Women In Music Awards 2026: Shirley Manson and Jade Win

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Garbage singer Shirley Manson and Little Mix star Jade were among the headline winners at the 2026 Women In Music Awards. Music Week's annual ceremony returned to the JW Marriott Grosvenor House in London on October 9. Manson was named Inspirational Artist, receiving her trophy from former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Jade became the first winner of the new Artist Impact award. Broadcaster Clara Amfo hosted the ceremony, which Music Week says was in its 12th year. Shirley Manson: "It means a lot" In an interview with Music Week, Manson said the win left her "really surprised". Garbage formed in Wisconsin, and she said she has never really been seen as a British artist. "It's very nice to be acknowledged by the British music industry," she said. "It means a lot because it's in the UK, it's my country, my place of birth." Manson left her home in Edinburgh to join Garbage in 1994. The band's 1995 debut album sold more than four million copies worldwide, according to Music Week. Manson said she had recently turned 60. She was outspoken about the business side of music. She criticised 360 deals and the way streaming money is shared, and said she would like musicians to be insured, to have pensions and to be properly fed on tour. Her advice to younger women in the industry was simple: "Hold hands." On what comes next for Garbage, she said there is one more show still to be announced to close the current album cycle. After that, she said, the band are talking about making another record. Jade wins the first Artist Impact award Jade's award was a new category for 2026, sponsored by TikTok. Music Week notes her solo success with her debut album That's Showbiz, Baby! , including the hit "Angel Of My Dreams", and says the album had the biggest opening week for a debut in 2025. In her speech, Jade praised fellow winner Miranda Cooper as the first person to recognise her songwriting, and thanked her mother. According to Music Week's report, she also said she had "seen my fair share of misogyny and abuse of power" in the industry. All the 2026 winners Women In Music Awards 2026 winners Inspirational Artist: Shirley Manson Artist Impact (new for 2026): Jade New Artist: DAMEDAME* Music Creative, Spirit Of The Studio: Miranda Cooper Live Music Inspiration: Summer Marshall Rising Star: Mica Sefia Music Champion: Mary Anne Hobbs DE&I Initiative: Eve Horne Campaigner: Andrea Euell and Nicola Charles Ossai Partnership Award (new for 2026): Niamh Byrne and Régine Moylett Special Recognition, Unsung Hero: Jo Donnelly International Woman: Colleen Theis Businesswoman: Sonia Diwan Outstanding Contribution: Jo Charrington Duo DAMEDAME* took the New Artist award, a prize previously won by Rina Sawayama and Nova Twins. Songwriter Miranda Cooper, part of the Xenomania team behind hits for Girls Aloud, Sugababes and Kylie Minogue, won Spirit Of The Studio. "I've never been singly recognised by the industry, so this means an enormous amount," she said. She also spoke about how little support there is for mothers returning to "a male-designed world". BBC 6 Music's Mary Anne Hobbs was named Music Champion, presented by fellow presenter Jamz Supernova, who called her "my Peel". CAA agent Summer Marshall won Live Music Inspiration, presented by chart-topping artist Maisie Peters. The new Partnership award went to Niamh Byrne and Régine Moylett of Eleven Management, whose clients include Gorillaz. Colleen Theis, president and COO of The Orchard, travelled to London to collect International Woman. Capitol UK president Jo Charrington received Outstanding Contribution. Roll Of Honour and tributes Sixteen people were inducted into the Roll Of Honour, run with Live Nation Women. They included radio plugger and Thirty Three Music founder Mel Rudder, honoured posthumously. The ceremony also paid tribute to two late executives who had been Roll Of Honour members, including Bella Figura co-founder Alexi Cory-Smith. Executives from Sony Music , Universal and other companies were in the room. The night comes as women remain under-represented in music. A separate She Is The Music index, cited by The Women's Reporter, found women made up 29.7% of creators on industry rosters. Tributes also touched on Black British music: Claudia Webbe praised one late executive's "30-year insistence that Black music was not a subculture" but "the beating heart of British culture", a cause also championed by the MOBO Awards . What's next Music Week has interviewed the winners in all 14 categories, and those features are rolling out on its site. No date has been given for the 2027 ceremony. Garbage fans will be watching for the band's unannounced final show of this album cycle. Sources: Music Week (all winners) | Music Week (Shirley Manson interview) | The Women's Reporter