Tommas Arnby, Kirk M. Sommer Among Winners At The 2026 Musexpo & A&R Worldwide Awards Gala

Musexpo concluded its 26th edition, once again convening leading executives, creators, and innovators from across six continents, who shaped a program defined by depth, access, and global perspective.

Held March 22–25 at the Castaway in Burbank, CA the summit brought together nearly 100 influential speakers spanning recorded music, publishing, management, live, streaming, film, audio, television, and technology.

At the center of the week, the International Music Industry Awards presented by A&R Worldwide with participation from Visit Burbank and the City of Burbank “Media Capital of the World” recognized individuals whose leadership continues to define the modern music landscape.

From the live side, Kirk Sommer, Senior Partner and Co-Head of Contemporary Music & Touring at WME, won International Music Person of the Year, recognizing his sustained influence at the highest level of artist representation.

With a roster that includes Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Billie Eilish, Benson Boone, The Killers, Weezer, Teddy Swims, Kygo, Nine Inch Nails, Lola Young, Sam Smith and Hozier and more, he was also crowned Agent of the Year at last year’s Pollstar Awards.

The Global Artist Manager Award went to Global Artist Manager Award went to Tommas Arnby, Founder of Locomotion Music Group and CEO, Special Projects, and global manager of Yungblud.

Speaking recently about his management journey and touching on his home market, the UK, Arnby said, “Everything that works in the music industry is always one degree of separation from failure. The UK music industry should be more about believing the impossible is possible. Great artists need to be empowered to evolve over time rather than being judged by the commercial results immediately.”

The award caps a monumental run for his artist; the 28-year-old British superstar is fresh off a Grammy win and three nominations, plus two UK No. 1 albums in a single year. Yungblud is also touring North American amphitheaters this year, kicking off May 1 at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and including stops at Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks, the Greek in Los Angeles, Austin’s Moody Amphitheater and more before wrapping June 13 at Synovus Bank Amphitheater in Atlanta.\

See: Yungblud Sets 2026 North American Tour

“Collectively, these honorees represent the interconnected disciplines that underpin today’s global music ecosystem – spanning creative, executive, legal, and supervisory leadership,” a Musexpo press release sums it up.

Reflecting on the event’s continued evolution, Sat Bisla, President & Founder of A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO, commented, “MUSEXPO continues to serve as a global platform where the most forward-thinking executives, creatives, and companies come together with purpose to exchange ideas, build relationships, and help architect the future evolution of the international music business. What makes this community truly special is its ability to also connect emerging talent (after all the artists and the songwriters are the DNA of the entire music business) with established industry leaders in a meaningful way. Through our curated showcases and programming, we are not only spotlighting the next generation of artists but actively helping catapult them onto the global stage and into the consciousness of key decision-makers. As we look ahead, we are committed to raising the bar even further ensuring that the 27th global edition of MUSEXPO will be bolder, more impactful, and more inspiring than ever before.”

All winners at the International Music Industry Awards below:

Seymour Stein Global A&R Award
Kim Frankiewicz, Executive Vice President, Worldwide A&R at Concord Music Publishing

Global Media Executive of the Year
Amy Dunning, Vice President, Music at Netflix

Global Artist Manager Award
Tommas Arnby, Founder of Locomotion Music Group and CEO, Special Projects (global manager of Yungblud)

Global Songwriter Award
Justin Tranter, Grammy & Golden Globe-nominated songwriter, producer, and activist

Global Music Executive Award
Jeffrey Remedios, President and Chief Executive Officer of REPUBLIC Collective

Global Music Supervisor Award
Dave Jordan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Format Entertainment

Global Music Publisher Award
Tyler Bacon, President and Founder of Position Music

Global Music & Entertainment Attorney Award
Arnold Peter, Founder and Managing Partner of Peter Law Group

International Music Person of the Year
Kirk M. Sommer, Senior Partner and Co-Head of Contemporary Music & Touring at WME

International Lifetime Achievement Award
Reynold D’Silva, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Silva Screen Group

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