For a producer with qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This nominee should have had overall creative and technical control of the entire recording process and the individual recording sessions that are a part of that project. They will have been present (in person or remotely) in the recording studio or at the location recording, and worked directly with the artist and engineer. The producer makes creative and aesthetic decisions that realise both the artist's and label's goals in creating the musical content. Other duties may include but are not limited to: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers. This nominee should be able to provide a body of work. A body of work is a minimum of 3 tracks released within the eligibility period (between 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026).

The following credits are eligible: Producer, Co-Producer, Additional Production. The following credits are not eligible for Producer categories: Executive Producer, Assistant Producer, Associate Producer, Vocal Producer.

Nominees must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test.

For a producer with qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This nominee should have had overall creative and technical control of the entire recording process and the individual sessions that are a part of that project. They will have been present (remotely or in-person) in the recording studio or at the location recording, and worked directly with the artist and engineer. The producer makes creative and aesthetic decisions that realise both the artist's and label's goals in creating the musical content. Other duties include but are not limited to: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers. This nominee should have achieved significantly increased recognition during the current year and be able to provide a body of work. A body of work is a minimum of 3 tracks released within the eligibility period (between 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026).

In the Breakthrough Producer category, nominees who have been shortlisted in previous years for any Production category (excluding Vocal Producer of the Year and Self Producing Artist of the Year) will be regarded as ineligible. In such cases, they will be deemed to have already 'broken through' in a previous year and so cannot 'break through' a second time. Any submissions that are found to be ineligible for this category will be moved to the appropriate category where possible.

The following credits are eligible: Producer, Co-Producer, Additional Production. The following credits are not eligible for Producer categories: Executive Producer, Assistant Producer, Associate Producer, Vocal Producer.

Nominees must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test.

For a producer with qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This nominee should have produced AND written or co-written the nominated song(s), but they must NOT be the featured artist for any of the recordings. They have significant creative and technical input into the individual recording or production sessions that are a part of the project. As producer, they will have made creative and aesthetic decisions that realise both the artist's and/or label's goals in creating the musical content. Other duties may include: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers.

This nominee should be able to provide a body of work. A body of work is a minimum of 3 tracks released within the eligibility period (between 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026).

The following credits are eligible: Producer, Co-Producer, Additional Production. Additionally, the person must hold a confirmed writing credit on the project, which may be shared with other contributors. The following writer credits are eligible: Written by, Co-written by, Lyrics by, Composer, Lyricist. The following credits are NOT eligible for Producer categories: Executive Producer, Assistant Producer, Associate Producer.

Nominees must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test.

For a producer with qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

Projects must have been produced solely by the featured artist and released within the eligibility period (between 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026)*.

This nominee should have had overall creative and technical control of the entire recording project and the individual recording sessions that are a part of that project. The producer makes creative and aesthetic decisions that realise the goals in creating the musical content. Other duties include but are not limited to: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers. The following credits are eligible: Producer. The following credits are not eligible for the Self-Producing Artist category: Executive Producer, Assistant Producer, Associate Producer, Vocal Production, Additional Production Strings (or any other instrument).

*Projects that are co-credited with 'additional production' by a third party are eligible. However, projects which are co-credited with 'co-production' or 'also produced by' are ineligible.

Nominees must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test.

For an engineer with qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This nominee should have been present in the recording studio or at the location recording, and is responsible for the process of recording a project and associated technical issues and decisions. They will have operated (or overseen the operation of) the equipment during the recording process and made creative and aesthetic choices to realise the sound and concepts the artist and producer envisage. This nominee must have recorded all of the releases under consideration and be able to provide a body of work. A body of work is a minimum of 3 tracks released within the eligibility (between 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026).

The following credits are eligible: Recording Engineer, Recorded By, Additional Engineering. The following credits are not eligible: Digital Audio Workstation Engineer/Operator, Assistant Engineer, Tape Operator, Mix Engineer, Mixed by or Programmer. Mastering Engineers are eligible only in the category of Mastering Engineer Of The Year and Breakthrough Engineer Of The Year.

Nominees must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test.

For an engineer with qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

The nominee must have mixed all of the releases under consideration.

This nominee is responsible for taking previously recorded material and creating a mixdown of the original separate tracks to create a finished product (either stereo or multi-channel) that can then be mastered and distributed.

This nominee should be able to provide a body of work. A body of work is a minimum of 3 tracks released within the eligibility period (between 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026).

The following credits are eligible: Mixed By, Recorded and Mixed by, Mixer, Mix Engineer.

Nominees must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test.

For an engineer with qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This nominee must have mixed all of the releases under consideration and have been commissioned to create an immersive mix or version. This nominee is responsible for taking previously recorded material and creating a mix or version of the original separate tracks (and or) mix stems to create an immersive mix down for the finished product to be distributed.

This nominee should be able to provide a body of work. A body of work is a minimum of 3 tracks released within the eligibility period (between 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026). A maximum of one soundtrack mix may be submitted.

The following credits are eligible: Immersive Mix engineer, Dolby Atmos Mixer, Dolby Atmos Mix by, Spatial Audio Mix by.

Nominees must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test.

