The A&R Awards 2018 in association with Abbey Road Studios welcomed the great and the good of the UK music industry on November 6 in London – and the surprises didn’t stop coming.

Big winners at the MBW ceremony included A&R Icon recipient Simon Cowell, who was presented with his award by Sony Music CEO Rob Stringer.

“I am so grateful not only to work with him, but to call him my friend,” said Stringer of the Syco founder.

Cowell thanked many of the UK individuals who helped him in the early stages of his career, including David Howells, Mike McCormack, Nick Raymonde, Steve Mac and Jeremy Marsh, in addition to songwriters, artists and his Syco/Sony family.

“This is a huge deal for me – thank you very much,” said Cowell at the close of his speech, before receiving a standing ovation across the room.

The Artist Loyalty award – recognising a long-standing relationship between a performer and music business executive – was collected by Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) and his manager for the last 30 years, Garry Blackburn.

A previously unannounced Trailblazer Award, highlighting someone who MBW is tipping for big things in the future, went to Virgin EMI’s Lunick Bourgess. He was presented with the award by the President of the Universal-owned label, Ted Cockle.

The final award of the evening, the Sir George Martin Award, was collected by Dirty Hit founder Jamie Oborne. The British executive was presented with the trophy by the frontman of The 1975, Matthew Healy.

The big team winners on the night included Major Label of the Year, Atlantic Records (pictured), plus Domino (Independent Label of the Year), BMG (Publisher Of The Year – category 1), UROK Management (Management Company) and Good Soldier Songs (Publisher Of The Year – category 2).

Individual winners included Camille Purcell (Songwriter of the Year), Steve Mac (Producer of the Year), Dominic Fyfe (A&R of the Year: Adult Contemporary), Charlie Christie & Theo Lalic (A&R Of The Year: Alternative/Rock), Benny Scarrs & Jack Foster & Dave (A&R Of The Year: Hip-hop/Grime), Joe Kentish (A&R Of The Year: Pop/R&B), Rebecca La Porta & Paul Walmsley (A&R Administrator) and Mike Pickering & Julian Palmer (A&R Of The Year: Electronic/Dance).

The A&R Awards 2018 was compered by the brilliant Doc Brown, and took place at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London’s Covent Garden.