Guy Moot is the first music publisher to receive the British MITS Award
Guy Moot, co-chair and chief executive officer of Warner Chappell Music, is this year's recipient of the British Music Industry Trusts Award, known as the MITS Award. According to Warner Music Group's announcement of May 12, 2026, Moot will receive the honour on November 9, 2026, at a ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel. The organisers point out that this is the 34th edition of the award, which is presented to people with a particularly strong influence on the British music industry. The distinctive feature of this year's decision is the fact that Moot, according to the announcement by MITS and Warner Music Group, is the first music publisher to receive this recognition. This places at the centre of attention a segment of the music business that often remains behind artists and record companies, although it is crucial for songwriters, songs, catalogues and the long-term value of music rights.
The MITS Award has been presented since 1992, and the award's official website states that over the past decades more than seven million pounds have been raised for music-related charitable purposes. This year's ceremony, according to the organisers' announcement, will again support The BRIT Trust and Nordoff and Robbins. The BRIT Trust is a charity connected with the development of music education and creative careers, while Nordoff and Robbins is the United Kingdom's largest music therapy charity. According to Warner Music Group's announcement, precisely this humanitarian dimension is an important part of the decision to present the award to Moot, because alongside his career in publishing, his long-standing commitment to education, access to music and support for new songwriters is also emphasised.
Recognition for a career spanning more than three decades
Moot has been present in the British and international music industry for more than 30 years. According to Warner Music Group's official biography, he began his career in record shops, and then in 1984 moved into A&R work at ATV Music and Chrysalis Records. A&R, that is, work on finding and developing songwriters and repertoire, is one of the key parts of the music business because it connects creative potential with publishing, recording and market opportunities. Moot moved in 1987 to SBK Music Publishing, a company that later merged with EMI Music Publishing. That transition, according to Warner Music Group's announcement, marked the beginning of one of the most important phases of his career.
At EMI, Moot advanced to leading creative and management roles. Warner Music Group states that in 2003 he was appointed executive vice president of A&R for the United Kingdom and Europe, and in 2005 he became managing director in the United Kingdom and president of the European creative division of EMI Music Publishing. During that period, according to Warner Music Group's official profile, EMI was named publisher of the year by Music Week for 14 consecutive years. The organisers of MITS cite this information as one of the indicators of the continuity and impact of Moot's work in the publishing part of the industry. Although musical success is most often presented to the wider public through artists and hits, behind such successes there are often long-term relationships with songwriters, producers and rights holders.
According to Warner Music Group's announcement, during his time at EMI Moot signed or worked with a series of songwriters and artists who have marked popular music in recent decades. Among them are Amy Winehouse, Arctic Monkeys, Calvin Harris, Deadmau5, Jamiroquai, Jorja Smith, Lana Del Rey, Mark Ronson, Paul Epworth, Salaam Remi, Scissor Sisters and Sean Paul. Such a list speaks not only of commercial success, but also of the breadth of genres in which Moot worked, from indie rock and electronic music to soul, pop, dance and urban genres. The award organisers highlight his songwriter-focused approach, that is, the philosophy they describe in the announcement as songwriter-first. In practice, this means an emphasis on the long-term value of the song, songwriting work and the publishing catalogue, and not only on the immediate market result.
From EMI and Sony to the top of Warner Chappell
An important stage of Moot's career is connected with changes in global music publishing after the acquisitions and mergers of major catalogues. According to Warner Music Group's announcement, in 2012 Moot had an important role in leading the European part of the merger between Sony and EMI. In 2017, he was appointed president of global creative at Sony Music Publishing, and when Sony completed the full acquisition of EMI in 2018, he continued working in that role. During that period, according to Warner Music Group's official data, he oversaw signings and creative relationships with names such as Arcade Fire, Charli XCX, Drake, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Sia and Stargate.
In 2019, Moot was appointed co-chair and chief executive officer of Warner Chappell Music. He leads the company together with Carianne Marshall, co-chair and chief operating officer. Warner Chappell Music is the global publishing arm of Warner Music Group, and according to Warner Music Group's latest financial data published on May 7, 2026, the publishing segment achieved streaming revenue growth of 20 percent, or 16.2 percent in constant currency, for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. In the same announcement, WMG states that the group's total revenue increased 17 percent, or 12 percent in constant currency. These results show why music publishing is today one of the strategically most important parts of major music companies, especially in a period in which streaming, synchronisations, performance rights and catalogue management are playing an increasingly important role.
According to Warner Music Group's announcement about the award, under the leadership of Moot and Marshall Warner Chappell Music doubled the scale of its business. Since 2019, the company has signed and retained established and new songwriters, producers and artists, including Amy Allen, Anderson .Paak, Cardi B, Celeste, Coco Jones, Dua Lipa, Laufey, Lizzo, RAYE, ROSÉ, Saweetie, Stromae, Teddy Swims and Zach Bryan. In the same context, catalogues or copyrights connected with music legends such as David Bowie, George Michael, Madonna, Quincy Jones and Tom Petty are also mentioned. For a publishing company, such a combination of new songwriters and major catalogues means relying on two types of value: the development of future songs and the management of the lasting commercial strength of already known works.