For an engineer with qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This nominee must have been responsible for the processing and preparation of production masters for commercial releases and be able to provide a body of work. A body of work is a minimum of 3 tracks released within the eligibility period (between 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026).

The following credits are eligible: Mastering Engineer, Mastered By.

Nominees must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test.

For a recording engineer, mixer or mastering engineer with qualifying productions as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This nominee should have been present in the recording studio or at another recording, mixing, or mastering location and is responsible for the process of either the recording, mixing, mastering (or any combination of the three) of a project and associated technical issues and decisions. They will have operated (or overseen the operation of) the equipment during the recording, mixing or mastering process and made creative and aesthetic choices to realise the sound and concepts the artist and producer envisage. This person should have achieved significantly increased recognition during the current year and must have recorded, mixed or mastered (or any combination of the three) all of the releases under consideration and be able to provide a body of work. A body of work is a minimum of 3 tracks released within the eligibility period (between 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026).

In the Breakthrough Engineer category, nominees who have been shortlisted in previous years in any Engineering or Rising Star categories will be regarded as ineligible. In such cases, they will be deemed to have already 'broken through' in a previous year and so cannot 'break through' a second time. Any submissions that are found to be ineligible for this category will be moved to the appropriate category where possible.

The following credits are eligible: Recording Engineer, Recorded By, Mix Engineer, Mixed By, Mixer, Recorded and Mixed by, Additional Engineering, Mastering Engineer, Mastered By. The following credits are not eligible: Digital Audio Workstation Engineer/Operator, Assistant Engineer, Tape Operator, Programmer.

Nominees must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test.

For qualifying productions available for purchase as a physical product, streamed as a commercial product or as a download as defined below and released within the eligibility period between 1st October 2025 and 30th September 2026 (“Definitions of Eligibility”). A maximum of 3 trophies will be presented to the team, and they usually go to the producer, engineer and mixer. At least 50% of the team must either be UK passport holders or satisfy the Statutory Residence Test. Other eligible team members may purchase additional trophies.

For qualifying productions available for purchase as a physical product, streamed as a commercial product or as a download as defined below and released within the eligibility period between 1st October 2025 and 30th September 2026 ("Definitions of Eligibility").

An original score recording is defined as an album or release that contains a minimum of 51% original compositions featured in a complete or edited form in a cinematic, broadcast or streamed release and not previously released in any other format. To avoid doubt, a score release may contain individual songs, but at least 51% of the running time must be an original score. For this purpose, ‘score’ may be any music used to accompany a picture that is not a standalone, vocal-led song, although it may contain vocals. Soundtracks of filmed live performances are not eligible. A maximum of three trophies will be awarded to the team involved in the creation of the original score recording. These are usually presented to the Producer, Recording Engineer and Mixer, at least 50% of whom must be either UK passport holders or be able to satisfy the Statutory Residency Test. If there is no credited Producer, the Producer’s award can be presented to the Composer.

In line with last year's revised criteria, any studio that has won in the last 3 years will be deemed ineligible. Ineligible studios for 2027 are: 2026: Decoy Sound and Baltic | 2025: The Church and Sleeper Sounds | 2024: Real World Studios.
This year we will again be awarding two trophies. Large Commercial Studio: a short-term rental facility for recording and/or mixing music in the UK with 5+ employees/directors/partners or more than 3 studios. Small Commercial Studio: a short-term rental facility for recording and/or mixing music in the UK with 1–4 employees/directors/partners and fewer than 3 studios.
These awards will be judged by a special panel of professional producers and/or recording engineers who, at their discretion, may individually visit shortlisted nominees, make their assessments without conferring with other judges, and vote accordingly. The MPG Board determines the assessment criteria, which may include staff surveys and client testimonials. We encourage nominations of studios big and small from all over the UK.

In line with last year's revised criteria, any studio that has won in the last 3 years will be deemed ineligible. Ineligible studios for 2027 are: 2026: Decoy Sound and Baltic | 2025: The Church and Sleeper Sounds | 2024: Real World Studios.
This year we will again be awarding two trophies. Large Commercial Studio: a short-term rental facility for recording and/or mixing music in the UK with 5+ employees/directors/partners or more than 3 studios. Small Commercial Studio: a short-term rental facility for recording and/or mixing music in the UK with 1–4 employees/directors/partners and fewer than 3 studios.
These awards will be judged by a special panel of professional producers and/or recording engineers who, at their discretion, may individually visit shortlisted nominees, make their assessments without conferring with other judges, and vote accordingly. The MPG Board determines the assessment criteria, which may include staff surveys and client testimonials. We encourage nominations of studios big and small from all over the UK.

This is an open category for anyone, as defined below ("Definitions of Eligibility").

This is an open category, awarded to an individual involved in the recording industry (does not have to be technical), who works tirelessly behind the scenes, and deserves recognition. Nominations may include but are not limited to: studio assistants, bookers, studio managers, managers and management assistants, technicians, campaigners, or anyone who operates behind the scenes in the production process. Nominations will be judged on testimonials only. The shortlist will be decided by the MPG members and the winner will be decided by the executive board of the MPG. All nominees must either be UK passport holders or be able to satisfy the Statutory Residency Test.