The Music Producers Guild Awards, which recognises the skill and talents of music recording professionals, took place at the Cafe de Paris in London in February 2010.
The top award for Producer of the Year – which also earned its winner a BRIT Award for Best Producer – went to Paul Epworth, who worked with Florence and the Machine on their debut album Lungs. Florence attended the ceremony to present Paul with both his Music Producers Guild and BRIT Awards.
Other award recipients included Island Records founder Chris Blackwell who won the Outstanding Contribution to UK Music Award, sponsored by PPL. Producer Joe Boyd (Nick Drake) accepted the Award on behalf of Chris Blackwell. Island Records started over 50 years ago with ska and rock steady 45’s, through to Bob Marley, Steve Winwood, Roxy Music, U2 and Florence and the Machine!
Steve Levine, chairman of the Music Producers Guild, says: “These awards mean a great deal to the UK’s professional recording community because they know they are being judged by their peers. Audio professionals are positioned at the very heart of the music industry – we make the content that is the industry’s product. As an organisation, the Music Producers Guild is delighted to lead the way in recognising the wealth of production and engineering creativity we have in this country and bringing about greater awareness, both within the music industry and among the wider public, of the talent and skills involved in making great records.”
In total, 15 Awards were presented (see below for a full list of winners). Many of those recognised for their achievements over the past 12 months were cheered on by the artists they have worked with.
MUSIC PRODUCERS GUILD AWARDS 2010 – THE WINNERS
Producer of The Year – sponsored by the BPI: Paul Epworth
Shortlist: Jim Abbiss, Paul Epworth, Ethan Johns, Steve Lillywhite
Recording Engineer of The Year – sponsored by Prism Sound: Mick Glossop
Shortlist: Haydn Bendall, Mick Glossop, Tony Platt
Mix Engineer of The Year – sponsored by Avid: Cenzo Townshend
Shortlist: Andy Bradfield, Mark ‘Spike’ Stent, Cenzo Townsend
Mastering Engineer of The Year – sponsored by SADiE: Tony Cousins (Metropolis Mastering)
Shortlist: Tony Cousins (Metropolis Mastering), Ray Staff, Tim Young (Metropolis Mastering)
International Producer of the Year – sponsored by Focusrite: Rick Rubin
Shortlist: T-Bone Burnett, Brendan O’Brien, Rick Rubin
Live Album of The Year – sponsored by Shure: Van Morrison – Astral Weeks, Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Shortlist: Buena Vista Social Club – At Carnegie Hall, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood – Live at Madison Square Garden, Van Morrison – Astral Weeks, Live at the Hollywood Bowl
UK Album of The Year (09) – sponsored by British Grove Studios: Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N Cheek
Shortlist: Dizzee Rascal –Tongue n Cheek, Florence & The Machine – Lungs, Muse – The Resistance
UK Single of The Year (09) – sponsored by Cream Studios: Muse – Uprising
Shortlist: Bat For Lashes – Daniel, Florence and the Machine –Rabbit Heart, Muse – Uprising
The Joe Meek Award for Innovation In Production – sponsored by Joemeek by PMI Audio: Les Paul
Re-mixer of The Year– sponsored by Discovering Arts: Simian Mobile Disco (James Ford & Jas Shaw)
Shortlist: The Go! Team, Simian Mobile Disco (James Ford & Jas Shaw), SixToes, Skream (Oliver Jones)
Breakthrough Producer of The Year – sponsored by Deep Recording Studios: Paul Savage
Shortlist: Jason Boshoff, Carl Bown, Paul Savage
Breakthrough Engineer of The Year – sponsored by TL Audio: Mark Rankin
Shortlist: Mark Rankin, Jimmy Robertson, Paul Savage
Best Studio – sponsored by Robertson Taylor: Kore Studios
Shortlist: AIR Lyndhurst, British Grove Studios, Kore Studios, Livingston Studios
Outstanding Contribution to UK Music – sponsored by PPL: Chris Blackwell
Unsung Hero – sponsored by Alchemea: Chris Jenkins, Solid State Logic
The Music Producers Guild (UK) is an independent and democratic organisation that encourages the highest standards of music production, and actively engages with other music industry organisations to campaign and lobby on matters of important mutual interest.
The MPG represents and promotes the interests of all those involved in the production of recorded music, including producers, engineers, mixers, re-mixers, programmers and mastering engineers.
