Billboard U.K.’s 2026 40 Under 40 List: Revealed
Categoria: Musica
These 40 executives are setting the standard for their peers in the U.K. music industry.
Por Billboard | 05/10/2026
In the past few years, an intriguing cast of characters have championed British creativity on a global stage. Olivia Dean and Lola Young scooped up Grammys, while Yungblud , RAYE , PinkPantheress , Sam Fender and more all brought their own distinct personalities and sounds to some of their biggest-ever audiences. These new faces bring fresh approaches and daring ideas, and push our scene into the future. Related Billboard’s 2026 U.K. Power Players Revealed Hilary Duff to Receive Outstanding Pop Tour of the Year Award at 2026 Billboard Live Music Summit Judge Rules Woman Accused of Shooting at Rihanna & A$AP Rocky's Home Mentally Fit to Stand Trial That spirited attitude has filtered down to the executives who work across the U.K.’s music sector as it jostles to retain its position as the world’s third-largest market. Billboard U.K.’s inaugural 40 Under 40 list looks to capture the rising executives that are setting the standard for their peers and leading from the front. Submissions opened in August, with executives able to submit their eligible peers via an open nominations form. The responses were then considered by Billboard U.K . editors before the successful candidates were selected; each executive can only appear on the 40 Under 40 list once. The launch of the list follows the publication of Billboard U.K.’s Power Players list in June , which recognizes senior leadership at selected companies. Honorees will be celebrated at a special event at Beyond The Music conference and festival in Salford, Greater Manchester on Wednesday (Oct. 7), attended by key industry executives, policy makers and artists. See the class of 2026 for Billboard U.K.’s 40 Under 40 list below. Michael Adex Founder & CEO, NQ After founding NQ at age 20, helping steer rapper Aitch toward mainstream stardom and a BRIT Award while supporting a wealth of local talent, Adex is now expanding the Manchester entertainment company “further into my other passions: sport, film and TV.” In 2026 alone, NQ has launched Creamfield Recordings alongside the U.K. dance festival of the same name, while securing Aitch a Netflix documentary, Don’t Be Afraid , to tell the story of his January 2025 climb of Mount Kilimanjaro that raised over £160,000 for the Down’s Syndrome Association. “NQ was never meant to just be a music company, we want to build businesses, brands and talent on a holistic level within culture,” Adex adds. Now 30, he has also set up NQ Legacy, a community outreach project to assist young people in finding their place in the arts, and is calling on “the major [labels], the DSPs, the big promoters and government to invest in impact, not just activity.” Bradlee Banbury Music brand partnership agent, Creative Artists Agency “A good agent should put pressure on themselves to deliver for their clients and not wait for others to do so,” says Banbury, 38, who has delivered landmark brand deals and performance opportunities for talent including