Since emerging as a producer and MC back in 2004, Skepta has become one of the most important British artists in music today

With the Music Producers Guild Awards only a couple of days away, it has been announced that recording artist, writer, producer, Mercury Prize winner and BRIT Award nominee, Skepta, will be the recipient of the 2019 Inspiration Award.

This prestigious award, sponsored by Audio Note, is given to a recording professional who, in the opinion of the MPG Awards board of directors, is responsible for a body of work that has significantly inspired others. Previous recipients have included Imogen Heap – who we interviewed about her win last year – Nile Rodgers, Roni Size, Damon Albarn, Glyn Johns and Sylvia Massy.

Since emerging as a producer and MC back in 2004, Skepta has become one of the most important British artists in music today. He has built an era defining catalogue of hits, releasing four studio albums and appearing as a featured artist on numerous successful releases.

Skepta’s music has been predominantly associated with the grime scene but he has built up a broad, and diverse fan-base with his influence felt across contemporary culture on a global scale.

Bruno Ellingham, executive director of the MPG, said: “Skepta has been at the forefront of the grime scene for some time, but his influence now crosses genres and is felt not only in music but in the art and fashion worlds too. Now feels like the perfect time to acknowledge his achievements and we are thrilled to be presenting him with this prestigious Award.”

The MPG Awards, will take place at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London on February 28 2019.

The shortlists for each of the MPG 2019 Awards categories are as follows:

UK Producer Of The Year

Cam Blackwood

Dave Eringa

James Ford

Recording Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by AMS Neve

Guy Massey

Matt Wiggins

Sean Genockey

Mix Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by Miloco Studios

Cenzo Townshend

David Wrench

Mark ‘Spike’ Stent

Re-mixer Of The Year

IYEARA

Matthew Herbert

Shura

Breakthrough Producer Of the Year, sponsored by Focusrite

Dilip Harris

Mark Rankin

Rhiannon Mair

Self-Producing Artist Of The Year, sponsored by Spitfire Audio

Four Tet (Kieran Hebden)

John Hopkins

Tori Amos

Breakthrough Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by Genelec

Cecile Desnos

Dani Bennet Spragg

Rhiannon Mair

International Producer Of The Year, sponsored by RME

David Byrne

Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) and Ludwig Goransson

Greg Kurstin

Mastering Engineer Of The Year, sponsored by Kii Audio

John Davis

Mandy Parnell

Tim Young

UK Album Of The Year, sponsored by Universal Audio

Arctic Monkeys: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

Everything Everything: A Fever Dream

Nadine Shah: Holiday Destination

UK Single Song Release Of The Year, sponsored by Shure

Anna Calvi: Don’t Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy

George Ezra: Shotgun

The 1975: Love It If We Made It

The A&R Award

Briony Turner

Gilles Peterson

Holly Manners

Studio Of The Year, sponsored by Soundgas

British Grove Studios

Strongroom

Urchin Studios

The winner of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award this year is Hugh Padgham, who we interviewed in advance of the show.