Artists, broadcasters and music industry figures have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Rock is well represented with an OBE for Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood and an MBE for Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.
Iommi is honoured for services to music and charity. The MBE has been announced a year on from Black Sabbath’s Back To The Beginning farewell show at Villa Park. Legendary frontman Ozzy Osbourne died, aged 76, a few weeks after the performance.
Phantom Management’s Rod Smallwood has managed Iron Maiden since the beginning of their recording career in the late 1970s. He is recognised for services to music and charity, as the founder of Truants Foundation.
As well as five UK No.1 albums and almost 10 million monthly Spotify listeners, the metal legends have been one of Britain’s most successful touring acts. Iron Maiden are currently on their Run For Your Lives world tour, which has been celebrating their 50th anniversary since their formation.
Rod Smallwood – who has managed the band over the years alongside Phantom’s Andy Taylor and Dave Shack – has urged fans attending the shows keep their phones in their pockets and enjoy the show “in the moment”.
Smallwood and Taylor were jointly honoured with Music Week's special award The Strat in 2003.
Earlier this year, Smallwood joined Iron Maiden and the team for the premiere of the Burning Ambition documentary in London.
Iron Maiden's 2026 Burning Ambition premiere: (L-R) Rod Smallwood, Ben Smallwood, guest, Dom Freeman, Dave Murray, Nicko McBrain, Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson, Malcolm Venville, Niels Swinkels, EVP & MD, Universal Pictures International, Andy Taylor, Dave Shack and Emma Feast (credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
The King’s Birthday Honours also recognised former AIM chair and EarthPercent chair/Women In CTRL founder & CEO Nadia Khan, who receives an MBE for services to women in the music industry.
Artist and broadcaster Cerys Matthews is awarded an OBE for services to music.
Carl Cox receives an OBE, while fellow DJ and broadcaster Judge Jules is recognised with an MBE for services to music, entertainment law and young people.
Carl Cox said: "I'm absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to be awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours List. Music has been my life for as long as I can remember and I've been fortunate to do what I love and to connect with so many amazing people through the power of music. This recognition is not mine alone - it belongs to everyone who has been part of the journey. To the fans who have supported me throughout the years, the artists who have inspired and collaborated with me, the promoters, crews, and teams working tirelessly behind the scenes, my family, friends, and the wider electronic music community: thank you! To receive this honour for doing something that has brought me so much joy is truly humbling. Oh yes, oh yes!"
Jean-Paul Maunick, longtime band leader of acid jazz group Incognito, is awarded an MBE.
Film composer Patrick Doyle is awarded the CBE.
A BPI spokesperson said: “Our sincere congratulations and best wishes to the artists, managers, and industry figures whose brilliant work over many years to promote British music and human artistry, support charitable causes, and advocate for a more inclusive industry has been deservedly recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours 2026.
“BPI congratulates Rod Smallwood on his OBE for services to music and charity, as the founder of Truants Foundation and his iconic work with Iron Maiden, Women in CTRL founder & CEO, Nadia Khan on her MBE for services to women in the music industry, and former BPI Council member and Classical Committee Chair Dr Stefania Passamonte on her MBE for services to music. We also extend our congratulations to Tony Iommi, Cerys Matthews, Carl Cox, Judge Jules, Jean-Paul Maunick, composer Patrick Doyle and all the other honourees.”
MAIN IMAGE: Tony Iommi (credit: Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Live Nation UK)