Why it matters that the award goes to a publisher
The decision that the MITS Award should go to a music publisher for the first time comes at a moment when the role of publishing in the music industry is changing more and more. Traditionally, publishers were associated with the administration of copyright, licensing and the collection of royalties for songwriters. Today, however, major publishing companies are increasingly involved in the creative development of songs, connecting songwriters and producers, placing music in films, series, advertisements and video games, and protecting catalogues in the digital environment. According to ICMP, the international organisation that represents music publishers, global publishing brings together major companies, independent publishers and national associations on several continents. Such a framework shows that publishing is not a secondary business function, but one of the foundations of the way in which songwriters generate income and manage their works in the long term.
Moot's recognition therefore has broader symbolic significance. It rewards not only the personal career of one manager, but also the visibility of songwriters in an industry that for decades has been strongly focused on artists. In a statement published by Warner Music Group, Moot said that he is honoured to be the first publisher to receive the MITS Award and that he hopes the recognition will serve as a celebration of songwriters and the exceptional value of their music. He added that he has dedicated his whole life to advocating for creators and finding a new generation of talents for whom a path into the industry needs to be opened. Such a statement fits into the award's explanation, which emphasises his long-standing work with songwriters and the belief that music has educational, social and therapeutic value.
The MITS committee also emphasised the broader reach of his career. Toby Leighton-Pope, co-chair of the MITS Award committee, according to Warner Music Group's announcement, said that few people in the industry have a career as extensive and influential as Moot's and that his influence extends beyond the United Kingdom. Dan Chalmers, the other co-chair of the committee, stated that Moot has long been a firm advocate for songwriters, which he considers especially important in today's music environment. Such statements further place the award within the discussion about how songwriting work will be valued in the future, especially under conditions of rapid technological change, the growth of artificial intelligence, new licensing models and constant negotiations over the distribution of revenue in the digital economy.
The charitable side of the award
From the beginning, the MITS Award has also had a strong charitable component. According to the award's official website, over the decades the event has raised more than seven million pounds for organisations connected with music and social work. This year's funds are intended for The BRIT Trust and Nordoff and Robbins. According to data from The BRIT Trust, since its establishment in 1989 that organisation has awarded around 300 grants with a total value of more than 30 million pounds, including long-standing support for The BRIT School and Nordoff and Robbins. The BRIT School in Croydon is known as a free school for performing and creative arts, and it is funded with support from the British state, The BRIT Trust and other partners.
Nordoff and Robbins, according to its own data, is the United Kingdom's largest music therapy charity and has been developing its approach for more than 60 years. The organisation states that it uses music therapy to help people facing illness, disability, isolation and various communication or emotional difficulties. In the context of the MITS Award, this is important because the award is presented not only as recognition of industry success, but also as a mechanism for funding music education, therapy and access to music for broader groups of people. According to Warner Music Group's announcement, ahead of the ceremony Moot visited The BRIT School to meet students and hear how music education affects a new generation of creators, and his visit to Nordoff and Robbins has also been announced.
In Moot's statement published alongside the award announcement, precisely these two organisations are especially highlighted. He described The BRIT Trust as an organisation with a proven impact in building careers and opening doors to young people who otherwise might not have been given a chance, while for Nordoff and Robbins he said that it reminds us why music matters, citing its ability to reach people in a way that few other things can. Such wording shows how the organisers are trying to connect industry success with social responsibility. In the British music sector, the MITS Award is therefore viewed not only as an evening of recognition, but also as an important annual fundraising event.
Continuation of a series of prominent recipients
Moot will join a long list of previous MITS Award recipients. According to Warner Music Group's announcement, previous recipients include Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue, Rob Stringer, Emma Banks, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Lucian Grainge, Michael Eavis, Pete Tong, Roger Daltrey, Jamal Edwards, Lucy Dickins, Jason Iley and Ashley Tabor-King. This list shows how the award has expanded over the years across different parts of the music industry: from artists and songwriters to managers, promoters, record company leaders, entrepreneurs and people who have shaped the institutional framework of the industry. In that company, Moot's publishing recognition further emphasises the shift in focus towards copyrights and the long-term management of music assets.
The awards ceremony will be held on November 9, 2026, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. According to Warner Music Group's announcement, this year's edition is supported by ASM Global, PPL, SJM Concerts and YouTube. The organisers emphasise that the MITS Award remains one of the important benchmarks of recognition in the British music business, but also an event that each year brings concrete benefit to charitable organisations. Moot's award comes in a period in which songs, copyrights and catalogues have become the centre of major business strategies, from streaming to catalogue investments. That is precisely why this year's choice has a double message: it confirms the importance of an individual who has worked with songwriters for decades and at the same time recognises the role of music publishing as one of the key pillars of the contemporary music industry.
Sources:
- Warner Music Group – announcement on the presentation of the MITS 2026 award to Guy Moot and an overview of his career (link)
- Music Business Worldwide – report that Guy Moot is the first music publisher to receive the MITS Award (link)
- The MITS Award – official information about the award, charitable aims and the 2026 edition (link)
- Warner Music Group – official profile of Guy Moot and overview of leading roles in music publishing (link)
- Warner Music Group – financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, and data on growth in the publishing segment (link)
- The BRIT Trust – data on grants and long-standing support for music education (link)
- Nordoff and Robbins – official data on music therapy and the organisation's work in the United Kingdom (link)
- ICMP – description of the international role of music publishing and organisations representing publishers (link)