Judging Panel 2026
Antonia Lines
Senior Programme Manager, Live Trust
Antonia is the Senior Programmes Manager at LIVE Trust, a charity set up to protect, expand and support the grassroots music ecosystem. By collecting a £1 contribution per ticket for shows and events with a 5,000+ capacity, LIVE Trust funds programmes that deliver long-term positive impact for the grassroots music ecosystem all over the UK.
Antonia co-ran a music development CIC and has previously worked at labels, ticketing outlets and music retailers, as well as in both on-site roles at festivals and operational roles for venues. Throughout their career, they have centred on community engagement and collaboration. They have volunteered at Sister Midnight community venue in Catford and currently sit on the BRITS voting academy. In their spare time they play football for their local team in Islington & have an ever-growing pile of half-read books.
Billy Kiltie
Director, Resonate Music Conference
Billy founded the Glasgow institution 23rd Precinct Record Shop in 1989, then launched Limbo Records, an early pioneer of progressive house. He later established 23rd Precinct Music Publishing, signing writers from the dance scene (including Public Domain) before partnering with Notting Hill Music Group. The roster expanded to include The Bluebells, Lost Witness, Declan Welsh, Gun and Twin Atlantic.After the merger into Notting Hill Music he joined the board, oversaw the purchase and refurbishment of a Glasgow headquarters on the same street as the original shop, and continues as a director. He also created Resonate Music Conference; this month marks its tenth edition, dedicated to collaboration, creativity and development across Scottish and international music.
Cathal McBride
Music Journalist, The Thin Air
Cathal McBride is a music journalist originally from Tyrone and based in Belfast, primarily writing for The Thin Air, for whom he’s been writing since 2014, both online and in print. As well as album and gig reviews, he’s interviewed artists both from the local music scene, such as Arborist, Careerist and Blue Whale, to internationally acclaimed artists like Arab Strap’s Aidan Moffat and Buzzcocks’ Steve Diggle. As well as speaking to musicians, he’s also covered other areas of the music industry by interviewing grassroots local promoters about their work behind the scenes.
A prolific gig-goer, he can usually be spotted at various venues around Belfast on any given night.
Dermot Gallagher
Radio Show Host, IDA Radio / IDA Helsinki
Dermot Gallagher is the host and curator of Set Guitars To Kill!, a radio show on Helsinki-based IDA Radio dedicated to discovering and championing new alternative music since 2021.
More than just a radio station, IDA is an independent, volunteer-run cultural platform and community based in Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia. The studio provides a physical space for local talent to connect, share their creativity, and contribute to the cultural landscape through its radio programming, gigs, club nights, and events.
Emily Pilbeam
Presenter, BBC 6 Music & BBC Introducing
Emily Pilbeam presents the BBC Introducing Mixtape on BBC Radio 6 Music and co-hosts BBC Introducing in Leeds and Sheffield. With more than a decade of production and presentation experience within BBC Introducing, she is a trusted tastemaker in the UK’s new-music landscape.She regularly covers shows on 6 Music for Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, Chris Hawkins, Craig Charles and Lauren Laverne. Away from the microphone she works as A&R for a London-based independent label and promoter focused on underground and disruptive talent, and supports early-career artists through Launchpad.
Lewis Nevin
Founder & Director, NuMuze
Lewis Nevin is founder and director of NuMuze, an award-winning music media, events, marketing and culture platform championing emerging artists across Ireland and beyond. Founded in 2023, it has grown into a multi-faceted operation spanning editorial coverage, artist interviews, live events, PR campaigns and social-media marketing.With a background in music production, songwriting and theatre, Lewis takes an artist-first approach, connecting emerging talent with new audiences. Under his direction NuMuze has hosted live events in Belfast and Derry, covered festivals including The Great Escape and AVA, and programmed stages at Stendhal, Output and Sound of Belfast. He continues to build relationships across the industry while working to strengthen the grassroots scene and create a more accessible, sustainable environment for the next generation of artists.
Oliver Hickey
Account Manager (Performer), PPL
Ollie Hickey works as an Account Manager within the Performer Managed Accounts team at PPL, the UK’s collective management organisation (CMO) for performers and recording rightsholders. He has been at PPL for over three years, starting in the Repertoire team, where he focused on international data and insights, before moving to the Rightsholder Managed Accounts team and taking up his current role earlier this year. He is responsible for supporting the management of high-profile performers.
