CAA’s veteran U.K. agent Emma Banks has been named chair of music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins. She takes over from David Munns, who is stepping down after 14 years.

In her new role, Banks will oversee Nordoff and Robbins’ mission of using music therapy to help break through the barriers caused by life-limiting illness, disability and social isolation. She will be supported by newly appointed Vice Chair Lucy Noble, who takes over from Howard Jones.

Sandra Schembri, CEO of Nordoff and Robbins, called Banks “a hugely respected figure in the music industry and beyond.” She continued: “We are grateful for Emma’s time, presence and energy as we now leave the challenges of recent years behind and look ahead to a bright future.”

Banks, co-head of CAA’s London office and of international touring, is a longstanding supporter of Nordoff and Robbins. She has chaired the committee of the charity’s flagship O2 Silver Clef Awards for the past decade and joined the Board of Trustees in 2019.

Banks called her new title “a true honor.” “The music industry has loyally supported and championed this vital charity for many years, and I embrace the responsibility of building on David’s legacy with the support of Lucy and the Board of Trustees, continuing this essential advocacy far into the future.

“We have an incredibly strong board that we will be looking to add to in the coming months as our new strategy develops, and I welcome anyone who is interested in becoming involved with Nordoff and Robbins to reach out to me.”

As part of its new strategy, Nordoff and Robbins will continue using music to address injustice across society, lobby for policy change on behalf of its clients and encourage a more diverse pool of musicians to train as music therapists.

Green Day looks set to claim their fifth U.K. Official Albums #1 on Friday. Over on singles, where “Stick Season” (Republic) is holding strong at the top, Noah Kahan looks to add to his Top 10 tally.

Saviors (Reprise) is outselling the rest of the Top 10 combined at the halfway point.

Elsewhere, Welsh pop-punk outfit Neck Deep could claim their highest-charting album yet with Neck Deep (Hopeless) at #2.

This week’s rock theme continues with heavy metal band Saxon on track for their first Top 3 with Hell Fire and Damnation (Militia Guard Music) at #3.

Outside the Top 10, yet another rock act, South of Salem, are at #14 with their self-released Death of the Party. Teddy Swims’ with I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 1) (Warner Records) continues to rise, now at #20.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, “Stick Season” is currently 7k sales ahead of its closest competition. Should it hold onto its lead, Friday will be its fourth week at #1.

This week’s highest new entry could also go to Kahan. His “Homesick” with Sam Fender is expected to debut at #3.

“Murder on the Dancefloor” (Polydor) by Sophie Ellis-Bextor is up again, rising one to #2. TikTok star Benson Boone could have his first Top 20 with “Beautiful Things” (Night Street/Warner) at #13.

D-Block Europe have their first U.K. Official Albums #1 with Rolling Stone (EGA). Over on singles, Noah Kahan claims a third week at the top.

Rolling Stone, which has been self-released and distributed by EGA, is the third full-length studio album from the rap duo. This week, they have reclaimed their title as the British rap act with the most Top 10 albums, with eight in total (including mixtapes and collaborative releases).

American Dream (Epic/Slaughter Gang) by 21 Savage is his highest-charting solo LP at #2. The Vaccines have their sixth Top 5 album with Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations (Super Easy) landing at #3.

Further down, Teddy Swims’ debut, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1) (Warner Records), is up three to #21.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, Kahan's “Stick Season” (Republic) fends off strong competition from Ariana Grande’s “yes, and?” (Republic) to remain at #1.

The former remained on top with 8.2m streams but there were just 600 sales between the two. Grande therefore has this week’s highest new entry at #2.

Swims’ “Lose Control” is up one to #5. Three tracks from Savage's American Dream are in the Top 40: “redrum” at #11; “née-nah” with Travis Scott and Metro Boomin at #23; and “n.h.i.e.” f/Doja Cat at #27.

Brooke Salisbury has joined Sony Music U.K. in the newly created position of SVP, International Marketing & Digital Partnerships. She most recently served as GM at ADA U.K.

In her new role, Salisbury will oversee the label's U.K. teams working on international marketing and partnerships with DSPs.

“I’m delighted to welcome Brooke to her new role where she will help bolster our service for both artists and digital partners,” Jason Iley, MBE, chairman and CEO at Sony Music U.K. & Ireland, said.

