Abbey Road Studios announces the winners from the second Abbey Road Music Photography Awards

22 September 2023 - Press release

The awards celebrate the unforgettable, unique and unsung music images of 2022

 

 

Abbey Road Studios, the world’s most celebrated recording studio has tonight confirmed the winners from the Abbey Road Studios Music Photography Awards 2023, following a glittering awards ceremony at the studios. As well as a celebration of the shortlisted and winning imagery, hosted by Lauren Laverne, the evening saw a series of fantastic live performances from The Clockworks, LoneLady and Somadina. The 2023 competition has witnessed more than 480% increase in entries since the MPAs launched in 2022, with over 14,000 images from 30 countries being submitted for consideration across the open categories.

Speaking about the winners of the 2023 MPAs, Abbey Road’s Managing Director Sally Davies says: ‘The standard of all the images submitted for this year’s MPAs was incredibly high across the board and we are particularly proud of this year’s winners. The growth that the MPAs has already achieved in only its second year is testament to the overall quality of the awards and the way in which it has been embraced and celebrated across the artistic landscape. Recognising and promoting talent in this important field is something that we at Abbey Road are committed to and we are already looking forward to 2024!’

MPAs co-founder and head judge Rankin adds: “The quality and standard of imagery for the 2023 entries is as strong across the board as the 2022 winners - there really wasn’t a bad picture. I'm beyond thrilled with the winning images.”

In the award’s open categories, the winner of Undiscovered Photographer of the Year supported by adidas is Chris Allmeid for his Lil Uzi Vert picture, while Anthony Pham wins a public vote in the Music Moment of the Year category, supported by Outernet London for his fantastic Harry Styles shot. The winner of the Underground Scenes category, supported by Abbey Road Studios is Alex Amorós for their Margate Mod Weekender picture, while Carlo Cavaluzzi’s JPEGMAFIA shot wins the Live Music category, supported by Phillips Ambilight TV. Victoria Sanders’ Benjamin Earl Turner picture is the In The Studio winner with Clay Patrick McBride’s image of Jay-Z and Kanye West winning the Hip Hop 50 category, supported by Hennessy. In the invited categories, Aidan Zamiri wins Editorial with a picture of Caroline Polachek, Samuel Ibram’s Shygirl picture wins Portrait and Tom Pallant’s Yungblud shot wins Artist at Work.

List of full winners and nominees below. *Bold denotes the winner

OPEN CATEGORIES

Undiscovered Photographer of the Year supported by adidas
Chris Allmeid (Lil Uzi Vert)

Ray Keogh (Stormzy)
Yasi - Jasmine Safaeian (Halsey)
Sam Rockman (Tokky Horror)
AF Cortes (Zola Jesus)
 

Music Moment of the Year supported by Outernet London
Anthony Pham (Harry Styles)
Nicole Fara Silver (Billie Eilish)

Paul Bogle (Stormzy & Dave)
Aaron Parsons (IDLES)
Lorenzo Reali (Alfa)
 

Underground Scenes supported by Abbey Road Studios
Alex Amorós (Margate Mod Weekender)

AF Cortes (Native Sun)
Djavanshir Nico (Prince Marvelous Fall)
Sam Rockman (Onoe Capone)
Jamie MacMillan (Sports Team)
 

Live Music supported by Philips Ambilight TV
Carlo Cavaluzzi (JPEGMAFIA)

Chris Suspect (CumGirl 8)
Jamie MacMillan (Fontaines D.C.)
Mary Caroline Russell (Colony House)
Izzy Nuzzo (Lil Uzi Vert)
 

In The Studio
Victoria Sanders (Benjamin Earl Turner)

Andrew Little (Rachel Croft)
Mark John (Gutfleisch-Schuermann-Frey featuring Hendrik Meurkens)
Kaj O'Connell (Canal Kn!ght and Knock Monsterr)
 

Hip Hop 50 supported by Hennessy
2023 marks 50 years of Hip-Hop: five decades of captivating beats, powerful lyrics, and groundbreaking artistry that have left an indelible mark on popular culture. This category serves as a vibrant homage to 50 years of photography.

Clay Patrick McBride (Jay-Z & Kanye West, 2005)
Tamara Rafkin (Too Short, 1994)
Erik Weiss (De La Soul, 2004)
Anthony Pham (Nipsey, 2020)
Kat McBride (Rasheed Chappell and Buckwild, 2020)

INVITED CATEGORIES

Editorial
Aidan Zamiri (Caroline Polachek)

Silvia Draz (Lancey Foux)
AB+DM (SZA)
Ramona Rosales (Megan Thee Stallion)
Meredith Jenks (Bad Bunny)
Amber Asaly (Grimes)

Portrait
Samuel Ibram (Shygirl)

Orograph (FKA Twigs)
Irina Rozovsky (Ethel Cain)
Amanda Fordyce (Harry Styles)
Zamar Velez (Vince Staples)

Artist at Work
Tom Pallant (Yungblud)

Raven B Varona (Adele)
Zaineb Abelque (P-rallel)
OK McCausland (Arcade Fire)

Last month, the MPAs announced that the legendary US photographer Henry Diltz is the recipient of this year’s Icon Award. Diltz has shot over 250 album covers including the Morrison Hotel cover for The Doors and photographed musical legends such as the Eagles, Neil Young, Crosby Stills & Nash, Joni Mitchell, Debbie Harry, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, The Monkees and David Cassidy. He was also the official photographer at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, Woodstock Music festival in 1969, 1994, and 1999 and continues to photograph festivals to this day.

The judging panel for the MPAs 2023 comprises world-famous photographer, publisher and film director Rankin, platinum-selling singer-songwriter Cat Burns and street culture photographer Vicky Grout. Pop sensation Mae Muller is also on the judging panel alongside singer-songwriter, broadcaster and presenter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, creative director and fashion consultant Karen Binns and photographer Eric Johnson, who was the recipient of the 2022 Icon Award. Completing the panel is fashion stylist Matthew Josephs and The New York Times Deputy Photo Editor Nakyung Han. Joining the panel as a guest judge for the Underground Scenes category is acclaimed documentary photographer Simon Wheatley.

For more information on this year’s MPAs, please visit.