Beyond PPL, Ollie is a keen record collector and vinyl DJ, and founded the club night ‘How It Started’, which provides a platform for underground electronic music.
Patricia Murray
Co-Director, Belfast TradFest
Patricia Murray is Co-Director of Belfast TradFest, with nearly two decades of experience in music, festivals and live-event production. Since joining TradFest in 2016 she has helped shape its growth into a major celebration of traditional music, song and dance, connecting international artists, emerging musicians and audiences across Belfast.Her background spans concert and festival stages, live television broadcasts, freelance work across Northern Ireland’s music and arts festivals, and production management for TG4 (including Fleadh TV). Previous roles include Event Manager at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena and Production Manager at Sydney’s Carriageworks. She brings a broad perspective on live performance and a commitment to supporting artists and the distinctive voices of music across Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland.
Sean Adams
Founder of Drowned in Sound, Podcast Host & Journalist, Artist manager and Consultant
Sean Adams founded Drowned in Sound in 1998 as a newsletter; it launched as a website in 2000 and he continues to guide its editorial direction and host its podcast. Over 25 years he has built a track record for spotting future stars—releasing debut singles by Kaiser Chiefs, Emmy the Great and Bat for Lashes, and championing acts including St. Vincent, Muse, Lizzo, Biffy Clyro, Bon Iver, Foals, Laura Marling and Kano through editorial, playlists, live events and an independent label.DiS re-emerged in 2023 as a newsletter and podcast focused on community-building journalism. Alongside DiS he manages artists including The Anchoress and Charlotte Church, and co-founded The Sounding, a growth consultancy and media production company. In 2024 he launched the Association of Music Editors and drove the Music Fans Voice survey of 8,000 participants, which contributed to the UK government launching a fan-led review of live music.
Shauna Ennis
Freelance Assistant Content Producer at BBC / A&R Representative, Fontana Records
Shauna is a freelance Assistant Content Producer at BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle. She studied Music and Audio Production at Queen’s University before completing an 18-month Production Apprenticeship with BBC Introducing/Across The Line. Her work spans radio, TV and live events; at Glastonbury 2025 she produced social-media and radio content for the BBC Introducing stage, interviewed chart-topping artists and introduced an artist on stage.Since the apprenticeship she has continued freelancing with the BBC and become an A&R Representative at Fontana Records. She recently launched All The Rave, a brand documenting her discovery and championing of up-and-coming talent across the island of Ireland through gig guides, reviews and related content.
Sinéad Campbell
Soul Artist, Music Consultant, Project Manager
Sinéad Campbell is a soul artist, project manager and music consultant with over a decade of experience across the UK music sector, both on stage and behind the scenes. For more than five years she was Music Lead for the City of Bradford, developing the city’s music infrastructure, shaping talent-development programmes and supporting Arts Council England-funded work. She founded Buskival Bradford (now Busking BD) and Bradford Music Month Festival.Now based in Manchester, she project-manages Elevate, Brighter Sound’s talent-development programme for export-ready artists, alongside consultancy and speaking work. As an artist her music blends soul and R&B with storytelling rooted in Jamaican and Irish heritage. In 2025 she wrote and performed the sold-out gig theatre piece Love. Unite. Freedom. for UK City of Culture. Credits include Reeperbahn Festival, The Great Escape, TEDx and BBC Introducing’s Best of Live 2025; Clash Magazine has likened her to Grammy-winning Olivia Dean.
Sophie Asquith
Venue Support Manager, Music Venue Trust
Sophie manages Music Venue Trust’s team of nations coordinators, the Venue Support Team in the delivery of support, advice and guidance to the Music Venue Alliance (MVA), the charity’s network of over 800 grassroots music venues around the UK. This work includes running the Emergency Response Service to resolve cases and deliver crisis interventions ranging from licensing appeals and planning objections to emergency funding. Sophie develops strategic relationships within the music industry and often represents the charity to local, devolved and national government to help further MVT’s charitable aims through policy advances and advocacy. Prior to joining MVT Sophie was the Music & General manager at Bush Hall, Shepherds Bush in London.