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WMG U.K. WINS BIG AT Q AWARDS

Warner U.K. was the biggest victor at yesterday’s Q Awards in London, with four of the label’s biggest acts going home with gongs. The star-studded ceremony honours the best names in music according to readers of the venerable music magazine. So who won what?

Rock duo Royal Blood were honoured with Best Live Act. The band played the main stage at the Reading and Leeds festivals this year and were one of Blighty’s biggest breakout acts of 2014 after signing with Max Lousada’s company the year prior. Their self-titled debut album hit #1 in the U.K. on its release in August 2014; the follow-up is currently being written.

Now one of Warner’s global stars, Ed Sheeran, who’s currently working in the U.S., was voted Best Solo Artist for the second year running. Rock band Foals thanked both Warner and management Q Prime for allowing them the “time to grow into the band that we’ve become and hopefully the band that we’ll continue to be” after receiving an award for being the Best Act in the World Today. The final member of the WMG family honoured yesterday was veteran act Duran Duran. After being presented with the Icon Award by young WMG-signed singer/songwriter Charli XCX, the band dedicated it to their fans and Warner Bros. for helping them continue to make a mark on the charts 35 years into their career (latest album Paper Gods hit #5 in the U.K. on its release in September).

Also enjoying success at the ceremony was David Joseph’s Universal. Republic 2014/2015 buzz act James Bay (who goes through Ted Cockle’s Virgin EMI in Blighty), who was honoured with the much coveted BRITS Critics Choice Award in January, was named Best New Act. Best Track went to Virgin EMI rock band The Libertines for “Gunga Din,” the first single from their latest album Anthems for Doomed Youth and first new song in 11 years.

Columbia co-prexies Mark Terry and Alison Donald had to be thrilled for Mark Ronson, who gladly accepted the Hero gong. The duo helped transform the DJ/producer into the global pop name he is today with his latest album, Uptown Special. Darcus Beese’s Island got a look-in too, with Florence + the Machine taking home Best Video for the Vincent Haycock-directed “Ship to Wreck.”

Jazzie B from Soul II Soul was there to accept the award for Classic Album for the group’s 1989 platinum-selling debut Club Classics Vol. One (Virgin). B dedicated the gong to the late legendary manager Jazz Summers of Big Life.

Queen were awarded with Classic Single for 1975 smash “Bohemian Rhapsody,” while Coldplay’s Chris Martin presented Noel Gallagher with Best Album for Chasing Yesterday (Sour Mash), the second from Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

Electronic legend Jean Michel Jarre was on hand to pay tribute to Gary Numan for his Innovation in Sound, while the Les Paul Award went to Black Sabbath shredder Tony Iommi. And last but by no means least, Q readers honoured New Order (who’ve recently signed to Mute) for their Outstanding Contribution to Music.

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