The Awards Categories 2023

Please click on an award from the list below to reveal more information

Producer Of The Year

For a producer for qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This person has overall creative and technical control of the entire recording project and the individual recording sessions that are a part of that project. They will have been present (in person or remotely) in the recording studio or at the location recording, and worked directly with the artist and engineer. The producer makes creative and aesthetic decisions that realise both the artist's and label's goals in creating the musical content. Other duties include but are not limited to: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers.

Writer-Producer Of The Year

For a producer of qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This person will have produced AND written or co-written the nominated song(s), but they must NOT be the featured artist for any of the recordings. They have significant creative and technical input into the individual recording or production sessions that are a part of the project. As producer, they will have made creative and aesthetic decisions that realise both the artist's and/or label's goals in creating the musical content. Other duties may include: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers.

Breakthrough Producer Of The Year

For a producer for qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This person has overall creative and technical control of the entire recording project and the individual recording sessions that are a part of that project. They will have been present (remotely or in-person) in the recording studio or at the location recording, and worked directly with the artist and engineer. The producer makes creative and aesthetic decisions that realise both the artist's and label's goals in creating the musical content. Other duties include but are not limited to: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers.

This person should have achieved significantly increased recognition during the current year.

Self-Producing Artist Of The Year

For a producer for qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

Projects must have been produced solely by the featured artist*.

This person has overall creative and technical control of the entire recording project and the individual recording sessions that are a part of that project. The producer makes creative and aesthetic decisions that realise the goals in creating the musical content. Other duties include but are not limited to: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers.

Recording Engineer Of The Year

For an engineer for qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This person is present in the recording studio or at the location recording, and is responsible for the process of recording a project and associated technical issues and decisions. They will have operated (or overseen the operation of) the equipment during the recording process and made creative and aesthetic choices to realise the sound and concepts the artist and producer envisage.

The engineer must have recorded all of the releases under consideration.

Rising Star

For a recording engineer, mixer or mastering engineer for qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This person is present in the recording studio or at another recording, mixing, or mastering location and is responsible for the process of either the recording, mixing, mastering (or any combination of the three) of a project and associated technical issues and decisions. They will have operated (or overseen the operation of) the equipment during the recording, mixing or mastering process and made creative and aesthetic choices to realise the sound and concepts the artist and producer envisage.

This person should have achieved significantly increased recognition during the current year and must have recorded, mixed or mastered (or any combination of the three) all of the releases under consideration.

Mix Engineer Of The Year

For an engineer for qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

The mixer must have mixed all of the releases under consideration.

This person is responsible for taking previously recorded material and creating a mixdown of the original separate tracks to create a finished product (either stereo or multi-channel) that can then be mastered and distributed.

Mastering Engineer Of The Year

For an engineer for qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

The mastering engineer must have been responsible for the processing and preparation of production masters for commercial releases.

Vocal Producer Of The Year

For a Vocal Producer for qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This person has overall creative control of the vocal recording project and the individual vocal recording sessions relating to that project. They were present (either in person or remotely) in the recording studio or at the location and worked directly with the artist and engineer. The producer makes creative and aesthetic decisions that realise both the artist's and label's goals in creating the vocal performance.

Album Of The Year

For qualifying productions available for purchase as a physical product, streamed as a commercial product or as a download as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

Unsung Hero

This is an open category for anyone, as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This is an open category, awarded to an individual involved in the recording industry (does not have to be technical), who works tirelessly behind the scenes, and deserves recognition. Nominations may include but are not limited to: studio assistants, bookers, studio managers, managers and management assistants, technicians, campaigners, or anyone who operates behind the scenes in the production process. Nominations will be judged on testimonials only.

All nominees must either be UK passport holders or be able to satisfy the Statutory Residency Test.

Studio Of The Year

For the best commercial studio, which exists primarily as a rental facility for the recording and/or mixing of music. This award is judged by a special panel of professional producers and/or recording engineers who, at their discretion, may individually visit the shortlisted nominees, make their assessments without conferring with the other judges, and vote accordingly. The MPG board determines the assessment criteria.

Original Score Recording Of The Year

For qualifying productions available for purchase as a physical product, streamed as a commercial product or as a download as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

A maximum of 3 trophies will be presented to the team, and they usually go to the producer, engineer and mixer. Other eligible team members may purchase additional trophies.

For an album or release that contains a minimum of 51% Original Compositions featured in a complete or edited form in a cinematic, broadcast or streamed release and not previously released in any other format. A maximum of three trophies will be presented for Producer, Recording Engineer and Mixer, at least 50% of whom must be either UK passport holders or be able to satisfy the Statutory Residency Test. If there is no credited Producer, the Producers Award can be presented to the Composer. To avoid doubt, a score release may contain individual songs, but at least 51% of the running time must be an original score. For this purpose, 'score' may be any music used to accompany a picture that is not a standalone, vocal-led song, although it may contain vocals. Soundtracks of filmed live performances are not eligible.

Dolby Atmos Mixer Of The Year

For an engineer for qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This mix must have been commissioned to create an immersive mix or version.

This mix would be created by taking previously recorded material and creating a mix or version of the original separate tracks (and or) mix stems to create an immersive mix down for the finished product to be distributed.

The following credits are eligible: Immersive Mix engineer. Dolby Atmos Mix, Spatial Audio Mix

The immersive mixer will receive this award.

The MPG Inspiration Award

This is awarded by the Music Producers Guild Awards Committee and will be presented to a person working in production in recognition of abody of work over several years which has significantly inspired others.

PPL Present The MPG Award For Outstanding Contribution To UK Music, sponsored by PPL

The MPG have revealed that producer, songwriter and musician Fraser T Smith is the winner of the PPL Present the Outstanding Contribution To UK Music Award. Fraser is a Grammy, Brit and Ivor Novello award winner who has worked with artists such as Adele, James Morrison, Tinchy Stryder, Stormzy, Kano, Sam Smith, and Dave.

The MPG Icon Award

The Music Producers Guild have announced that they are presenting recording engineer and producer Bob Clearmountain with the Icon Award

 

Definitions of Eligibility