The Black Music Coalition has revealed its Excellence Honourees list for 2026, with chair and co-founder Sheryl Nwosu telling Music Week that "the industry's heart simply couldn't beat without them".
Nwosu reveals this year's cohort in the new edition of Music Week, out now, as we gather five of the Honourees for a photo shoot and Q&A session, in which they reflect on their stories so far.
The Black Music Coalition Excellence Honourees for 2026 are:
Alex Carr (head of music, Koko)
Kemi Davies (creative producer & strategic partnerships director)
Lucy Francis (managing director, 17Days Music)
Chris Grey (founder & artist manager, Problem Child Ent/A&R, Universal Music Publishing Group)
Eric Hunter (business development manager, Official Charts)
Chloe Kyei (senior marketing manager, 0207 Def Jam/Polydor)
Sasha Noel-Oliver (project manager, Yo&Co Management)
Sairah Pinnock (artist manager)
Nicolas-Tyrell Scott (journalist, speaker and consultant)
Ramon Dawkins aka Rambo Is Talking (presenter)
Our new issue features Q&As with Ramon Dawkins aka Rambo Is Talking, Lucy Francis, Eric Hunter, Chloe Kyei and Nicolas-Tyrell Scott, as well as an intro from Nwosu, which you can read in full below...
Without these Black executives – who between them connect international music and Black culture with UK audiences, provide cultural context about and for our musical history and create opportunities – it is not hyperbolic to say that the industry would suffer
Sheryl Nwosu, Black Music Coalition
"Here we are, back again for a fifth year with our Excellence Honourees, and the responses from this year’s crop really summed up the reason we started this back in 2021. Replies such as, “Wow, me?!”, the genuine surprise and gratitude, and the modest refrains that related how, for more than a few, they were not expecting to be recognised for their work.
"As well as all the emails, calls and my “Yes way!” replies to their “No way!” exclamations, I was struck by the reactions from many of this year’s picks which betrayed a feeling that I quite often have in my own professional life – not knowing whether or not you are actually having an impact in what you’re doing.
"Some of the conversations at the photoshoot for five members of our cohort conveyed a similar feeling, and one of our Honourees remarked that it felt weird being on “the other side”. I took that as being “the other side” of the recognition, as they are usually the ones providing the platform for the artists and creatives they work with. This is the work that Black executives have done and continue to do, often without a thought of how important their own role is to this industry – or perhaps even the time to consider it.
"Every professional will know that it’s not always easy to assess your own influence, and it’s even harder to focus on a more personal impression of whether you are ‘winning’ when you’re engrossed in the day-to-day. It’s harder still when you’re having to reckon with how many executives (and it would be remiss of me to not emphasise, how many Black female executives) have lost positions in the industry, most notably over the past few years.
"And so, it remains the pleasure of the BMC to be able to shine this annual spotlight on Black executives and creatives who we feel are winning right now. Through their varied roles, this year’s picks in particular enrich the UK music industry by shining their professional spotlights on the very lifeblood of the industry: the creative talent.
"When discussing the final nominees – who came through with the most votes from our executive committee, wider members, last year’s Honourees and our broader networks – all at BMC HQ agreed upon the idea that, if the industry is the heart, these Honourees are the all-important arteries. Their work brings talent to the fore and thus make it possible for this industry to continue to flourish both commercially and creatively.
As an interloper to the music space, each and every year I am impressed – to the point of it being sometimes difficult to cast my votes – by the names and accolades of all the nominated executives
Sheryl Nwosu, Black Music Coalition
"When your head’s down ‘doing the work,’ it’s easy to lose sight of the wins and goals achieved along the way. It’s also easy to not necessarily recognise the impact you’re having. This is why, for me and the rest of the BMC, it remains important that we continue to spotlight not just the work, but those doing it.
"As an interloper to the music space, each and every year I am impressed – to the point of it being sometimes difficult to cast my votes – by the names and accolades of all the nominated executives. It also reminds me of the importance of visibility, lest we forget – or worse, are tricked into forgetting – all that we are collectively achieving out here.
"The group photo (by Calvin, who after five years of shooting our Excellence Honourees has to be an honorary addition himself!) puts our subjects shoulder to shoulder, keeping the focus entirely on them. And rightly so. Without these Black executives – who between them connect international music and Black culture with UK audiences, provide cultural context about and for our musical history, and create opportunities and visibility for artists and under-represented genres – it is not hyperbolic to say that the industry would suffer.
"Creativity is the industry’s lifeblood, but the ones who find it, connect audiences to it, nurture it, shout about it, provide informed commentary on it and create projects that give it exposure… The industry’s heart simply couldn’t beat without them. So, without further ado, the BMC presents our Excellence Honourees for 2026. Congratulations to all! As your peers, we see you and we recognise you! We also owe a big show of gratitude to Music Week for giving us the platform to platform!"
PHOTO: Calvin Ceilie
Pictured (L-R): Ramon Dawkins aka Rambo Is Talking, Lucy Francis, Eric Hunter, Chloe Kyei and Nicolas-Tyrell Scott
