One Love Manchester Team Named ‘Industry Champions’

Ariana Grande, her manager Scooter Braun, Festival Republic’s Melvin Benn and SJM’s Simon Moran were recognized as Industry Champions at the Artist & Manager Awards 2017, which took place at Printworks London, Nov. 14.  

– Artist & Manager Awards
Melvin Benn and Simon Moran, with Imogen Heap presenting.

The quartet was instrumental in staging the One Love Manchester concert, June 4, at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, which helped raise more than £17 million for a fund set up to support the victims and families affected by the terrorist attack of May 22.

Grande and Braun weren’t present at the awards ceremony, but the manager said via video message: “Although this is incredible, I want us to remember that the city of Manchester and all those families are the real heroes.

“60,000 people of Manchester came forward and filled that stadium. It was the greatest act of defiance in the face of evil that I’ve ever witnessed, and I will never ever forget it. On behalf of myself, Ariana and the rest of the team, I want to say to the city of Manchester ‘thank you’ – this is your award tonight, and you have taught us all a valuable lesson. Evil will never win.”

Moran told Pollstar, “The award was very much appreciated. It was a huge team effort and was a privilege to be involved in a small way.”

Other award recipients include longtime Depeche Mode manager Jonathan Kessler, who was recognized for his lifetime achievement with the Peter Grant Award.

Lana Del Rey, who attended the ceremony, presented TAP Management’s Ben Mawson and Ed Millett with the Manager of the Year award. Rag N Bone man was named Artist of the Year.

Giggs and his managers Michael “Buck” Maris and Trenton Harrison-Lewis received the Pioneer Award from Island Records president Darcus Beese, and Eleven Management’s Niamh Byrne and Regine Moylett received the Entrepreneur Award for their work on Gorillaz Humanz album campaign.

Jill Hollywood of Echo Beach Management took home the award for Writer/Producer Manager. Kilo Jalloh & Moe Bah, who look after J Hus at 2K Management were awarded the Breakthrough Manager prize, and Singer/Songwriter and DJ Tom Misch picked up the Breakthrough Artist Award.

The Unsung Hero Award went to former MMF president Jon Webster, who stepped down in may to pursue other projects, including writing a book.