

The Manager of the Year category features an impressive shortlist reflecting the diversity and dynamism of contemporary music management. Nominees include Connor Hunnisett of Jigsaw Music Group representing Ren Emily, Braham of Yo & Co Management overseeing Olivia Dean, Owain Davies from OD Management managing Sam Fender and Ben Howard, as well as Phoebe Abu-Gold from Up Close Management working with Pinkpantheress. This selection underscores the evolving roles managers play in guiding artists through complex commercial and creative landscapes.

David Martin, CEO of the Featured Artists Coalition, emphasized the broader impact of the awards, noting the importance of artists leveraging their platforms to advocate for industry reform and artist support. Similarly, Annabella Coldrick, CEO of the Music Managers Forum, highlighted Quietus Management’s innovative ownership structure as emblematic of the UK music management community’s capacity for leadership and innovation.

The event reflects ongoing shifts in the music industry, where transparency, fairer business practices, and supportive artist-manager relationships are increasingly prioritized. The recognition of figures like Smith and Rakei, alongside entities like Quietus, signals a growing appreciation for ethical leadership and advocacy in shaping the future of music.

While further details on the ceremony’s full program remain limited, the announced honourees and nominees illustrate a commitment to celebrating those who influence not only commercial success but also the cultural and ethical dimensions of the music business.