The executive honorees on this second annual Billboard U.K. Power Players list are driving a level of global success not seen in years.
The past year saw a number of British and Irish artists reach new heights on a number of Billboard’s charts. Olivia Dean has taken up residency on both the Hot 100 and the Billboard 200, while Sleep Token topped the latter, a rare feat for a British rock band. Elsewhere Yungblud and FKA twigs drew significant moments on the genre charts, and Billboard’s Year-End Charts for both touring and recorded music featured contemporary superstars (Ed Sheeran, Dua Lipa) and legends (Paul McCartney, Elton John, Iron Maiden).
The narrative around U.K. music, too, has completed its shift from nervous excitement to cocksure confidence. This was encapsulated at 2026 Grammy Awards where Dean’s achieved a stunning coup by bagging the best new artist prize, while Lola Young collected the pop solo performance for her global hit “Messy.” Elsewhere, Oasis’ euphoric reunion tour took British culture around the world as fans joined arm-in-arm to celebrate an emotional reconciliation.
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This success explains the evolution of this list, which debuted last year as an expansion of Billboard’s signature Power Players franchise to recognize industry leaders in the United Kingdom. The list honors executives — nominated by their peers and companies and chosen by Billboard’s editors — from selected sectors of the industry: major music groups, labels and distributors, managers, music publishers, streaming companies, the live business, agencies, rights organizations and associations.
