The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Music Managers Forum (MMF) have announced Jamie Cullum & Rockstar Management and Portishead as the latest honourees at the 2026 Artist & Manager Awards.
The ceremony will take place at London’s Bloomsbury Big Top on Wednesday, November 18.
The UK's best-selling jazz artist, Cullum has notched up more than 11 million record sales worldwide alongside billions of streams. His partnership with Rockstar’s Marc Connor and Jenny Carroll has spanned 25 years, since Cullum was discovered by Connor while performing at a Pizza Express.
Connor launched his own company, Air MTM, in 2001 after starting out in music management in the mid-1990s, with clients including Gabrielle, Mark Morrison and Shane MacGowan.
Air has also worked with artists such as I Am Kloot, Newton Faulkner, Jason Mraz, Curtis Stigers, Ferris & Sylvester and The Lottery Winners.
This was a partnership forged before Jamie’s stratospheric success, one that has guided him through an incredibly eclectic career, and one that endures to this day
Annabella Coldrick, MMF
Carroll joined the fold in 2014, bringing extensive experience in PR and promotion, leading to the company to rebrand as Rockstar Management in 2022. Its current roster including Billy Lockett, Henry Grace, Jeff Cohen, Laura Oakes and Viddy, as well as Cullum.
“We have celebrated some truly wonderful partnerships at the Artist & Manager Awards, and are now delighted to shine a light on the 25-year bond between Jamie Cullum and Marc Connor and Jenny Carroll at Rockstar Management," said MMF CEO Annabella Coldrick. "This was a partnership forged before Jamie’s stratospheric success, one that has guided him through an incredibly eclectic career, and one that endures to this day.
"Through this award, we hope these achievements can garner even wider recognition and, on behalf of the MMF, I would like to congratulate Jamie, Marc and Jenny on their continuing successes.”
PPL CEO Peter Leathem OBE added: “PPL is proud to sponsor this year’s FAC and MMF Artist & Manager Partnership Award. Congratulations to Jamie Cullum, Marc Connor and Jenny Carroll on an extraordinary collaboration that has spanned 25 years.
"Jamie is an incredible artist and a champion of jazz music, and his long-standing partnership with Marc and Jenny is a fantastic example of how strong artist-manager relationships can help create lasting success. We are delighted to see their achievements recognised with this award.”
Like many other music fans, Portishead were one of the ever-present sounds of my youth
David Martin, FAC
Meanwhile, Portishead have been confirmed as recipients of the event's 2026 Pioneer Award. The band won the Mercury Prize for their 1994 debut Dummy and released two further albums: Portishead (1997) and Third (2008).
The trio – Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley – reconvened for a one-off show in 2022 in support of War Child and also performed in 2025 at the Together For Palestine concert at London’s OVO Arena Wembley.
“Like many other music fans, Portishead were one of the ever-present sounds of my youth," said FAC chief David Martin. "They remain so today, both as a band, as solo performers and as genuine pioneers. Their three studio albums still retain a special magic – all utterly distinct and genre defying but capable of transporting the listener into another secret realm, and they remain one of the most captivating live bands when they appear together.
"We are truly honoured that the band has chosen to accept this award. I am also really proud that Beth and Adrian are FAC Ambassadors, and sincerely hope we can sign up Geoff at some point too.”
As previously announced, Raw Power Management has already been revealed as recipients of the Managers’ Manager award in celebration of the company’s 20th anniversary.
Further winners and shortlists will be announced in coming weeks. Tickets are available here, with further discounts for MMF and FAC members.
