The Music Producers Guild Announces full list of 2021 Awards Winners

13 October 2021 - Press release

Inflo awarded UK Producer Of The Year and UK Writer-Producer Of The Year

 

Following an extensive social media campaign, The Music Producers Guild has now announced the complete list of winners for the 2021 awards – an annual event that recognises the creativity, skill and talents of all music recording professionals. 

Inflo won the top accolade of 'UK Producer Of The Year' for his work with British collective, Sault and Michael Kiwanuka.

This year saw the introduction of two new categories into the MPG Awards. The new 'UK Original Score Recording Of The Year' award was won by Northern Irish composer, Hannah Peel, for her work on The Deceived (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). The other new addition, the 'UK Writer-Producer Of The Year', saw another award for Inflo for co-writing and producing the Michael Kiwanuka album 'Kiwanuka', which also won 'UK Album Of The Year'. 

Dani Bennet Spragg, the winner of the 2019 Breakthrough Engineer of the Year award, has this year gone on to win the coveted 'UK Recording Engineer Of Year' for her work with Blanco White, Malena Zavala, and Palace. Grammy Award-winning mixer, Dan Grech-Marguerat has won this year's 'Mix Engineer of The Year' for his work on Bastille,  Lianne La Havas, and Kelsea Ballerini & Halsey. 'Breakthrough Producer Of The Year' award was won by producer, songwriter, singer, rapper and drummer, Georgia. 'Breakthrough Engineer of the year' was won by Shuta Shinoda for work on Ghost Poet, Jehnny Beth, and Anna Meredith.   

The 'PPL Presents Outstanding Contribution To UK Music' was awarded to Susan Rogers, for her pioneering career, most famously her work with Prince. 

The 'MPG Inspiration Award' was awarded to Janine Irons and Gary Crosby in recognition for their work establishing jazz music education and artist development organisation, Tomorrow's Warriors. 

"We are so honoured and humbled to receive the Inspiration Award from the MPG Awards this year in this, our extra-special 30th anniversary year. Over the past three decades, we have been dedicated to developing and supporting diverse talent and championing musical excellence on their artistic journey into the music industry, so it means a lot to receive this incredible recognition from an organisation we so hugely respect and admire. Thank you, MPG!"

Liverpool's Parr Street Studios were able to mark the end of an era in their current building, as they prepare to move to new premises, by winning this year's Studio of The Year award. 

24 judges from across the industry took part in a remote judging session, chaired by award-winning musician and producer Charlie Deakin Davies, who recently co-produced Gary Barlow's no one album "Music Played By Humans". 

Executive Director, Matt Taylor, explained:
"Our judging days in the past have been studio-based, and judges were usually limited to those who could travel to a studio on the day. This format is much more accessible and has helped us in our mission to make the whole awards process as accessible and diverse as possible. We have made a conscious effort to ensure our judges are reflective of our community. We are proud to have had a diverse group of judges from different parts of the UK deciding who should receive this year's MPG awards" 

The 13th MPG Awards featured a total of 13 award categories, each designed to recognise and celebrate the best and brightest talent in music production, along with the industry's rising stars. The event took place online this year due to Covid Restrictions. 

 

For a full list of 2021 MPG Award winners and sponsors, please see the list below

• UK Producer Of The Year, sponsored by Flare Audio

Inflo

• Recording Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by AMS Neve

Dani Bennett Spragg

• Mix Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by Miloco Studios

Dan Grech-Marguerat

• Re-mixer Of The Year, sponsored by Headliner
  Matthew Herbert

• Breakthrough Producer Of the Year, sponsored by Focusrite

Georgia

• Self-Producing Artist Of The Year, sponsored by Avid

Four Tet (Kieran Hebden)

• Breakthrough Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by Genelec

Shuta Shinoda

• Mastering Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by Steinberg

Stuart Hawkes

• UK Album Of The Year, sponsored by Daft Studios

Michael Kiwanuka 'Kiwanuka'

• UK Single Song Release Of The Year, sponsored by Shure

Mura Masa 'Deal With It' with Slowthai

• Studio Of The Year, sponsored by UK Music 

Parr Street Studios

 

The MPG 2021 Awards categories in the gift of the MPG are:

• The MPG Inspiration Award, sponsored by Audio Note, which was awarded to Janine Irons and Gary Crosby

• PPL Present The MPG Award For Outstanding Contribution To UK Music, sponsored by PPL and awarded to Susan Rogers