The BPI, the voice of Independent and major record labels across the UK, congratulates Geoff Taylor MBE and YolanDa Brown OBE DL on their respective awards announced among today’s New Year’s Honours.
Geoff Taylor, who is stepping down today (31st December) after 15 years as Chief Executive of the BPI and as Chief Executive of The BRIT Awards and Mercury Prize to pursue new career chalenges, is awarded an MBE for services to music. The BPI is equally delighted that its Chair – acclaimed artist, music education campaigner and broadcaster, YolanDa Brown, is honoured with an OBE for services to music, music education and broadcasting.
Geoff Taylor MBE joined the BPI as its Chief Executive in 2007. Since that time, he has made it his mission to grow, promote and protect the value of British music, working relentlessly with the BPI’s member labels and also through The BRIT Awards and the Mercury Prize to create an environment in which the UK’s recorded music sector can thrive at home and around the world and the artists it supports are able to fully realise their creative and commercial potential.
Geoff Taylor MBE said: “Music has been my life, so to be recognised for services to music means a great deal to me. It’s an award really to the whole BPI team, who work every day to protect and value music. I’m looking forward to announcing next steps soon and to continuing to play a role in this fascinating business.”
YolanDa Brown OBE DL was appointed Chair of the BPI in July of this year – adding to an already impressive list of growing commitments as an acclaimed creator that see her perform regularly as an award-winning saxophonist and as an accomplished broadcaster, while drawing on her passion and profile to campaign successfully for greater access to music education for children, including through her role as Chair of Youth Music.
YolanDa Brown OBE DL said: “I am really honoured to receive this award. My career continues to be eclectic and doesn’t fit in a box, so I am grateful to everyone who continues to walk with me as a musician, broadcaster or campaigner for children and their access to music education. I dedicate this honour to my Grandma, who passed away recently and taught me faith, belief, and resilience, and also to my daughters as they fill the world with love on their journey.”
Speaking on behalf of the BPI, COO MJ Olaore said:
“We couldn’t be more thrilled that both Geoff and YolanDa have had their enormous contributions to music recognised with these wonderful honours.
“Anyone that has known Geoff or worked with him these past 15 years cannot fail to have been impressed by his total commitment to the BPI’s members and more widely to promoting British recorded music and the artists it supports at home and around the world.
“We have only recently begun our relationship with YolanDa, but already we can see how her talent and energy simply shines through and that she is driven by an incredible passion to draw on the power of music to bring about meaningful change, not least to improve access to music education for children.
“We congratulate Geoff and YolanDa in the knowledge that these deserved awards will only spur them to achieve even more in doing all they can to promote British music and support future talent.”
The BPI also congratulates the many artists and industry figures who have been honoured alongside Geoff and YolanDa this New Year – reflecting on the importance of music and the essential role it plays in our daily lives.