At ADA, Warner Music’s distribution and label services division, Salisbury worked closely with Central Cee on his success through chart-topping mixtapes and global hit singles. She also guided the distributor’s partnerships with a range of independent labels, including BMG, Defected and London Records, and artists such as Sonny Fodera, Oliver Heldens and Tom Zanetti.

Prior to ADA, Salisbury held senior roles at Domino, first running its Australian business before relocating to London as the label’s U.K. head of Marketing. There, she oversaw the campaigns of Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Jon Hopkins and more.

This year’s BRIT Award nominations will be revealed Wednesday (1/24) at 4pm GMT/11am ET/8am PT. A livestream will be streamed on Instagram and Facebook.

The broadcast, presented by radio and TV presenter Yinka Bokinni, will feature interviews with some of the nominees. Fans will also get to hear more about the main show, which takes place 3/2, live from London’s O2 Arena and broadcast exclusively on ITV1 and ITVX.

The nominations stream is the first part of a new partnership between The BRITs and Meta, which will see exclusive content published on Instagram and Facebook throughout the BRITs campaign.

Island-signed act The Last Dinner Party are the first winners announced for 2024’s ceremony after being crowned BRITs Rising Star.

Amazon Music has tipped its annual 13 breakthrough U.K. artists to watch in 2024, a list that includes The Last Dinner Party, METTE and Kenya Grace.

The annual list positions the acts that the streaming service will champion over the next 12 months.

Buzzing band The Last Dinner Party (Island) are a natural choice following their BRITs Rising Star and BBC Sound of wins. Soul artist and labelmate Sekou, also a BRITs Rising Star nominee, joins them on the list.

Rapper AntsLive (Payday Records), soulful R&B vocalist Elmiene (Polydor/Def Jam), singer, songwriter and producer JayO (0207 Def Jam) and Polydor singer Jazzy, who had a hit in 2022 with “Make Me Feel Good,” are among other nominees.

The list is further made up by South Africa-born singer and Warner Records signing Grace (who hit #1 last year with “Strangers”), dance artist METTE (Since ’93/RCA), singer, songwriter and YouTuber NOAHFINNCE (Hopeless Records), and R&B/soul act Saint Harison (Tell Your Friends).

Dance act salute (Ninja Tune), rapper-producer-engineer Strandz (Relentless) and alt-pop duo Wasia Project (AWAL) complete the list.

The U.K’s Intellectual Property Office has launched a consultation that considers changes to copyright law, which may impact how foreign labels and artists are paid for music that’s broadcast or played in public.

While U.K. law gives performers and copyright owners the right to be paid when their sound recordings are broadcast or played in public in the U.K., not every country provides similar rights, the IPO notes.

U.K. performers and copyright owners are not always paid when their music is broadcast or played in public in other countries—such as the U.S. However, almost all foreign copyright owners qualify for this right to be paid in the U.K. regardless of whether the other country provides similar rights to U.K. nationals. Foreign performers only qualify for this right in the U.K. if they are from a country that provides similar rights.

The consultation will consider changes to how U.K. law provides these rights to foreign copyright owners and foreign performers. Several options are under consideration.

The IPO wants to hear from anyone who may be affected by a change to the law, including artists, labels, collecting societies, broadcasters, and public venues that play music.

The consultation will close on 3/11. After that, the Government will consider responses and publish its response, including its proposed approach. Broadcasting and public playing of music generated revenues of more than £188m in the U.K. in 2022.

D-Block Europe and The Vaccines are battling it out for this week’s Official Albums #1. Over on singles, Ariana Grande is at the top.

The self-released Rolling Stone by DBE could become the duo’s first #1 on Friday. The Vaccines are proving the closest challenger with Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations (Super Easy) new at #2.

American Dream (Epic/Slaughter Gang) by 21 Savage could become his first solo Top 10 at #3. Bill Ryder-Jones (formerly of The Coral) is #7 with lechyd Da (Domino).

Teddy Swims’ debut, I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 1) (Warner Records), is up 13 slots to #11.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Grande’s “yes, and?” (Republic) could become her eighth #1 on Friday. However, the race is not yet won: “Stick Season” (Republic) by Noah Kahan is less than 2k sales behind at #2.

“Murder on the Dancefloor” (Polydor) by Sophie Ellis-Bextor is #3, while Swims’ “Lose Control” could claim a new peak at #5. D-Block Europe’s “Eagle” is new at #18.