A host of music industry talent filled London’s Grosvenor House last night for the 2019 Music Producers Guild Awards.
The top accolade of Producer Of The Year was won by James Ford for his work on Arctic Monkeys' sixth studio album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, Everything Everything’s fourth studio album A Fever Dream and Gorillaz’ sixth studio album The Now Now.
"I'm lucky to work with incredibly talented people who also allow me to get involved," said Ford, who is also a founder member of Simian and Simian Mobile Disco. "Every day is different, every day is a challenge and that's all you can hope for. As soon as you feel like you've figured music out, it has a way of pulling the rug and you realise you don't know anything, which is what I love about it."
As soon as you feel like you've figured music out, it has a way of pulling the rug
James Ford
Notable guests on the night included Damon Albarn, who presented Ford with his award, The1975, Peter Gabriel, Jarvis Cocker, Nadine Shah and James Dean Bradfield.
Other award winners were Dani Bennett Spragg, who was named Breakthrough Engineer of the Year, Skepta, who was given the MPG Inspiration Award; Hugh Padgham, who received the PPL Present The MPG Award For Outstanding Contribution To UK Music, and Rockfield Studios founder Kingsley Ward and his family who received a Special Recognition Award. Their contribution was marked by a unique live performance featuring artists who have recorded seminal projects at Rockfield over the years, including Bradfield, who performed the Manic Street Preachers No.1 If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next and a cover version of Echo & The Bunnymen's The Back Of Love.
James Dean Bradfield celebrates @Rockfieldstudio at the #MPGAwards @Manics pic.twitter.com/z6DA7f9RsJ
— Music Week (@MusicWeek) March 1, 2019
The 11th MPG Awards featured a total of 16 award categories. Hosted by broadcaster Shaun Keaveny, the event was attended by over 350 people.
The full list of 2019 MPG Award winners is as follows:
UK Producer Of The Year, sponsored by Flare Audio
James Ford
Recording Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by AMS Neve
Matt Wiggins
Mix Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by Miloco Studios
David Wrench
Re-mixer Of The Year, sponsored by Synchro Arts
Shura
Breakthrough Producer Of the Year, sponsored by Focusrite
Dilip Harris
Self-Producing Artist Of The Year, sponsored by Spitfire Audio
Jon Hopkins
Breakthrough Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by Genelec
Dani Bennett Spragg
International Producer Of The Year, sponsored by RME
Greg Kurstin
Mastering Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by Kii Audio
Mandy Parnell
UK Album Of The Year, sponsored by Universal Audio
Everything Everything: A Fever Dream
UK Single Song Release Of The Year, sponsored by Shure
Anna Calvi: Don't Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy
The A&R Award, sponsored by DAFT Studios
Gilles Peterson
Studio Of The Year, sponsored by Soundgas
Strongroom
The winners of the MPG 2019 Awards categories in the gift of the MPG were:
The MPG Inspiration Award, sponsored by Audio Note: Skepta
PPL Present The MPG Award For Outstanding Contribution To UK Music, sponsored by PPL: Hugh Padgham
The Special Recognition Award, sponsored by Steinberg: The Ward Family and Rockfield Studios.
