The U.K. and Ireland's music scene is poised to shine brighter than ever, thanks to the highly anticipated return of Billboard's Power Players list in 2026.
This year's lineup will celebrate the most influential executives driving change at the forefront of the region's music industry, including those working in labels and distributors, management, publishing, streaming companies, live businesses, and rights associations. These power players are instrumental in shaping the future of British and Irish music, which continues to set the pace globally.
The nominations for the Power Players list open on January 19th with a deadline of February 3rd, allowing industry leaders to submit their peers and colleagues for consideration. The inaugural Power Players list was launched in 2025, and this year's edition promises to be even more impressive, with honorees set to attend an exclusive event that will bring together huge names from the music world.
British and Irish acts had a remarkable 2025, with some achieving chart-topping success on the Billboard Hot 100. The news comes after a busy period for U.K. and Irish acts, including Dean's sold-out six-night residency at London's O2 Arena and major arena tours by artists such as Lily Allen and RAYE.
For those interested in learning more about this year's Power Players list, contact [email protected] with any queries.
This year's lineup will celebrate the most influential executives driving change at the forefront of the region's music industry, including those working in labels and distributors, management, publishing, streaming companies, live businesses, and rights associations. These power players are instrumental in shaping the future of British and Irish music, which continues to set the pace globally.
The nominations for the Power Players list open on January 19th with a deadline of February 3rd, allowing industry leaders to submit their peers and colleagues for consideration. The inaugural Power Players list was launched in 2025, and this year's edition promises to be even more impressive, with honorees set to attend an exclusive event that will bring together huge names from the music world.
British and Irish acts had a remarkable 2025, with some achieving chart-topping success on the Billboard Hot 100. The news comes after a busy period for U.K. and Irish acts, including Dean's sold-out six-night residency at London's O2 Arena and major arena tours by artists such as Lily Allen and RAYE.
For those interested in learning more about this year's Power Players list, contact [email protected] with any queries.
! The fact that they're being recognized for their influence on the industry is totally well-deserved. And can you even imagine all those huge names coming together for an exclusive event? It's like a dream come true! I've been following some of these artists and it's amazing to see how much talent there is coming out of the UK and Ireland right now 
. I'm already making a list of who I want to nominate for the Power Players list, btw 
& it all starts w/ the return of billboards power players list 2026!!! 
im so down for this, wanna celebrate british & irish acts killing it globally 
like dean sold out 6nights @ o2 arena?!?! and lily allen & raye touring major arenas 
But what does this say about our government's priorities? Are they really putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting local artists? We need to hold them accountable for funding initiatives that promote and support British and Irish talent. 
. And now we're expecting more big names in 2026? That's gonna be lit! I wonder who'll get snubbed this year and who'll be the ones getting their moment. Either way, it's all about supporting that local talent, you know?
. And can you believe Dean just had a six-night residency at London's O2 Arena? That's insane! 
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can't wait to see who gets nominated 
that's straight fire 
! and it's not just about the sales, these artists are killing the game with their innovative approaches to live performances too 
. like dean's sold-out six-night residency at london's o2 arena is a total game changer 
. btw, have u checked out the stats on streaming platforms? in 2025, uk and irland artists accounted for 32% of the most-streamed tracks worldwide 
. They might not always get the recognition they deserve, but that's exactly why this Power Players list is so important. It's a chance to shine a light on the people who are drivin the change and makin it happen. So let's all take a minute to appreciate these power players and the impact they're havin 
.
the only thing that's gonna shine bright is how many times you'll have to listen to Lily Allen and RAYE on repeat 4eva 
they're literally going to tour forever... meanwhile, all the new talent in the UK and Ireland is getting pushed out by all these "influential executives" 
its not like theyre discovering new artists or anything, the uk and ireland music scene has been fire for ages! but i guess if it brings more attention to the talented execs behind the scenes who are actually making things happen in the industry then thats a good thing 
Can't wait to see who's on this year's list!
. It's no surprise, though - the talent from those parts has been killing it on the charts lately 
!
. A new list of "Power Players" in the music industry? Just a bunch of execs getting a pat on the back for their "influence" 
. I'm not surprised British and Irish acts had some success last year, but let's not forget that's just because of the massive influence of global streaming platforms 
. Don't get me wrong, it's cool to see people getting recognized, but sometimes I wish they'd focus on something a bit more meaningful 
watch out for those names to drop soon 
and btw can u even imagine seeing dean, lily allen & raye all at one event? 
major arena tours & sold-out residencies are proof that british & irish acts are taking over the game 
some rly impressive chart numbers on billboard hot 100 lily allen and raye killing it 
that's like crazy